Join Male Team In ‘Beach’ Qualification.
ST. LUCIA’S Ladies have emulated their male counterparts in winning the opening round of Olympics 2016 beach volleyball qualification.
St. Lucia capped Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association Women’s lineup of six countries that will continue on their quest for the Olympic berth at the conclusion of the zonal phase competition in Antigua and Barbuda.
As top seed in the tournament, St. Lucia swept their way winning every series to confirm their position, and along with Antigua and Barbuda, French St. Martin, St. Kitts & Nevis, Dominica and Grenada will face CAZOVA’s top six in the next round of the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Continental Cup.
St. Lucia played Antigua & Barbuda in the final series, reaching a Golden Set to determine the winner. Team-A Dala Noel and Kerin Neptune defeated Antigua’s team-B Sharon Payne and Naheeman Wilson 2-0 (21-18, 21-9); and Mali Peters with Rosemarie Simon tied the series prevailing over Lisa Casimie/ Jamilla Lansiquot of St. Lucia (21-16, 21-12). The Golden Set was played by both team A’s with a 15-10 score.
Heading into the final series, St. Lucia’s team-A of Dala Noel and Kerin Neptune overcame French St. Martin’s team-B Fleurimene Cassamajor and Bedelya Hunt 2-0 (21-11, 21-11), but Valerie Damaseau and Audrey Gil of French St. Martin team-A tied the action beating St. Lucia Lisa Casimie and Jamilla Lansiquot 2-0 (21-17, 21-18).
During the Golden Set between A teams, St. Lucia were leading 11-10, when Valerie Damaseau of French St. Martin was unable to continue after suffering a minor injury and giving the win to St. Lucia 15-10 and the final 2-1 score.
Kerin Neptune captain of St. Lucia’s team-A said: “I feel so happy and satisfied. I couldn’t have done it without the help of my partner and friend. We expected to win and we want to thank the president of our federation, Brian Louisy and our coach “Café” Joao Carlos Moraes de Campos”.
“We had high confidence in our game plan and our success is because we always have each other’s back,” added Jamilla Lansiquot of team-B.
Final Positions: 1. St. Lucia; 2. Antigua and Barbuda; 3; French St. Martin; 4; St. Kitts and Nevis 5; Dominica 6; Grenada 7;Bermuda 8; St. Vincent and Grenadines 9; British Virgin Islands 10; Dutch St. Maarten 11; Anguilla.