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Monday, February 09, 2026
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Bermuda Hails ‘Invaluable’ Regional Volleyball Workshop
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Bermuda was among ten nations to benefit from a major developmental push for volleyball in the Caribbean, as the Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association (ECVA) concluded a high-level workshop in St. Kitts.
The initiative, part of the FIVB’s transformational Volleyball Empowerment Programme, saw an investment of $60,000 to foster growth and leadership across the region.
The workshop, titled "Foundations for the Future," attracted 51 participants from across the ECVA zone, including key delegates from Bermuda. The sessions focused on strengthening federations through "Knowledge Transfer," a pillar of the FIVB’s global strategy to elevate the sport.
ECVA President Glenn Quinlan expressed his satisfaction with the collaborative nature of the event. "The sessions provided meaningful content for the attendees, and we look forward to continuing to work with the Member Federations to ensure we move forward collectively," Quinlan said.
For Brandon Sousa, Co-President of Bermuda Volleyball, the focus on structural integrity was the standout takeaway. Sousa, who has previously represented Bermuda on the NORCECA circuit, emphasized that good governance is the bedrock for the sport's expansion in the region.
“Our collaboration with fellow member national federations during this development workshop has been invaluable,” Sousa said. “By sharing insights and best practices, we are not only strengthening our individual programs but also uniting as a collective force to elevate volleyball across the region.”
Sousa added that this unified approach is essential to overcoming regional challenges and "paving the way for a brighter future for the sport".
The workshop follows a series of successful coaching and refereeing programs held last year, further cementing the partnership between the ECVA, the FIVB, and Olympic Solidarity.
Volleyball Canada President Mark Eckert, who served as a presenter, lauded the "Together as One" mentality displayed by the delegates. He noted that the shared knowledge would serve as a vital foundation for the collective improvement of the ECVA zone.
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Monday, January 05, 2026
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NORCECA Unveils Packed 2026 Beach Calendar
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The North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation (NORCECA) has officially released the beach volleyball schedule for 2026, featuring a marathon ten-stop Continental Tour and the highly anticipated Central American and Caribbean Games.
For Bermuda’s national pairings, the release marks the start of a critical preparation window. After a productive 2025 campaign that saw local teams testing themselves against the region’s heavy hitters, the 2026 circuit offers a direct path to the "Centennial Games" in the Dominican Republic this July.
The 2026 season kicks off in early April with the first stop in Santo Domingo, setting the stage for what will be the epicenter of regional sport this year. The tour then winds through Costa Rica, Mexico, and Cuba, providing a relentless schedule of high-stakes competition.
Bermuda enters the new year with significant momentum following a 2025 season defined by growth. Last September, the pairing of Kyle Hamilton and Sean Tucker closed out their tour with a gritty straight-sets victory over Guyana in San Salvador. Meanwhile, the emerging duo of Benjamin Barnett and Brandon Sousa represented the island in the final stages of the 2025 circuit in Nicaragua, highlighting the increasing depth in the Bermuda Volleyball Association’s (BVA) beach program.
The centerpiece of the calendar is undoubtedly the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games, scheduled for July 23rd - 30th. Celebrating 100 years since the inaugural games, the event in Santo Domingo will see 31 nations compete for regional glory.
For Bermuda’s athletes, the Continental Tour stops leading up to July will be vital for securing the necessary ranking points to feature in the main draw. With beach volleyball serving as one of the most popular spectator sports at the Games, the BVA is expected to field its most competitive pairings as they aim to improve on their recent silver-medal success at the Eastern Caribbean (ECVA) level.
In addition to the senior tour, NORCECA has confirmed an Under-23 Continental Tour stop in El Salvador this August. This provides a crucial international platform for Bermuda’s younger talent, such as Connor Somerville, Megan Hands, and Natalie Gazzard, all of whom gained valuable experience on the senior tour in 2025.
The inclusion of youth-specific stops ensures a clear pathway for the island’s rising stars to bridge the gap between regional dominance and the world stage. As the "big freeze" lingers in the UK, Bermuda’s beach specialists will be looking to the warmth of the Caribbean sand to heat up their 2026 ambitions.
Full NORCECA Beach Volleyball 2026 Schedule
01. Dominican Rep. (1 STOP) - Continental Tour - April APRIL 2nd - 6th
02. Costa Rica (2 STOP) - Continental Tour - April 16th - 20th
03. Mexico (3 STOP) - Continental Tour - April 23rd - 27th
04. Cuba (4 STOP) - Continental Tour - April 30th - May 4th
05. Nicaragua (5 STOP) - Continental Tour - May 14th - 18th
06. Dominican Rep. (6 STOP) - Continental Tour - May 21st - 25th
07. El Salvador (7 STOP) - Continental Tour - May 28th - June 1st
08. Mexico (8 STOP) - Continental Tour - June 11th - 15th
09. Central American and Caribbean Games - July 23rd - 30th
10. Honduras (9 STOP) - Continental Tour - July 23rd - 27th
11. El Salvador - U23 Continental Tour - August 13th - 17th
12. Dominican Rep. (10 STOP) - Continental Tour - September 23rd - 27th
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Sunday, December 14, 2025
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Tough Day for Paradise Hitters at Florida Holiday Challenge
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Bermuda’s Paradise Hitters Volleyball Club teams faced difficult competition on Day Two of the 2025 Nike Florida Holiday Challenge Volleyball Tournament in Daytona Beach, Florida, with both the 17 & Under and 15 & Under squads recording losses.
