T&T complete historic double

PARAMARIBO, Suriname (CMC):

Both Trinidad and Tobago's men's and women's teams carved out impressive straight-set victories, as they completed the double at the Caribbean Volleyball Championships on Sunday night.

While the men emphatically hammered perennial champions Barbados 25-19, 25-20, 25-22, their women unleashed a 25-11, 25-11, 25-12 whipping on hosts Suriname at the Anthony Nesty Sports Complex.

Jamaica's Ricardo Chong and Dellan Brown copped Best Player awards at the championships. Chong received the Best Digger accolade, while Brown was awarded Best Blocker. The Jamaican male and female senior teams finished fifth and sixth, respectively.

First win since 1993

For T&T's lads, it was the first time in the tournament's history they had won the coveted title, after campaigning since 1993.

"We came here to win and that we did. It was a very difficult tournament, and hats off to Barbados and The Bahamas for putting up a great fight," captain Nolan Tash said.

"We dedicate this one to our colleague and former national captain Mark Daly who passed away last year in a car accident. It is a good feeling to finally become Caribbean champions."

The victory by T&T's women, meanwhile, saw them take their fourth successive title, following triumphs in 2006 and 2008. They won the title for the first time in 1996.

In the two third-place play-offs, The Bahamas defeated Guadeloupe 25-19, 25-22, 25-16 in the men's encounter, while Barbados downed the US Virgin Islands 25-8, 25-19, 25-19 in the women's match.