T & T win again to stay perfect

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, July 17, 2014 - Trinidad and Tobago remained in contention to qualify for the Women’s World Volleyball Championships when they defeated Nicaragua 26-24, 25-19, 25-13 Thursday night at Sport & Physical Education Centre of the St Augustine Campus of the University of the West Indies.

The hosts had beaten Panama in straight sets on the opening night of the NORCECA Playoff for the World Championships on Wednesday.

Costa Rica and Mexico are the other two teams involved in the five-nation round-robin tournament and the team with the best record when the competition concludes on July 20 will become the 24^th and final to qualify to compete from September 23-October 12 in the World Championships in Italy.

T&T captain Kelly Billingy stated: “Nicaragua had a good game, especially in the first two sets. The third set showed the level we can play at. We started too slow today and need to improve tomorrow because we play a stronger team in Costa Rica,”

After being on a bye on the opening night, it was the first match of the tournament for Nicaragua and their coach Rene Quintana said: “I am satisfied that we played well against a team that is very good. It is difficult to play against a team of very tall players who have good control over the net.”

Channon Thompson led the way for the winners with 16 points, including ten kills and five blocked shots, while fellow 20-year-old Sinead Jack blocked seven shots in her quota of 14 points.

Darlene Ramdin, who had ten kills, was the other T&T player in double figures (11) in the 73-minute contest, while Elizabeth Heidy Trana Lugo top-scored for Nicaragua with ten points.