Curacao bounce back


KRALENDIJK, Bonaire, June 23, 2018 – Curacao bounced back from their heart-breaking five set defeat the night before in the first of four matches today in the inaugural CAZOVA (Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association) Under-23 Women’s Championship here at the Jorge Nicholas Sports Hall, Bonaire.

After a sluggish start cost them the first set, they went on to dispose of United States Virgin Islands (USVI) 19-25, 25-19, 25-21, 25-20 in 94 minutes.

Curacao could have actually made things a lot tougher but were not made to pay for allowing significant leads to slip in the third and fourth sets.

After being up down 14-8 in the third, USVI won six straight points to level proceedings and then won four in a row to take the lead after trailing 20-17.

However Curacao then rattled off the last five points and seemed to be cruising to victory when they raced to a 10-3 lead in the fourth.

But it seemed like no lead was safe with them this morning and USVI came within touching distance again before they buckled down to eventually crossed the line in fairly comfortable fashion.

Danielle Christian of USVI was the game’s leading scorer with 15 points, one more than Curacao’s Jewengely Hart.

Curacao captain Sharnesca Esclodina was not happy about the “slow start” but dismissed suggestions that the players may have been tired after going down in nearly two hours last night against Suriname.

“More concentration and we won” said coach Gilbert Paulina.

“We started well, but did not stay with it mentally” said USVI coach Issac Raphael and his captain Khrysti Rosa wishes that we “stop getting down on ourselves.”

They had beaten Bonaire in straight sets in their opening fixture last night and are still in with a chance of being crowned champs if they win their other two fixtures tomorrow.

Curacao are in a similar position, but they play Bonaire in tonight’s final match (at eight o’clock) and Aruba first thing tomorrow (9.30 a.m.).

The five-team straight round-robin competition will conclude tomorrow night.