Raphael powers US Virgin Islands past Martinique for bronze 

RIVIERE-SALEE, Martinique, December 13, 2019 - Captain Alex-Weh Raphael ended her campaign in fine style as proved unstoppable in leading US Virgin Islands over host Martinique for the bronze medals at the 2019 Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) Junior (Under-20) Women Championship at the La Ville de Riviere-Salee Palais Des Sport.

The win for US Virgin Islands landed their first-ever bronze medal at this age-group level to go with their silver won on home soil in 2011/2012, and also ended a run of two straight fourth-place finishes.

Raphael tallied 23 points which consisted of 15 kills, six aces, and two blocks while Ayanna Pharoah added 11 valuable points, comprising, a stunning ten of her team 20 aces.

Nancy Louis-Marie was the lone player for Martinique in double-figures with 12 points, while captain Sarai Bandinos and Oriane Fage got six points each, and Nathalya Cyrilla, five in the one hour and 35 minutes encounter.

For Martinique, champions on home soil in 2013, the fourth-place finish added to similar placings in 1997, 2007 and 2009 while they ended fifth last time out.

In the end, it was a deserved triumph for US Virgin Islands, the second time they secured a win over the host throughout the competition after getting the edge of spikes 26-25 and blocks 9-5 while dominant on service aces, 20-6.