Thompson, Ramdin set up second Calypso Spikers win

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, August 5, 2014 - France-based Channon Thompson had the hot hand again with a tournament best 18 points as four-time reigning champions and host, Trinidad and Tobago got the better of a spirited Suriname 27-25, 25-18, 25-8 in the Women’s Division of the 15th Senior Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) Championship at the Jean Pierre Complex, Mucurapo.

With their second straight sets victory, the Kelly-Anne Billingy skippered “Calypso Spikers”, five-time champions overall improved to a 2-0 record from as many matches and maximum ten points after blanking record six-time champions Barbados in its opener on Monday.

Suriname, meanwhile, fell to a 0-2 mark after it was also beaten in straight sets by Jamaica in the tournament’s curtain raiser on Monday.

Thompson’s impressive haul included 15 spikes, and two blocks and she was assisted by fellow France-based T&T international, Darlene Ramdin’s, ten points.

T&T outscored their opponents on spikes, 36-29, blocks  (8-6), and aces, 6-4.

On the other side of the net, the tall figure of  Sandrina Hunsel  had a mixed outing with 11 points.

Cheryl Brunnings, captain of Suriname’s team agreed her team had a very good first set, which they were unlucky not to win after which things went downhill.

While happy with the win, Billingy said she was not all that happy with the team’s display.

She said, “We did not play our best volleyball as we had too many errors, but was able to show what champions are made off and come away with the win.

Despite the loss, Suriname coach Eric Aikman was satisfied with the effort of his players, and stated, “We had a much better performance tonight than we had versus Jamaica. Our girls started off very well, but then we started to get problems with our service game and T&T took control.

“But overall the signs are good as we are improving in each match and I am confident that the best is yet to come,” ended Aikman.

In contrast to Billingy, T&T coach Nicholson Drakes said he was happy with the performance and the win.

“We are getting to the level of play that I expect us to be at and be consistent and once we can get to that level we will be unbeatable.”