Bajan women badly beaten in volleyball

BARBADOS’ women fared even worse in their second preliminary game of the XXI Central American and Caribbean Games in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, when they were crushed in just 53 minutes by defending champions Dominican Republic 25-6, 25-9, 25-6.Barbados had lost their opening encounter with Trinidad and Tobago who were pipped in five sets in the other Group A match by Costa Rica 18-25, 27-25, 25- 22, 19-25, 11-15, on Monday.   Only Trinidad and Tobago stand between the Dominican Republic and a direct trip to the semi-finals. They will meet today.The Group B matches which were played on Monday saw Mexico and Puerto Rico remaining unbeaten with Mexico dismissing Nicaragua 25-14, 25-19, 25-18, and Puerto Rico taking out Guatemala 25-8, 25-14, 25-12.  Today both Mexico and Puerto Rico will vie for the direct ticket to the semis.Meanwhile, the Barbados men’s team will leave for the Games today with two newcomers in the squad.  Multi-talented Kyle Browne of St Leonard’s Boys’ and Eadium Cobham of Foundation are in the squad which is captained by veteran Elwyn Oxley.The team: Elwyn Oxley (captain), Fabian Cox, Dale Addison, Alain London, Rommel Agard, Akeem Payne, Rico Brathwaite, Torrand Cheltenham, Sheldon Roach, Damien Danzell, Kyle Browne, Eadium Cobham. Coach: Ludger Niles; assistant coach: John Stuart; manager: Anthony Nicholls.