Country Day boys, Lady Barracudas win at Central High Tourney
Published: October 16, 2012
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Complex's Amanda Perry jumps to make a play during the girls championship game against Central High on Sunday.
Daily News Photos by JASON BRONIS Country Day's Jordan Evans jumps for the ball during the boys championship game against Kean High at Central High School's Ronald Charles Arena on Sunday.
The Country Day School boys volleyball team dropped its first match at the Central High School Volleyball Tournament last weekend on St. Croix, but the team would not be deterred.
The Tigers rallied back, won the rest of their matches and found redemption when they beat Ivanna Eudora Kean High School in the tournament championship, 3-0, on Sunday.
Seniors outside hitters Jordan Evans and Chandler Blaschka were the leading scorers for Country Day and were awarded Tournament co-MVPs. Both players also compete for the U.S. Virgin Islands junior men's volleyball team.
"We have a such a young team but those two are the veterans," said Country Day coach Laurie Dunton, whose team will meet Complex on Wednesday in a regular-season tilt. "When all the officials tallied up the points, Chandler and Jordan were in a dead heat in scoring."
The Tigers changed up the lineup after the initial defeat to the Devil Rays, Dunton said, as the team is still trying to find the right combination.
"Our setter is a freshman and this was his first varsity tournament," Dunton said. "After dropping the first match, we did some changes in the lineup and it played to our advantage. We just had a desire to win."
Kean High coach Alrid Lockhart was happy his team advanced to the final, but he expected more.
"I think we could have done better," said Lockhart, whose team is still undefeated in St. Thomas-St. John IAA competition this season. "We beat them on Friday, and then they just came back got us. We're hoping to do better at the Antilles Tournament, which starts Friday."
Country Day is gearing up for the Educational Complex Tournament, which is scheduled for Nov. 8-11, and Dunton said the team is hoping to make a trip to St. Thomas later in November for the Kean High tourney.
Lady Barracudas top Antilles
Sophomore middle hitter Danielle Christian led her team in kills and was named the Tournament MVP as the Lady Barracudas rolled to a 3-0 victory over Antilles School in the Central High School Volleyball Tournament championship on Sunday.
The Lady Barracudas - one of two teams from Educational Complex - finished the tournament with a 4-1 record. They topped Central in the semifinals, while the Lady Hurricanes got past Charlotte Amalie High to advance.
"I am so pleased with these girls," Lady Barracudas coach Ophelia Jackson said. "We have been together since junior high, and I told them this is when we need to step up and make it happen."
Kimesha Francis was the top server and led the Lady Barracudas in scoring.
Complex beat the Lady Barracudas on Saturday in a close match - the first set was scored 31-29. It would be the only loss suffered by the Lady Barracudas in the tourney.
"It was very competitive and we expected that," Jackson said. "There was a three-way tie in our bracket before the semifinals so the teams were very evenly-matched."
- Contact sports writer Aaron Gray at 714-9102 or email agray@dailynews.vi.
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