BVI savor Cayman Islands win after losses to Jamaica, Netherlands Antilles

BY DEAN GREENAWAY

The BVI Volleyball squad won the battle between the weakest and unranked teams in the first round of the 2006 Women's World Championships qualifying series in the North, Central America and the Caribbean Confederation region on Sunday night in Jamaica, by beating the Cayman Islands 3-1.

It was the first appearance for the BVI in an International Volleyball Federation event and they were out classed by the Netherlands Antilles—ranked number three in the Caribbean and 58 in the world and Jamaica, number two in the Caribbean and 47th in the global rankings.

As expected, Jamaica easily won the group with a one-sided victory, taking only 60 minutes to wrap up their third straight set win, 25-19, 25-18, 25-11, from the Netherlands Antilles on Sunday night. Jamaica will head to Santo Domingo to compete against former Women's World Championship winner Cuba, Costa Rica and hosts the Dominican Republic from August 24-28, for a chance to advance to the World Championship final round in Japan.

It was striker Jackie Weeks however that guided team BVI to a four-set victory over Cayman Islands in the match for third place at the National Indoor Sports Center in Kingston on Sunday.

Team BVI were coming off straight set losses to the Netherlands Antilles and Jamaica on Friday and Saturday, before collecting their first win on the final day of the tournament by beating their north west Caribbean neighbors 25-15, 25-18, 24-26, 25-21 to finish third.

The agile Weeks—who was instrumental in every BVI game and won the tournament’s best defensive and service reception awards—scored 31 points and was positive in 30 of her 53 killing attempts. Sabinah Mason joined her in double figures with 16. She also had 19 blocks. Cayman Islands’ Nicola Williams had 12 points and Rose Wright nine. “Winning a match at this level makes me very proud of my team,” said BVI coach Kwele Williams.

The BVI got the competition rolling against the Netherlands Antilles on Friday and held a five point lead before their opponent settled down for a come from behind 25-20 victory. The Caribbean’s third ranked team—and number 58 in the world—wrapped up the next two sets a lot easier, 25-11 in the second set and the third 25-14, to complete their resounding victory in 43 minutes. Captain Helma Stam led the Netherlands Antilles’ scoring with 13 points while Geraldine Gregorius added 12.

Conditioning was a major factor in the BVI’s performance, where they made 28 errors to the Netherlands Antilles 15. Weeks kept the sets close with aggressive spikes and timely digs, and top-scored with 39 kills, while Celine Alphonso assisted with 13. Melissa Amey had nine blocks and Sabinah Mason four.

On Saturday night, Jamaica’s ‘Riddim Girls' needed just 61 minutes to polish off the BVI for a straight set 25-20, then 25-19 and 25-14 victory, before 2000 fans. Ptamony Fletcher led Jamaica with 15 points. Weeks had 13 points and 38 kills for the BVI.

Favored Jamaica opened the competition with a straight set 25-14, 25-15 and 25-11 triumph over the Cayman Islands on Friday. The Netherlands Antilles needed just 54 minutes for a straight set 25-11, 25-13 and 25-13, Saturday night triumph over the Cayman Islands.

The player awards at the tournament were: Most Valuable Player - Tracyann Pryce Jamaica; Best Defense and Serve Reception - Jacqueline Weeks (BVI); Best Server - Sabinah Mason (BVI); Best Setter - Kamille Dwyer, Jamaica; Best Libero - Naemi Monte, Netherlands Antilles; Best Spiker - Ptamony Fletcher, Jamaica; Best Blocker - Geraldine Gregorius, Netherlands Antilles.