DEFENDING CHAMPIONS Pan American International Insurance Warrens and serious contenders UWI Blackbirds will be looking to move into the finals when the semi-finals of the Goddard Enterprises Limited senior knockouts are staged at Oldbury from 4:30 p.m.
Warrens, who are also the league queens, will meet Deacons in the opening game before Blackbirds, who perched in the Division one roost from this season, will battle Burger King Clapham Toners at 6:30 p.m.
Warrens, who had played unbeaten for the entire 2016 season will be keen to get past Deacons and hopefully face the Blackbirds who had handed them their first loss in the preliminary matches. However, Warrens must get by Deacons whose late burst, inclusive of a win over UWI, earned them a spot in the semis.
With attackers Anthazia Mason and Talya Layne along with setter Sophia Walcott past their best, Warrens have still dominated women’s volleyball with consistency in passing and serving. The spiking and blocking of national netball captain Rhe-Ann Niles and the support of young Xhane Greenidge bolster the queens’ play.
Deacons are the most inconsistent and unpredictable team with veteran Julia Lewis along with Shonte Seale being deadly for their unit as well as against it. The efforts of replacement setter Lyn-Marie Burgess and under-rated support from captain Mona Crawford have been blessed with the discovery of 16-year-old Shanae Boyce while US-trained De-Ann Smith can pull Deacons to the finals.
The Blackbirds also field a team of players past their best in setter Afyia Taylor and Sharon Bovell with most of the attack hanging on southpaw Dania Hamilton. However, the consistency of Bovell, Taylor and Hamilton and the support from the lesser rated players could see UWI repeating their previous win over Toners.
The Toners have the best outsider attack in young Ashley Jordan and Aaliyah Durant with the leadership of former Barbados captain Shennel Pooler shocking most teams this season. A meltdown by Jordan and Durant had seen Toners losing to UWI in the prelims with the support staff not filling the breach.
Once the trio of Jordan, Durant and Pooler is on song, the Blackbirds could be hard pressed to reach the finals. The left hand of Hamilton could be pivotal in shutting down Toner’s plan to add Blackbirds to Burger King’s menu. (KB)