Barbados’ junior captain Ammuniki Wood and Jabarry Goodridge stunned former monarchs, Progressive, when the Co-operators General Insurance 2013 Senior Volleyball Knockout began Monday night at the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex.
The Juniors outplayed the experienced Fabian Cox and Renier Grace to take the match 25-20, 25-20, 21-25, 25-17.
Goodridge showed why he was chosen Best Scorer and Best Spiker as Wood and Carlos Cyrus, along with a battery of young guns, displayed just how they captured the Caribbean Volleyball Championship in Guadeloupe last month.Â
Playing with greater spirit and fire, the Juniors made Progressive look like the newcomers on the court. The fans enjoyed the Juniors’ repeated net rejection of Progressive’s Rico Brathwaite which may force him to swap back his spiker’s jersey for his more natural libero’s bib.
After snatching the first two sets, the Juniors allowed a 17-16 advantage to slide to a 17-21 trail, thus allowing Progressive to ease the embarrassment by taking the fourth set.
In the fourth set, Progressive opened a 6-2 lead. However, with Paul Doughty – who is more known for his hockey goalkeeping skills for Christ Church Foundation – employing some solid and sensible setting choices, the Juniors took control of the set and match.
Goodridge added an exclamation mark to their dominance when he thundered a set into the head of Progressive’s defending setter Kemar Hinds with the ball rocketing into the stands. Just last season, Hinds would have been feeding such sets to Goodridge.
The Juniors are expected to move to 2-0 as they will be playing an unsettled Foundation United in the lone men’s fixture today at 6:30 p.m. at the Gym.
The three women’s games played to form with defending champions Brydens Rockets getting over RBC Carlton 25-13, 11-25, 25-21, 25-23.
Rockets’ professionals Shari Matthews and Anicia Wood proved too powerful against Carlton in spite of some efforts from Ayesha Maycock and Shakera Jack.
Last year’s losing finalists Chargers thumped Club United 25-10, 25-17, 25-12.
Even with the return of former national player, Tarah Mayers, who had left the scene over a decade ago, Chargers looked flat.
However, Club continue to play every season, without any identifiable attack or net defence, to maintain their lease on the cellar.
League queens Warrens turned up without new acquisition Annette Chapman which was no bother as they handed a straight sets defeat to a rebuilding Toners 25-10, 25-15, 25-23.
Three women’s matches will be on offer tonight at the Gym. Club should drop to 0-2 as they play Sentry Insurance Brokers Flow Deacons at 6:30. The same fate awaits Carlton who meet Chargers at eight o’clock.
The clash of the night will be between the respective knockout and league queens, Rockets and Warrens, which will also be played at eight.
