Calypso Spikers reclaim CAZOVA women's title

T&T “Calypso Spikers” reclaimed their title as champions of Caribbean women’s volleyball when they came from behind to beat long-time rival Barbados in four sets in the 19th Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) Senior Championship final at the Kendal GL Isaacs National Gymnasium in New Providence, Nassau, Bahamas Saturday night.

Facing off in their first final showdown since 2008, and their third ever meeting in the title match, six-time champions Barbados took the opening set 25-23.

However, the Deon Hutchinson-coached “Calypso Spikers” then won the next three closely fought sets, 26-23, 26-24, 31-29 in one hour and 46 minutes to lift the title they relinquished two years ago to Jamaica in a five-set loss in Suriname.

With the win, T&T, led by Delicia Pierre, added to their previous triumphs in 1996, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2017 and 2018.

Earlier on, the deposed 2023 CAZOVA queens Jamaica, captured the bronze with a 25-10, 25-21, 25-23 win over Guadeloupe, led by captain Sashalee Thomas’ 17 points, while Mychael Vernon added 12 and Anesia Edwards 10. Stephanie Sarmezan countered best for Guadeloupe with six kills.

Stewart, Best fire T&T men to sixth spot

Captain Daytain Stewart and Elijah Best combined for 37 points as T&T men ended the CAZOVA Championship on a high with a 25-17, 25-22, 29-31, 25-20 win over Guadeloupe to secure the sixth spot in the seven-team tournament.

Stewart had a team-high 19 points which included 11 kills, and eight blocks and Best had 15 kills while Joel Theodore was the other player in double-figure scoring for T&T with 12 points, with Akram Askoul getting six, and the trio of Jahreef Miguel, Nicholas Williams and Janeiro Atherley, four points each.

For Guadeloupe, Jannick Ismael had a match-high 21 points while Lucas Vadimon had 18 points, and Zackary Crane had ten in the loss.

It was the second win for T&T, three-time tournament winners in 2010, 2014 and 2017, over Curacao in the tournament, having won their round-robin pool encounter 25-17, 25-17, 25-17.

However, by missing out on a top-three finish, it marked the first time since 2002 that T&T had failed to secure a podium finish in the tournament, having ended in the runner-up spot in 2006 and 2012 while they got bronze in 2004, 2008, 2018 and 2023.

Last night, a new king was expected to be crowned when the championship climaxed with host Bahamas coming up against Curacao.

This was after Bahamas led by Kyle Wilson put on a sublime performance to get past two-time defending champion Suriname 15-25, 25-21, 23-25, 25-23, 15-9 while Curacao continued their unbeaten run to book a date in the final by dismissing Jamaica in straight sets 25-17, 25-18, 25-17.

Earlier on Friday, Barbados won the fifth spot following a marathon win over T&T 27-25, 24-26, 25-17, 18-25, 21-19.