St. Kitts and Nevis win ECVA Female Beach Volley

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, November 21, 2010 - It seemed “Golden Sets” was the rule of the final day at the Zonal Phase’s ECVA Beach Volleyball Olympic Qualification Tournament on Sunday.

St. Kitts and Nevis’ women finished as the top ranked country in the female competition followed by St. Lucia, Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda who also qualified to the next stage of the NORCECA competition towards the 2012 London Olympic Games.

The St. Kitts and Nevis (B) squad encountered the determined St. Lucia (A) ladies.  The St. Lucian ladies made no jokes with their opponents as they disposed of them really quickly.  The scores for this encounter were 21-15 and 21- 16 for the winning “Lucian team”.  The meeting of St. Kitts and Nevis (A) and St. Lucia (B) squad resulted in 21-7, 21-6 victory for St. Kitts and Nevis. 

With both teams tied, a “Golden set” was played to determine the winner.  St. Kitts and Nevis lead by the experienced Brenda Allen stuffed the mighty “Lucians” with a suffocating score of 15-4.   Consequently by virtue of beating St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis placed first, while St. Lucia placed second.

Third and fourth places for the women were decided by another “Golden Set” between host Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica.  Though the home crowd cheered and encouraged their local girls, the Dominican ladies did not show them any mercy.  Dominica won the set with a score of 15-12, consequently securing third place and condemning the host to fourth place.

In the first match the women of Dominica (B) felt the wrath of Grenada (A).  The scores for that game were 19-21, 21-16 and 15-10 in favor of Grenada.  A reversal of fortunes occurred when Dominica (A) encountered Grenada (B).  The Dominican ladies thwarted any thoughts Grenada might have had towards winning the game with a fine all round performance.  The score for the game was 21-15, 21-15 in favor of Dominica (A).

In the second set of games Anguilla (B) ladies suffered terribly at the hands of Antigua (A) ladies.  The vastly experienced Antigua (A) easily disposed of seemly nervous Anguillans.  The score for the game was 21-16 and 21-5 in favor of Antigua (A).  The more composed Anguilla (A) sort to restore the balance by easily defeating Antigua (B). Good serving from Michelle Harrigan kept her opponents pinned to the back of the court.  The score for the game was 21-14, and 21-9 in favor of Anguilla.

With the Anguillan and Antiguan ladies in a dead heat, a “Golden set” was played to determine which team would proceed to the final four.  Anguilla never retreated from her volleyball adversary Antigua.  In the end the Antiguan team rich in beach volleyball experience defeated Anguilla with a score of 15-10.

Likewise Grenada and Dominica were both tied so a “Golden set” was played.  Despite the determined efforts by both teams, the Dominican ladies emerged winners as they won the final few points to secure victory.  The score for the game was 15-11 in favor of Dominica.