ST CROIX, US Virgin Islands, CMC – Jamaica booked a re-match with defending champions Trinidad and Tobago while Barbados will face the Bahamas, with contrasting victories in the quarter-finals of the senior Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association Championships here Thursday night.
While Jamaica needed just 72 minutes to breeze past Guadeloupe in straight sets, 25-22, 25-18, 25-18, Barbados were stretched before hammering out a 25-15, 23-25, 25-19, 25-21 verdict over hosts US Virgin Islands in just under two hours.
In Friday’s semi-finals, Jamaica will try to avenge their preliminary round defeat when they clash with the Trinidadians while Barbados will come up against the Bahamians for a place in the final.
Playing at the Ronald Charles Gymnasium of the Central High School, Jamaica were led by 17-year-old Ryck Webb who scored a game-high 14 points while captain Dillon Brown got 11 and Dennis Nelson, ten.
For the French side, Jordy Bihary was the lone player in double-figures with ten points.
“We knew what we had to do and take it point by point and our service game was a big plus for us to today,” Brown said.
“It may have seemed an easy win but it was not because we have a limited team of eight players and we still had to work for our points.”
Barbados, meanwhile, dropped a set before finding their footing to complete a tough outing against the USVI.
Shawn Simpson led their attack with 15 points with Akeem Payne adding 13 points and veteranFabian Cox, 12.
USVI captain Alvaro Delugo led all scorers with 16 points.
Overall, however, Barbados was the dominant side and held a 12-7 advantage in blocks and 6-1 edge on service aces.
Barbados coach Ludger Niles said he remained confident his side would reach the final.
“We started well but then in the second set we made a big error with regards to our set-up and was penalised our points, but the guys showed tremendous character to come back and only lose by three points and that fighting spirit goes well for the team as we go into the semi-finals,” said Niles.
“The match was a good one for us as so far we have not been involved in any easy matches and we also expect our semi-final with Bahamas to be another tough assignment.
“But overall we are happy to be in the tournament still and our goal is to get to the final and see what happens when we get there.”
