Barbados girls made an outstanding start to their campaign at the 19th CAZOVA volleyball championship with a straight sets drubbing of defending champions Jamaica 25-21, 25-19, 25-21 at the Kendal GL Isaac National Gymnasium in Nassau, the Bahamas.
In the first two sets, the power hitting from captain Ashley Jordan, professional Shonte Seale, middle Nerissa Dyer and Michaela Beckles along with opposite Chante Moore was fired up by setter Carah Watson. That offense compensated for a number of serving errors.
Jamaica rebounded well in the third set leading 9-2 and 14-5 before Barbados regained their rhythm creeping back to within two points and locking at 18 after coach Michael Brathwaite inserted Dessani Waithe to serve for Beckles.
Panic set in among the Jamaicans as Waithe spiced her serves with two aces while forcing a number of bad passes as Barbados gained the lead for the first time in the set to hold a two points advantage, 20-18.
With solid blocks at the net coming from a reinserted Beckles and vicious counters from Seale Barbados surged home in a spectacular fashion. Barbados will play their second game against Suriname on Tuesday. (KB)