The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

The men’s national volleyball team gave it a gallant effort at the Juan “Pachín” Vicens Auditorium, but a third place finish over the weekend eliminated the Bahamas from the NORCECA Men’s World Championship Qualification Tournament.

The Bahamas needed to win the Pool R to earn a berth into the 24-team FIVB Men’s World Championships scheduled for August 30 to September 21 in six cities in Poland. If they had finished second, they would have joined the other three second place teams in third-round pools that will compete in a final playoff July 14-20 to determine NORCECA’s fifth and final spot into the World Championship.

Having fallen short, the Bahamas Volleyball Federation will now be preparing the men’s team to travel to Puerto Rico July 18-28 to defend their title at the Caribbean Volleyball Championships.

On Sunday at the NORCECA Men’s World Qualifier, the Bahamas knocked off Hondurus in straight sets, 25-15, 25-19, 25-23. The team, coached by Raymond ‘Rhymes’ Wilson, held margins of 12-6 and 5-1 in blocks and aces respectively and also attacked better for a 42-32 difference in the game.

“We just finished a tournament where we saw good things,” said Wilson on the championships’ website of the team’s 2-2 win-loss record for the bronze. “We must continue working and with the support from NORCECA keep developing our competition level.”

Renaldo Knowles and Byron Ferguson each contributed 15 points in the victory with the latter totalling four blocks. Prince Wilson added 11 points.

Knowles, by the way, was co-most outstanding hitter with Mexico’s Carlos Guerra, while Jon Isaacs and Ferguson were named the two best middle blockers.

On the second day of competition on Friday, the Bahamas defeated Honduras in straight sets 25-22, 25-19, 25-22 as the Bahamas had three players with double figures in scoring to go with a great defensive control at the net with 14 blocks, playing aggressively and not allowing opportunities to the Central American side.

“We had a consistent game at the net and had good attacking options,” coach Wilson said. “I am satisfied because the boys played hard.”

Knowles was the best scorer for the Bahamas with 15 points followed by Wilson with 12 and Ferguson with 11 points. “I am glad with the result, we played good. Now we have to prepare for the next match.”

The victory came after the Bahamas opened play in the tournament on Thursday, losing to a more experienced Mexican squad 22-25, 25-15, 25-13, 25-21.

“I think this is a confidence builder for our team,” Wilson said. “We need to make some fine tuning for tomorrow’s match against Honduras.”