Bajans open with win

Shawn Simpson (No. 1) of Barbados knuckling a ball past Eargenell De Cuba, of Aruba, in the straight sets victory. (Picture by Kenmore Bynoe.)

By Kenmore Bynoe in Grand Cayman | Sun, October 07, 2012 - 12:03 AM

Barbados made a successful but hardly impressive start to the first round of the Men’s 2014 Volleyball World Championships with a straight sets victory over a weak Aruba team 25-10, 25-18, 25-14 at the Clifton Hunter High Gym here in Grand Cayman yesterday.

With the team showing obvious fatigue from the 14-hour trip from home via Antigua and Jamaica, only starter Shawn Simpson and libero Sheldon Roach seemed to take the opponents as a serious threat.

Barbados were slated to return a few hours later to take on Suriname in the 6 p.m. game after the opening ceremony. Suriname had launched the qualifier with a facile 25-16, 25-23, 25-13 win over host Caymans. Bajan referee Sherry Yearwood officiatied in the first of three matches to gain the honour of FIVB International Referee.

Barbados captured the Junior CVC in 2005 by overturning a preliminary loss to home team Aruba but this current team did not contain any of the Netherlands importees of that tournament. Vice-captain Alain London was a member of that champion Barbados team.

London and reserve setter Ronald Rice played lukewarm which was reflected in the setting and defence while the attackers were sub-par. With the team arriving too late to get any practice at the spanking new gym, coach Ludger Niles used every chance to give court time to his players who never looked eager to claim their positions.

New boy Klode Thompson and Kyle Browne came off of the bench to show glimpses of their talent, while

Caribbean Best Scorer Simpson was by far the most productive attacker in the game.

Today, Aruba will play Suriname at nine, while Cayman will meet Barbados at eleven. Later tonight, the playoffs will be staged to determine positions one to four.