Second placed SVG male volleyballers snap up WCQ awards

Second placed St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) snapped up most of the individual awards when Group B of the NORCECA zone of the World Championships Qualifiers was completed last Sunday at the Laborie indoor facility in Grenada.{{more}}

Leading the Vincentians’ awards list was Cassius Franklyn, the team’s captain.

Franklyn was the Best Scorer, Best Receiver and one of two spikers who the statistics showed contributed best in the Outside Hitter’s position.

SVG’s Shevron Cain took the Best Setter and the lanky Brendon Smart got an award as one of two who played in Best Middle Blocker’s position.

Second to SVG on the awards sheet was St Kitts and Nevis. The MVP of the tournament was St Clair Hodge; Jason Liburd was the Best Opposite and Best Digger and Kemoroy Percival – Best Libero.

Meanwhile, Grenada’s Nikel John got the other award of Best Middle Blocker and Kevon Noel pouched the Best Server and was the other Best Outside Hitter.

Before the awards were presented, SVG saved their worst for last, when it mattered most.

Favourites to take the gold medal, the Vincentians, who went into last Sunday night’s final against St Kitts and Nevis unbeaten, imploded at the last hurdle, succumbing in straight sets 3-0 (25-19, 25-22, 25-22).

On the other hand, St Kitts and Nevis had had a solitary win against Grenada, losing to SVG and Bermuda.

However, St Kitts and Nevis went through to the championship match on a superior points ratio over Bermuda.

In their first match on Saturday, SVG had side-stepped the Kittians 3-1 (25-21, 20-25, 27-25, 25-21). Then on Saturday evening, SVG stopped Bermuda also 3-1 ((25-23, 25- 16, 19-25, 25-15) and returned Sunday morning to silence Grenada 3-0 (25-25-22, 28-26)

SVG advanced, along with St Kitts and Nevis, to the second round of the qualification process. Grenada took the bronze ahead of Bermuda, as the two chased the consolation spot.(RT)