|
|
 |
|
Friday, November 28, 2025
|
|
Volleyball Duo Battles Hard on Tough Opening Day
|
Bermuda’s Benjamín Barnett and Brandon Sousa began their campaign at the 16th stage of the 2025 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour in Managua, Nicaragua, facing tough competition on the opening day of the tournament.
The Paseo Xolotlán sports complex is hosting the tenth stop of the tour, featuring 32 participating teams. Bermuda's duo was placed in Pool A, alongside teams from Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Saint Kitts and Nevis.
In their opening match, the Bermudian pair of Barnett and Sousa faced a strong challenge from Guatemala's Edgar Maldonado and José Izaguirre. The Guatemalans secured a straight-sets 2-0 victory in 32 minutes, with scores of 21-7, 21-13.
Barnett and Sousa showed considerable resilience in their second match, pushing their opponents to a decisive third set. They faced Jayden Sebastian and Tilokani Kush from Saint Kitts and Nevis in a match that lasted 56 minutes.
Bermuda took the first set 21-19, but Sebastian and Kush fought back to claim the next two sets, securing a narrow 2-1 victory with scores of 19-21, 21-18, 15-13.
Despite the losses, the long, three-set battle demonstrates the fighting spirit of Barnett and Sousa as they continue their international season. They will look to gain points in their remaining pool match.
|
|
|
Wednesday, November 26, 2025
|
|
BVA Announces Participation on NORCECA Beach Tour
|
The Bermuda Volleyball Association (BVA) announced the selection of Benjamin Barnett and Brandon Sousa to represent Bermuda at the 16th stage of The North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation (NORCECA) Beach Volleyball Tour.
The tournament will take place in Managua, Nicaragua, from November 28th – 30th, 2025.
While both athletes bring valuable NORCECA experience, this tournament marks the first opportunity for Barnett and Sousa to compete together this year. Barnett has participated in two NORCECA events in 2025 and earned a silver medal at the Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association (ECVA) Men’s Championships earlier this year. Sousa, a seasoned competitor on both the ECVA and NORCECA circuits, returns to international play eager to close out a strong season.
The Managua stop is the penultimate tournament on the 2025 NORCECA Beach Volleyball calendar.
Barnett and Sousa will face high-level opponents from across the region including teams from Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, St. Kitts and Nevis, the United States, and Venezuela.
Head Coach Mark Hamilton expressed his enthusiasm for the team’s upcoming challenge: “I’m excited to see the team working towards a strong finish and closing out a successful season.
Both players have put a huge amount of time and effort throughout the year preparing for this final competition and we all wish them the best of success.”
The pair have been training with the Men’s National Team since February, and this event will likely serve as Bermuda’s final international appearance of the 2025 season. Throughout the year, Bermuda’s beach athletes have consistently held their own against much larger federations, demonstrating growth, resilience, and rising competitiveness.
Barnett shared his excitement about the opportunity, “I am excited to travel to Nicaragua to cap off a great 2025 beach season. It’s my first tournament with Brandon in two years, and I’m really looking forward to applying what we’ve learned in that time.”
Sousa added “I'm looking forward to getting back on the NORCECA circuit and pairing up with Ben for this final challenge. We've had a demanding year of training, and this is our chance to demonstrate the progress we've made against some of the region's top teams. We are focused on ending the season on a high note and continuing to raise the profile of Bermuda Volleyball.”
The BVA remains committed to supporting its National Team athletes and strengthening Bermuda’s presence on the international beach volleyball stage.
|
|
|
Monday, September 29, 2025
|
|
Four Individual Awards for Bermuda in ECVA Final Four
|
The Bermuda Women’s National Volleyball team returned from the 2025 ECVA Women’s Final Four tournament with the silver medal, but their success was underlined by an outstanding haul of four individual awards, showcasing the technical quality of the Bermudian squad.
Despite falling to a 3-1 defeat against Saint Lucia in the final, the team's strong pool play and overall performance earned significant recognition across key disciplines:
Best Blocker: Amber Simons was recognized as the tournament's best defensive presence at the net, winning the Best Blocker award.
Best Setter: Kaylee Trott was named the Best Setter, highlighting the high standard of Bermuda's court distribution and offensive organisation.
Best Server: Megan Hands was awarded the Best Server trophy, acknowledging her effectiveness and consistency from the service line throughout the competition.
Second Best Spiker: Natalie Gazzard was honored as the Second Best Spiker of the tournament, recognizing her powerful and efficient hitting on the attack.
The four individual awards are a testament to the comprehensive development of the Bermuda National Team, providing a major boost to the program even as they narrowly missed out on the ultimate prize of qualification for the 2026 NORCECA Panamerican Cup.
|
|
|
Sunday, September 28, 2025
|
|
Bermuda Miss Out on NORCECA Spot
|
The Bermuda Women’s National Volleyball team’s impressive run at the 2025 ECVA Women’s Final Four tournament came to an end in the final, as they fell 3-1 to a determined Saint Lucia side. The defeat saw Saint Lucia claim the title and, crucially, the spot in the 2026 NORCECA Panamerican Cup.
The final was a highly anticipated rematch, coming just a day after Bermuda had defeated Saint Lucia in a thrilling five-set encounter during the pool stages.
However, the final delivered a reversal of fortunes. Bermuda started the match strongly, surprising Saint Lucia by taking the first set 25-23.
Saint Lucia, knowing the stakes—the right to represent the Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association (ECVA) at the next level—regrouped powerfully. They controlled the next three sets with consistent attacking and defence, winning 25-20, 25-18, and 25-21.
Despite a strong tournament performance that saw them go undefeated in pool play, the final proved to be a bridge too far. Bermuda finishes the tournament as Runners-Up, a commendable result but one that sees them narrowly miss out on the ultimate prize of Panamerican Cup qualification.
|
|
|
Sunday, September 28, 2025
|
|
Tucker & Barnett Finish Tenth on NORCECA Tour
|
Bermuda’s Beach Volleyball pair of Sean Tucker and Benjamin Barnett concluded competing at the 9th stage of the North America, Central America, and the Caribbean (NORCECA) Beach Volleyball Tour, the pair would finish in 10th place.
Tucker and Barnett took on Justin Arturo Solano, and Victorio Esteban González Flores from Costa Rica in the 9th/10th place match.
Solano, and Flores defeated the Bermuda pair 2-0 in a 35 minute battle 21-14, 21-18.
|
|
|
|
