ST JOHN’S, Antigua and Barbuda, October 22, 2024: With a display of consistency, team spirit and sticking to the fundamentals Grenada stitched together a solid performance to beat Antigua and Barbuda and most importantly take the bronze in the 2024 Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association (ECVA) Senior Women’s Championships here at the YMCA Sports Complex.
Grenada showed intent from the first whistle, winning the first two sets 25-23, 25-19, but Antigua and Barbuda rebounded to win the third set 25- 22.
However, the Grenadians ensured that there was no repeat of their match up in the preliminaries, when Antigua and Barbuda won the five-setter, by taking the third set, 25-19.
In the process, Grenada reversed the 3-2 defeat, they suffered earlier in the championships.
It was Grenada’s fourth successive win, whilst Antigua and Barbuda suffered their third loss in succession.
Delighted that his team was able to finish on the podium- Head Coach of Grenada, Raphael Braithwaite said: “Credit must go to my team for coming back from two defeats and win four on the trot and we will be returning to Grenada with bronze and that is good for our Volleyball”.
Brathwaite said that the success can only spur other women to be part of Volleyball in Grenada.
Not deflated that his team faltered when it mattered most, Antigua and Barbuda’s Head Coach- Olsen Joseph, was still high in players for the efforts of his team.
“I think the girls put up a fight but they were a bit nervous, but Grenada wanted it more than we did, so they showed that they wanted it and they claimed it”, Joseph contended.
He thinks though that the youthfulness of the team, is an investment for the future of Antigua and Barbuda’s Volleyball.
“It is a young group of girls so I understand it is a challenge for them and experience for them as well, so they have two years to get it right and keep working on their game, and get themselves ready for pressure”, Joseph claimed.
Before the third ‘place match, St Maarten had a 3-0 (25-14, 25-17, 25-17) win over Anguilla.
Bermuda and St Lucia play next in the gold medal match.
