Jamaica fight back to claim quarter-final berth

PARAMARIBO, Suriname (CMC):

Jamaica were forced to come from behind before they could beat hosts Suriname in a four-setter and clinch a place in the quarter-finals of the 13th Caribbean Volleyball Championships on Thursday.

They went down 20-25 in the opening set at the Ismay Van Wilgen Sports Hall, but rebounded to win the next three sets to carve out a 25-22, 25-22, 25-23 victory.

Jamaica were up against Guadeloupe in the first quarter-finals last night, as they vied for a place in the last four of the men's tournament.

For the winners, Dillan Brown and Conaradio Taylor each got 13 points, while captain Delfon Morgan and Namarie Gordon added 12 points each.

Suriname were led by Gino Naarden, who scored 17 points with support from captain Roberto Joval, who got 12 points.

Barbados in semis

Barbados, meanwhile, made light work of Trinidad and Tobago to book a direct passage to the semi-finals of the tournament.

Playing in Pool A, they dismissed the Trinidadians 25-23, 25-23, 25-20 in 76 minutes, with Akeem Payne getting 11 points, captain Elwyn Oxley 10 and Fabian Cox, nine.

The outstanding Nolan Nash sent down 20 kills, but received precious little support as Germany-based professional Marc-Anthony Honore was the next best scorer with nine points.

Despite the loss, T&T still reached the quarter-finals.

T&T Pool A winners

On the women's side of the draw, T&T extended their unbeaten streak with a four-set dismissal of main rivals Barbados 25-23, 25-20, 21-25, 25-18.

Captain Krystle Esdelle powered the Trinidadians with a match-high 20 points, while Kelly-Ann Billngy finished with 12.

T&T secured an automatic semi-final spot as Pool A winners.

In other matches, the US Virgin Islands defeated the Bahamas 25-17, 25-18, 23-25, 26-24 in their final match.