Barbados experienced mixed fortunes when the 18th CAZOVA volleyball championship was served off at the Anthony Nesty Sports Hall in Paramaribo, Suriname on Sunday, July 23.

In the first game, Barbados girls were defeated by defending champions Trinidad and Tobago 23-25, 23-25, 25-20, 19-25. However, in the night cap game Barbados men crushed the hosts and defending champions Suriname in straight sets 25-18, 25-18, 25-19.

Shonte Seale was the consistent player for the Bajan girls while for the men Ahkeem Mayers led the assault supported by captain Akeel Oxley and US-based Ammuniki Wood to defeat Suriname in a match that finished 15 minutes after midnight.

It was not a good opening day for Suriname as their girls went down in five sets to former queens Bahamas. T&T men matched their girls in defeating Jamaica in four sets.