By TENAJH SWEETING

Tribune Sports Reporter

tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

The Government Secondary Schools Sports Association (GSSSA) volleyball best-of-three championship series kicked off in thrilling fashion yesterday at the Kendal GL Isaacs Gymnasium.

The HO Nash Lions took a commanding 1-0 series lead in their junior boys and girls matchups against the SC McPherson Sharks.

Over in the senior division, the CI Gibson Rattlers took charge 1-0 in their series against the senior girls of Government High School. 

The CR Walker Knights senior boys are also in the driver’s seat 1-0 against the defending champions CI Gibson. 

Championship games will continue at 4pm today in the DW Davis Gymnasium.

Junior Division 

The HO Nash Lions, the two-time defending champions, continued to dominate in the junior girls’ division. They stepped onto the floor against this year’s pennant winners and battled their way to consecutive set wins against the Sharks.

The Lions finished off the Sharks 25-21, 25-12.Lions head coach Patricia “Pattie” Johnson gave special credit to the Sharks but said her team was ready for game one. “We went home and we discussed what was going on and what we needed to do. I told everybody you have to respect SC McPherson because they have a very good team but we cannot come back in the gym and say the same thing. We went out there and played heads up and we just were the better team today,” she said.

With one game separating the junior girls from their third straight title, coach Johnson said they have to maintain the same focus in game two.

The Lions’  junior boys got a little push back from the Sharks but managed to steal game one 2-1.

HO Nash obliterated the Sharks in set one 25-13. It came down the wire in set two with SC McPherson regaining their footing in the matchup 25-22. With game one up for grabs, HO Nash took care of business 15-5 in the third set.

Lions head coach Sydline Justilien said her team had some game one jitters but were able to shake it off and get the victory. 

“I feel the boys were a bit shaky today and we usually play better than that but I know it is the first game and they were a little scared but hopefully tomorrow we have a better game,” she said.

She shared the message given to her team after the Sharks tied the matchup 1-1.

“I had to rally them up and let them know we are still in the game, not to give up, hold your head up and play fundamental volleyball and let’s win,” she said.

The goal is now for both Lions to wrap up their championship series today in game two.

Senior Division

It was a tightly-contested matchup between the Rattlers and Magic. 

GHS, who came up short in last year’s finals, opened the beginning set with a 3-0 lead but the Rattlers remained poised and won it 25-20. They followed up set one with a 25-21 victory to close out game one 2-0.

Rattlers head coach Kaivone Newbold was impressed with the way her team competed in the championship game.

“I think that at the end of the day they dug deep and they wanted it much more than Government High. I am very good with their performance. I am very happy with the way they performed when they were down, they dug deep and they didn’t give up,” she said.

Coach Newbold spoke about what the team needs to do to complete the two-game sweep today. 

“They gotta continue to push and continue to be confident but most of all continue to play ball and have fun. It is all about having fun and giving your all,” she said.

In the final game of the night, the Rattlers and Knights fought tooth and nail to the finish. The decision came down to three sets and the Knights nabbed game one 2-1 over the defending champions.

The Knights threw the first blow in set one to emerge victorious 26-24. The Rattlers rallied together in the following set and stunned the Knights 25-21. Set three came down to the final play and it would be the Knights leaving with bragging rights with a 15-13 victory.

Head coach Trevor Grant said it was no surprise that game one was so close against the defending champions.

“To win a game against the defending champions feels good. We are champions too so it was champions and against champions but in this game the next champion survived. KJ is going to put up a fight and I am going to put up a fight because it is the clash of the two titans and this rivalry has been going for years.

“Hats off to CI Gibson they put up a fight but I had to make some adjustments with my players. Some of them have never played at this level in this capacity and they got a little shaky. They got their head focused and they came back,” he said.

Coach Grant is disappointed in the quick turnaround of the sudden death playoffs and championship games but he is hoping the team will close out the series today.

The 2024 GSSSA Volleyball Championships will continue today at 4pm in the DW Davis Gymnasium.