Martinique upset Barbados for CVC title

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Martinique created history when they ended the long Barbados reign as men's title-holders at the Caribbean Volleyball Championships (CVC) with a five-set victory in the final on Sunday.

The men from the French-speaking island did the unthinkable, coming from two sets down against the 10-time champions and hosts to win their first regional crown, 24-26, 17-25, 27-25, 25-21, 15-11.

It was a frustrating night for the home crowd, as they were also denied the women’s crown by defending champions Trinidad and Tobago after taking the first set.

In a rematch of the previous two regional finals, the girls from the two-island republic turned back the home side 22-25, 25-15, 25-22, 25-17.

Meanwhile, the stunned Barbadian men were left wondering how they snatched an embarrassing loss from the jaws of what appeared to be an inevitable victory.

Barbados had never been really tested throughout the entire tournament and faltered against a Martinique side that showed no negative effects from two gruelling encounters against Trinidad & Tobago.

The home side had made one line-up change, starting with crowd favourite and outside hitter Shawn Simpson in place of the Renier Grace.

They started on a tear, with Fabian Cox playing like a man possessed. His block on Martinique captain Dominique Daquin separated the teams in the first set which Martinique kept close on the strength of their defence.

Cox, who finished with a match-high 27 points, continued to pound away at the Martiniquans, as the Barbadians cruised to take the second set.

The match turned around after the home team inexplicably squandered five match points in the third set, which Martinique won with eventual MVP Daquin on the bench.

As the defending champions' game continued to fragment, Martinique kept their composure to win the fourth.

In the decisive fifth set, they took a 10-5 lead which proved too daunting for the Barbadians, and Rodrigue Larcher smacked his 14th point off the Bajan blocks for his team’s first title.

Daquin led the way with 20 points for Martinique, while Philippe Larcher added 18.

For Barbados, Elwyn Oxley chipped in with 18.

In the women’s final, after losing the first set, the reigning queens dominated the rest of the encounter as the hosts meekly surrendered before their home crowd.

Barbados’ start would have been encouraging for head coach Paul Payne as they got their hands on virtually every T&T attack.

Middle player Anicia Wood maintained her strong tournament showing. She sent down three blocks and a spike in a spurt which saw Barbados open a lead at 14-10. They held off a late T&T run, with Avara Browne closing the set with a block on Kelly Ann Billingy.

That was as good as it got for the hosts, as Billingy and company took over the contest. The Barbados blocking disappeared, and they had no answer for Billingy and Krystle Esdelle in the second set.

In addition, with key player Shari Matthews slowed down by a shoulder injury, no other player threatened the T&T blockers. They easily levelled the match at 15 and cruised the rest of the way.

Billingy, who was voted the Most Valuable Player and Best Spiker, ended with 26 points, while for Barbados, Annette Chapman had 12 and Matthews 10.

Earlier in the day, the Jamaica women beat the Netherlands Antilles 25-20, 12-25, 24-26, 25-19, 15-10 to take third place, and in the men’s match for the same position, T&T beat Jamaica 25-13, 20-25, 29-31, 25-16, 16-14.

CMC kc/ar/08