Chargers are the double crown kings of Goddard Enterprises Limited volleyball.
They moved to an unassailable 45 points from nine victories by defeating former champions Progressive 25-17, 24-26, 25-18, 25-15 at the Wildey Gymnasium on Sunday night, playing with the superior attack and defence which Jamaican Mark Lewis spearheaded all season.
Chargers can end the entire season without losing a match when they play Coverley Medical Centre Deacons tomorrow night. Ironically, the crowning moment would have occurred against Progressive who would have captured many double crowns in the eighties to be still the second best team in the island.
Lewis, a refashioned Nicholas Matthias, Romel Agard, Damien Danzell, Barbados captain and setter Alain London, junior national captain Ammuniki Wood and junior Stephen Packer filling the role of libero, made former Barbados setter Dale Addison’s presence to be irrelevant as Fabian Cox, Akeem Payne and Rico Brathwaite tried to delay Chargers’ second crowning.
Deacons will end second as they did in the knockouts and Sunday night they defeated cellar occupants Foundation United 25-21, 25-18, 24-26, 25-21. Cawmere, who are eyeing the third spot, whipped the Juniors 25-22, 25-18, 25-21.
Flow Sentry Brokers Deacons women will have to wait a little longer for their double crown although they repeated their five sets knockout and first round wins over Brydens Rockets. Deacons came from two sets down to douse the Rockets’ cup aspirations 16-25, 25-27, 25-20, 25-21, 15-11.
Similar to the knockout finals and the first-round clash, the Rockets seemed in control of the game. However, just like in round one, the Rockets sputtered at the wrong time with professional Shari Matthews struggling in the front court in the critical fifth set.
Although the Rockets led 8-6 at the switch, tremendous net and ground defence as well as counter attack by Deacons’ De-Ann Smith and a highly improved Julia Lewis saw Deacons rushing to 12-8 before the Rockets won another point.
The Rockets averted game and match point on three occasions but were finally halted by Deacons when a triple block left the attacking Matthews flat on her back which summed up Deacons’ sovereignty over the Rockets for 2013.
Deacons were due to meet defending league champions Warrens Jaguars last night when a win would have handed Deacons their double crown honours with two games in hand. Sunday night Warrens battled to victory over Chargers, 25-16, 25-16, 24-26, 17-25, 15-6. Toners came from a set down to stop RBC Carlton 15-25, 25-11, 25-11, 25-20.
