Bonaire beat hosts in ‘Worlds’ qualifier

GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands, November 12, 2016 - Bonaire cruised home in the second match of a double header as action in Group C in the first round of the CAZOVA qualifying series for the 2018 FIVB Women’s World Volleyball Championship served off here tonight at Clifton Hunter High School.

The visitors rolled over hosts Cayman Islands 25-12, 25-15, 25-21 in 68 minutes after Guadeloupe had gotten the round-robin tournament off and running, with a straight-set triumph over Bahamas.

On paper the match was expected to be very competitive as the two teams are ranked one behind the other in CAZOVA (Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association).

Bonaire is just one place higher on the ladder, but that was only evident in the third set.

In fact, Cayman Islands, whose first lead of the entire match was at 3-2 in the third, seemed on their way to forcing a fourth when they surged ahead 16-11.

The visitors then went on a 5-0 run to level proceedings and then won nine of the last 12 from 18-16 down to complete the victory.

Cayman Islands coach said: “First time playing in front of our home crown for a number of our ladies so we started kind of shaky, but the confidence was built up by the third set and were able to give them a good run in the end.’’

“I think the team did pretty well in our first competition here,” said 41-year-old captain Brenda Mascarendas.

Bonaire coach Leo Richardson believes that his team played well for a long way, but then lost concentration and he conceded that “we cannot afford that tomorrow.”

Both Bonaire and Cayman Islands will be coming up against Guadeloupe and Bahamas, ranked sixth and seventh, respectively, in CAZOVA on the second and final day of the tournament.

The top two finishers will qualify for the second round in Jamaica in July.

The next World Championship will take place in Japan and will include seven countries from the NORCECA region.