Barbados girls suffered a heartbreaking meltdown to lose the opening match of the 18th CAZOVA championships yesterday to defending champions Trinidad and Tobago 23-25, 23-25, 25-20, 19-25 at the Anthony Nesty Sports Hall, Paramaribo, Suriname.
The Bajans, who have won the title on six occasions, started with captain Shakera “Smiley” Hall and her deputy Shonte Seale playing outside power hitters with Chante Moore and Tenielle Chapman-Goodluck running the middles. Tiara Johnson played opposite setter Carah Watson.
In spite of a sub par start from Hall, Moore and Johnson along with Watson struggling to set Chapman-Goodluck, Barbados matched the Trinis from 17-all up to 22-all with Seale cranking up an ace.
Seale served away the next ball and Hall was then blocked for T&T to ease to 24-22. A serving error allowed the Bajans to reach 23 before losing the first set. (KB)
