Host Martinique joined Barbados at the top of the five-team table at the end of the opening day of matches in the ninth edition of the Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) Junior (Under-20) Women’s Championship following a nerve-wrenching, error-filled 3-2 (25-16, 25-22, 20-25, 25-27, 15-12) triumph against last year’s runner-up, U.S. Virgin Islands, at Morne des Peres, Hall des Sports, on Sunday night.
Both Martinique and U.S.V.I. were guilty of too many unforced errors with the host tallying 55 to the visitors 60 in the grueling contest, which lasted one hour and 52 minutes.
Despite the many errors, it was a well-contested match by both teams as shown in the statistics with U.S.V.I. enjoying a 29-26 edge on kills while Martinique led on service aces, 14-9, and both teams equal on blocks, 10-10.
For Martinique, which was backed by a vociferous home crowd that played its part in helping the team to victory, Captain Gayanee Eniona was the main scorer with 15 points, inclusive of nine kills, three blocks and three aces each while Noemie Beltan got ten.
Middle-blocker Danielle Christian was the most efficient scorer for the territory with a match high 16 points, laced with 11 kills and three blocks while team captain.
Commenting on the win, Eniona said she was satisfied the team managed to come up with the win even though their performance was up and down.
“We started off quite well and won the first two sets, but then we dropped our game as we felt it would be easy to complete the victory. But U.S.V.I. fought back well, and we have to thank the supporters for giving us that extra push and encouragement to get the victory,” said Eniona.
V.I. Vice-Captain Shannis James, speaking in the absence of injured captain Dinaja Dowdy, pointed out that it was very competitive match by both teams.
James said, “We did not cope with the serves of Martinique well earlier on, which allowed the host to run away with the first two sets, but we came back well and just fell short. We also need to be much [more focused] on the court and keep our heads in the match because in a split second the match could go away from you.”
Tania Villeronce, coach of the victorious host team, said she was not satisfied despite the win due to the fact the team did not apply their match plans.
“We took a 2-0 lead and then we relaxed and allowed U.S.V.I. back into the match, but we have to [be] more professional and finish off teams when we have the chance to,” she said.
Sacha Gumbs, coach of the V.I. team, while disappointed her team did not get the win, credited the players for a good performance considering the circumstances.
Gumbs said, “We did not get a chance to train before our first match because of the delay with our gears in arriving in the country, and just knowing those circumstances, I think the girls did a good job. Martinique got off to a flying start, but we were able to get back into the match, and in the end, we just fell short.”
