ROCKETS stormed into the finals of the VolleyBarbados championships after a tough five set victory over 2011 local double crown champions Chargers at the Barbados Community College on Tuesday night.
Rockets won 24-26, 25-13, 25-16, 22-25, 15-9 and will face the University of Montreal Carabins who defeated College Bois-de-Boulogne 25-13, 25-16, 25-14 in the other semi-final.
Chargers who went down 3-1 the night before brought their ‘A’ game on Wednesday night, but alas it wasn’t enough. Thonya Joseph and Akeila Phillips teamed up to form an almost impenetrable block, nullifying the power hitting of Rockets’ Shari Matthews. With Chargers leading 21-24, Rockets drew even but two spikes from Dania Hamilton closed out the first set for Chargers 24-26.
Rockets, intent on booking their spot in the final, stormed back in the second set racing away to a 13-5 lead. They exploited the weak link in the Chargers’ armour, libero Janelle Pilgrim. Julia Lewis served up three consecutive aces all aimed at Pilgrim who couldn’t handle the power. Rockets were leading 20-8 and, despite a very late push from Chargers, won the second set 25-13.
Chargers scored the first two points in the third set but Rockets gained early momentum and led 8-3 and were 14-8 when Chargers coach Laron Knight was forced to call a timeout to rally his team. His words seemed to have fallen on deaf ears as Rockets came out of the break and scored four unanswered points to open up a ten point lead 18-8. Shari Matthews and Julia Lewis again were the highlights for Rockets, while Janelle Chase-Mayers and Sophia Walcott repeatedly stuffed the spikes of Dania Hamilton as Rockets took the third set 25-16.
In the fourth set Chargers raced away to an 1-8 lead, primarily on the backs of strong plays from Sharon Bovell, who always performs well under pressure, and Rheann Niles. Niles substituted power for a more stealth attack preferring dinks and soft taps to
the oft unprotected middle court of Rockets. Chargers led 5-16 at this stage and it was evident to the vocal crowd on hand that the game was heading to five sets. Still, Rockets began slowly but surely to get back into the game and drew within three with the score on
16-19. However Chargers held off this late surge to win the set 22-25 to force the fifth and decisive set.
Both teams came out fighting ready for the set with no team really dominating. However, it was Rockets who opened up a slim lead 11-9 before eventually taking it 15-9.
(Source http://www.barbadosadvocate.com/newsitem.asp?more=sports&NewsID=21928)
