Netherlands Antilles Holds Back Barbados

Bill Kauffman
Manager, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: 719-228-6800
E-Mail: bill.kauffman@usav.org

ORLANDO, Fla. (July 8, 2009) – Netherlands Antilles started the fifth and deciding set against Barbados with an 8-1 lead and withstood a late Barbados charge to conclude the FIVB Women’s World Championship Qualification Tournament with a 25-22, 20-25, 27-25, 21-25, 16-14 victory Wednesday evening to finish with a 1-2 record during the four-team, three-day round-robin event being held at Orlando, Florida. Barbados concludes the tournament with a 0-3 record.

Netherlands Antilles, ranked 53rd in the world, finished second in NORCECA Pool C second round of qualification to advance to Pool G. Barbados, currently ranked 50th in the world, won the NORCECA Pool D second round of qualification to advance to Pool G.

Netherlands Antilles’ Christine Anthony scored a match-high and tournament-leading single match total of 32 points, including 27 kills, four aces and a block. Sonela Philips added 16 points via 12 kills, three blocks and an ace.

Shari Matthews paced Barbados with 21 points, including four blocks and 16 kills. Teammate Thonya Joseph contributed 19 points and match-high five blocks in the loss.

Barbados came back from a five-point deficit late in the fourth set to force a tiebreaker, then nearly came back from the 8-1 hole it put itself in the fifth set. Barbados knotted the score in the fifth set at 12-all, only to have Netherlands Antilles score consecutive points to gain match points at 14-12. Barbados saved both match points to tie the set at 14-all, but Netherlands Antilles finished it off with consecutive points capped by a match-winning ace by Cristal Gregorius.

“It was a really hard fought match,” Netherlands Antilles Head Coach Patricio Bridgewater said. “In talking with the Barbados head coach before the match, we agreed from the start that this match would be a battle. Barbados’ effort made us fight harder and pushed us to the limit. It could have gone either way, but we had fewer errors in key moments.”

“My compliments to Netherlands Antilles for a good game,” Barbados Head Coach Andrew Brathwaite said. “I am a little disappointed as my team could have won. But we made too many errors. Our blocking was horrible, and that had been one of our strengths in tournaments leading to this.”

“We fought with heart, had good defense during the match and limited our mistakes,” Netherlands Antilles captain Eunice Goeloe said.

“What beat us was own mistakes and not using the game plan,” Barbados captain Janelle Chase-Mayers said.

The qualification tournament’s winner will be decided later tonight as United States hosts Costa Rica in a battle of 2-0 teams. The winning team earns a direct pass into next year’s FIVB World Championship, while the second-place team moves into a four-team Playoff next month in Mexico to decide the final two vacancies.

Tags: FIVB World Championship