By KELSIE JOHNSON, NG Sports Reporter, kelsie@nasguard.com

The Kingsway Academy Saints senior boys rode to victory yesterday, clinching the school's first Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools (BAISS) title.

The Saints toppled the defending champions, the Queen's College Comets, in three tough sets, 25-19, 20-25 and 16-14. They was led by their captain, Abraham Butler, and Christon Moore on offense, as they continually broke through the Comets' block attempts.

Butler also played a pivotal role in ensuring that the team kept their composure, when the Comets made a run late in the first set. Placing the team on his shoulder, Butler slammed down three consecutive balls which gave the Saints a two-point edge in the first set. The Saints used the successful attacks to close the set.

The second set was a closely contested one with the Saints trying to sweep the Comets and take revenge for the losses the team suffered in the past. However, the Comets had a different agenda. The team inserted a new line-up with Kendal Brown, Rhandi Elliot and Jonathon Knowles in the front court. With this line-up, the Comets offensive game got off to an early start. Both Brown and Elliot only needed their teammates to pass the ball to Knowles, who connected with either one of the duo for a successful kill.

With the team taking their offensive attacks to another level, Julian Strachan turned on the heat from behind the service line. Strachan closed out with five aces in the set while Brown and Elliot had seven and five kills respectively.

The first six points in the third set were won off service errors. The Comets had committed five while the Saints had three of their own.

Despite the faults, both teams worked hard to correct the problems. With Butler in the backcourt and Moore struggle on the attacking side, the Comets jumped to a 12-9 lead, but the game wasn't over. The Saints rallied with precise hitting and services, leaving the Comets to make the mistakes.

According to the Saints' head coach Oswald Moore, maturity and experience was a part of the team's focus which was seen in the third set. He explained that he has watched the team grow over the years and that he is extremely happy with the end results.

"It has been a long time coming and I will like to extend congratulations to the team," said Moore, who also revealed that his son Christon and teammates vowed that the title will be a departing gift to the school.