Team Bahamas still in search of first beach volleyball win

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas is still in search of their first beach volleyball win of the VI Commonwealth Youth Games.

Each of the three teams took to the sand yesterday but remain 0-2 in the preliminary rounds of the event hosted at the National Beach Soccer Stadium.

The girls' team of Mechelle Moss and La'Tavia Braynen lost to Rebbeca Ingraham and Carrie Van Rensburg of Australia, 21-8, 21-15.

The second boys' team of James Cleare and Aaron Springer made their debut with a 21-9, 21-6 loss to Mark Nicolaidis and Blake Takken of Australia.

They returned later in the afternoon but suffered a 21-10, 21-19 loss to Levi Leonce and Kyhim Remy of St Lucia.

The other boys' team of Nathan Wert and Kyle Wilson fell to Lukholo Jooste and Aviwe Mamfanya of South Africa 21-18, 21-9.

Wilson and Wert opened the first set with an early 4-0 lead before RSA rallied to tie. Wilson regained momentum on a block followed by an ace on his next serve. Back and forth throughout the set, it was tied several times at 10, 12, 13, 14 before South Africa rallied to go ahead by four and eventually win the set 21-18.

The second set began with the same pattern before RSA broke a 7-7 tie with five consecutive points to take control for good.

National team head coach Glen Rolle said despite the result, the teams showed improvements from their performances on day one.

"It was an improvement from day one. For the girls, you could see it in their gameplay. They played with a confidence we knew they had even though they may not have displayed that in the first game. That's where I'm the happiest, that they looked confident and comfortable. The guys gave a valiant effort in the first set, but just fell flat because of fatigue and to win at this level you have to put two great sets together," he said.

"The outcome, of course, is not what we wanted but we have to face it, we were shorthanded in a lot of areas, they exceeded expectations in their play. It may not be the result that we wanted but all you can ask for is their best effort and improvement. They continue to do that."