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PLEASANTVILLE, San Fernando, Trinidad, July 10,
2022: US Virgin Islands overcame the absence of
injured captain Alek-Wek Raphael to beat
Suriname 3-0 (25-22, 25-9, 25-19) to secure
their first ever title in the 2021 Caribbean
Zonal Volleyball Association(CAZOVA) Junior
Women (Under-21) Championship at the Southern
Regional Indoor Sports Arena (SRISA).
With Raphael picking up a torn left-knee
tournament ending injury when both teams met in
their final round-robin encounter on Saturday,
which also ended in a 3-0 win for USVI, all eyes
were on the round-robin table-toppers to see how
they would cope without their inspirational
level.
However, despite some early resistance from
Suriname, the US Virgin Islanders who previous
best finish came in 2011/2012 as runner-up to
Trinidad and Tobago used a well balanced team
effort to come away with the win which earned
them the spot at the NORCECA Under-21 Women’s
Continental Championship from April 16 to 24,
2023 in the USA.
An emotional Isaac Raphael, coach of the new
champions said it was an amazing feeling to
climb the ladder as champions.
He added, "I have been champions with so many
teams before, but this is the first time I have
reached these heights with my country and the
feeling is just amazing."
Raphael added, "Throughout the tournament the
girls have been amazing and even when their
captain (Alek-Wek) went down with the injury
they never buckled but instead lifted their game
to another level, and I'm very proud of them."
Team captain, Alek-Wek who watched on from the
sidelines said never for one moment she doubted
the capabilities of her teammates despite her
absence.
"Even though I was not part of the action today,
I'm just as excited because I know we have
worked hard and to see that we have been finally
able to win the title is an incredible
feeling." |
