Men of St. Lucia top ECVA Olympic Beach Qualifier

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, November 21, 2010 – St. Lucia won the men’s competition at the Zonal Phase’s ECVA Beach Volleyball Olympic Qualification Tournament on Sunday.

Needing a golden set to decide the top four ranked teams, the Lucians edged St. Kitts and Nevis in the match for first place while hosts Antigua and Barbuda overcame Dominica in the third place contest.

The meeting of the top ranked men’s regional teams St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Lucia was a treat for the senses.  It was a hard hitting game which resulted in a split series.  St. Kitts and Nevis (A) defeated St. Lucia (B) with a score of 21-9 and 21-10. In the other group matches St. Lucia (A) defeated St. Kitts and Nevis (B) with a score of 21-17 and 21-15.  Realizing both teams had equal points a “Golden Set” was needed to determine the top ranked team. 

Initially neither team retreated from hitting or blocking, but suddenly like the clouds that diluted the sun’s rays, something came over the St. Kitts and Nevis squad.  Their momentary collapse resulted in a victory for the mighty “Lucians” with a score of 15-5 and relegation to second place for St. Kitts and Nevis.

Again the host country Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica battled for third place in another thrilling “Golden set.  However unlike their female counterparts the Antiguan men delivered, thanks to the encouragement of the home crowd.  The game culminated with a score of 15-9 in favor of Antigua and Barbuda.  Consequently Antigua and Barbuda placed third, while Dominica placed fourth.

Feeling the smell of elimination the Dominican (A) males did not spear the volleyball rod from their neighbor Grenada (B).  Though Dominica (A) played hard Grenada (B) resisted but it was to no avail.  The scores for the game were 21-19, 21-15 in favor of Dominica. 

The Grenada (A) squad were determined to right the wrongs committed against their team mates.  In playing Antigua (B) they presented a very strong façade during the initial parts of the game.  However the more experienced Antigua (B) squad remained focused and defeated Grenada (A) with a score of 21-17 and 21-11.

In the men’s game Antigua (A) victimized St. Vincent (B) with ultra aggression.  With both teams understanding teams can be eliminated Antigua blocked and scored with little resistance.  The scores for the match were 21-6, 21-11 in favor of Antigua (A).  Antigua’s (B) domination of St. Vincent (A) continued as they followed the recipe of their countrymen.  The score line for the Antigua (B) versus St. Vincent (A) was 21-12, 21- 16 in favor of Antigua (B).