Combermere and Foundation Triumph in Clash

Friday, May 23, 2025 – Combermere had an impressive win over their arch rivals, the Christ Church Foundation School, when the National Sports Council’s under-16 volleyball league continued on Friday at Church Hill.

Combermere dismissed the Beacons 25-22, 25-23, with Joshua Ashby leading the Waterford lads to the win in front of Foundation’s home supporters. Many times, it seemed that the battle was personal between Ashby and CCFS’ lone hope, Mikhail Gooding.

The game was also bathed in irony as Combermere’s long-serving coach, Corene Brathwaite, was back at her alma mater, coaching against Foundation, while Fernando Skeete was running Foundation’s squad against his alma mater, Combermere.

Earlier, Foundation’s girls handed Combermere their second successive defeat 25-23, 25-13.

Lodge School and St. Michael School Shine

Friday, May 23, 2025 – The Lodge School’s volleyball teams proved their dominance, securing thrilling victories over Queen’s College in both the boys’ and girls’ matches.

The Lodge School’s girls set the tone early, holding off a determined Queen’s College squad with a 25-22, 25-15 victory.

The Lodge School’s Griffins overcame Queen’s College in a nail-biting contest. The Griffins held strong, securing the first set 25-19 before battling to a dramatic 26-24 finish in the second set.

The St. Michael School’s girls left no doubt about their superiority, dominating Deighton Griffith with a 25-17, 25-8 win.

Apex hand Deacons first loss

Thursday, May 22, 2025 – KFC Deacons stumbled in defence of the Barbados Volleyball Association’s men’s division two crown when they were upended in straight sets on Thursday night on their home court by newcomers to the division, Apex, 18-25, 20-25, 23-25.

Apex, led by Guyanese attacking duo Devendra Latchman and Shemroy Ross and inspirational setter Ramon Blades, avenged last year’s first loss to Deacons in division three at the same venue.

Apex outplayed Deacons in the opening two sets before Deacons stormed back to hold leads of 12-6 and 19-16 to threaten to take the match into a fourth set. However, Apex remarkably rallied to take the lead 20-19 and went to game and match point 24-22 before ending the battle 25-23.

Blazers Night Ends in Double Defeat

Thursday, May 22, 2025 – Blazers Club’s volleyball teams made the long journey from St. Philip to Free Hill, St. Michael on Thursday night, hoping to bring home victories. Instead, they faced stiff competition and returned empty-handed after suffering back-to-back losses in the Barbados Volleyball Association league.

The Division Three women took on Spikenards, battling hard but falling in straight sets 18-25, 20-25. Blazers’ Division Two women showed grit and determination in their clash against Club United, taking the match to a thrilling decider. With each team exchanging victories in the first two sets, Club United edged past in a nail-biting finish 25-21, 18-25, 15-13.

UWI Blackbirds with Victory Over Advent Ballers

Thursday, May 22, 2025 – The UWI Blackbirds cemented their place in the top three of the Barbados Volleyball Association’s Division Two League with a hard-fought straight-sets win over Advent Ballers on Thursday night at Clapham.

Despite the final score suggesting a routine victory, the Blackbirds had to summon all their resilience to edge out their opponents 25-23, 25-22, 25-23.

In another keenly contested Division Two matchup, the visiting Chargers women also walked away victorious. They overcame Burger King Clapham in a nail-biting affair, winning 26-24, 25-22.

Kolij and Combermere Share Honours

Wednesday, May 23, 2025 – Combermere School experienced mixed fortunes when they hosted Harrison College in the National Sports Council’s schools’ junior league tournament at Waterford.

Combermere’s boys rebounded to defeat Harrison College 25-9, 25-9 after the Waterford lasses were defeated by the Kolij Lionesses 25-14, 25-19. The Kolij girls, boasting division one players Talia Sandiford and Cuzarah Batson along with Naima Cabey, were obviously the superior team.

However, pint-sized Danielle Forde played an outstanding game for Combermere after her team lost the first set. Down 13-7 in the second, Forde executed some impressive spiked serves to pull Combermere around to 14-13 before HC then recovered momentum to take the set and game.

Just like HC’s girls, Combermere’s boys possess a superior force, and they unleashed it to trample their opponents to ensure shared glory on the evening. Joshua Ashby, T’Jay Sobers and talented player Kymani Sandiford quickly established and maintained dominance in both sets.

Daniel Reece was impressive from the service area with a curling spiked serve, which racked up numerous aces in both sets for the Waterford lads.