MARK LEWIS?and Winston Gittens are the new kings of beach volleyball.
Lewis and Gittens dethroned defending champions Elwyn Oxley and Gregory Gill 23-25, 21-13, 15-9 in an epic encounter before a packed Brandons Beach when the curtain came down on the 10th annual Sizzlin’ Sand Barbados Sunplash tournament last Sunday.
Oxley and Gill took a tense first set 25-23, before Lewis and Gittens stormed back to take the second 21-13 to set up a third and deciding set. It was in that set that Gittens in particular asserted himself on the match scoring crucial points as his team took early control of the set before pulling away to win the set and the match 15-9 to take the $1 000 first place prize.
Third place went to the team of Curtis Gaskin and Hugh Sealy, who trounced Victor Griffith and Jason Alleyne in straight sets 21-17, 21-17.
In the women’s category, Shari Matthews and partner Anicia Wood claimed their first title when they defeated Dania Hamilton and Sharon Bovell in three entralling sets 18-21, 21-16, 15-12.
Julia Lewis and Anthazia Mason defeated Shennel Pooler and Talya Layne 23-21, 21-15 to clinch third place.  Â
The tournament was contested by 15 teams and featured players from St Vincent, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and host country Barbados. (PR/EZS)
