THE Netherlands Antilles advanced to the women’s final but their men were upset in a five-set thriller as the World Volleyball Championships second round qualifying tournament continued yesterday at the Sports & Physical Education Centre (SPEC) of the University of the West Indies, St Augustine.

Hosts Trinidad and Tobago were involved in the two other semifinals after presstime last night. Their men came up against Suriname, while the women tackled Bermuda.

The men from the Netherlands Antilles were expected to provide the sternest challenge to T&T in the tournament, but the Group B winners were stunned 25-23, 23-25, 16-25, 26-24, 17-15 by the United Stated Virgin Islands (USVI) in  yesterday’s semifinals.

The top two teams will advance to the next round of qualifying so the USVI will go forward, while the journey ended for the Netherland Antilles.

Their women will go forward, however as they edged the USVI 26-24, 20-25, 21-25, 25-23 15-10 in the first women’s semifinal.

But despite the defeat, the USVI women are still not out of contention as the top three women’s teams will advance to the next round of qualifying.

Two-time defending champs T&T, who had handled the women of the USVI in straight sets in the opening fixture on Wednesday night, outclassed Aruba 25-12, 25-8, 25-9 in the final match of the round-robin stage after presstime Thursday night.

Jalicia Ross and 15-year-old Sinead Jack led the way for the winners with 11 points apiece.

Before the women’s commanding victory,  T&T’s men had survived a serious scare before they came from two sets to one down to nose the USVI 25-14, 22-25, 15-25, 25-18, 15-12.

Skipper Nolan Tash and 2008 Player of Year Marc Honore scored 15 apiece to lead the way.

It now seems like the two teams will meet again in the title match from 6 p.m. today. The women’s final is two hours later.

The World Championships takes place late next year, with the women competing in Japan and the men in Italy.