Rivals, Maple Leaf International School and International School Port-of-Spain will contest the Girls’ Open Division final of the Secondary Schools Volleyball League National Championships on March 16 after contrasting semifinal wins at the National Cycling Centre in Balmain, Couva, on Thursday (February 27).
In the first semifinal, Maple Leaf International School battled past the previously undefeated St Joseph’s Convent (Port-of-Spain) 27-25, 9-25, 15-11 while International School Port-of-Spain eased past St Joseph’s Convent (St Joseph) 25-19, 25-13.
And in the bronze medal match-up which was also contested on Thursday, St Joseph’s Convent (Port-of-Spain) got the better of St Joseph’s Convent (St Joseph) 25-11, 25-9.
Earlier on in the round-robin phase, both International School (Group A) and St Joseph’s Convent (PoS) ended with perfect 3-0 records in their respective four-team pools.
In Group A, International School (PoS) defeated St Joseph’s Convent (St Joseph) 25-13, 25-5; Maple Leaf International 25-17, 25-16 and Iere High School 25-7, 25-20 to secure an automatic semifinal spot.
Maple Leaf International ended in the runner-up spot after winning their other matches against Iere High School 25-11, 25-12 and St Joseph’s Convent (St Joseph) 25-10, 25-13, while the latter took the valuable third spot to reach the quarters after beating Iere High 25-16, 21-25, 25-12.
In Group B, St Joseph’s Convent (PoS) overcame San Fernando Central Secondary 25-6, 25-19; ASJA Girls’ College of San Fernando 33-31, 25-9 and Arima North Secondary 25-13, 25-15.
ASJA Girls’ College secured second spot after defeating Arima North Secondary 25-12, 25-17 and San Fernando Central Secondary 25-23, 25-23, while the latter downed Arima North Secondary to get to the quarterfinals as well.
In the quarterfinals, Maple Leaf International humbled San Fernando Central Secondary 25-21, 25-16, while St Joseph’s Convent (St Joseph) outlasted ASJA Girls’ College of San Fernando 25-21, 13-25, 15-5.
Unbeaten San Juan South, Barrackpore West to contest Boys Open decider
San Juan South Secondary and Barrackpore West Secondary will be in this year’s Open Boys final after playing unbeaten throughout the round-robin stage and playoffs.
San Juan South Secondary made light work of their Group A opponents with wins over Naparima College 25-13, 25-11; Presentation College of Chaguanas 25-8, 25-19 and Maple Leaf International School 25-17, 25-15, while the latter had victories over Presentation College of Chaguanas 25-20, 25-17 and Naparima College 25-22, 25-15 for the second spot, with Presentation College of Chaguanas taking third after beating Naparima College 25-17, 25-10.
Barrackpore West Secondary was equally as impressive in Group B defeating Arima North Secondary 25-17, 25-19; International School of Port-of-Spain 23-25, 25-20, 15-9 and Iere High School 27-25, 25-16 in their pool decider.
Iere High School had earlier eased past International School 25-21, 32-29 and Arima North Secondary 25-19, 25-17, while International School of Port-of-Spain beat Arima North Secondary 25-15, 25-18 to avoid the wooden spoon in the pool.
In the quarterfinals, Maple Leaf International School battled past International School 25-20, 18-25, 15-9, while Iere High School spiked Presentation College of Chaguanas 25-17, 25-7.
San Juan South Secondary then cruised past Iere High School 25-12, 25-16 in one semifinal while Barrackpore West Secondary ousted Maple Leaf International School 22-25, 26-24, 15-13 in the other.
International School
tops Girls U-15
round-robin qualifiers
International School of Port-of-Spain ended the seven-team round-robin stage of the Girls Under-15 Division with a perfect record of 7-0 ahead of the ‘Big-Four’ round-robin final.
This was after International School of Port-of-Spain beat St Joseph’s Convent (PoS) 15-9, 10-15, 15-10; ASJA Girl’s College of San Fernando 15-6, 7-15, 15-7; St Joseph’s Convent (St Joseph) 15-5, 15-10; San Fernando Central Secondary 15-4, 15-10; Holy Faith Convent (Couva) 15-3, 15-8; Maple Leaf International School 13-15, 15-10, 15-7 and Tunapuna Secondary 15-12, 15-12.
The pair of Maple Leaf International and St Joseph’s Convent (PoS) both ended with 5-2 win-loss marks to qualify as well.
Maple Leaf International School registered wins against ASJA Girls’ College of San Fernando 12-15, 15-12, 15-13; St Joseph’s Convent (St Joseph) 15-13, 16-14; Tunapuna Secondary 15-5, 15-4; Holy Faith Convent (Couva) 15-4, 15-8; and San Fernando Central Secondary 16-14, 15-9 but went under to St Joseph’s Convent (PoS) 10-15, 15-8, 13-15 for their other loss.
Meanwhile, St Joseph’s Convent (PoS) beat St Joseph’s Convent (St Joseph) 11-15, 15-6, 15-4; San Fernando Central Secondary 15-6, 19-17; Tunapuna Secondary School 15-11, 15-3 and Holy Faith Convent (Couva) 15-3, 15-9, but was stunned by ASJA Girls’ College 11-15, 10-15.
However, the fourth and final spot will be determined between ASJA Girls’ College and St Joseph’s Convent (St Joseph) after both teams ended at 4-3.
ASJA Girl’s College got their three other wins against Tunapuna Secondary 15-12, 15-12; San Fernando Central Secondary 16-14, 15-7; and Holy Faith Convent (Couva) 15-8, 15-8 while St Joseph’s Convent (St Joseph) slipped past ASJA Girls’ College 15-9, 15-13; Holy Faith Convent (Couva) 15-10, 15-5; Tunapuna Secondary 15-6, 15-9 and San Fernando Central 15-8, 15-9.
San Fernando Central defeated Holy Faith Convent (Couva) 15-8, 15-7 and Tunapuna Secondary 16-14, 14-16, 15-13 while Tunapuna Secondary toppled Holy Faith Convent 15-9, 15-14 in the other match.