The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE inaugural Panthers Independence Volleyball Tournament came to a close at the DW Davis Gymnasium Sunday night with the Scotiabank Defenders winning the men’s title.

The Defenders, coached by DeVince Smith, pulled off a hard fought 25-22, 25-16, 25-27 and 24-21 victory over the Expendables. In the process, they joined the Panthers away team, who knocked off the Scottsdale Vixens to claim the ladies’ title in four sets, 25-16, 16-25, 25-23, 25-23.

While Byron Ferguson, the only Bahamian to play at the professional level, was named the men’s MVP from the Defenders, the ladies MVP went to Rachel Knowles, one of the rising young stars. Honourable mention went to JeVaughn Saunders from the Defenders on the men’s side and Janell Curtis from the Panthers away team.

The Johnson’s Cherry Bombs picked up third place in the ladies’ division with a 15-25, 25-21 and 17-15 win over the Panthers home team.

Tournament organiser Jason Saunders said it was a well played three-day event.

“Things went excellent. I have no excuse whatsoever about what took place,” said Saunders about the outcome. “We had a good crowd and the fans got to see some well-played matches. A lot of people indicated that as a result of what they saw, we should have a bright future, at least for the next 10 years. I don’t know what will happen after that, but I was happy with the play.”

The tournament was designed to provide an avenue for the locally based players to participate in an event during the Independence holiday as it allowed those players who are off to school to showcase their talent. There were a number of players in both the men’s and women’s divisions who came home and participated on the three men and five ladies teams.

The tournament was also held in memory of the late Tamez Thompson. During the awards presentation, Saunders made a presentation to Thompson’s father, Perry Thompson, on behalf of the Panthers club. Before she passed away this year, Thompson played with the Panthers.

“What the volleyball association has done and now Jason Saunders through this tournament to keep her memory alive is phenomenal and my hat goes off to everybody who has assisted us as a family during our ordeal,” said Thompson on behalf of his family.

Saunders said it was only a small token they could present, but they were happy to help keep Thompson’s memory alive.

As for the competition, Saunders said the men’s division is always keenly contested, but whenever you have a player like Byron Ferguson on your side, that team can expect to stand out a little more as they did during the tournament. For the ladies, Saunders said they knew it would come down to the three top teams in the Vixens, Truckers and Panthers.

However, this time around, the Panthers away team, made up of a number of collegiate players, proved to be a little more ahead of the New Providence Volleyball Association’s perennial queens Vixens and it was proven in the final results. Saunders said he would like to see the rest of the ladies’ teams improving on their performances.

The focus for volleyball will now switch to the start of the NPVA regular season in September.