TRINIDAD and Tobago’s women’s volleyball team dug deep to overcome the host 3-1 in their opening match of the Eleventh Women’s Volleyball Pan American Cup, at the Colegio de Bachilleres in Mexico on Thursday night.
In a match dominated by error points, 32 from each team, the twin island women were able to hold off the challenge the home team despite a match-high from Alejandra Isiordia.
In the first set the teams matched each other point for point, until T&T went up 22-20. Mexico, however, won back to back points to level the score 22-22. The Calypso Spikers eventually took the set 27-25.
The second set started the same way, but with the score 20-20, T&T won five straight points to take the set 25-20. It was looking like a three set match; however, the home team came out and stopped their opponent’s momentum, with a 5-0 run.
It soon became 10-3 and eventually the home fans got something to shout about as Mexico took the set 17-25.
The momentum was now with the host, but the twin island women caught themselves and matched their opponents point for point. With the score 8-8, T&T went on a 5-0 run, and never looked back thereafter finishing the set 25-19 to take the match. The four-time Caribbean Queens had a solid all round performance, out blocking their opponents 15-7 while serving five aces to three by Mexico. T&T was led by Kelly-Ann Billingy and Captain Krystele Esdelle who had 17 and 16 points respectively, while Channon Thompson and Sinead Jack each had 10.
Esdelle speaking to the media after the match said they got the win as a result of sticking to their game plan. “My team came together tonight ready to battle. Mexico are a team that always come to play hard but today we executed as planned”, said the T&T captain.”
The twin island women, who have placed 10th in the last three years of the tournament, are aiming to better their position this time. They faced Argentina last evening; however, the match was still in progress up to press time.
Source: www.newsday.co.tt