Curacao powers past Turks & Caicos in Women's Group A opener 

St. Croix, Virgin Islands August 6, 2016 - Team captain Christine Anthony top scored as Curacao lived up to its top ranking in Women's Group A of the new qualification process to the 2018 FIVB World Championship with a straight sets win (25-9, 25-4, 25-7) over Turks & Caicos at the Ronald "Ranche" Charled Basketball Arena". 

With the top two teams from the four-team round-robin series advancing to the Second Round of World Championship Zonal Qualifiers, both Curacao and Turks & Caicos were eager for a positive start.

However, it was the more experienced Curacao which reached as far as Round Three of Zonal Qualifiers to the 2014 World Championship which came away with victory in 57 minutes, on the road to the Finals in Italy and Bulgaria in 2018.

Anderson scored a team high 18 points for Curacao which included 8 spikes, ten service aces as they dominated the match, 29-0 on spikes, and 24-0 on service aces, while committing less errors as well, 20 to 22. 

Donnovan Garvey, coach of Turks and Caicos when asked how he felt about his team’s match, which was a lost said "he was more proud of their effort in the continuation of putting up a fight rather than giving up". He stated “ We lost the game, however, my girls did not fold. The team that beat us, they had to play to win. 

Regardless of what the scores may say, they had to play. I'm really impressed with the attitudes of my players.” Following that statement he then expressed that attitudes are the most important aspect of a game. 

He said “Some of the things we focus on as coaches are aptitude and attitude. Aptitude is how you perform and execute a skill, attitude is the method in which you get out there and do what you have to do. Trust me, there was no giving in my girls today, and I'm impressed because these are girls who are just learning the sport. For them to put up a fight like that against Curaçao, who’s traditionally a strong team, I'm really impressed. It shows that there’s room where a foundation on something we can build on for the development of this sport. 

Hubert Petronia,When asked how he felt about his team’s performance, replied, “We played well, just like we told them, we have to do the things we have to do. Turks and Caicos is a team that is only now getting around but we must continue to do our things good, so that is what we did and they played well. Like Christine said, it’s a warm up for us in preparation for the two games ahead.” 

The coach also stated that his chances in the tournament are good. He then said “We come for the gold  so we are going to fight for it, anyone who gets in the way of doing so, we are standing hard and tough and we are coming for it.”