T&T's Calypso Spikers will be involved in quarterfinal action today at the 23rd Norceca Women's Continental Volleyball Championship at the Ralston Arena, Omaha, Nebraska, against one of three second placed pool teams which was yet to be determined up to press time last night.
This after the local senior women's volleyballers were beaten in their Pool A decider of the nine-team tournament by world eighth ranked Dominican Republic 13-25, 20-25, 13-25 yesterday to finish pool play with a 1-1 record to its opponent, 2-0 mark.
The "Calypso Spikers", ranked 33rd in the world entered the match on a high, following their tense five-set (25-14, 22-25, 21-25, 27-25, 15-13) win over Costa Rica in their opening Pool A on Tuesday, which guaranteed a quarterfinal spot in the tournament, only the second time T&T has done so in five appearances.
The 26th ranked Costa Ricans, who were in a a must-win situation against T&T to reach the quarterfinals after losing their opener, on Monday night to Dominican Republic 13-25, 6-25, 20-25, ended with a 0-2 mark and will compete for positions eighth and ninth.
In the win over Costa Rica, T&T had a balanced scoring with four players scoring in double-digit scoring led by former Poland-based out-side hitter Channon Thompson, with 21 points, 19 of which were kills while France-based Darlene Ramdin, a middle-blocker got 20, comprising 14 kills.
T&T's other starting middle-blocker Sinead Jack contributed 15 points inspired by six blocks while team captain Krystle Esdelle, who scored the winning point tallied 14, veteran Kelly-Anne Billingy, nine and setter Renele Forde, six valuable points.
For Costa Rica, which ended with two points, one behind T&T, Verania Willis had a team high 17 points while her sister and captain Angela Willis Lindo added 16 points, followed by Paola Ramirez's 13 and Mijel Cuza, nine.
The Francisco "Panchee" Cruz-coached "Calypso Spikers" held sizeable advantages in blocks (20-10) and kills (63-48), while Costa Rica dominated from the service nine with an 8-4 ace advantage and also benefited from 35 errors by T&T, something coach Cruz was surely not pleased about. Costa Rica made only 23 errors.
Commenting on the see-saw encounter Esdelle said after clawing their way out of a jam in the fourth set and having to overcome a match point, she said to her team-mates, "No more joking around. We have to get this set. We are there, let's take it home."
A cool Cruz said it was always good to get the win as all victories are good, however he lamented on his team's lack of preparations at home which is hampering its progress on the international stage.
Cruz said, "The problem is not the players; the problem is the conditions of training in T&T. That team (T&T) only trains six hours a week. At that level it is necessary to train 24 or more hours a week. They have come to the tournament to gain experience
In Tuesday's other matches, Canada brushed aside Eastern Caribbean champion and debutant St Lucia 25-14, 25-9, 25-14 to set up a group decider with Puerto Rico last night, after the latter also swept the Caribbean nation in straight sets on Monday 25-8, 25-15, 25-12 in Pool c while in Pool B, Mexico kept its hope alive of qualifying for the quarterfinals with a five-set win over Cuba, 25-18, 25-23, 23-25, 21-25, 18-16.
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