Antigua & Barbuda welcomes St. Kitts & Nevis with defeat in
straight sets
ST JOHNS, Antigua, August 29, 2019 - St. Kitts & Nevis first
time entry to ECVA Junior Volleyball Championship was marked
by a straight set defeat to home team Antigua & Barbuda
25-17, 25-13 and 25-18.
It took the hosts a little over an hour to claim their first
victory and although it was not as easy as it seemed, they
persevered to record an all-important win in a competition
that was reduced from 6 teams to 4.
Both teams relied on errors to bolster their scoresheet. St.
Kitts & Nevis being the rookies to the tournament
contributed 48 of Antigua’s match tally of 75 while earning
26.
St. Kitts & Nevis enjoyed the advantage in the spiking
column leading 19 to 14 while Antigua & Barbuda led in
blocks 4 to 1 and a whopping lead of 9 to 2 in service
points.
Two scorers ended with 10 points, the only ones to get into
double figures. Opposite hitter Zedan Clarke led the way in
the St Kitts & Nevis team. On the other had it was middle
blocker Harvey Tejani who grabbed the 10 points for the
winners. No one else got close to double figures.
In summing up the game coach Olsen Joseph of Antigua &
Barbuda said it was not as easy as it looked. “St. Kitts &
Nevis definitely put up a fight and at the same time our
guys are still trying to get comfortable with new roles and
new positions. Having said that we must make adjustments
quickly because St. Vincent and the Grenadines as well as
St. Lucia will pose a greater challenge,” he noted.
His opposite number in Coach Shawn Seabrookes was actually
quite pleased despite the loss. “I am very proud of my
guys. They have demonstrated that they have heart and
fundamentals. With those elements and continued exposure
they are going to get to very high levels. Apart for the
unforced errors I cannot say that I am upset, I have to
admit that I am pleased with the performance”, he said.
Captain Elkreen Morton agreed with his coach. “This team is
only one year old right now, we came out and did what we
were asked to do and above all we enjoyed it”, he said.
St. Kitts Nevis next plays St. Vincent on match day 2 while
Antigua and Barbuda will tangled with St. Lucia.