Two exciting games highlight Volleyball league opener

BY DEAN GREENAWAY

Two five set thrillers highlighted Saturday’s opening of the BVI Amateur Volleyball Association Power League at the Multipurpose Sports Complex.

Chix wid Trix, formerly defending champs Greratrix, pulled out a see saw 14-25, 25-16, 20-25, 25-22 and 15-13 victory over Raw Power. “It seems like my girls were under pressure. I don’t understand why, because its been three years, why are under pressure,” asked Jackie Weeks, who put the team together with a cadre of younger players, and led them with 20 points, five kills and three digs. “As we started, some of them we like ‘oh, I’m frightened, I’m frightened’ but, I’m glad that we went down deep inside, stayed positive and did the job.”

Weeks, who have been setting for the team in practice, said they learnt they should never give up no matter what. She said that during the game, veteran Patti Romney did most of the setting, but had never practiced with them. “If she didn’t come out of the game, we would have never noticed that I needed to set because they already have that confidence in me. We practice every Tuesday and Friday at the BVI High School and that was the team you saw in the last set tonight,” Weeks, a hitter explained. “Even though her sets are better than mine, they still were not accustomed and I don’t think they had that confidence in her, that even if it was a bad set she would still get it up. It’s about all about playing together.”

Weeks who will travel to the Volleyball World Championships qualifier in Jamaica this week, said her team must get accustomed to Romney as an injury will limit her playing time.

Sabinah Mason led Raw Power with 20 points and five kills. “I think were all playing a little timid, since we have not had a practice in a while and have been concentrating on national team practice, there was not that cohesiveness on the team,” Mason noted. “I think that’s what cost us the game. We started out well, played great in the first and third sets, but unfortunately, couldn’t close it out in the end.”

In men’ splay, defending champs G-Unit overcame a 22-25 opening lost to beat Terminators 25-23, 12-25, 25-13 and 15-12. Neville Bratwaithe and Carlton O’Neal led G-Unit with 21 points respectively. Bratwaithe also had 14 digs and O’Neal nine kills. Dion Anslem and Norville Bratwaithe finished with 15 points each.

Coach Kewele Williams said he spent the past month trying to get his squad together for a practice and it showed as their timing was off. “It took us to the fourth set before we started to gel, so tonight was like a first coming together since last year,” he noted. “I’ve been telling these guys every year about coming out early, and it has been becoming more and more difficult because they just don’t come out. If I could convince them enough to realize the power of practice because what you put in you get out,” Williams added.

“I think luckily for us, Terminators were doing the same thing, where they were out of conditioning late in the game and it affected them and probably helped us as we were able to maintain a little bit more than theirs and maintained our focus down the stretch.”

Damien Creque who had follow up 23 for Terminators to Jason Cameron’s game high 24, said it was the first time the team played together since last year’s championship. “We were out of sync, and we weren’t killing the ball when we were supposed to, but relying on dinks,” he noted. “I think we got a little tired in the end. We were standing too much, and passes weren’t being made. When you’re tired, the first thing that goes is the fundamentals and I think that is what killed us tonight.”

In her capacity as president, Mason said the opening was not as well attended as they would have liked it to be. “Not just on the part of spectators, but, as players as well. I think players don’t understand the importance of attending an opening ceremony,” she noted. “There was little representation from the different teams. In some cases, we had only two or three people in the march past. Because people were not playing, they thought they didn’t need to be here for the opening ceremony. They must support regardless.”

On Sunday, Just Pull Up and ‘n Motion secured 3-0 victories over Mixed Talent and the HLSCC Lady Stingrays. After beating Mixed Talent 25-7 in the opener, Just Pull Up used their experience for come from behind 25-20 and 25-20 victories.

It was a practice game for both of us as we are both new teams,” Dwayne ‘Para’ Rubaine pointed out. “The rookies played well and I feel as the league go on, the team will get better. Their coaches made substitutions and so did we, because we were trying to give everyone an opportunity to play and feel them out. As soon as we put on our starting six, the game was in control again.”

Weeks said Mixed Talent is comprised of BVI High School players coupled with guys from church who have never played volleyball before. “They just wanted to get together and play. They had about a month’s practice and this is the improvement they are showing,” Weeks said. “This is their first experience and now they have an idea of what is expected. I told them this is one of the teams they should be beating because the level of the others is much higher. I think they understand. We’ll practice this week and they’ll come out looking better.”

The Lady Stingrays fought ‘n Motion to the core before surrendering, 26-28, 25-27 and 12-25. Roy Barry said ‘n Motion played tentative. “It’s the first time they played together in a game setting. They have been practicing for about a month or so, but, I expect them to improve at the tournament goes on,” he said. “My team is made up of a lot of veteran players and there are quite a lot of strengths within the team. It’s just for them to gel and play together.

Stingrays coach Kwele Williams said he thought his cadre of new players well. “On paper, I think we were playing against one of the best teams tonight,” Williams said. “We are young and were put in a position where we had game point in the first two sets, but couldn’t finish. I think the inexperience of knowing how to finish out and win hurt them in those two sets,” he noted. “I think the frustration—after coming so close—their energy just wasn’t there in the third set.”