Defending girls’ champions Harrison College and Queen’s College will clash next Wednesday in what should be a keen battle of the Massy Stores Schools’ Volleyball League finals, while The Lodge School boys will square off against the Barbados Community College.
Defending boys’ champions Queen’s College did not advance from the play-off rounds.
Wednesday’s semis attracted a large crowd of supporting students and parents at the Gymnasium of the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex, with The Lodge’s 25-12, 19-25, 15-13 win over Christ Church Foundation being the highlight.
Attacking power
Akiel Oxley and BSSAC high jumping champion Nathan Wallis had looked like they would have led Foundation to a win from one set down. However, after surging from 6-10 to 12-11 in the decider, Foundation missed an easy overset and then faltered badly, as The Lodge, led by the attacking power of Kadeem Morris, clinched the game.
After losing the first set, Foundation rebounded in spite of Morris getting tremendous support from Che Taylor and libero Shamandra Shillingford, who seemed more at ease than when she plays Division 1 with the girls.
Lodge seemed in control of the deciding set, with Morris unstoppable in attack, before Foundation locked the scores at 11 and then snatched a one-point advantage.
After a Lodge timeout, Foundation lost the plot when a sure point overpass saw Nkosi Herbert dumping the ball into the net in his side of the court.
Oxley swatted the next ball out of court and then a passing error handed Lodge game and match point (14-12).
A desperation attack from Oxley was blocked out of bounds. However, with the next play being set around Morris, he thundered the ball into the court to take his team into a volleyball finals for the first time in over ten years.
Barbados Community College rolled over St Leonard’s Boys 21-11, 21-12. Coach Laron Knight enjoyed the luxury of having a number of to rotate his court six without affecting the performance.
The girls’ finals should be a cracker, with both Harrison College and Queen’s College boasting junior nationals.
On Wednesday, with Ashley Jordan and Janiyah Drakes leading the assault, Harrison College continued their dominance over Foundation 25-14, 25-21.
QC, with Aaliyah Durant, Shamar Boyce, Janina Mayers and Rihanna James, beat Barbados Community College 25-18, 25-14 in spite of the presence of six-footer Tiandre Stuart. (KB)
