By BRENT STUBBS From Tribune242

THE Bahamas men’s national volleyball team clinched the top spot in their Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) FIVB World Championship Qualifier Men Group A series by winning all two of their games played over the weekend in Martinique.

The team, coached by Cavance Mortimer, got some clutch hitting from Jamaal Ferguson and captain Princ’tanique Wilson in their five-set victory over Aruba yesterday at the Palais Des Sports Riviera Salee in Chem Trenelle, Riviere Salee, Martinique.

Ferguson, who moved from playing libero to outside hitting as he switched positions with Renaldo Knowles, teamed up with Wilson to produce 13 points each, while pro player Byron Ferguson contributed eight and Lorenzo Williams chipped in with six.

Together, they powered the Bahamas to a 25-20, 25-12 and 25-15 sweep in a match that lasted just one hour and 21 minutes.

The Bahamians, ranked at No.3 in CAZOVA, made it look so easy as they picked up their second straight win by outperforming the Arubans 40-20 on spikes, 8-5 in blocks and 19 errors compared to 24 by their opponents.

The victory came after the Bahamas also took five sets to beat host Martinique on Saturday in two hours and 40 minutes in set scores of 25-23, 21-25, 25-27, 25-22 and 18-16.

In that game, Jamaal Ferguson came through big with 23 points to match the efforts of Prince Wilson, while Byron Ferguson helped out with 17.

Despite playing way below their best, Bahamas through their experienced and most senior players managed to hold the edge on spikes 58-51 and blocks 15-14, while they were out-served 2-4 on aces.

Both teams also showed signs of lack of proper preparations and committed numerous errors, with Bahamas being credited with 44, and Martinique 39 in the clash of former CAZOVA champions.

“The match was not that difficult as both teams were not at their bets, but in the end we made too many mistakes,” said Wilson on the tournament’s website after their opening victory.

Wilson was quick to admit that his team was not currently at the level of play it was in recent years, but was happy to get the win.

“It’s our first match in three weeks due to the recent circumstances with Hurricane Matthew, and I must credit Jamaal (Ferguson) for stepping out of his regular position and coming up big for us.”

The Bahamas was scheduled to play their third match against Bonaire, but they withdrew from the competition because of financial reasons associated with Hurricane Matthew.

Other members of Team Bahamas wereTonny Simon, Javari Southard, Jon Isaacs, Lorenzo Williams, Glen Rolle and JeVaughn Saunders.

Despite only three teams being involved at the Palais Des Sports, Des Riviere Salee the same qualification format will still apply with each team facing each other once at the end of which the top two teams will advance to the next round of the World Championship qualifiers as well as the CAZOVA Championships in T&T next year.

For the much more experienced Bahamas squad it will mark the start of what is hope a campaign that ends with a spot at the World Championship after they managed to reach the penultimate round of qualification to Poland 2014.

This after Bahamas finished third in the penultimate round of NORECA qualifiers, behind Mexico and Puerto Rico in their four-team pool.

Next up is the ladies’ tournament. The Bahamas Volleyball Federation is expected to release the names of the team this week, which will be coached by Jason Saunders. That team will be competing in the Cayman Islands from November 11-14 against the Cayman Islands, Guadeloupe and Bonaire with the hopes of joining the men in advancing to the next level.

IMAGE: THE Bahamas men’s national volleyball team won both of the two games they played over the weekend in Martinique to clinch the top spot in the Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association FIVB World Championship Qualifier Men Group A series.

For more on this story go to: http://www.tribune242.com/news/2016/oct/24/mens-national-volleyball-team-clinches-top-spot-fi/