The Paradise Hitters Volleyball Club 17 & Under team suffered three defeats during a challenging second day.
In their first match, a Round 1 Crossover 3 clash, the 17 & Under team went down 2-0 to Fission 17 Elite 1, losing in straight sets 25-17 and 25-12.
The team showed significant fighting spirit in their remaining two matches, both of which went to three sets. In the Silver Pool A Division, they fell 2-1 to JJVA 17 Gold. After JJVA won the first set 25-19, Bermuda fought back to claim the second set 25-20, only to be edged out in the decisive third set tie-breaker, 15-13.
Their final match also ended in a 2-1 loss against QVA 17 Hydrogen. QVA won the first set 25-18, but the Bermudian side refused to give up, winning the second set 25-20. QVA ultimately claimed the victory in the final set, 15-8.
After a strong start to the tournament, the Paradise Hitters Volleyball Club 15 & Under team finished Day Two with an 0-2 record.
In Round 2 of the Gold Pool 1 Division, the 15 & Under team went down 2-1 to Hunter's 15U Red Travel. The Bermudians secured the first set 25-22, but Hunter's rallied to win the second set 25-21 and closed out the match by winning the third set 15-12.
Their final match saw them fall 2-0 to Fission 15 Elite 1. Fission secured the straight-set victory with scores of 25-17 and 25-15.
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Saturday, December 13, 2025
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Paradise Hitters Compete on Opening Day of Florida Challenge
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The Bermuda Volleyball Association's presence at the 2025 Nike Florida Holiday Challenge Volleyball Tournament in Daytona Beach, Florida, saw mixed results on the opening day, with the 15 & Under team securing two victories while the 17 & Under side recorded two narrow defeats.
The Paradise Hitters Volleyball Club 15 & Under team started their campaign with a victory over Peak 15U Black. After dropping the first set 25-17, the Bermudian side mounted a strong comeback, claiming the second set 25-15 and sealing the overall win in the third-set tie-breaker, 15-9.
The 15 & Under team continued their winning form in their second match, defeating AAC 15 Elite 2-0. They won the first set 25-18 and edged a tight second set 26-24 to secure the sweep.
The Paradise Hitters Volleyball Club 17 & Under team faced a tougher opening, suffering two 2-1 defeats.
In their opening match against WGVC 17 Elite Purple, the Bermudian side went down 2-1. WGVC took the first set 25-10, but the Paradise Hitters fought back to win the second set 25-23, before ultimately falling 15-8 in the third set tie-breaker.
Game two saw another three-set battle as the 17 & Under team lost 2-1 to Black Creek VBC 17. The Paradise Hitters won a close first set 26-24, but they were unable to maintain the momentum, falling in a similarly close second set 27-25. Black Creek VBC then won the third set and the game 15-2.
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Thursday, December 11, 2025
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Volleyballers Set for 2025 Nike Florida Holiday Challenge
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The Bermuda Volleyball Association is excited to announce that two teams will represent Bermuda at the 2025 Nike Florida Holiday Challenge Volleyball Tournament, held in Daytona Beach, Florida on December 13th and 14th.
This marks the first overseas tournament of the 2025/2026 season, setting the tone for an exciting year ahead.
Both teams, competing under the Paradise Hitters Volleyball Club banner in the 15 & Under and 17 & Under divisions, have been training intensively since September. Their dedication and hard work have prepared them for this important milestone, which will serve as a key benchmark to assess their progress and readiness for upcoming tournaments, both on the local stage as well as overseas in 2026.
“This is a smaller tournament but is always a great way to test our teams in a highly competitive environment.
We are very excited to see how they do.” said Gary LeBlanc, National Team Committee Chairman (Indoor).
Sean Tucker, Head Coach of Paradise Hitters 15 added, “Our Under 15 Girls have worked hard all season to earn the opportunity to compete internationally in Daytona this weekend. Coming off last year’s strong performance, in the U14 category, where they won the silver bracket in Boston, this team has shown remarkable dedication and growth. Moving up to the U15 this year we have many of the same talent as last year but with some new faces, it brings new ways to uplift this team. We’re proud to represent our community again and excited to see how they perform on a bigger stage.”
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