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Martinique sweeps Jamaica for semis spot
COUVA, Trinidad, July 7, 2017 - Martinique kept on course for a
spot in the final of the 16th Senior Caribbean Zonal
Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) Men’s Championship with a
straight sets (25-15, 25-23, 25-17) victory over Jamaica in
their quarterfinal at the National Cycling Centre.
With both teams coming off of defeats in their final round-robin
matches on Thursday night, it was a question of who would
rebound the quickest with a semifinal spot at stake, and it was
the French-speaking islanders who rose to the occasion while
Jamaica will now contest the fifth place match against the loser
of the other quarterfinal between Haiti and Suriname.
For Martinique which is in search of its first title since 2008
Rodrigue Larcher had a team-high 13 points and Stephane Alpha
added ten (10) .
The trio of Gerald Hardy-Dessources with seven,and Yoann
Breleury and Joel Soltin with six points each also contributed
to the victory which came in 70 minutes
Jahmion Hartley was the lone Jamaican to reach double-digit
scoring with 15 points while Martin Blake was the next best
scorer with seven.
In general it was a greater team effort from Martinique that saw
it through and was evident via their domination on spikes,
35-24, blocks 9-8 and aces 5-0.
To their credit Jamaica kept in the match by committing fewer
errors, 23 to Martinique’s 26, but the other aspects of their
game was just not up to par.
Speaking after the match Jamaica captain, Andre Mc Lean, said
his team was unable to get any sort of attack going while the
defence was not at its best.
“We needed to be very consistent and unfortunately it was not
our best day.”
David Le Faivre said his team needed to wipe away the memories
of the loss to T&T as quickly as possible which they did.
“We were very motivated to get the win because our aim is to get
to the final.
Jamaica coach, Gatasheu Bonner admitted it was a tough loss for
his team to accept.
“We came here with a gold to win the tournament so it is sad
that we did not get to that point.
“Our strength in the competition has been blocking and today it
was not at its best.”
Martinique’s Erialc Eddy said his team seemed to be the sharper
of both teams which was key to his team’s win. |
