Martinique stuns defending champions

 Suriname in U-23 curtain raiser

MALONEY, AROUCA, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, JULY 10, 2025: Martinique sounded a warning to all rivals at the Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) Under-23 Women’s Championship hosted by the T&T Volleyball Federation (T&TVF) when they defeated defending champions Suriname (3-1) at the Maloney Indoor Sports Arena.

Led by captain Maelyss Melinard-Chanteur, Martinique secured a 25-16, 25-11, 21-25, 25-21 victory to signal their title ambitions in their opening match of the four-nation tournament.

Reflecting on his team’s win Eddy Erialc,Head Coach of Martinique women said, “We started well and won the first two sets, but then we made a tactical change with the libero, and it affected our play.”

“The third was not so good by us, but then we regrouped in the fourth set and won the match, and we are now looking forward to the next match where we hope to improve.

Melinard-Chanteur added, “I’m satisfied with our win, but I know we can play much better as a team.”

“It’s going to be a very tough competition and as a team we need to be focus and prepared for every match.”

Victor Lesperans, Head Coach of Suriname women was quick to point out that the reception from his players played a major role in their demise.

“Our reception fell away from early in the match and if you don’t receive well, then your attack breaks down. The good thing is that it’s a tournament where we have a chance to grow with every match, and we intend to do much better in our next match”.

Host Trinidad and Tobago comes up against Curacao in the second match tonight while on Friday, Curacao serves off the day’s action versus Suriname from 1 pm followed by Trinidad and Tobago against Martinique at 8 pm, then on Saturday’s final day of round-robin matches, Curacao tackles Martinique at 3 pm, while Trinidad and Tobago closes out against Suriname from 6 pm.

At the end of both the round-robin series, the top two teams will square off for the gold medal on Sunday, July 13 final day of competition at 4 pm, while the third and fourth placed teams will contest the bronze medal, also on the final day from two hours earlier.