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Thursday, April 02, 2026
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Gazzard & Weikl to Lead Bermuda in Dominican Republic
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The North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation (NORCECA) has officially released its beach volleyball schedule for April, with Bermuda’s youth talent set to take center stage in the Dominican Republic.
While no Bermudian teams are slated to compete in the season-opening Continental Tour stop in Costa Rica from 16 to 20 April, the island's focus shifts to the developmental ranks later in the month.
Bermuda will be well-represented at the Under-18 Girls Championships Qualification Tournament, held in Juan Dolio, Dominican Republic, from 24 to 26 April. The event serves as a high-stakes gateway to the global stage, with the region’s top youth pairings battling for a coveted spot at the World Championships.
Representing the Gombey flag in the Women’s Division are the promising duo of Olivia Gazzard and Sophie Weikl. The pair are no strangers to the international sand, having previously gained invaluable experience competing at the NORCECA U18 level in 2025.
Gazzard and Weikl, both products of the Bermuda Volleyball Association’s dedicated youth pipeline, will face a daunting field of regional powerhouses, including teams from the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
The decision to focus on the Under-18 qualifier underscores the BVA’s current strategy of prioritizing long-term athlete development. By testing Gazzard and Weikl against the best in the NORCECA region, the association aims to accelerate their transition into senior international competition.
With the first serve in Juan Dolio just weeks away, the duo will be looking to build on their previous 9th-place regional finish and secure a historic qualification for Bermuda on the world stage.
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Thursday, March 12, 2026
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Junior Spikers Earn High Praise After Boston Heroics
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Bermuda’s volleyball community is celebrating a landmark showing on the international stage, as senior officials and coaches break their silence following a highly successful fortnight at the Nike Boston National Qualifier.
While IslandStats.com provided live coverage and immediate results as the action unfolded at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, the official verdict from the Bermuda Volleyball Association (BVA) is now in. The consensus? Bermuda’s youth programs are not just competing—they are contending with the very best in North America.
Gary LeBlanc, BVA Club Director and National Team Committee Chairman, reflected on the tour with a mixture of realism and immense pride.
"We knew this would be a tough tournament for some of our teams," LeBlanc admitted. "But we’re very excited with all of our teams’ results. To see our squads hold their own in such a massive field speaks volumes about where the sport is heading on the island."
The standout headline from the second weekend belonged to the Paradise Hitters 17 & Under. In what was only their second overseas outing of the season, the team secured a remarkable 5th-place finish out of 63 teams.
Head Coach Mike Gazzard was quick to point out the composure his players showed when faced with seasoned U.S. club programs.
"The girls demonstrated tremendous determination and teamwork," Gazzard said. "As coaches, we are extremely proud of the way they represented themselves, our club, and Bermuda. This result is a testament to the hard work and commitment they have shown all season."
The younger contingent also left a lasting impression in Massachusetts. The Paradise Hitters 13 & Under started their campaign with a "dominant" first day, sweeping their pool play matches.
Despite a grueling second day that ended in a hard-fought loss, and an eventual exit in the Silver Bracket championship play, Head Coach Kamryn Martins praised the group’s psychological growth.
"The U13s showed strong teamwork and resilience," Martins noted. "Their strong performance over the first two days earned them a place in the Silver Bracket. Despite the final result, they showed continued growth competing against high-level competition."
As the dust settles on the Boston courts, the message from the coaches is clear: Bermuda’s junior volleyballers have returned home with more than just trophies—they’ve returned with the respect of their international peers.
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Sunday, March 08, 2026
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Mixed Fortunes in Boston as Bermudian Volleyball Conclude
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The Nike Boston National Qualifier has concluded with Bermuda’s elite volleyball prospects taking to the court for a final day of competition that produced a stark contrast in results for the island’s two representative sides. The three-day event, held at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, tested the resolve of the island's premier athletes against top-tier North American opposition.
The Big Wave Riders 18 finished 23rd overall after a grueling path through the later rounds. Their final day was defined by a narrow Round 3 Flight 2 defeat to NE Storm 18 Squall, where they fell 2-1 in a tightly contested three-set battle. After dropped sets saw scorelines of 25-19 and 19-25, the Bermudian side was unable to seize the momentum in the decider, eventually falling 15-10.
