Jamaica Wins Gold in Spectacular Fashion
In what was unquestionably a most enthralling beach volleyball contest, the Jamaican teams of Kai Wright/Danielle Perry and Alicia Malcolm/Sashalee Wallen dug deep to overcome Cayman in final of the CAZOVA Women Beach Olympic Qualifier being held at Ocho Rios Bay Beach.
Playing in from of a large and vociferous Jamaican crowd that would make sponsors smile, Malcolm and Wallen, who comprised Jamaica’s B team, were first to take the court against Cayman A. The Jamaican fought with great determination but it was the Caymanians who used their deft touches to win that match 21-18; 23-21. Wright and Perry, Jamaica’s A team, took the court knowing that they had to win to give Jamaica a chance at winning gold. The pair delivered a characteristically no-nonsense performance against Cayman B, winning 21-6; 21-9.
The Golden Set (tiebreaker) that ensued was more than the most ardent fan could have predicted. Cayman A started the 15-point set the same way they ended against Jamaica B – with great athleticism, admirable determination and the deftest of touches. It was not long before the opened up a 13-6 lead over Wright and Perry. However, as though fuelled by an unseen force, Wright and Perry left spectators with their mouths opened wide as the pair came back to win the set 15-13.
“I can’t believe they recovered to win that match!” exclaimed Rudolph Speid, President of Jamaica Volleyball Association (JaVA) as he ran onto the court to congratulate both pairs of Jamaican girls. Arnaldo Sanchez, Chairman of the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Commission and the Tournament Director, described the victory with one word – “WOW!” Steve Owen, Referee Delegate on the tournament Control Committee commented, “that was amazing…and very befitting of the great tournament that JaVA has organized.”
“I can’t fully explain what happened but Danielle and I decided that we needed to do this for the supporters and JaVA so we created a new gear, playing harder and smarter one point at a time,” said an almost speechless Wright after the match.
In the third place play off, Trinidad A defeated Barbados B 21-16, 21-13 before Barbados A evened the contest, beating Trinidad B 21-17, 21-18. Trinidad A however eked out a16-14 victory over Barbados A in the Golden Set. Suriname took fifth when their A team defeated US Virgin Island A 15-6. The top six teams will now advance to play in the second round alongside St Lucia, Antigua, Martinique, St Kitts, Grenada and Dominica, who took the top six spots in the Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association (ECVA) tournament that was happening simultaneously.
Earlier on Sunday’s final day, Barbados (BAR) B def Suriname (SUR) A 25-23, 21-14 to get to complete their route to the semifinals; Jamaica (JAM) B def Trinidad (TTO) A 21-19, 23-21; JAM A def TTO B 21-11; 21-10 to move into the finals; Cayman (CAY) A def BAR B 21-3, 21-18, while BAR A def CAY B 21-13, 21-9; CAY A then def BAR A 15-11 to also advance to the final.