Southern Utd upstages Technocrats

Southern United Volleyball Academy secured a spot in Saturday’s semifinal round of the T&T Volleyball Federation Carib-sponsored Men’s A Division Championship after a stunning upset of reigning champions, Technocrats on Wednesday night. Boasting a few national indoor players of its own in Christian Francois, Ryan Mahadeo, Russell Pena and Kevin Nimrod along with former national Nigel Purcell, Southern United stunned the star-studded Technocrats squad of Vaughn Martin, Sean Morrison, Kelvin Alleyne, Hollis Charles and Nicholson Drakes 25-22, 25-15, 25-19 at the Eastern Regional Indoor Sports Arena, Tacarigua.

With the win, Southern United ended its eight-match round-robin schedule with 11 points, the same as Technocrats and Big South East Port of Spain and two behind Glamorgan. However, Glamorgan has already played its eight matches while SEPoS and Technocrats meet today in their final match at Tacarigua from 7pm. SEPoS improved its chances of topping the round-robin series ahead of tomorrow’s semifinals at the Jean Pierre Complex, Mucurapo with a four-set win over Toco Youths Volleyball Academy, 25-21, 25-13, 24-26, 25-1 in the other match at Tacarigua. Included in the Toco squad, which finished at the bottom of the five-team table with ten points were national beach volleyballers and Daneil Williams and Fabien Whitfield along with senior team player, Simon Blake, while national coach Gideon Dickson, senior team captain, and First Citizens Sports Foundation award nominees Nolan Tash, Akim Bushe and Jessel Davis suited up for SEPoS.

In today’s other match at Tacarigua, SEPoS women tackles Glamorgan from 5pm. In the Women’s Division, Technocrats leads with 14 points from its completed schedule while two-time defending champion was second, a point behind, ahead of its final match against Southern United yesterday at the Southern Regional Indoor Sports Arena, Pleasantville. Third is Glamorgan with ten points and one match left to play while Southern United also has ten and SEPoS, seven. Following tomorrow’s semifinal matches, the final and third place matches will serve off at the same venue next Saturday.