In contrast, the Paradise Hitters 17 secured a prestigious 5th place finish, despite tasting defeat for the first time in the tournament during the final stages. Their unbeaten streak, which had spanned the opening two days of play, was finally snapped during a high-stakes Round 3 Gold Division match. The Hitters went down 2-0 to a clinical Northeast 17 Blue side, suffering back-to-back set losses of 25-23 and 25-23 in an encounter decided by the finest of margins.
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Saturday, March 07, 2026
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Paradise Hitters Extend Flawless Run in Boston
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The Nike Boston National Qualifier has continued to test the resolve of Bermuda’s elite volleyball prospects, with the second day of competition producing a stark contrast in results for the island’s two representative sides. While one team maintained a perfect standard of excellence, the other found themselves embroiled in a series of tightly contested battles that defined a day of high-intensity momentum shifts.
The Paradise Hitters 17 have emerged as the standout story of the tournament so far, extending their undefeated streak to a second consecutive day. Competing in Round 2 Pool 5, the Hitters showed no signs of fatigue as they opened their Saturday account with a clinical two zero victory over SVC 17 Two, recording scores of twenty-five twenty-two and twenty-five seventeen. Their resilience was further tested in their second outing against HOS 17U Orange; after a dominant twenty-five six opening set, they were forced into a decider which they claimed fifteen seven. They concluded their day with another professional two zero sweep, this time over CLASH 17, to ensure they head into the final stages with a flawless record.
In contrast, the Big Wave Riders 18 endured a day defined by grueling endurance and mixed results. Their morning began with a setback in the final match of Round 1 Pool 7, where they fell two zero to the Mass Pats Boys 18 1 Tenacity team, despite a valiant effort in a twenty-seven twenty-five opening set. Moving into Round 2 Pool 2, the side initially appeared to have found their rhythm, securing a straight-sets win over Unity 18 Boys Gold Eagles followed by a hard-fought two one victory against Legacy Boys 18 Premier Billy.
However, the physical toll of a long day in Boston finally told in their final match against 603 United 18 Salem Black. In a contest of incredibly fine margins, the Big Wave Riders took the opening set twenty-six twenty-four but were unable to close out the match. 603 United fought back to take the second set twenty-five twenty-three and narrowly edged the tie-break fifteen thirteen, leaving the Bermudian side to reflect on a day of what-might-have-beens as they prepare for the next phase of play.
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Friday, March 06, 2026
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Mixed Fortunes as Nike Boston National Qualifier Resumes
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The second weekend of the prestigious Nike Boston National Qualifier tournament is officially underway at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center as the region’s top volleyball talent converges for a grueling stretch of competition. Following the comprehensive coverage provided during the opening week, the local sporting community has turned its focus back to the courts where Bermuda’s representatives are once again testing their mettle against formidable North American opposition.
The Big Wave Riders 18 team experienced a day of mixed fortunes in Round 1 Pool 7, concluding their opening shift with a balanced record of one win and one defeat. They began their campaign in clinical fashion, securing a comfortable two zero victory over New Haven Juniors B18-Club with scorelines of twenty-five fifteen and twenty-five thirteen. However, the momentum shifted in their second outing of the afternoon. Despite a resilient performance, they eventually fell two one to Downstate 18 Red in a three-set battle that saw them take the second set nineteen twenty-five before dropping the decider fifteen nine.
In contrast, the Paradise Hitters 17 enjoyed a perfect start to their tournament as they emerged from Round 1 Pool 5 entirely undefeated. Their day began with a show of character as they rallied from a heavy opening set loss to defeat SA Elite 16 American Impact two one. They followed that hard-fought victory with a dominant two zero sweep of ENVY 17 TSUNAMI, winning twenty-five twenty and twenty-five eighteen. The Hitters then closed out a flawless opening day by edging out NYC Impact 17U Black two one in a marathon encounter, capped off by a fifteen eleven win in the final set to cement their place at the top of the pool standings.
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