Barbados and Jamaica emerged as the champions in the boys' and girls' divisions, respectively, as the curtains came down on the 2024 CAZOVA U19 Boys and Girls Zonal Championships at the GC Foster College in St. Catherine, Jamaica, on Sunday.

In a thrilling boys' final, Barbados demonstrated remarkable resilience by coming from two sets down to defeat Trinidad and Tobago. The Barbadian boys showcased their fighting spirit and strategic prowess, eventually securing the championship with a 20-25, 24-26, 25-21, 25-22, 15-12 victory. Barbados earned their place in the final by overcoming the hosts, Jamaica, in straight sets (25-20, 25-21, 25-13) in the semi-finals.

On the girls' side, hosts Jamaica claimed the championship title with an impressive performance against Trinidad and Tobago. The Jamaican girls won the final in four sets, 25-21, 25-23, 24-26, 25-14, showcasing their dominance and skill throughout the tournament.

Jamaica’s boys finished fourth after a hard-fought match against the US Virgin Islands (USVI) in the playoff for third place. In an enthralling encounter, USVI edged out Jamaica 19-25, 25-23, 22-25, 25-16, 15-9. However, the USVI girls' team was not as fortunate, as they were defeated by Barbados in straight sets (25-19, 25-22, 25-23) in a keenly contested match.

Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago both booked spots in the last four of the 2024 CAZOVA U19 Boys Zonal Championship with wins over the US Virgin Islands and Barbados, respectively, on Monday at the GC Foster College in Spanish Town, Jamaica.

The hosts came from behind twice to secure a 3-2 win over USVI and secure top spot in Pool A and a spot in the semi-finals.

USVI took the first set 25-23 before Jamaica levelled proceedings with a 25-22 victory in the second set.

A close third set saw USVI win 26-24 to take a 2-1 lead before Jamaica roared back once again with a 25-20 win in the fourth set.

The hosts then took the fifth set 15-11. USVI will also advance to the semis after finishing second Pool A.

Trinidad & Tobago had an easier time of it than the Jamaicans, defeating Barbados 3-1 to top Pool B.

T&T won the first set 25-22 before Barbados tied things up with a 26-24 second set win. Trinidad & Tobago then won the next two sets 26-24 and 25-22 to secure their spot in the final four. Barbados and the Cayman Islands will determine who joins them in the semis from Pool B in the last preliminary round match.

In the CAZOVA U19 Girls Zonal Championship, the US Virgin Islands booked a spot in the semifinals with a 3-0 win over Curacao on Monday.

They won the sets 25-12, 25-10 and 25-12 to top Group B ahead of Curacao and Aruba who will face off to determine the other semifinalist from the group.

Barbados defeated hosts Jamaica on Sunday to book their spot in the semifinals from Group A.

The Bajans recovered from a 23-25 first set loss to win the next three sets 25-23, 25-17 and 25-21 and book their spot in the semis.

Jamaica, who were playing their first game in the tournament, will face Trinidad & Tobago to see who will join Barbados in the semis.

Barbados defeated T&T 3-1 to open the tournament on Saturday.

 

 

The US Virgin Islands secured a 2-1 win over hosts Trinidad & Tobago in Davis Cup Americas Group IV Round Robin play at the National Racquet Centre in Tacarigua on Tuesday.

The hosts got Tuesday’s tie off to a winning start with Kamran McIntosh-Ross securing a dominant 6-0, 7-5 win over Tomas Del Olmo in an hour and 21 minutes.

McIntosh-Ross had an excellent day on serve, winning 80% of his first serve points and saving all three break points faced.

The 20-year-old also was able to break Del Olmo’s serve four times.

Overall, the Trinidadian won 71 points compared to Del Olmo’s 47.

USVI levelled proceedings at 1-1 when Jan Neuburger-Higby beat Luca Shamsi 6-1, 6-2 in just over an hour.

Neuburger-Higby won 79% of his first serve points and converted all four of his break opportunities on Shamsi’s serve on his way to a comfortably victory.

The tie then came down to a doubles match between T&T’s Kale Dalla Costa and Alijah Leslie and USVI’s Del Olmo and Neuburger-Higby which the USVI pair dominated on the way to a 6-2, 6-3 victory.

 

Both Dominica and Aruba clinched promotion to League B after they registered contrasting away victories in their respective League C Concacaf Nations League encounters on Thursday.

British Virgin Islands vs. Dominica

Dominica will be back in familiar territory in League B for the next edition of the Nations League, as they sealed promotion with a 2-1 win over British Virgin Islands in Group C at the A.O. Shirley Recreation Ground in Road Town, BVI.

With the result, Dominica are guaranteed of top spot in the three-team group with a match to spare. They are on seven points, while BVI, on five points, remain in the mix for promotion as the best-ranked second-place team in League C.

After playing out a goalless first half, where both teams created chances, the best of which fell to BVI, as Luka Chalwell's shot that was saved, while Taylor Scarff's header was tipped over the crossbar by Glenson Prince, in goal for Dominica.

Dominica's best effort in the first 45 minutes, fell to Javid George, whose right-footed effort came back off the post.

However, Dominica’s pressure finally bore fruit in the 52nd minute, as George played a cut-back pass to Audel Laville, who bounced home a shot for a 1-0 lead.

BVI replied 11 minutes later courtesy of T’Sharne Gallimore in the 63rd. Gallimore received a pass and then made a slick cut before curling a right-footed shot into net to make it 1-1.

But Dominica regained the ascendancy in the 68th through Eustace Marshall, who expertly headed home after being left unmarked in front of goal.

Dominica fended off a late BVI charge to nail down the precious three points and secure their place in League B.

 

US Virgin Islands vs. Aruba

Aruba are also on their way back to League B thanks to their 4-1 triumph over United States Virgin Islands in Group B at the Bethlehem Soccer Complex in Saint Croix.

The victory gives Aruba nine points from three games, five points ahead of second-place Cayman Islands.

It was an ideal start for Aruba, who grabbed a 1-0 lead in the 23rd through Jaydon Dania, who tapped in a cross from Benjamin Maria.

Aruba kept their foot on the gas, and doubled the advantage before halftime and it came in sensational fashion, as Rovien Ostiana launched a shot from over 50 yards out that sailed over the head of USVI's goalkeeper Dylan Ramos to make it 2-0 at the break.

USVI came out strong on the resumption and pulled one back in the 47th when Quinn Farrell headed in a weighted free kick from Zahmyre Harris.

Aruba restored their two-goal cushion in the 52nd, with Maria once again playing provider for Ostiana, who applied a tidy finish.

Maria then took one of his own when he converted from the penalty spot to cap the win and the three points for Aruba.

Antigua and Barbuda Head Coach Mikele Leigertwood has praised his team for the quality of their play that saw them go unbeaten in the latest round of the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers and go top of Group A over El Salvador and Grenada.

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