Marshall University Athletics
Billingy led Trinidad and Tobago Take Caribbean Volleyball Championship
8/29/2006 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Aug. 29, 2006
Sunday night Marshall University's Kelly-Anne Billingy (Trincity, Trinidad) helped lead her Trinidad and Tobago national team to the gold medal match in the Caribbean Volleyball Championships in Bahamas against Barbados 3-2.
Billingy's squad was given almost no chance by many against overwhelming favorites Barbados, but ended up bringing the gold medal back home.
"I told the team `we worked so hard for so many days, let's just go out there and win a championship,'" Billingy said.
The Bajans had won the last five editions of the tournament and had easily handled T&T in straight sets when the teams had met in round-robin play four days earlier.
But the T&T bolted out of the blocks and before the Bajans knew what had hit them they were facing elimination after being thrashed in the first two sets, 25-17, 25-12. However, Barbados fought back and won two close sets (25-22, 25-23) to force the decider.
"It was really intense," Billingy said. "We had been close so many times and I think it was a big relief and everyone saw we could beat Barbados."
In the final match the Marshall standout and her counterparts won 15-12 to capture the title for first time in 10 years and only the second time ever. Billingy converted 23 kills to lead her national team and was named the tournament's most valuable player
Marshall volleyball head coach Mitch Jacobs said he was proud of Billingy's the accomplishment.
"We are happy about this for Kelly," Jacobs said. "It's great that she was able to help her country win this championship. It's no surprise to us she did this well for her country."
