Fletcher Fires TTO to victory over Guadeloupe 

RIVIERE-SALEE, Martinique, December 9, 2019 - Team captain Kiune Fletcher was almost unstoppable as she fired six-time winners Trinidad and Tobago to a 3-0 (25-15, 25-13, 25-16) defeat of Guadeloupe for their first win in two matches at the 2019 Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) Junior (Under-20) Women Championship at La Ville Riviere-Salee Palais Des Sport.

Swept aside by Barbados in their three-team Pool B opener on Sunday, T&T looked a far different team and dominated all aspects of the match, led by Fletcher’s 22 points, highest tally so far in the competition to equal Akeel Oxley's output for Barbados versus Curacao in the Junior Men.

Shanice Cottoy who was introduced to the starting line-up and Desiree Simon chipped in with six points each for T&T, champions in 1997, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2011/2012  while Zhane Marie Lezama added five.

Overall, it was a better display for the winners who outscored Guadeloupe 27-14 in spikes, and 15-6 in service aces while only committing 19 errors to their opponents, 31.

In all fairness to Guadeloupe who outscored T&T 5-2 on blocks, their preparations for their first match were greatly hampered after being unable to train on Sunday due to a mix-up with time allotment at the listed venue.

Fanie Lewis still got six points and Tengy Jernival, and Teha Meslier De Rocan, four in the loss for Guadeloupe.

With the win, T&T ended with a 1-1 record and five points, level with three-time runners-up Barbados who can advance straight to the semifinals as pool winners with victory over Guadeloupe on Tuesday from 6 pm. The second and third-placed teams in the pool will contest the cross-over quarterfinals.

In Pool A, host Martinique defeated Curacao in straight sets face US Virgin Islands from 8 pm on Monday, while USVI battles Curacao on Tuesday, the final round-robin match, from 4 pm.

Speaking after the win, Fletcher said she was happy that her team managed to regroup and play a much-improved match than in their opener.

Coach Nicholson Drakes added, “We started with a loss and now we have secured our first win and we aim to continue to grow from strength to strength in each match.

Curacao’s captain, Jessica Marie was quick to admit said her team was unable to play their best against a good team due to a lack of training.

Coach Dixie Estelle echoed her views and said, “It was our first match and we did not give our best effort due to the lack of training we have had since getting here.”