The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WITH not so many teams participating, the Defenders took advantage of their experience to win the women’s title in the TMT Independence Volleyball Classic yesterday at the DW Davis Gymnasium.

The Defenders knocked off the combination of the Lady Warhawks and Lady Techs in straight sets 25-10 and 25-18. It was their second victory in the tournament as there were only two teams entered in the ladies’ division.

The Defenders won the initial match-up 19-25, 25-5 on Saturday.

In the championship game, setter Janae Saunders and hitter Lendrea Armbrister paced the Defenders, who also got some help from veterans Margaret ‘Muggy’ Albury and Kimly Saunders to assist their young line-up of players.

“It was a closer game because there was no competition,” said Jason Saunders, the coach of the Defenders, who also got some key performances from Rachel Knowles and Latvia Braynen.

“Where there is no competition, there is no intensity to play to your best. That is what you saw. But they won the game and they played to the best of their ability, even though it was a close game.”

Adalbert Ingraham, coach of the Lady Warhawks/Lady Techs, said some of their players were unable to make the game, so they were short-handed.

“The ladies’ gave it their best shot. They put up a fight,” said Ingraham, who relied on players such as Whitney Armbrister and Sydneia Hillaire at the start and eventually Eugenia Adderley when she arrived.

“We didn’t have all of our players, but we played with what we had. That was how the cookie crumbled.”

The tournament closed out with Team Stoli, behind the 1-2 punch of player/coach Renaldo Knowles and Victor Grant, beating the Defenders 20-25, 25-21 and 15-12. The Defenders, coached by Jason Saunders, were led by Javaughn Saunders and Nicholas Wilson.

• Results from the round robin play are as follows:

Men’s division - Defenders def. Grand Bahama Shockers (GBS) 25-15, 25-23; Police def. GBS 22-25, 25-24; Team Stoli def. Youth 25-15, 25-24; Defenders def. Police 25-21, 25-19; Stoli def. GBS 25-16, 25-16; Defenders def. Youth 25-14, 25-18 and Warhawks def. Police 25-14, 25-24.

Ladies’ division - Lady Defenders def. Lady Warhawks/Lady Techs 19-25, 25-5.