USVI stuns Martinique to keep automatic semis hope alive  

RIVIERE-SALEE, Martinique, December 9, 2019 - US Virgin Islands stunned host Martinique 3-0 (25-16, 26-24, 25-16) to keep their hopes of an automatic semifinal spot at the 2019 Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) Junior (Under-20) Women Championship alive at the La Ville Riviere-Salee Palais Des Sport.

Coming into the match with on the back of a confidence-boosting win over Curacao, 2013 champions on home soil Martinique needed a win to cement top spot in the three-team Pool A round-robin series ahead of the final round-robin between Curacao and USVI on Tuesday.

However, it was not to be as an all-round gritty display from the visitors silenced the normally vociferous crowd for most of the night.

To make matters tougher for the host going forward Outside Hitter Frencesca Renciot suffered an ankle injury with her team ahead 24-23 in the second set, only to lose the next three points and a 0-2 hole in the best-of-five sets encounter.

The third set was all USVI as they raced into an early 8-1 lead which they pushed to 16-2 before Martinique mounted a late rally, but it was little too late.

A win for USVI by any number of sets will cement top spot and a direct place in the semifinals alongside Pool B winners, which is also to be determined in the final round when Barbados (1-0) faces Guadeloupe (0-1). T&T ended its two matches with a 1-1 record, losing to Barbados and rebounding to defeat Guadeloupe.

However, a Guadeloupe victory against the Barbadians will make things a bit complicated especially if they win in straight sets. But, should Guadeloupe 3-1 or 3-2 then Barbados will take top spot in the pool.