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 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.
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’ 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.
Chargers women, are the Goddard Enterprises Limited Junior Volleyball Knockout queens, stopping Development Volleyball in Motion 22-25, 25-23, 25-14, 25-12 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.
Chargers fought from a set down after Dessani Waithe and Kandia Shorey gave DVM the early advantage. Eking out a win in the second set Chargers then took control of the game with Dei Padmore, Samya Jones, Latifah Wood and former body fitness queen Janilia Atherley proving too strong in attack and defence for Chargers.
The setting choices from Chargers’ Dayna Babb was exceptional with a late arrival by first choice libero Tonneil Rowe plugging and denying DVM a previous weak spot in Chargers’ reception and defence. DVM also could not match the superior bench strength of Chargers who ensured that a title went to Hill Road, Bank Hall on the night.
Deacons’ women won the third place stopping Phoenix Security Services Carlton 18-25, 25-22, 15-7.
Hill Road men will battle defending champions Deacons when the Goddard Enterprise Limited junior knockout finals are staged on Sunday August 21, 2022 at the Wildey Gymnasium.
Hill Road reached the men’s final in a bruising 26-24, 31-33, 25-20, 27-25 win over UWI Blackbirds. That game seemed a personal battle between former Barbados setter Dale Addison who was on fire for Hill Road and an unstoppable Carlos Cyrus who previously played with Addison for Chargers. It seemed fitting that Addison in tandem with Samuel Fraser stuff blocked Cyrus to win game and match point in set four.
In the heat of the fire at the net it was almost unnoticeable that former Barbados captain Anthazia Mason played libero for Hill Road while former St. Lucian leader Dania Hamilton filled that role for UWI. Another past Barbados skipper Renier Grace suited up for UWI and Alain London who also led Barbados men turned out for Hill Road.
The other men’s semi was a high energy game which surprisingly ended in straight sets as Deacons lead by United States based Akiel Oxley stopped CO Williams Foundation United 25-18, 25-13, 25-20. Foundation as customary added excitement by celebrating every point won.
