The crowd turned out and 52 of the island’s top players responded admirably by providing ten entertaining sets when the Barbados Volleyball Association staged the All Stars first games at the Wildey Gym on Sunday night.
The women’s battle saw Hammer Time, led by Anthazia Mason and Anicia Wood, nullifying the threat from the Assassins’ Shari Matthews, Fabia Greaves and consistent Talya Layne to win game one, 25-23, 21-25, 16-25, 25-17, 15-10.
The Assassins had led 13-6 in the first set before Wood and Mason showed their superiority to surge to 23-19 before winning the opening skirmish. Wood responded admirably in the second set showing little concern for her Rocket’s teammate Nicola Greaves as she crashed a ball into the latter’s head to carry the Assassins to 9-4 in the second set.
However, Julia Lewis then came alive for Hammer Time, causing that team to surge from 13-19 to lock the scores as 20 all before Matthews replied to take the Assassins home in that set. The next three sets were more of the same as the Assassins drew first blood going into next Sunday’s second game.
The men’s game was even more exciting, with Fabian Cox, Shawn Simpson and Chioke Holder combining for the Wolf Pack to pip the Kings 24-26, 28-26, 25-19, 22-25, 15-12.
Nicholas Matthias and Ammuniki Wood who had enjoyed a tremendous 2014 division one season, had looked like taking game one for the Kings, who turned away advantageous leads by the Wolf Pack to edge set one, and they almost repeated in set two.
Wood showed tremendous attacking form, and he certainly thrilled the crowd by hitting a ten-footer at 10-8 in the first set to run off of the court to grab a cellphone and take a selfie. Captain Mark Lewis spoiled the moment by serving out.
With both teams battling strong more mirth and excitement were provided in the second set with Kings’ Akeem Payne falling to the floor at 23-24 while losing his shoe as setter Paul Doughty passed the ball for Payne to spike. Payne rose and leapt minus one shoe to score the kill and lock the scores at 24.
However, Cox and Simpson were able to retake the advantage as the Wolf Pack better used their lesser attackers to take the first match. With the players gelling a lot more for game two and perhaps the coaches exploiting the rolling and unlimited subs, the fans can look for more thrillers when the second games are played next Sunday back at the Gym.