Bajans look to break jinx

BARBADOS’ WOMEN’S volleyball team must accomplish a feat they have not done since 2002 – defeat Trinidad and Tobago – in order to reach tomorrow’s finals of the 13th Caribbean Volleyball Championships being played in Paramaribo, Suriname.The encounter is slated for today at 2 p.m. Barbados reached the semi-finals yesterday after a simple (25-16, 21-25, 25-13, 25-20) win over the Netherlands Antilles, with professional six-footer Anicia Wood excelling in blocking and attack. Former MVP Shari Matthews also attacked well for the Bajans.However, Barbados’ bid to meet hosts Suriname in the semis was thrown awry when the United States Virgin Island (USVI) edged Jamaica in five sets to result in three teams from Group B advancing to the semi-finals.  Defending champions Trinidad and Tobago had topped Group B with the USVI second and Barbados third. Thus, Barbados were slotted to meet Trinidad and Tobago, with USVI taking on Suriname.Barbados coach Andrew Brathwaite was optimistic about the do-or-die clash,  pointing to the fact that his team had challenged Trinidad in the preliminaries although several players were ill.“We have a fully-fit unit and we have a very good plan for Trinidad, who we can defeat to reach the finals once we consistently execute our game plan,” he said. (KB)