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PLEASANTVILLE, San Fernando, Trinidad, July 8,
2022 - US Virgin Islands sounded a warning to
their rivals at the 2021 Caribbean Zonal
Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) Youth Girls
(Under-19) Championship with a commanding 3-0
(25-17, 25-10, 25-5) beating of host Trinidad
and Tobago at the Southern Regional Indoor
Sports Arena (SRISA).
The win moved US Virgin Islands into a two-way
lead with debutants Martinique on five points
each after the latter stunned defending champion
Suriname in the pool opener on Thursday, also in
straight sets, ahead of their meeting on
Saturday, July 9 from 4 pm, with Trinidad and
Tobago facing Suriname from 8 pm.
At the end of the four-team round-robin series,
the top two teams will play for the gold medal
and third and fourth will contest the bronze
playoff.
Trinidad and Tobago coach Saleem Ali was humble
in defeat and admitted that his team is a very
young one and lack any sort of experience to
compete against quality opposition.
"We prepared as best as we can considering all
the distractions that are happening around the
team and the girls will continue to give off
their best effort. Team captain, Gabrielle Mc
Kenzie said her team came into the match under a
lot of stress and together with the slow start
in the first set, they just fell apart from
there."
"Our mood coming into the game was not all that
good due some administrative issues, but we have
to pick up our game and come out and do better
in our next match."
Isaac Raphael, coach of the winning US Virgin
Islands was pleased with the win by his
relatively young group of players.
"We have been working back home to develop the
women's program and this is just the start, so
it was nice to get a win in our first match.
"Trinidad and Tobago was not at their best and
we were able to take advantage of the
opportunities presented to us to get the
victory."
Team captain Jahyra Thomas said it was nice to
get a win as captain and in their first match as
a team at international level.
She added, "Our energy level to start te match
was very good and we played very well together
as unit, which was key to our win. |
