3 Coaches Receive Training
The Saint Lucia Volleyball Association continued its mandate to increase the capacity of its affiliates and their members. Three local coaches were given the opportunity to enhance their skills at a Level 1 coaching seminar hosted in the federation of St. Kitts Nevis. Facilitated by Coach Dan Girleanu. This program exposed our new coaches to the level of technical competence required to continue their career as coaches.
The selected coaches also highlight SLVA’s aim to increase the gender diversity amongst the volleyball coaching fraternity. The three coaches Ms. Kerresia Thomas, Mrs.Marcia Ross and Ms. Khrisann Eugene all expressed their immense gratitude towards SLVA for making this training possible. These three ladies have already been assigned to secondary schools on the island where they will gain further practical experience and coaching hours.
Antigua and Barbuda Wins ECVA Female U20
Antigua and Barbuda scratched and clawed their way to the EVA U20 female championship, following a knockdown, drag out fight with arch rivals St. Lucia. The score for this epic match was 3 -2 (13-25, 25-16, 25-14, 22- 25, 15-13) in favour of Antigua and Barbuda.
Both teams traded sets, and chants in hopes of gaining an advantage in the battle. However, Antigua and Barbuda had the edge as Captain Joseanne Lewis hammered home 25 points to help secure the title. All of her team mates chipped in with pertinent blocks or digs to lead Antigua and Barbuda home.
Tenayestlgni Joseph’s attacking skills were insufficient to earn St. Lucia the gold medal, as she scored thirteen (13) of their total points. Though other team mates tried to help, it was obvious St. Lucia needed more firepower to put Antigua and Barbuda away. The passionate St. Lucian team left everything on the court, including their tears, hearts and voices.
St. Lucia, Quells the Heat of the St. Eustatius “Quill”
With a mathematical chance of making the championship game, St. Eustatius summoned the heat of the “Quill” to motivate them to victory as they took the fight to St. Lucia but it was to no avail. The score line for the game was 3:0 (25- 14, 25- 22 , 25-22 ). St. Lucia, operating from a place of intrinsic motivation elevated their game to a new level vanquishing St. Eustatius like warm sunlight evaporates mist. St. Lucia’s hitting machine Tenayestlgni Joseph lead the way with nineteen (19) points. She was well supported by Captain Chenoa Evans, who scored five (5) points.
Host, St. Eustatius did not acquiesce to the advances of St. Lucia but provided some resistance to them. The ruckus crowd buoyed the confidence of St. Eustatius and they rode that wave. Unfortunately they lacked the offensive fire power to seal the game. However St. Eustatius gave a very good account of themselves as they pushed St. Lucia to a level not seen before in this tournament. The main scorer for St. Eustatius was Michaline Penijn who scored five (5) points.
St. Lucia Dismantles Antigua and Barbuda in a Lopsided Affair
Leading the charge was Captain Chenoa Evans who scored thirteen (13) points; she was ably assisted by effervescent Tenayestlgni Joseph who scored twelve (12) points.
St. Lucia Blows Away the British Virgin Islands in Three Sets
With a chance to advance to the Pan Am U20 cup next year at stake, St. Lucia easily defeated the British Virgin islands with a score of 25- 7, 25-10 and 25- 14. St. Lucia operated with ruthless efficiency, thanks in part to their serving and excellent team spirit. Middle blocker Tenayestlgni Joseph lead the way with nine (9) points and she ably assisted by Captain Chenoa Evans who pumped in five (5). Despite this team LCA made some minor errors which they were able to address.
Their opponents, team BVI seemed unable to withstand the “Lucia pressure”. In the first set they seemed unsure about themselves and consequently their passing and serving was erratic. However, as the game progressed they grew more confident in their ability as evidenced by the scores. Captain Shauliqua Fahie and Xiomara Malone lead the way with two (2) points each. As indicated by Captain Fahie better communication will be needed for the team to improve.+
Cool Kidz Primary School Festival
The curtains on the first phase of the Saint Lucia Volleyball Association Primary School program came down with the hosting of the SMJ (St. Lucia ) Ltd sponsored Cool Kidz Volleyball festival held on the 28th June 2018 at the Laborie playing field.
