By Morissa Lindsay
Defending queens Deacons were stunned 3-1 by the impressive Development Volleyball in Motion (DVM) team in the Goddard Enterprises Limited Barbados Volleyball Association Junior Knockout Semifinals contested last night at the Garfield Sobers Gymnasium.
It was a tremendous showing from DVM with a youthful female team as they trounced Deacons 26-24, 26-24, 17-25 and 25-17 in an entertaining showdown to reach the final. They will play favourites Chargers Club as they defeated Carlton 29-27, 18-25, 22-25, 25-15 and 15-5 in the second semifinal exchange of the night.
The semifinal matches scheduled for 6:30 p.m. started half an hour late because the playing court was not in proper playing conditions after the just concluded Barbados Road Tennis Open competition. However, when the opening games commenced, it was DVM with the early momentum.
It was like a movie being played out in the first set with lots of plots, twists and turns between DVM who led 8-6 and 16-12 at the first two allotted intervals but Deacons rallied strongly and at 24-23, they were one match point away from capturing the opening stanza.
But a failed return and a fantastic serve from Tamia Woodall was exactly what DVM coach Patrick Oxley required to claim a 1-0 lead over Deacons.
While DVM failed at times to score off the third ball, defensively they played well especially at the nets with some tremendous blocks. The likes of Caria Boyce, Amber Alleyne and Dessani Waithe were outstanding in that department.
The Deacons team, coached by Andrew Culpepper, were not pleased with the opening set and took a commanding 16-10 advantage in the second set in an effort to equalize.
While they held the momentum and were four points clear at 20-16, DVM in their pink tops and black tights, registered seven straight points off the serves of the talented Dessani Waithe.
DVM raced to a 23-20 lead but Deacons led by Captain Marissa Dowell and supported by attackers Serena Edward and Taquilla Lawrence caught up and equalized 24-24 but yet again inadequate defending cost them the second stanza.
Waithe definitely had a good game with great support from teammates Amber Alleyne, Rachelle Pollard, Kanoia Showry, Kristina Alleyne, Alana Smith, Adon Bradshaw, Melani Forde and libero Thea Bradshaw who all played a part at some point of the all-important encounter against Deacons.
The Deacons’ defence looked much better in the third set but they needed not get too comfortable and a wonderful effort earned them an eight-point (25-17) success as they trailed 2-1 against the underdogs DVM. The latter were not fazed in any way and went on to claim victory in emphatic fashion.
The men’s finalists were also decided as Hill Road trounced University of the West Indies Blackbirds 26-24, 31-33, 25-20 and 27-25 in an exciting contest despite the one-sided scoreline.
Defending Junior Men’s Knockout Champions Deacons won comfortably in straight sets 25-18, 25-13 and 25-20 over Wow Williams Industries Foundation United to meet Hill Road in the final scheduled for Sunday, August 21, at the Gymnasium. (morissalindsay@barbadostoday.bb)
