Bermudas women are one victory away from second round

Bermuda's Giovanna Pacheco spikes over the opponents' blocking

Marigot, French St. Martin, 2009 - Bermuda moved one step closer to the title in the Norceca-A first round tournament of the FIVB 2010 Women’s World Championship following an overwhelming victory over British Virgin Islands on Friday.

The Bermudians increased their win-loss record to 3-0 after sweeping their opponents by score of 25-5, 25-9, 25-15 in exactly 60 minutes. They now need only one more victory against Anguilla on Sunday to advance to the second round Norceca-C in Trinidad & Tobago on May 31-June 7.

Giovanna Pacheco was the leading scorer with 13 points and Katarina Carnicka added seven.

In the first match on Friday, Anguilla defeated St. Kitts & Nevis 3-1 to claim its first win in the tournament. The score was 25-20, 18-25, 26-24, 25-22. The winners have now a 1-1 win-loss record while the losers fell to a 1-2 mark in the five-team competition that ends on Sunday.

Khalida Banks led Anguilla with 18 points, Ludiane Leveret Richardson tallied 15 and Marsha Edwards and Farrah Banks chipped in 9 and 8 respectively. Brenda Allen Edinborough had a tournament high 22 points for St. Kitts & Nevis and Shanicia Dyer added 15 tallies.

“We wanted to give some players a well deserved rest and be prepared for the match of next Sunday,” said Jonathan Gazzard, the coach of the winning side.

“The motivation was to beat St. Kitts something we have not done in a very long time,” said Justus Connor, the coach of the winners.

In an exhibition match to close the Friday’s action, French St. Martin won an emotional five-setter over Dominica. The score was 24-26, 25-22, 25-19, 20-25, 16-14.