SAINT LUCIA national senior female volleyball team returned to the island Monday evening to a welcome reception at the George F.L. Charles Airport VIP Lounge after successfully defending their Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Federation (ECVA) championship in Antigua and Barbuda on Sunday 19th August 2018.
It was not the fireworks type of welcome, long speeches, horn and whistle blowing on the outside by sports enthusiasts and motorcade set to move from Vigie to Castries parading, but one where appreciation and a big thank you for putting a smile on our faces, and joy in our hearts was at least in order.
On centre court, Saint Lucia defeated French Saint Martin 3-1 in the finals; set scores 25-19, 25-18, 23-25 and 25-14.
The nine member team played unbeaten throughout the four day championship which took place at the YMCA. It must be noted that Saint Lucia dropped the third set (23-25), the only one they lost which was against French Saint Martin in the final.
Team Manager/ Assistant Coach, Timothy James opened the innings at the GFL Charles VIP Lounge. He said, “We are indeed proud to bring the ECVA championship back to Saint Lucia. We had nine wonderful ladies representing the sport of volleyball, very easy to manage, they stuck to the mission at hand and from day one they knew what they went to do in Antigua and Barbuda and they executed it as planned”.
“Saint Lucia’s biggest challenge was the game against host Antigua and Barbuda which went to five sets. The coach and myself nearly went into cardiac arrest, because that game was so intense and we knew the Antiguans would come out firing as Saint Lucia was the team to beat, but the ladies stuck to their guns and from the time we won that match, I knew the rest is history”.
Head Coach, Kendall Charlery, said, “I am extremely proud of the achievement of Team Saint Lucia at the ECVA championship. It was not easy, from day one leading into the finals we were up against it, with late and early morning matches. Our squad was a bit limited to only nine players but nonetheless the ladies performed creditably, we stuck to our game plan and at the end we captured the championship”.
Team captain Cindy Wilson, congratulated her players on their victory. She said, “Everybody played their part; we went to Antigua and Barbuda with one mind set and that was to win the championship. Our toughest opponent was Antigua and Barbuda, but at the end of the day we knocked them out in the semifinal round”.
Wilson took the time out to thank the management team of Kendal Charlery (Coach) and Timothy James (Team manager/ Assistant Coach) for their patience throughout the journey.
President of SLVA, Shayne Felicien was pretty brief when he said, “Congratulations and appreciation not only comes from me but the entire SLVA executive. The sentiments expressed by the coach and manager were true, this was a hard tournament for us, both financially and getting the team prepared. Like I communicated to the coach, we have only one gold and that is Continental in 2019”.
Before the team left for Antigua and Barbuda, Felicien mentioned to the players that, “This is your time to shine and if you have to shine you have to shine at the ECVA championship. You have to let people know we are here to make a statement. Our work has now begun, because when we hit the international stage we going bigger and better”.
Deputy Permanent Secretary, LiotaCharlemange – Mason, on behalf of the Minister responsible for Youth Development and Sports and the Department congratulated the team for their tremendous victory at the championship.
Mason actually thanked social media because she had the opportunity to watch the game against Antigua and Barbuda with Saint Lucia being 20-17 down and to come from behind to win the set, it was really amazing.
She said, “The team has done well and we really appreciate it. We at the Department of Youth Development and Sports will continue to support you as you look forward to represent Saint Lucia at Continental next year”.
Meanwhile, at the awards ceremony, Saint Lucia grabbed six of the 12 individual awards at stake – Best Server/ Best Outside Hitters – Kerin Neptune, Best Setter – Cindy Wilson, Best Middle Blocker -Yosherbel Emmanuel, Best Outside Hitters and MVP – Lisa Casimir.
The winning squad: Cindy Wilson (captain/ setter – Jet setters), Lisa Casimir, (opposite hitter- Le Club), Kerin Neptune (opposite hitter -Jetsetters), Yorsherbel Emmanuel (middle blocker -Jetsetters), Asher Hunte (libero – Phoenix 758), Laura Tisson Francis – (middle blocker- Le Club), Tanayestigni Joseph -(outside hitter – Le Club), Nyoka Nugent (opposite hitter- Le Club) and Prisca Simon (outside hitter – Dig Set Point).
