EDUCATION, SPORTS, GENDER & YOUTH AFFAIRS

Game on! From the blast of the first whistle in the competition, the stage was set. The fierce rivalry among teams is clear indication that their eyes are fixed on the championship titles.

The road to the championships in the Antigua and Barbuda Amateur Volleyball Association (ABAVA) 2011 League started out with some sisterly love between STARZ A and STARZ B on Friday evening, but the relationship quickly turned hard-hitting.

The ladies of STARZ B put up a worthy fight, challenging the 2010 league champions STARZ A to dig deep to pull off a win in the first set (25, 21). The second set however proved to be a fluid walkover for STARZ A who won (25, 11). The players of STARZ B fearing that they would not crack the scorecard fought intensely in the third set. But against their best efforts they were defeated (25, 17); a 3-0 loss to their sibling.

On Saturday, the women of Jets soared unsparingly over less experienced Vipers for a 3-0 victory in the first match.

Vipers, formerly Renegades and formed from a combination of teams in the inter-school competition, made its debut in the big league last year. Now a year later and with a new name, Vipers intends to cement itself in the minds of  opponents.

Although its team’s effort was evident, Vipers could not thwart off a serious schooling from the Jets squad. Vipers was limited to scores below 20 in all three sets to finish the match (25, 11) (25, 14) (25, 16).

Taunting, big-chat and chest-pounding are too familiar scenes in the fiercely fought male category.

Last year’s defending champion Stoneville will soon learn that a repeat victory might not be a simple walk-in-the-park.

In the second match, Stoneville went up against team Pytonz in an evening filled with nail-biting moments and one that kept spectators at the edge of their seats. But in the end, there would be no constriction and definitely no biting after Stoneville crushed the non-venomous Pytons. The defenders closed (25, 23), (25, 22), (25, 23).

Sunday night will showcase an interesting battle between veteran team Paragons and newcomer to the female division Phoenix. That will be followed with a rumble between team Assassins versus last season’s runner-up the Enforcers. The spectators say this will be a 'grudge' match after Assassins derailed Enforcers from championship celebrations last year!