Cropper leads SVG to ECVA Volleyball title

Captain Jamaar Cropper showed his prowess, as he navigated St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) to the Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association (ECVA) Men’s Under-23 title last weekend.

The national volleyball contingent with their medals and trophies at the AIA VIP lounge at right is Sports Minister Frederick Stephenson

Cropper’s performance was the highlight of the event, staged October 11 to 15, 2023 at the Indoor Multi -Purpose Complex in Road Town, Tortola. He therefore was awarded the championship’s MVP, as he also copped the Best Scorer award and was one of two Best Outside Hitters.

Cropper came up trumps when it mattered most last Sunday night in the final versus St Kitts and Nevis. He scored a game high of 34 points as SVG made good of a 3-2 ( 25-18, 24-26, 27-25, 25-23, 15-6) win.

It was a revenge of sorts for the Vincentians, who suffered a 3-0 loss to the Kittitians, when the two got their campaign going October 12.

SVG emerged from Pool B play in second place, as they went on to beat St Lucia 3-2, and had 3-0 triumphs at the expense of Antigua and Barbuda, as well as Saba. In the Vincentian’s duel with Dominica in the semi-finals, they won comfortably by another 3-0 margin.

Reflecting on his team’s title, Head Coach Daryl Franklyn expressed joy, as they rebounded from their early defeat. “ I am extremely elated and proud of the guys as they gave above and beyond of themselves …Our team started off very nervous as it was the very first time for most of them playing in a competition of such a high level …This resulted in us making a lot of mistakes and losing the first match (versus St Kitts and Nevis)”, Franklyn assessed.

A confident Franklyn revealed that he knew all along his charges had the will to win.

“We knew we had a team that could have rivalled any in the ECVA and that showed as we ended the competition on a high,” Franklyn commented.

But winning the ECVA title was not all for SVG, as they have booked a direct berth to the Pan American Championships in 2024.

According to Franklyn, “the team will have a couple of weeks for rest and recovery and will be back on the courts as we prepare for the Pan Am Championships.

Meanwhile, SVG got another individual trophy. Joining Cropper as a recipient of an award was Shadrach Delpesche, who was one of two Best Middle Blockers.