Bermuda’s junior volleyball stars have endured a day of contrasting emotions at the prestigious Nike Boston National Qualifier. Competing at the expansive Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, the island’s representatives faced a grueling schedule against some of the top club programs from across the United States.
The Paradise Hitters 13 girls' squad emerged as the day's standout performers, delivering a masterclass in efficiency. They opened their account with a ruthless 2–0 demolition of LI Fury 13 One, conceding just 14 points across two sets. They maintained that momentum in their second outing, comfortably dispatching South County 13's Scorpions 25–9, 25–3 to remain unbeaten.
Their elder counterparts, the Paradise Hitters 15, also enjoyed a bright start. Clinical 2–0 victories over Envy 15 Hailstorm and Nova 15 Premier Holly saw them racing toward the top of their pool. However, their perfect streak was halted in a three-set thriller against Boston United 15 Northeast. In a match defined by fine margins, the local Boston side edged the decider 15–12.
In the boys' divisions, the Big Wave Riders 15 enjoyed a flawless Friday. They secured a 2–0 win over Boys CJVA 15 Onyx before following up with a disciplined 25–20, 25–15 victory against South County Juniors Boys 15 One. The results leave them in a strong position heading into the second day of pool play.
However, it was a much tougher outing for the Big Wave Riders 16. Despite showing flashes of brilliance and pushing their opponents to the limit, they ended the day with three narrow defeats. After falling in straight sets to both NYC Raptors and Princeton 16 Black, they came agonizingly close to a breakthrough against Gentlemen of Kiwi. Having forced a third set, the Bermudian side ultimately succumbed 15–8 in the tie-breaker.
The competition continues tomorrow as teams look to secure favorable seeding for the knockout brackets.
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