DEFENDING champions St Jago High denied Wolmer’s the ISSA Under-19 national volleyball double at GC Foster College last Thursday, after an impressive 3-0 win over their Heroes Circle opponents in the boys final — their third successive title.

Earlier, the Oniel Ebanks-coached Wolmer’s Girls defeated Knox College 3-0 to lift the girls crown for the 16th time in their history.

However, it was the Byron Martin-coached St Jago who highlighted the evening with their exciting, attacking display to win their sixth crown.

Led by tournament MVP Ryck Webb and best blocker Lascene Baker, the Monk Street-based school started brightly and forced Wolmer’s to play defensively for most of the first set.

But despite having the advantage, Wolmer’s rallied near the end to tie the scores at 23-23, although that was as far as they came to a comeback as the champion won the next two points to take the set.

The second set was evenly contested, with each team taking the lead at least twice. St Jago led 3-2, but Wolmer’s rallied to hold a 7-6 advantage.

Wolmer’s then stretched their lead to 12-9, but St Jago clawed their way back to level the scores at 12-12.

Wolmer’s then pushed ahead once again for a 15-13 lead, but the irrepressible Webb won three consecutive points to edge St Jago 16-15 ahead. After that St Jago never looked back as they went on to lead 20-16 before taking the set, 25-19.

In the third and final set, Wolmer’s were hardly a contestant as they were three points off for most of the set, and St Jago came away with a comfortable 25-16 victory.

Coach Martin commended Wolmer’s for their display over the first two sets, but said his team’s superiority came through during the third set.

He added that the programme at St Jago will help them dominate the sport for years to come.

“Last year we lost seven players and we still came back strongly, but this year we will only lose one, so we will be stronger,” he said.

In the girls final, Wolmer’s also kept their unbeaten tag with a 3-0 win over Knox. Wolmer’s stopped St Jago 3-0 to book their place in the final, while Knox ousted defending champions Old Harbour by the same score.

In the final, Knox played catch-up to Wolmer’s, who captured the first set 25-18 and the second by the same score, for the entire match.

And despite desperate attempts to come back in the third set, Wolmer’s never looked threatened.

Wolmer’s coach Ebanks said it was a ‘sweet 16’ victory for his team.

“Maroon and gold have been dominating all of this year… and this was good for us because we contributed positively to the whole Wolmer’s fever,” he stated.

Meanwhile, boys tournament MVP Webb was also the competition’s best server and attacker, while teammates Lascene Baker and Mieshach McKnight were the best blocker and server, respectively.

Wolmer’s Jermaine Ricketts was the best defender and receiver.

For the females, Wolmer’s Kayan Farr was the MVP and best setter, while teammates Shaniele Grant and Shannalee Wilson were best attacker and blocker, respectively.

St Jago’s Sadieca Romns’ Smith was the best defender, server and receiver.