Category: News

UWI pushed to the edge

UWI Blackbirds women were pushed to the edge before holding on to their unbeaten records when the Goddard Enterprises Limited division one volleyball league continued on Monday, September 5, 2022, at the Wildey Gymnasium.

UWI depended on Shakera “Smiley” Hall to survive as they battled from two sets down and with key setter Afiya Taylor fighting a leg injury to beat Deacons 25-23, 18-25, 16-25, 25-12, 15-9. Captain Dania Hamilton and Jayde Adams added to Hall’s attack and defence with Deacons’ left-hander Serena Edwards and former Barbados libero Marissa Dowell threatening the upset with smart attacks.

Former queens Burger King Clapham Toners were also taken to five sets in a substandard performance against Club United 23-25, 22-25, 25-8, 25-16, 16-14. With Ashley Marshall going off with an injury in the second set Toners’ Ashley Jordan’s and Janelle Chase-Mayers’ efforts were good enough to edge Club.

Deacons men defeat Progressive

Deacons men dismissed their former nemesis Progressive 25-23, 25-19, 25-19 when the Goddard Enterprises Limited division one volleyball league continued at the Wildey Gymnasium.

CO Williams Foundation United notched up their second win of the season after taking another long route. Foundation led Cawmere two love in sets and then had to battle to squeeze out the five sets win 25-15, 25-20, 17-25, 20-25, 15-10.

UWI in straight sets victory

UWI Blackbirds scored a straight sets victory when the Goddard Enterprises Limited division one volleyball league continued at the Wildey Gymnasium.

The Blackbirds surprisingly struggled in their first set before dismissing Club United 27-25, 25-8, 25-19. Club could not contend with the attack of Shakera “Smiley” Hall and Dania Hamilton plus strong blocking from Jayde Adams.

Junior knockout champions Chargers surprisingly lost their opening set to Development Volleyball in Motion before taking the match 15-25, 25-17, 25-22, 25-19 thanks to Latifah Wood, Tonya Joseph and Shaina Bradshaw.

Burger King Clapham Toners scored a straight sets win over Phoenix Security Services Carlton 25-18, 25-18, 25-15. While Carlton missed Nerissa Dyer who left on a volleyball scholarship Toners welcomed the fire from Ashley Jordan who completed her scholarship to burn Carlton.

Deacons almost squandered a two sets advantage before defeating Warrens 25-15, 25-22, 29-31, 20-25, 15-10.

UWI defends title

UWI fluttered from two sets down and two game and match points to ease home 21-25, 25-17, 25-27, 25-16, 17-15, in their defence of the Goddard Enterprises Limited division one volleyball title when the new season was served off at the Wildey Gymnasium. Outstanding play from Desanni Waithe and Kandia Shorey put the Blackbirds under great pressure.

But the superior attack of Dania Hamilton and Shakera Hall dragged the Blackbirds over the line as DVM lost the plot and the game through timid and erratic responses.

A similar performance also denied Club United a chance to upset junior knockout queens Chargers as they faded 25-20, 19-25, 23-25, 25-21, 10-15. Kianna Alleyne had looked good for Club but she lacked the attacking support and was outshone by Chargers’ Dei Padmore, Latifah Wood and Samya Jones.

Deacons’ men start with win

Deacons’ men made a predictable winning start to their defence of the Goddard Enterprises Limited division one volleyball title when the new season was served off at the Wildey Gymnasium.

Deacons’ line-up missed Akil Williams and cousins Ashe Oxley and Akeel Oxley all overseas on scholarships. Then key all-rounder Ahkeem Mayers went down with an injury in the first set against All Stars.

However, the power of attack from veteran Sheldon Roach and young talents, Nkoya Williams-Bailey and Haile Emanuel-Turney saw Deacons dismissing All Stars in straight sets 25-19, 25-16, 25-16.

The opening men’s game saw CO Williams Foundation United battling Progressive for five sets with Kadeem Morris leading Foundation to a tense victory 25-20, 19-25, 25-20, 20-25, 15-11.

Deacons are Knockout Kings

Deacons’ men are the Goddard Enterprises Limited Junior Volleyball Knockout champions. Deacons who were the defending champions from 2020 retained the crown with a 19-25, 25-16, 25-13, 25-22 win over Hill Road at the Wildey Gymnasium on Sunday, August 21, 2022.

A good crowd which included the Minister of Sport, Charles Griffith turned out for the finals with tremendous support and constant chanting and cheering for the various teams enhancing the spirit of the competition. Such support was not lost on long serving coach of Deacons Andrew Culpepper who pointed to the development of a new concept of Deacons.

“In the past we suffered from a negative label and I am proud to see the new approach where we have not only been attracting dozens of new, young players but their parents have been coming along and adding to the new Deacons. The support which we enjoyed during the finals came from the parents and many junior players who have been training at Deacons.

“We used a few experienced players in the final but generally the team was made up of young players who performed really well after getting the opportunity to show their skills. This is a good thing not only for Deacons but for Barbados’ volleyball overall,” said Culpepper.

CO Williams Foundation United took third place by beating UWI Blackbirds men 25-23, 25-15.