THE Bimini Marlins and the Fidelity/Central Gas Panthers clinched the men’s and women’s titles in the Grand Bahama Volleyball Association’s Battle of the Islands Volleyball Tournament held over the weekend at the Eight Mile Rock Gymnasium in Grand Bahama.

In the men’s championship game, the Bimini Marlins swept the Unruly 7 in set scores of 25-22 and 25-16.

The other teams participating in the men’s division were the Exuma Enforcers, Grand Bahama Hawks, Nassau Technicians, Abaco Strong Alpha and Abaco Strong Beta. And in the ladies’ championship game, the Fidelity/Central Gas Panthers repeated as champions with a 25-18 and 25-22 decision over the  Abaco Strong Alpha. Jannelle Curtiss was named the MVP.

The Abaco Strong Beta, Abaco Kady Rebels, Grand Bahama Hawks and the Lady Technicians also participated in the ladies’ division. 

Panthers’ coach Jason Saunders said Curtiss along with Je’Nae Greene, Khalea Johnson, Eunice Johnson, La’Tavia Braynen, Leandrea Johnson, Sari Albury, Skai Albury, and Shantia McPhee represented themselves and the club well and won the championship in two straight sets.  

“Abaco A team must be commended as they were the top seed after having won all of their matches without losing a set during the round robin part of the tournament,” Saunders said. “The coaches in Abaco are really doing an awesome job, especially with the junior athletes and should be recognised for the hard work that they are putting in.”

Saunders said Johnson, a 17-year-old Panthers’ player, “proved herself to be one of, if not the best under 20 players that we have and is easily able to compete against senior level competition, as was evident by her play. “Panthers are now the two-time defending champions and are looking to continue with its mission by allowing championships to be a byproduct of the work put in,” Saunders summed up.