PARAMARIBO. Suriname, July 27, 2023.- Jamaican women have clinched a semi-final berth and stay undefeated in the 18^th Caribbean Championship. In their last game in the round-robin they swept Bahamas 3-0 (25-16, 25-21, 25-22) at the Anthony Nesty Sports Hall in Paramaribo.

It’s the second match Bahamas got swept in this tournament. On Wednesday they got swept by Barbados 3-0 (26-24, 25-21, 25-20). Jamaica dominated the whole game. Bahamas came close in the second and third set to get back in the match, but it wasn’t meant to be. Jamaica committed 22 unforced errors and Trinidad 26.

Outside hitter Mychael Vernon led with 14 points, joined by opposite and team captain Sashalee Thomas with 14 points including. Opposite Janelle Curtis of Bahamas had a game high 26 points with 3 aces and 2 block.

The win for Jamaica means that they are undefeated and are in the semi-final waiting for potentially host Suriname or Barbados.

Ricardo Chong, coach of Jamaica: “I have to owe the win to the players, because they already know that they have to recover quickly after a match and it’s paying off. In all casing in all competition, we don’t want to lose and looking forward to compete against all other teams at this level. The goal is still to be champion, because we never won this one before.”

Keshan Livingston, setter of Jamaica: “It is my first time here in Suriname and in the national team. We always try to make it historical. It’s exciting and it’s kind of sentimental. It take it one game at a time. We have each other back and the team is amazing.”