Knox, Papine lift all-island volleyball titles

Knox College, led by inspirational captain and MVP Treviann Taylor, defeated first-time national finalists Immaculate 3-0 to claim their fourth straight hold on the ISSA schoolgirl volleyball all-island title at the G.C. Foster College yesterday.

Later, Papine High School completely dominated Oracabessa High School, also winning 3-0, for their first hold on the boys’ crown.

The defending champions Knox defeated Immaculate 25-22, 25-22, 25-18.

Taylor led the team in a number of departments, and coach Colin Rose highlighted the importance of his star player in all their successes.

“Treviann has been with the team four-five years. In 2023, when we won the first title, Treviann was that player who won that title for us. She was our MVP in 2023 and she is our MVP today, again,” he commented.

Taylor insists that what they have achieved is the result of hard work.

“Winning the title for four consecutive years is truly an amazing feeling. I cannot put into words how much this means to me. This just goes to show that hard work pays off,” she said

After a closely contested first set, Knox pulled away to take the set 25-22.

Immaculate started the second set well, but Knox turned it around and went into an 18-12 lead. Although Immaculate came within touching distance, Knox held out to win 25-22.

In the third set, the challengers hardly had an answer for the Taylor-inspired team. However, after taking a 24-11 lead, the champions took a while to close out the match, with Immaculate closing the gap to 24-18. But fittingly, Taylor, with a superb spike, finished off the match (25-18).

Rose added, “It’s the first time I am defending a title for the fourth time. It’s a feel-good feeling. I am happy for the girls. Immaculate are a quality team, but it comes down to decision-making in the moment, and our girls made the right decisions.”

Immaculate coach Nicholas Wilson said they did not play their best on the day.

“We were high on confidence. We didn’t get the win because we didn’t play to the best of our ability. Some players didn’t show up. We didn’t play as one, and nerves got the better of some of them. I think it was just lack of experience, as for many of the girls it’s their first time at this stage,” he said.

Meanwhile, Papine, led by MVP Ithran Softley, captured their first all-island boys’ title after a convincing 3-0 win over rural champions Oracabessa.

Papine controlled each set and were barely pushed, winning the match 25-20, 25-15, 25-22.

Coach Philando Thompson said after last year’s defeat to Wolmer’s Boys’ School in the urban final, they came back a more purposeful unit this term.

“We have been training from the start of the season for this specific moment.

“Last year we went to the urban final and were knocked out by Wolmer’s, and everything from then was in preparation for this special moment.

This is for the school, the boys, the whole school community,” he said.

Oracabessa coach Raheem Wallace said they were up against a better team.

“We had some hiccups over the weekend, but the boys didn’t show up. Although, reaching the final, we exceeded expectations,” he said.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com