The Curtis Burkette-coached San Juan South Secondary and Macsood Ali-coached International School of Port-of-Spain (ISPS) both captured two of three gender age-group titles in their respective boys' and girls' divisions when the Secondary Schools’ Volleyball League (SSVL) ended at the International School of Port-of-Spain, International Drive, Westmoorings on Sunday.
On the final day of competition, Barrackpore West Secondary in the boy's category were in the hunt to sweep the Under-15, U-17 and Open Division titles. However, it was not to be as San Juan South played spoiler and took home both the Boys' U-17 and Open titles.
In the Boys' U-17 decider, San Juan South swept past Barrackpore West 25-10, 25-15. When the semifinals took place last month, San Juan South whipped Iere High 25-7, 25-11 in their semifinal while Barrackpore West overcame Presentation College of Chaguanas 25-22, 25-15 at the Eastern Regional Indoor Sports Arena in Tacarigua. Presentation College took the bronze via a 25-14, 19-25, 15-11 win over Iere High.
San Juan South Secondary repeated their success over Barrackpore West in the Boys' Open Division with a straightforward 25-12, 25-12 win in the final. San Juan South had cruised past Iere High 25-12, 25-16 in their semifinal while Barrackpore West ousted Maple Leaf International School 22-25, 26-24, 15-13 in the other.
In the early phase, San Juan South made light work of their Group A opponents with wins over Naparima 25-13, 25-11; Presentation Chaguanas 25-8, 25-19 and Maple Leaf International School 25-17, 25-15 while Barrackpore West was equally as impressive in Group B defeating Arima North (25-17, 25-19); ISPS (23-25, 25-20, 15-9) and Iere High (27-25, 25-16) in their pool decider. In the quarterfinals, Maple Leaf battled past ISPS 25-20, 18-25, 15-9, while Iere High spiked Presentation Chaguanas 25-17, 25-7. In the bronze medal encounter, Maple Leaf International triumphed 25-23, 25-19 over Iere High.
When the Boys’ U-15 Division took place, Barrackpore West Secondary humbled fellow southerners, Naparima College 25-13, 25-22 to take home the crown.
In the preliminary round, which was contested between the same two schools, Naparima battled past Barrackpore West, 25-22, 20-25, 17-15 in an entertaining match-up.
ISPS were also firm favourites to secure all three crowns in the girls' competition, but came up short with victories in the U-15 Division Girls’ final against Maple Leaf as well as the U-17 age-group versus St Joseph’s Convent Port-of-Spain (PoS),
In the Girls U-15 decider, ISPS whipped Maple Leaf International 25-15, 25-16.
When the seven-team round-robin stage was contested ISPS ended with a perfect record of 7-0 ahead of the "Big-Four" round-robin final after beating 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 15-4, 15-10; Holy Faith Convent (Couva) 15-3, 15-8; Maple Leaf 13-15, 15-10, 15-7 and Tunapuna Secondary 15-12, 15-12.
The pair of Maple Leaf and St Joseph’s (PoS) both ended with 5-2 win-loss marks to qualify for the finals along with ASJA Girls’ who secured the fourth and final spot ahead of St Joseph’s (St Joseph) based on points won to point loss co-efficient after both teams ended with 4-2 records.
ASJA Girls secured the bronze medal in the U-15s beating St Joseph's Convent (PoS) 25-16, 25-18.
ISPS then added the Girls U-17 winners' trophy to their coffers via another straight sets win, 25-20, 25-16 over St Joseph's (PoS).
In the "Big Four" round-robin series at the National Cycling Centre in Balmain, Couva last month St Joseph’s (PoS) ended with a perfect record after they defeated South East Port-of-Spain (SEPoS) 25-15, 25-14, and ISPS 25-21, 14-25, 15-13 for a 2-0 record, after which their final against winless Arima North, was not played due to time constraints.
The ISPS players had earlier swept past SEPoS 25-6, 25-19, and Arima North 25-6, 25-15 in their first two matches, while SEPoS battled past Arima North 25-13, 25-19 in the other completed round-robin match before SEPoS won the bronze medal battle against the same opponent, 25-13, 26-24.
However, with a chance of a clean sweep at stake, International School (PoS) was denied by bitter rival Maple Leaf 22-25, 15-25.
Earlier this month in the semifinals at the National Cycling Centre in Balmain, Couva, Maple Leaf battled past the previously undefeated St Joseph’s (PoS) 27-25, 9-25, 15-11 while ISPoS eased past St Joseph’s (St Joseph) 25-19, 25-13.
In the third-placed playoff, St Joseph's Convent (PoS) got the better of sister school St Joseph's Convent (St Joseph) 25-11, 25-9.