Deacons suffered a weak start to the defence of their senior women’s knockout title when the preliminary rounds of that competition were served off on Monday, August 21 at the Wildey Gymnasium.

In a Zone C game Deacons took the first set from Hill Road before losing a five-setter 25-19, 20-25, 16-25, 26-24, 13-15.

Chargers stumbled from two sets up to lose to the unpredictable Phoenix Security Services Carlton in the other Zone C match 25-18, 19-25, 25-17, 21-25, 11-15.

In the Zone D matches, Burger King Clapham Toners stopped Development Volleyball in Motion 25-23, 25-18, 25-18. While UWI Blackbird handed a similar loss to Club United 25-14, 25-15, 25-18.