The Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association (ECVA) wrapped up its Under 23 Women Volleyball Championship held in Roseau, Dominica, on Sunday in the Massacre Indoor Facility.
The British Virgin Islands was one of nine Caribbean countries competing in this five-day event. IVB, the international Olympic code for the BVI, found themselves in the bronze medal match facing the team that gave them their first loss of the tournament.
They say revenge is best served cold. But in this case, the British Virgin Islands Under 23 Women Volleyball Team came into their second match against host Dominica with a drive and a focus absent in their first encounter.
The first set started out with both teams trading points until Zoe Richards stepped into the serving box for IVB, with Dominica leading 14-13. Richards proceeded to serve 12 unanswered points, topped off with a big solo block by Anna Gordon to give BVI a 25-14 first-set win. That momentum carried over into the final two games of the match as the British Virgin Islands finished off Dominica (25-21; 25-21) to secure third place. Richards led the way with 13 total points. Captain Makala Powell added 8 points.
The championship match paired St. Maarten against St. Lucia. The St. Lucians captured gold in dominating fashion. They won in straight sets (25-11; 25-23; 25-8). The win earns St. Lucia a spot in the North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation Under 23 Tournament.
The women of the British Virgin Islands may have finished third in the tournament, but they took home quite a few individual awards. Kayla Jacinto was named the best setter of the tournament. Anna Gordon and Kristin Abraham collected both top blocker awards. Aman Bispham needed both hands as she walked away with the best digger and best libero awards.
The BVI cannot rest as they are scheduled to host the ECVA Under 23 Men Championships Oct. 11-16.
Here are the final standings of the event:
- Lucia
- Maarten
- British Virgin Islands
- Dominica
- Grenada
- Vincent & The Grenadines
- Antigua & Barbuda
- Anguilla
- Saba
