Daily News Photos by CHRIS WALSH Antilles' Caprisha Richards goes up for a spike against Central High.

ST. THOMAS - The Charlotte Amalie High School Chickenhawks and Antilles School Lady Hurricanes enter the last week of the volleyball season on a high note after both won the CAHS varsity tournament this weekend.

The Chickenhawks used a strong performance from their front line to defend their home court and defeat St. Croix Educational Complex Barracudas in four sets. CAHS won, 25-18, 18-25, 25-16, 25-19.

Led by the tournament's Most Outstanding Hitter in Charles Pemberton, CAHS came back from a second-set loss to cruise to victories in the third and fourth sets.

"They played hard and it's a good win going into the final week," CAHS head coach Clifton Williams said. "I think right now they're playing their best of the season."

The Chickenhawks won easily in the first set by jumping out to an early lead, but Complex answered in the second. Leading by just two points at 15-13, the Barracudas scored two points for every CAHS point and cruised to a eight-point win.

CAHS' Troy Richards goes up for a block against Educational Complex.

In the third, Complex drew close with the score, 10-9, but CAHS was able to go into an extra gear and go on a 15-7 run for the win. It was the same story in the fourth as a 12-11 game quickly became a double-digit lead for the Chickenhawks. They held on for a six-point win.

Charlotte Amalie's Pemberton and Aleem DeLugo were joined on the All-Tournament team by Saleem Ross, Alex Blyth, Cullen Diehl and Michael Pisante. Cameron Cumfer was named the tournament's best defender and Ryan Richardson was named the tournament's Best Setter.

To get to the championship game, CAHS defeated Antilles in the semifinals, 25-18, 25-22, and Complex defeated Central High School, 27-25, 25-22.

On the girls side, the Lady Hurricanes went down to the wire with the Central Lady Caribs in a five-set slugfest. Antilles won the first and last sets to earn the championship.

The Lady Canes won, 25-16, 19-25, 25-18, 22-25, 15-13. Antilles' Caprisha Richards, the tournament's Most Outstanding Hitter, led the way with 14 kills and five blocks.

Antilles' Elsia Williams had seven kills and five blocks and Shelby Williams had 18 points and two assists.

After jumping on Central for a nine-point win in the first set, the Lady Canes let the second set slip away by six points. In the third, the score was tied at 17 before Antilles went on an 8-1 run for the win. In the fourth, Central held off a late comeback rally for the three-point win.

In the fifth and final set, the Lady Canes broke away from a 7-7 tie and held the lead all the way to the 15th point.

Antilles' Richards and Morgan Rosenberg were joined on the All Tournament team by Shamyra Baron, Lanese Bough, Nysha Lindo and Elsia Aska. Bough was also named the tournament's Best Setter and Prix Richardson was named the Best Defender.

Antilles reached the championship game after beating Complex in the semifinals, 25-20, 25-15. Central beat CAHS, 25-22, 22-25, 17-15.

On Thursday, the CAHS boys and girls teams will host the Antilles teams for the St. Thomas varsity championships. On St. Croix, the Barracudas will take on Central while the Lady Caribs will face Country Day for the championship.

- Contact reporter Chris Walsh at 774-8772 ext. 310 or e-mail cwalsh@dailynews.vi.