Suriname dents Barbados women final hopes  
 

PORT-OF-SPAIN, AUGUST 8, 2014: Sandrina Hunsel rattled up a tournament-high 27 points as Suriname got its first win,  (3-1), while denting record six-time champions Barbados chances of reaching the final of the Women’s Division of the 15th Senior Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) Championship at the Jean Pierre Complex, Mucurapo.
 

Suriname, after losing the first set rallied to secure a 22-25, 25-17, 27-25, 25-19 triumph for a 1-2 record while the Barbadians, previous champions in 1993, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2002 and 2004 also have a 1-2 record.
 

In the final round of preliminary matches on Saturday, Barbados will come up against current second placed team Jamaica (2-1) and need to win convincingly to have any chance of getting to the final while Bahamas (0-2) meet host and four-time defending champions Trinidad and Tobago on Friday night before ending with a clash with Suriname.
 

Trinidad and Tobago, five-time champions overall have already secured a spot in the final with a 3-0 record.
 

The tall figure of Hunsel had 18 kills, six aces and three blocks in her tally while Sigourrney Kame added 14, inclusive of 12 kills, and Chavelii Wip chipped in with 12, six coming on aces.
 

It was an overall solid team effort from Suriname which held a slight advantage over Barbados on spikes (44-40) and dominated on service aces, 15-5 while committing few errors as well, 30 to its opponent, 34.
 

For Barbados which outscored Suriname on blocks 11-6, Shari Matthews was once again the main scorer with 26 points.
 

Captain Thonya Joseph was the next best scorer with eight, followed by Shani Leacock’s seven and five from Anicia Wood in the loss which came nine minutes shy of two hours.
 

Commenting on the loss, Joseph said her team had high expectations but just failed to deliver on the day.
 

“As a team we played too flat and in some instances we failed to execute our serving, receiving and attacks. We still have one match to play and we need to give a better performance.”
 

Cheryl Brunnings, captain of Suriname said, “It was a much better performance than our previous matches. We had a good start today but we fell away and had to battle our way back.”
 

“I am happy that the girls showed great determination and pulled off the victory and looking ahead to our next match we must all remain focus and play the key points well.”
 

Barbadian coach Andrew Brathwaite was not a pleased match and in fact said the outcome was a great disappointment.
 

“We played like there was a lack of motivation and Suriname took full control of it.”
 

Erick Aikman, Suriname’s coach was happy to see his team get among the wins but still was not satisfied with the overall play.
 

He added, “It was a good effort from our girls to back from losing the first set, but I know we can play much better than we did.
 

“We made too many errors and going forward we need to play much better defence.”