by KENMORE BYNOE

SENTRY INSURANCE BROKERS DEACONS have exacted vengeance on league volleyball queens British American Insurance Chargers.

After getting a drubbing in the knockout, Deacons handed Chargers their first defeat 25-21, 18-25, 25-16, 25-23, as the first round of the Goddard Enterprises Volleyball League concluded at the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex on Sunday night.

With a total team effort Deacons beat Chargers to enter Round 2 with a maximum 25 points from a 5-0 record.

Chargers have 21 points from their 4-1 record. Outstanding play from six-footers Danielle Evanson, Fabia Greaves and Julia Lewis was well supported by captain Mona Crawford and Takima Daniels for Deacons to hold the advantage at the end of the round.

Veteran Sharon Bovell, Avara Browne and Akeela Phillips fought valiantly for Chargers. However, their efforts were undone by poor play from the supporting cast including some baffling coaching decisions where under-performing players were kept on the court to bleed points profusely.

Erdiston Rockets took out Carefree Toners in straight sets 25-20, 25-20, 25-22, to hold the third spot with 16 points. Katrina Wickham and Americans Kaycee Hess and Jess Le were the top performers for the Rockets. The Toners have limped to ten points.

The battle for the cellar saw Caribbean Alliance Carlton edging Powerade The Club 25-18, 15-25, 30-28, 25-27, 15-9. The Club's lone national player Nicole Puckerin stuttered in the decider to repeatedly hit the ball into the net for Carlton to canter off with the crucial set.

In men's action, kings RBTT Deacons' attempt to win the title in just one round was put on hold because the overrun of earlier games forced a postponement of their clash with Chargers. Deacons and Chargers would have started playing after 10:30 p.m. if the game were played.

Even so, only the unfancied Friendly Hall still retain an outside chance of stopping Deacons from claiming their 18th league crown. For the first time since entering Division 1 more than 15 years ago, Friendly Hall will start the second round in the second position.

On Sunday night, Friendly Hall dismissed Cawmere 25-21, 22-25, 25-22, 25-20, to end 3-2 with 17 points. Solid setting and team confidence from Rory Goddard saw Gregory Gill getting tremendous help from Kengie Matthews, Victor Griffith and Winston Gittens to pilot Friendly Hall to their luxurious position.

Ta Ta's Plumbing Progressive share the third spot with Foundation United after pipping Foundation 25-23, 21-25, 25-18, 20-25, 15-7. Both Progressive and Foundation will enter the second round 2-3 with 15 points each.

Once again Progressive seemed keen to convert victory to defeat after allowing Foundation to surge back and carry the match to five sets.

However, Foundation proved the better in throwing away matches as they slipped from 5-3 to 5-11 to allow Progressive's Renier Grace to show his finishing class with some cracking kills.

Deacons remain 4-0 with 20 points, while Cawmere have 12 points. Chargers will have to beat Deacons to get out of the cellar since they have just eight points.