Bermuda national women's volleyball team saw their four-game win streak at the World Championship qualifiers came to a halt yesterday as they went down in a nailbiting five-setter against the Netherland Antilles.

Having dumped Anguilla, St. Kitts and Nevis and Dominica in first round matches last month, the Island team got their second round campaign off to a flying start with a 3-0 victory over Suriname on Tuesday.

But yesterday's opponents in Trinidad, where six countries are vying for a place in the thrid round of the World Cup qualifiers, proved to be a different proposition.

Losing the first set 21-25, Bermuda's girls bounced back to win the next two 25-20, 25-21. However, in a pivotal fourth set Netherlands Antilles emerged from a marathon encounter with a 28-26 and then wrapped up the decider 15-13 which means they will finish in Group B.

As runners-up in that group, Bermuda are likely to play Trinidad in the semi-finals today with the hosts expected to top Group A which includes Aruba and Virgin Islands.

However, even defeat against Trinidad wouldn't prevent Bermuda from advancing to the third round of the Cup qualifers which will include volleyball powerhouses Cuba, USA and Dominican Republic.

Today's games will decide which teams will contest the gold, silver and bronze winners with the top three all moving onto the next round.

All matches in Trinidad are being played at the UWI Sport and Physical Education Centre.

The World Championship finals will be contested in Japan next year.

Later this month, the Bermuda ladies' volleyball team will travel to Aland in the Baltic Sea as medal favourites in the Island Games.