Students from seven primary schools in the seven and eighth districts converged on the field to have a day filled with volleyball. SMJ through its Cool Kidz brand continues to assist the development of healthy living through its sponsorship of this festival.
Casimie To Lead Saint Lucia Volleyball
Saint Lucia’s national women’s team is preparing to compete in next weekend’s Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association senior championships in Antigua and Barbuda.
The squad will be led by Lisa Casimie, a 5-11 hitter from Grand Riviere, Gros Islet.
But more recently, Lisa has been making a name for herself at the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff, where she has been a major factor in the success of the Golden Lions.
Recently turned 22, Lisa is already earning high expectations going into her last collegiate season, as the senior outside hitter has been named to the preseason All-Conference team by the South West Athletic Conference.
In 2017, Lisa was SWAC Newcomer of the Year, and this year, she is the lone Lady Lion to land on the SWAC first team.
Lisa is a long-time national representative, and with her in their ranks, Team Saint Lucia will surely feel a lot more confident heading to St. John’s.
Tight Contests Expected in ECVA Female Competition
Seven East Caribbean senior female teams gathered in St. Johns to commence the competition for sub regional supremacy.
St. Lucia the defending Champs are joined by St. Kitts/Nevis, Grenada, Bermuda, St. Martin, St. Maarten and hosts Antigua/Barbuda.
The defending champs are aware of their opponents’ desire to dethrone them but promised that this will not be an easy task. Coach Kendall Charlery was brimming with confidence prior to the start of the games. “We have our title to defend and we are prepared to put our best foot forward. We have been working hard for the past couple months and we have been also been boosted by the presence of one of our US based college players in Lisa Casimie She is flanked by a combination of youth and experienced hence I would say that we are well ready for the challenge”, he stated.
Short on preparation but stacked with experience, coach Raphael Brathwaite thinks that Grenada has the wherewithal to pull off the championship this time around. “Our first goal is to win and our girls are in high spirits so I expect that they will give a good account of themselves and once that happens we will be in prime position, he intimated.
Ivance Richardson Assistant Coach of Dutch St. Maarten is banking on his team’s defense to see him all the way to the top. “We going to take this game one step at a time and we are looking forward for our libero Tivona Trotman to lead the defense and forced our opponents into error”, he predicted
Meanwhile coach of the St. Martin, David Williams used the term “Full Confidence” to describe their motivation coming to Antigua to take back the trophy. “I believe in my team and I know that we have good players and one would pay dearly if they underestimate us. I know what they are capable of and we are prepared to leave everything on the court”, he beamed.
St. Lucia defeats Bermuda in straight sets
St. Lucia cruised to a 3-0 victory (25-9; 25-13 and 25- 9) over Bermuda in the curtains game of opening night of the ECVA senior females competition.
The game was more of a no contest as the experienced St. Lucia team had their way in all the categories of play.
St. Lucia outscored Bermuda 27 -7 in Spikes, 6- 1 in Blocks and 10 -1 from the service line. Added to that, St. Lucia earned 33 points from errors while only giving up 23.
Kerin Neptune led all scorers with 15 points which included 9 Spikes and 2 blocks and 5 aces. There were also modest contributions from Yoshebel Emmanuel with 9 points and Lisa Casimie with 8.
For team Bermuda Sy McPeek had 6 points while only 2 other players managed to score.
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St. Lucia wins again in straight sets this time over Grenada
St. Lucia recorded their second straight set victory ( 25-16,25-23 and 26 24) when they came up against Grenada in the opening encounter of Day 2 of the ECVA senior females competition.
Lisa Casimie was on target for the defending champs pouring in a game high 21 points while support came from Kerin Neptune with 15.
Grenada meanwhile struggled to get winners and depended on opponents’ errors for more than 50 % of their points. In fact, Thornia Williams with 9 points was the highest scorers for the Grenadians. She had 4 aces and 4 spikes and a well-executed block playing in the Outside Hitter position. The team scoresheet showed that St. Lucia dominated all the categories. A wide margin in Spikes – 38 -18, in Blocks it was 4 -3 and service points 11- 8.
Coach Chalery was on hand to give his assessment of the game from a St. Lucia perspective.