Saint Lucia captures ECVA title

The script was similarly written hours earlier, as Saint Lucia, like they did in the last preliminary match versus Antigua and Barbuda, rebounded from a set down to beat their opponents in near identical fashion 3-1 (19-25, 25 17, 25-16, 25-17) to pouch the gold medal in the 2013 Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association (ECVA) Junior Women’s Tournament, which concluded Friday evening at the Beausejour Indoor Facility.

Like their first meeting, a pumped up Antigua and Barbuda brought the fight to the host, but the Saint Lucians weathered the storm, then mounted a comeback, which was maintained for the next three sets.

Coach of the Saint Lucia team Florian Combie said: “It was an expected performance, I am happy that my players were able to come through”.

Combie noted that taking the Junior ECVA Women’s title, followed the trend set by other Saint Lucian Volleyball teams in recent times.

“I am glad that we did not disappoint as all of the other teams from Saint Lucia, the senior men’s team and the senior women’s team are into the third round of the World Championships, while the Junior Males are also heading to the Continental Cup”, Combie reaffirmed.

The Saint Lucia coach said that by trumping the women’s title, his players are now in line for a spot in the Continental Cup in 2014, which will mean more intense preparation for a tournament of a higher standard.

Gracious in the defeat of his team, Esron Gittens of the Antigua and Barbuda outfit believed that his players could have put a stronger fight in the championship match.

“We have come a long way. We are a little disappointed in the way we completed the match. They are up and coming and it was a learning experience for all of them”, Gittens remarked. Saint Lucia won all four matches in the tournament, while second place Antigua and Barbuda won two and lost two.

St Vincent and the Grenadines ended in the third position, having won two matches and lost two.

The other team in the tournament- French St Martin lost all four matches.

Saint Lucia not only won all their matches but also came away with the bulk of the individual awards. Lisa Casimie (St Lucia) was named Best Spiker, Jedda Alcee (St Lucia) Best Receiver, Skye Mondesir (St Lucia) Best Setter, Best Server and MVP Dala Noel (Saint Lucia), Best Scorer, Dala Noel. The Best Blocker award went to Gaelle Arndell (French St Martin) with teammate Kishana Richardson the Best Libero. Anelique Allan (St Vincent) was the Best Digger.