in Nassau
Former six-time queens Barbados are in the final of the women’s CAZOVA Senior Volleyball championships being played at the Kendal GL Isaacs National Gymnasium in The Bahamas.
However, what originally looked like an afternoon cruise yesterday turned into an unnecessary scenic ride and almost ended as a turbulent trip. Barbados were up two sets before a passive game saw them losing two sets and facing game and match point in the decisive fifth set before edging home 2517, 25-23, 19-25, 22-25, 17-15.
Coach Michael Brathwaite once again started with captain Ashley Jordan and professional player Shonte Seale on the left wings, Michaela Beckles and Nerissa Dyer in the middle with Chante Moore playing opposite setter Carah Watson. The attacking power of the Bajans kept Guadeloupe at bay in spite of their aggressive counters.
Seale was powering the ball with venom while Jordan was smartly hitting the angles which were undefended. Beckles shared out some crisp blocks while Moore showed her spiking skills when called upon.
After taking the first two sets, the Bajans seemed on course to maintain their unblemished record before a reenergise Guadeloupe took charge of the game. With greater resolute in their defence and greater smarts in their attack, Guadeloupe exploited a surprisingly tentative Barbados team.
The Bajans’ meltdown seemed to be continuing in the decider as Guadeloupe rushed to 4-1 before Barbados rallied and locked at four thanks to a monster block by Moore. The pressure increased on both teams and officials as the scores were locked up to 11 before Guadeloupe crept to 13-11 on a service ace. Barbados scored the side-out on a Jordan kill and locked at 13 with a block on Guadeloupe. The Bajans reached game and match point 14-13 on an errant hit by their opponents. A corrective kill by Guadeloupe kept the game on edge as they locked at 14 before a spiking error by Jordan gave Guadeloupe their first game and match point 15-14. The Bajans supporters were able to exhale as Guadeloupe served the ball into the middle of the net.
Deflated by the critical error, Guadeloupe then meekly surrendered the game with Barbados’ ground defence matching the better positioned blocks at the net in order to channel Guadeloupe’s spike into the hands of the defence.
Jordan made no mistake in counter spiking with precision for her team to move into tomorrow’s final.
In the second semi-final, Trinidad and Tobago destroyed defending champions Jamaica 25-11, 25-19, 25-9 to meet Barbados in tomorrow’s women’s final.
