February 21 2003
 Te-Sito's Lynelle Gumbs concentrates on digging during Sunday's game vs Raw Power 2 Champions prevail as BVI Amateur Volleyball Association season opens BY DEAN GREENAWAY Raw Power 2 overpowered Te-Sito and Terminators silenced Young guns, as both BVI Amateur Volleyball Association defending champions opened the 2004 league with straight set victories at the Belle Vue Gym on Sunday. "I would describe this game as a warm up as we didn't have a full practice until today, so I consider this our first practice run," Raw Power 2 coach Willis Potter said. "Tonight I saw that we still need to shake off a bit of rust. We played well but there's a lot more to come. There are players missing, but, when we get the full unit, you will see what's going on." Raw Power 2 overpowered Te-Sito in straight sets 25-19, 25-8 and 25-14. Potter noted that Te-Sito played without their setter and moved Lynelle Gumbs to the setters post. "She's one of their stronger hitters so that significantly weakened their attack," Potter explained. "I figured that is the option that helped me the greatest tonight." Te-Sito's coach Elsworh Phillips said his team was at a disadvantage against Raw Power 2. "Tonight we were short of a few female players and we were stuck with six players on the court at all given times," Phillips said. "That was basically our short coming." Raw Power's captain Sabinah Mason said it was their very first game with the entire team and they were a little shaky in the beginning but pulled it together towards the end. "This was a serious confidence booster," admitted Mason. "We are the defending champions and coming against Te-Sito in our first game and winning, certainly helps." In men's play, Terminators took the first two sets 25-17 and 25-19. They trailed in the third set 7-3, then steadily fought back to tie the score five times starting at 15 all before closing out the game 25-22. Jackie Ladoo led Raw Power 2 with 17 points, while Tasha Creese and Pearline Scatliffe added 16. Creese also had 11 kills and four digs. Lynelle Gumbs topped Te-Sito with 13 points and four digs. Player/coach Elsworth Phillips said the first few games will be to feel out the competition and see where they are. "Personally, I would like us to be able to dominate where the score would reflect the game, say 25-13, 25-10. That's the type of game I'm expecting from my team," Phillips said. "It's going to boil down to conditioning. No one is in shape right now. But once we get out the gate, I'm only looking for the victory in the end." Young Guns coach Kwele Williams said his team was short handed. "Even I had to go in and try a little thing tonight, but we are going to try and put it together," Williams said. "We had an alright game, but right now Terminators are really together. I must give them that. I'm going to try and get my guys in shape and come back again. We are just going to prepare for the playoffs. That's what we are going to focus on this season." Damien Creque had 19 points, four blocks and four kills for Terminators. Denfield 'Doc' Solomon chipped in 12 points with seven kills and four blocks. Elsworth Phillips finished with eight points, four assists and four blocks. Carlton O'Neal had a 14 point four dig and four kill performance for Young Guns. Dion Anslem added eight points and six kills while Neville Bratwaithe contributed 14 points, seven kills and four blocks.
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