Someone should?have told women’s 2010 MVP Dania Hamilton that the Chargers game against the Rockets was merely a repeat of last season’s Cooperators General Insurance Senior Knockout finals and not this year’s finals.
Southpaw Hamilton smote the ball with a viciousness that suggested she will not be entertaining any challenges to Chargers’ or her titles captured last season.
Chargers hurtled the Rockets to their second loss in the preliminaries 25-16, 25-21, 25-14.
The Rockets’ plight was not helped by the loss of professional Anicia Wood to injury once again.
The situation was worsened when veteran Suzanne Wilkinson went down writhing in agony with a horrible knee injury.
The hot and cold play of Shari Matthews was no answer to Hamilton’s thunder and lightning.
That swift dismissal was in stark contrast to the rumble in the cellar, with Plus The Club outlasting Carlton after two hours and 20 minutes of meandering volleyball 25-18, 26-24, 19-25, 25-27, 15-8.
Men’s champions Progressive and League kings RBC/RBTT Deacons warmed up for next week’s clash of the unbeaten teams in contrasting styles.
Deacons stuttered a bit before dismissing Cawmere 25-21, 22-25, 25-22, 25-8.
On the other hand, Progressive, without a specialist setter, were taken to five sets by Sunpower Foundation United with youngsters Justin Bennett and Jabarry Goodridge looking to create an upset.
In the end, a lack of experience and the play of Fabian Cox and two Foundation graduates, Jason Griffith and Akeem Payne, saw Foundation folding 25-23, 17-25, 17-25, 25-22, 9-15.
