St. Vincent Men Advance to NORCECA Continental Championship

Gros Inlet, Saint Lucia hosted 2nd Round Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association Pool E qualification for the 2018 FIVB Men’s World Volleyball Championships. The matches between Antigua & Barbuda (FIVB Ranking 95), Dominica (78), St. Kitts & Nevis (95) and St. Vincent & the Grenadines (78) were held August 9th and 10th, 2 matches per day for each team. After a round robin, there would be a 3rd place match and a 1st match. Only the 1st place finisher would advance to the 3rd round of NORCECA qualification, the NORCECA Continental Championship.

With three teams finishing pool play tied at two wins and one loss, St. Vincent & the Grenadines advanced to the final with 10 points. Dominica and Antigua & Barbuda were tied with 7 points and on sets with 7 wins and 6 losses. Points ratio had to be used to break the tie, which Dominica won by .006 or 2 point difference (-10 for Dominica vs. -12 for Antigua).

St. Vincent & the Grenadines came back from losing the first set to Dominica to take the final 3-1 and advance to the NORCECA Continental Championship.

St. Vincent & the Grenadines had four players in double figures in the match, while Dominica only had one player Yhan Florent in double figures with 22 points. Ronald Franklyn of St. Vincent & the Grenadines was named tournament MVP.

Results of Pool Play Matches

Aug 9 Dominica 3-1 Antigua & Barbuda (26-28, 25-19, 25-20, 25-20)
Aug 9 St. Vincent & the Grenadines 3-1 St. Kitts & Nevis (25-23, 26-24, 14-25, 30-28)
Aug 9 Dominica 1-3 St. Vincent & the Grenadines (18-25, 27-25, 14-25, 18-25)
Aug 9 St. Kitts & Nevis 1-3 Antigua & Barbuda (28-30, 20-25, 25-19, 24-26)
Aug 10 St. Kitts & Nevis 2-3 Dominica (25-21, 25-18, 20-25, 23-25, 12-15)
Aug 10 Antigua & Barbuda 3-2 St. Vincent & the Grenadines (19-25, 19-25, 25-22, 25-20, 15-12)

Standings After Pool Play
NORCECA uses 5 (3-0 win), 4 (3-1 win), 3 (3-2 win), 2 (2-3 loss), 1 (1-3 loss) and 0 (0-3 loss) points system

1. St. Vincent & the Grenadines 2 wins-1 loss, 10 points
2. Dominica 2-1, 7 points, 7 sets won-6 sets lost, 0.966 points ratio
3. Antigua & Barbuda 2-1, 7 points, 7 sets won-6 sets lost, 0.960 points ratio
4. St. Kitts & Nevis 0-3, 4 points

Position Matches

3rd Place Match
Antigua & Barbuda 3-2 St. Kitts & Nevis (24-26, 25-27, 25-20, 25-19, 15-9)

1st Place Match
St. Vincent & the Grenadines 3-1 Dominica (2-25, 25-19, 25-18, 25-21)