Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica claim thrilling victories

Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, December 2, 2011 – Trinidad and Tobago, Curacao, Barbados and Jamaica advanced to the semifinals of the Women’s Inter Zonal NORCECA Beach Volleyball Continental Cup following the opening day action on Friday at Seven Miles Beach of Grand Cayman.

The top five teams of the competition, played under a best-of-three series and double-elimination format, advance to the next phase of the Olympic Qualification Tournament against the top five teams of Central America.

Trinidad and Tobago, winners of the zonal tournament in the Caribbean, prevailed in a golden set against hosts Cayman Islands when the duo of Ayana Dyette and Elki Phillip claimed a 15-7 victory over Cristin Alexander and Jennifer Bily.

Dyette and Phillip had defeated Alexander/Bily 2-1 (18-21, 21-18, 15-12) to force the golden set. In the first match of the best-of-three series, Melissa Burrowes and Stefania Gandolfi of Cayman Islands-B won 21-17, 21-14 over Pauline Woodroffe and Malika Charles of Trinidad and Tobago-A.

The toughest battle of the day was reserved for the series between Jamaica and St. Kitts and Nevis. Jamaica easily triumphed 2-0 over Grenada in the first series of the day but had to play to the limit against the winners of the Eastern Caribbean tournament.

St Kitts and Nevis took the lead by winning the first match when Brenda Allen and Shanicia Dyer defeated Nardrake Hutchinson and Cherie Thompson 2-0 (21-14, 21-17) but the Jamaican duo of Cherine Richards and Cheryl Daley bounced back to defeat Andrea Liburd and Antoinette Henry 2-0 (21-17, 21-15). Then in a nail-biting golden-set Richards/Daley edged Allen/Dyer 22-20.

Curacao’s Samira Luis and Christine Anthony saw off St. Lucia’s Samantha Mann and Dania Hamilton 2-0 (21-14, 21-10) while Kionna Gregorius and Cristal Gregorius completed the seep by downing Sadia Baptiste and Jamilla Lansiquot 2-1 (12-21, 21-13, 15-3).

Barbados’ Anthazia Mason and Shari Matthews crushed Dominica’s Lisa James and Laureen Lockhart 2-0 (21-7, 21-3) while Sharon Bovell and Mona Crawford won 2-1 (21-5, 19-21, 15-10) against Catherine Celaire-Francis and Anna-Maria Xavier.

Friday’s results: JAM d GRN (2-0), CAY d ANT (2-1), CUR d DMA (2-0), TRI d CAY (2-1), JAM d SKN (2-1), LCA d. GRN (2-0), ANT d DMA (2-0).