SVG’s Under-21 male volleyballers stopped by St Lucia

St Vincent and the Grenadines Under-21 male volleyball outfit found a nemesis in St Lucia at the Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association qualifiers which ended Sunday in Antigua.

Playing at the YMCA Sporting Complex for a ticket to the 2020 inter-continental championships in Mexico in 2020, the Vincentians suffered a 2-3 defeat at the hands of the St Lucians in the final.

The ding dong episode saw St Vincent and the Grenadines falling behind in the first two sets, but clawing to level the contest 2-2 at the end of the fourth set.

St Lucia however claimed fifth to win the title match, 25-22, 25-21, 23-25, 19-25, 15-9.

Shemor Baynes – One of two Best Middle Blockers

The final was a replay of the first match, as St Lucia won also 3-2(18-25, 23-25, 25-22, 25-22, 15-11).

After going under to St Lucia in their opening match, St Vincent and the Grenadines notched up three consecutive wins, two of which came against Antigua and Barbuda and the other versus St Kitts and Nevis.

Enrico Louraine – Best digger and best receiver

In their second match against St Kitts and Nevis, SVG won 25-12, 25-13, 25-20 and had a 25-16, 25-15, 25-13 win over Antigua and Barbuda.

A rematch with the Antiguans gave the Vincentians a place in the final.

St Vincent and the Grenadines conquered Antigua and Barbuda 17-25, 25-16, 25-18, 26-24.

But the 2019 unit could not relive the fortunes of their predecessors of 2011 in Anguilla and 2015 in French St Martin, when St Vincent and the Grenadines was champion and most significantly secured a place in the inter- continental championships in 2012 and 2016.

Apart from the consolation second place, three players from the St Vincent and the Grenadines outfit collected trophies at last Sunday’s closing ceremony.

The trophies of best digger and best receiver were palmed by Enrico Louraine, with Kyle Liverpool collecting one of two best Outside Hitters’ trophy.

And, Shemor Baynes, was rewarded as one of two best Middle Blockers.

Final standings: St Lucia – 1st, St Vincent and the Grenadines- 2nd; Antigua and Barbuda – 3rd and St Kitts and Nevis- 4th.