JAMAICAN TEAMS CAME UP SHORT AS T&T RULES THE 15TH CAZOVA CARRIBBEAN VOLLEY BALL CHAMPIONSHIP

Trinidad and Tobago Volley ballers copped the double, coming away as Caribbean champions in both sexes when they scored emphatic victories in the respective finals of the 15th Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) Championships on Sunday night, at the Jean Pierre complex in Port of Spain, Trinidad.

T&T turned back the challenge of Barbados in the male finals, 22-25, 25-23, 25-18, 25-19. This is their second title across a four year span, after their initial success in 2010.

The Jamaican males ended the tournament in 5th place after beating Suriname in a tough fiver setter, winning 25-16, 25-18, 22-25, 21-25, 19-17. They were led by American based and former St Jago High school star Ryck Webb. Webb copped best server award while a second Jamaica Doctor Ricardo Chong was named the best digger.

Jamaica’s Rhythm girls were beaten for a second time in tournament by the Trinidad ladies in the gold medal match. The team captained by Simone Asque, lost three set to nil going down 25-12, 25-13, 25-12.

The match lasting just 72 minutes saw the captain muster only six points for the losers while the victors were led by Darlene Ramdin, who plays professionally in France. Ramdin scored 15 points to lead the hosts, while fellow France-based player Channon Thompson supported well with 12 points. T&T’s women, with their victory equalled Barbados’ record haul of six titles.

Jamaica’s teams were left disappointed after both genders failed to advance to next year’s Pan Am games.

This year’s tournament saw five nations with teams from both genders participating.