Flow Sentry Brokers Deacons should formalize their capture of the Goddard Enterprises Limited Division 1 women’s volleyball crown when they play Freekz Customz Chargers tonight at the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex in Wildey.
An expected win would propel Deacons to a record of 11-0 with an unassailable 55 points to get out of the mathematical range of Brydens Rockets.
Deacons had installed themselves as queens in waiting by officially deposing the 2012 champions Warrens 25-21, 25-18, 25-14 on Monday night. That victory carried Deacons to 10-0 and 50 points with two games in hand against Chargers and the unfancied Club United.
The Rockets, who had ended second to Deacons to lose their knockout crown, had limped past Chargers 25-18, 25-16, 12-25, 25-20 to move to 41 points with two games in hand.
Mathematically, the Rockets would have to win those two games and advance to 51 points and hope that Deacons become preoccupied with celebrations and do not turn up for any of their two games to get the one point or set to become double crown queens for 2013.
The Warrens team were always in trouble minus their 2013 star Rhe-Ann Niles who was on her way to Ireland with the Barbados netball team. The deposed queens have ended their season 9-3 with 46 points.
Superior play from Julia Lewis and Fabia Greaves along with the support of 2013 find De-Ann Smith proved once again to be key for Deacons to remain unbeaten. Coach Andrew Culpepper pointed to the maturity of the team concept whereby experienced players embraced their leadership roles and everyone took up a role.
“We lost Annette [Chapman], which saw Julia and Fabia recognizing the need to overlook the in-team competition to outplay each other and they focused on leading the other players with their experience and greater skills. The play of De-Ann, as well as Kandia Shorey teaming up with our libero Marisa Dowell, strengthened our defence as well,” he said.
“Sharleen Browne was solid in her setting and the contribution from everyone in rallying support led to Deacons being the better team in the knockouts and league.”
The coach also praised the work of assistant Elwyn Oxley who infused the girls with his passion to win.
“I look forward to the guys reaching the next level as early as next year since our boys were going through a transition and, in spite of the talent, the boys made the error of believing that Deacons’ volleyball reputation would provide success instead of doing the work on the court,” added Culpepper.
On Monday night Club United won their first match of the season by defeating RBC Carlton 25-20, 25-17, 25-21 to condemn them to the Division 1 cellar for 2013. The lone men’s game saw Progressive beating the Juniors 25-20, 25-21, 25-17.
