|
|
 |
|
Thursday, August 13, 2026
|
|
Bermuda Women Stun Saint Lucia in Five-Set Thriller
|
|
Defending champions Saint Lucia suffered a dramatic opening-day defeat as Bermuda's women pulled off a monumental victory on Day 1 of the 2026 Eastern Caribbean Senior Championships in Tortola.
In a thrilling five-set contest that swung back and forth with relentless intensity, Bermuda held their nerve in the decider to claim a 3-2 victory over the tournament favorites (25-18, 14-25, 21-25, 25-13, 10-15).
"Nothing Touches the Ground"
After dropping the first set, Bermuda rallied strongly to take the second and third before Saint Lucia forced a final set with a dominant fourth-frame response.
However, it was Bermuda who showed supreme composure when the stakes were highest, closing out the fifth set 15-10 to hand the reigning champions a rare opening-day setback.
Speaking after the match, Bermuda captain Natalie Gazzard praised the team's relentless defensive effort and tactical execution:
"We knew coming in that this would be a massive challenge, having faced Saint Lucia in the last two finals. But our hitters and setter controlled the court brilliantly.
"We trained incredibly hard all summer with a 'nothing touches the ground' mindset. I'm so proud of how we played—overall, I felt we really dominated the match when it mattered most."
Men's Battle: Bermuda Fall Short Against Dominica
In the men's competition, Day 1 delivered four grueling encounters, with every fixture stretched to four or five sets.
Bermuda's men faced Dominica in a hard-fought battle, ultimately succumbing to a 3-1 loss (25-19, 25-22, 22-25, 25-21).
After falling two sets behind, Bermuda showed immense grit to claim the third set 25-22 and ignite hopes of a comeback. However, Dominica re-established their control in a tight fourth frame to seal the match and cap off an action-packed opening day of championship action in the British Virgin Islands.
|
|
|
Monday, August 10, 2026
|
|
BVA To Participate In The 2026 ECVA Championships
|
|
The Bermuda Volleyball Association (BVA) is pleased to announce that the Women’s & Men’s National Team Program will send teams to compete in the 2026 Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association (ECVA) Championships in the British Virgin Islands.
The teams will depart Bermuda on Tuesday, August 11. The women’s team will be led by Head Coach Gary LeBlanc and Assistant Coach Kayla Grant as they prepare to represent the island against some of the region’s top volleyball nations. Mike Smith will head coach the men’s team with Robert Saraiva supporting as Assistant Coach.
The championships will be hosted at the Multi-Purpose Sports Complex in Tortola, British Virgin Islands, with seven women’s teams and eight men’s teams confirmed for the tournament.
On the women’s side, defending champions Saint Lucia will return to defend their title, while Bermuda, Antigua & Barbuda, Anguilla, Dominica, and Grenada will join host nation British Virgin Islands in a competitive battle for regional supremacy and the championship trophy.
The tournament is expected to showcase the highest level of women’s volleyball in the Eastern Caribbean, providing Bermuda’s athletes with an opportunity to compete against strong regional opposition and continue the development of the national program.
Head Coach, Gary LeBlanc, said: “We’ve landed on two silver medal finishes over the last two ECVA competitions and we’re hungry for gold. We’ve done our best to identify areas for improvement and have been focused on doing what we need in order to finish on top. Regardless of our outcome, I’m extremely proud of this team and eagerly looking forward to seeing what they can accomplish.”
On the men’s side, Antiqua & Barbuda, Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines will be competing.
From Head Coach, Mike Smith: “As we head into the 2026 Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association Championships, we are excited for the opportunity to represent Bermuda on the regional stage. Reaching this point has taken months of hard work, commitment, and sacrifice from every player and member of our staff.
We are excited for the opportunity ahead, and ready to compete with passion, unity, and determination.
We are grateful for the opportunity ahead, proud to represent Bermuda, and ready to give our very best at the 2026 ECVA Championships. We look forward to making our country proud.”
|
|
|
Tuesday, July 21, 2026
|
|
Gazzard & Hands, Hamilton & Tucker Crowned Champions
|
The 2026 Bermuda Open National Beach Volleyball Championships delivered a weekend of high-intensity action on the sand, culminating in hard-fought victories across both the men's and women's divisions.
In the Women’s Championship, Natalie Gazzard and Megan Hands produced a clinical campaign on the sand to secure the national title.
The pair fended off a spirited push in the final from Hailey Trott and Kayley Hamilton, who took home the silver medal. The podium was completed by Isabella Sousa and Olivia Gazzard, who earned a well-deserved third-place finish after navigating a testing bronze-medal match.
The Men’s Division saw Kyle Hamilton and Sean Tucker rise to the top of the standings following a series of commanding performances throughout the tournament.
The duo held firm in a fast-paced final against Benjamin Barnett and Braedon Medeiros-Cooke, who claimed runner-up honors. Marcus Rodriguez and Olek Rymon Lipinski rounded out the top three to take home the bronze.
|
|
|
Tuesday, July 14, 2026
|
|
Government Praises Women’s Volleyball Gold Medal
|
The Department of Sport and Recreation has extended its heartfelt congratulations to Bermuda’s Senior Women’s volleyball team following their spectacular gold medal triumph at the Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Championships.
The island’s contingent captured the regional crown in emphatic fashion, completing a dominant tournament run on the international stage to cement their status as the queens of Eastern Caribbean volleyball.
In an official government statement, the Department praised the squad for their relentless pursuit of success, noting that the landmark achievement was a direct reflection of structural growth within the sport domestically.
"This outstanding achievement is a testament to the athletes' hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence, as well as the unwavering support of their coaches, families, and the Bermuda Volleyball Association," the statement read.
The tournament victory represents a significant milestone for the Bermuda Volleyball Association's national program, which has seen an influx of young talent transition seamlessly into the senior international ranks over the last calendar year.
Bermuda's disciplined defensive systems and explosive net play proved far too much for their regional rivals to handle throughout the tournament phase, culminated by a clinical display in the championship final.
"You have represented Bermuda with immense pride," a government spokesperson added. "Through your success on the international stage, you have inspired the next generation of young athletes who will look to follow in your footsteps."
|
|
|
Sunday, July 12, 2026
|
|
Bermuda Pair Finish 15th in Honduras After Walkover Win
|
Bermuda’s Benjamín Barnett and Connor Somerville concluded their campaign at the seventh stop of the 2026 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour in Honduras with a 15th-place finish.
The Bermudian duo, looking to bounce back from a grueling sequence of pool stage and placement matches on the sand of Tabyana Beach in West Bay, were handed a walkover victory on the final day of action.
Barnett and Somerville had been scheduled to face the US Virgin Islands partnership of Eric Sommer and Cole Sommer in the classification play-off to decide 15th and 16th place.
However, an injury sustained by Eric Sommer forced the US Virgin Islands pair to forfeit the match ahead of the opening serve, handing the encounter to the Island contingent.
The result brings a positive end to a challenging week of continental competition for Barnett and Somerville, who continue to gain valuable international experience and ranking points against top-tier opposition across the North, Central American, and Caribbean region.
|
|
|
|
