BELIZE CITY, Wed. Nov. 11, 2015–The National Secondary Schools Sports Association (NSSSA) High School National Volleyball Tournament got underway on Friday, November 6, at the Julian Cho Technical High School in the Toledo District.

There were four (4) teams participating in the female division and four (4) in the male division, representing the four different geographical zones of the country. These were:

FEMALE (F) – Stann Creek Ecumenical College – South DivisionD; Saint Catherine Academy – Central Division; Belmopan Comprehensive School – West Division; and Muffles College – North Division.

MALE (M) – Toledo Community College – South Division; St. John’s College High School – Central Division; Sacred Heart College – West Division; and Muffles College – North Division.

The tournament followed a simple knockout format, with semifinals played on Friday, and the third place and championship matches played on Saturday.

In semifinals played on Friday, (F) Belmopan Comprehensive School defeated Muffles College, 25-18, 25-7, 25-17; (F) SCA won over Stann Creek Ecumenical College, 25-13, 25-14, 25-10; (M) Muffles College gained a victory in 4 sets over Sacred Heart College, 25-15, 22-25, 25-17, 25-22; and (M) Toledo Community College earned an even tougher 5-set win over SJC, 22-25, 25-22, 25-22, 29-31, 17-15.

In third place, “consolation” matches on Saturday, (F) Stann Creek Ecumenical prevailed in 4 sets over Muffles College, 25-15, 28-26, 22-25, 25-15; and (M) SJC clipped Sacred Heart, 25-17, 25-17, 25-19.

In the female championship match, perennial powerhouse (F) St. Catherine Academy was tested by Belmopan Comprehensive School, but SCA still prevailed in 4 sets, 25-17, 25-17, 23-25, 25-18 to take the female championship. And for the males, it was (M) Toledo Community College battling to a 5-set win over Muffles College, 20-25, 27-25, 11-25, 25-23, 15-8.

Final tournament rankings were therefore:

FEMALE: 1st – St. Catherine Academy; 2nd – Belmopan Comprehensive School; 3rd – Stann Creek Ecumenical College; 4th – Muffles College.
MALE: 1st – Toledo Community College; 2nd – Muffles College; 3rd – St. John’s College; 4th – Sacred Heart College.

Individual awards went to:
FEMALE: Best Attacker – Kevanna Sebastian (SCA); Best Blocker – Kori Diego (BCS); Best Server – Allyana Musa (SCA); Best Setter – Karen Quan (SCA); Best Receiver – Kaylen Flowers (BCS); and MVP Award – Kevanna Sebastian – St. Catherine Academy (SCA).

MALE: Best Attacker – Dwayne Avila (Muffles College); Best Blocker – Norris Fisher (Muffles College); Best Server – Sedassey Simon (TCC); Best Setter – Miguel Rosado (SJC); Best Receiver – Myron Pollard (SJC); and MVP Award – Nathaniel Castillo – Toledo Community College (TCC).

(Information courtesy Ms. Barbara Cadle, Bze District Sports Coordinator, NSC)