Female v-ballers slam into semi-finals

Defending champion Trinidad and Tobago went to the  top of Group “B” with a sensational 3-1 victory over arch-rivals Netherland Antilles at the Fourth Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) Junior Championships in Martinique. It was a magnificent allround performances by skipper Aisha Sealy (setter), Marina Camps (universal), Kelly-Ann Billingy (hitter/blocker), Danya Augustus (blocker), Nadiege Honore (outside hitter), Karina Moore (blocker) and Jenna Ferguson (libero). The hard-fought 20-25, 25-23, 25-12, 26-24 victory pushed TT to the semi-final round scheduled for today. It also gives the Calypso Girls a tremendous psychological boost of their chances of retaining the coveted Caribbean Junior crown. Caribbean’s number one attacker KellyAnn Billingy came up trumps once again with 21 kills but was frustrated with only six out of 14 attempts in the first set which the Dutch girls took at 20-25. Undaunted, the Glamorgan-club and Holy Name Convent student pounded her opponents at every conceivable opportunity.

But coach Macsood Ali made strategic changes which confounded the opposition as Nadiege Honore came into her own and executed superb blocks to finish with 11 successful forays. Newcomer Karina Moore and pint-sized versatile Marina Camps also responded to the challenge as libero Jenna Ferguson proved a tower of strength in the back court. Having distinguished herself as the best setter at both the junior and senior levels in the Caribbean, skipper Sealy was pivotal in feeding her hitters on both flanks as Trinidadians held their nerves and maintained their unbeaten record with the exciting 3-1 win.  Netherlands are TT’s main rivals for the title but today the twin-island smashers will be gunning for either Bahamas (Group “A” runners-up) or Aruba (Group “B” third-placed team) whichever qualifies for the “semis”. Bahamas finished second to Barbados in Group “A” when they whipped late-comer Jamaica 19-25, 25-18, 25-17, 25-18. The Jamaicans still have a chance to redeem themselves but they will be up against 2001 CAZOVA runner-up Netherlands in the other quarter-final match-up today.
The Barbadians thrashed Mar-tinique 25-11, 25-12 and 25-12 and enjoyed the one-day rest like their Trinidadian counterparts who would be determined to smash their rivals out of their path as they seek their third lien on the trophy.

The homesters were due to take on newcomers Antigua and Barbuda in the play-off to decide seventh and eighth placed teams. While the TT girls were savouring their victory over Netherlands, the boys (Group “A” runner-up) were billed to tangle with arch-rivals Barbados (Group “B” third-placed team) in the quarter-finals. Sean Morrison and his Glamorgan clubmate Esil Seecharran along with Starlings power-blocker Mark Anthony Honore will be blazing away against the Bajans and whoever comes before them as they seek their first ever regional junior title. This is TT’s best chance of doing the double. OECS champion and necomer Dominica (Group “A” third placed team) was due to battle Group “A” runners-up Bahamas in the other quarter-final.

CAZOVA Junior Championships- Thursday Results:
FEMALE
Group “A”: BARBADOS beat Martinique 25-11, 25-12, 25-12.
Group “A”: BAHAMAS beat Jamaica 19-25, 25-18, 25-17, 25-18.
Group “B”: TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO beat Netherlands 20-25, 25-23, 25-12, 26-24.
Group “B”: ARUBA beat Antigua and Barbuda 25-16, 25-21, 25-11.
MALE
Group “B”: BAHAMAS beat Barbados 25-23, 27-25, 18-25, 32-30.
Group “B”: NETHERLAND ANTILLES beat Jamaica 25-23, 27-25, 25-19.