The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

After a successful opener in four sets against Curacao, the Bahamas men’s team had to go the distance in their match-up yesterday against Jamaica to secure their second win at the Senior Caribbean Volleyball Championships in Paramaribo, Suriname.

The men prevailed with a 18-25, 25-22, 19-25, 25-28 and 15-11 marathon win over Trinidad & Tobago to push their record to 2-0.

The ladies’ team had another nail-biter, but suffered a five-set loss to Trinidad & Tobago in their second game. The final score was not available, but the fifth and deciding set ended up 15-12 in favour of Trinidad & Tobago.

The Bahamas was coming off a 28-26, 26-24, 21-25, 22-25 and 15-12 win over host Suriname on Monday.

“This was the first time since 2010 that the Bahamas won any sets against Trinidad & Tobago when that team also played to five sets,” said Bahamas head coach Jason Saunders on their powerhouse arch rivals in the region. “I think our girls did a wonderful job.”

Saunders, who is assisted by Glen Rolle, said this is the first time that the majority of the women are playing together.

“The core group of girls, particularly the starters, didn’t have sufficient practice sessions, so these early games are basically tools for improvement,” Saunders said.

“Hopefully by the time we get to the medal round, we will be prime and ready to go.”

Team Bahamas will play today against Barbados before they close out round robin play against Jamaica on Thursday. Their playoffs will start on Friday with the finals on Sunday.

“I’m expecting for us to win both of these games and then we would go into the semifinal, win that game and go into the gold medal game on Sunday against whoever is there, more than likely Trinidad,” Saunders stated. “We had one of two miscues. Had it not been for those miscues, we could have won the game in four sets.”

The women’s team consists of middle blocker/right side hitter Sari Albury, outside hitters Melinda Bastian and Brittany Bonamy, middle blocker/right side hitter La’Tavia Braynen, right side hitters Jannelle Curtis, Raechel Knowles and Venessa Sawyer, setters Laval Sands and Je’Nae Saunders (captain), middle blocker Ashley Webb and liberos Franceska McBride and Chandra Mackey.

As for the men’s success, head coach Lloyd Davis said Team Bahamas did what they had to do.

“The team played very well. Trinidad is a pretty good team. We went five sets and came out with the win,” said Davis, who is assisted by Tonny Simon and Augusto Sabbitini. “The tournament is wide open. There’s no dominant team here. So we’re right in the mix and have a very good chance to win it.”

As they prepare for their final round robin game in the tournament today against Jamaica, Davis said they have to improve on their performance in the service box.

“Our service is not consistent,” he said. “We’re probably the best serving team out here, but we are not consistent.”

Against Jamaica, Davis said if they are success, they will win their pool and head into the playoffs with a good chance of getting into the medal round.

The men’s team is made up of captain and middle blocker Byron Ferguson Jr, middle blockers Shonari Hepburn and Donovan Wilmott, libero Jamaal Ferguson, setters Renaldo Knowles, Je’Vaughn Saunders and Gaege Smith, right side hitter Eugene Stuart and outside hitters Jesse Delancy and Prince Wilson

Also traveling with the teams are Lanza Miller as a referee and Kurkwood Greene, who is the head of the delegation.