The countdown is well underway for the North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation (NORCECA) Under 18 Beach World Championship Qualifier, with Bermuda confirming its participation in the women's division.
The prestigious tournament is scheduled to take place from July 6th to 10th in the Dominican Republic, serving as a crucial pathway to the U18 Beach World Championships later this year.
Flying the Bermuda flag will be the dynamic duo of Olivia Gazzard and Sophie Weikl. This young pair will represent the island's hopes in the highly competitive regional qualifier, aiming to secure one of the coveted spots for the World Championship event.
While the current registration shows only a women's team representing Bermuda, all eyes will be on Gazzard and Weikl as they face off against top young talent from across the NORCECA region. Their performance in the Dominican Republic will be a key indicator of Bermuda's rising beach volleyball talent.
Sunday, June 08, 2025
Volleyball Teams Conclude ECVA U21 Championships
IslandStats.com
The 2025 Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association (ECVA) Under-21 Beach Championships have concluded in Saint Kitts & Nevis, with Bermuda's Men's team of Anijhaé Dos Santo Martin and Kyle Mello, and the Women's team of Kayley Hamilton and Hailey Moss completing their campaigns.
After a challenging tournament, the Bermudian men's pairing of Dos Santo Martin and Mello finally secured a well-deserved victory on the final day, in their last match of the championships. They defeated D'jario Hassell and Zjondre De Jesus from St Eustatius in straight sets, 2-0, with scores of 21-19, 21-15. This win will undoubtedly provide a positive note to end their tournament.
In the women's competition, Kayley Hamilton and Hailey Moss continued to show their competitive spirit. In their Class of 5-8 match, they defeated Xenia Collins and Teasia Jones from Grenada in straight sets, 2-0, with scores of 21-17, 21-10.
Hamilton and Moss then took to the court for the 5th/6th place match. They secured a strong victory over Celina Alwani and Jontelle Hensley Philip from Saint Kitts and Nevis in straight sets, 2-0, with scores of 21-8, 21-13. This strong finish saw them claim fifth place in the women's tournament.
While the Bermuda teams faced stiff competition throughout the championships, their final day performances demonstrated their resilience and development. The experience gained at this regional event will be crucial for their continued growth in beach volleyball.
Saturday, June 07, 2025
Disappointing Day 2 for Bermuda in Beach Championships
IslandStats.com
The 2025 Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association (ECVA) Under-21 Beach Championships continued in Saint Kitts & Nevis, with Bermuda's representatives facing a difficult day of competition.
It was a particularly disappointing outcome for the women's pairing of Kayley Hamilton and Hailey Moss, who bowed out of the tournament in a tight Quarter-Final battle. They faced Jassania Joseph and Jaya Carr from Antigua and were defeated 2-1.
The match was heavily impacted by windy conditions, making play difficult for both teams. Hamilton and Moss managed to take the first game 21-18, showing their resilience. However, the Antiguan pair fought back to win the second game 21-15. The decisive tie-breaker saw Joseph and Carr advance to the Semi-Finals with a narrow 15-12 victory.
For the men's duo of Anijhaé Dos Santo Martin and Kyle Mello, it was unfortunately another winless day. In their first match, they went down 2-0 to Mervin Mingo and Bill Frederick from Dominica, with set scores of 21-11, 21-9. Their second match saw them fall 2-0 to Trevon Smith and Shaquoy Reid from Anguilla, losing 21-19, 21-10.
Despite the challenging results on Day Two, the Bermuda teams will look to learn from their experiences against strong regional opposition as the tournament progresses.
Friday, June 06, 2025
Mixed Fortunes for Bermuda on Day 1 of Championships
Hailey Moss & Kayley Hamilton
IslandStats.com
The 2025 Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association (ECVA) Under-21 Beach Championships have kicked off in Saint Kitts & Nevis, with Bermuda's representatives experiencing a mixed bag of results on the opening day.
While the men's duo faced a tough start, the women's pairing began their campaign in dominant fashion.
In the Men’s Pool D, Bermuda's Kyle Mello and Anijahe Dos Santo Martin endured a rough start, going down in both of their matches. In their opening encounter, they were defeated 2-0 by the Saint Kitts and Nevis pair of Julian Bristol and Komarr Fraties, with set scores of 21-8, 21-16. Their second match saw them fall 2-0 to Zerick Walcott and Kibose Hamilton from Grenada, with set scores of 21-8, 21-13. The Bermudian men will be looking to regroup and find their rhythm in their upcoming matches.
However, the Women’s Pool C saw a strong start from Bermuda's Kayley Hamilton and Hailey Moss. They secured victories in both of their matches on the day. Their first win came convincingly, defeating Azarraha Amritt and Shaylee Pinney from Saint Kitts and Nevis 2-0, with set scores of 21-4, 21-10. They continued their dominant form in their second match, also winning 2-0 against Gereliva Spanner and Gercia Brown from St Eustatius, with set scores of 21-8, 21-9.
Hamilton and Moss's strong start in the Women's competition will give them confidence as they progress through the pool stage, while Mello and Dos Santo Martin will be eager to bounce back in the Men's event.
Thursday, June 05, 2025
Bermuda Set to Compete in U21 Beach Championships
IslandStats.com
The Bermuda Volleyball Association (BVA) announced its participation in the 2025 Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association (ECVA) Under 21 Beach Volleyball Championships, scheduled to take place from June 6th to June 8th, 2025 in Saint Kitts & Nevis.
This prestigious event will showcase the talents of young athletes from across the region, promoting sportsmanship and competition with the top 3 placements in both genders receiving a qualification to the NORCECA World Championship Qualifier Tournament which will take place in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic from July 3rd to 7th, 2025.
Participating Teams include: GRN - Grenada VIN - Saint Vincent and the Grenadines LCA- Saint Lucia DMA - Dominica ANT – Antigua EUX - St Eustatius AGU - Anguilla IVB - British Virgin Islands BER - Bermuda SKN - Saint Kitts and Nevis
These teams represent the region’s dedication to providing young athletes with opportunities to compete at an elite level, fostering both their athletic development and personal growth.
Both the Bermuda Men’s and Women’s Beach Volleyball teams will be competing in the event. The Men’s team features the duo of Anijhaé Dos Santo Martin 18, and Kyle Mello 19, while the Women’s team includes the pairing of Hailey Moss 19, and Kayley Hamilton 20.
The Bermuda pairing will seek to capitalize on the increasing successes of Bermuda Beach Volleyball which saw them bring home a bronze medal at the same event last year as well as the recent Silver Medals that ere earned at the 2025 Senior Championships earlier this year.
The top three teams in each gender will earn the right to participate in the NORCECA Under 21 World Championship Qualifier to be held in the Punta Cana, Dominican Republic in July 2025.
Accompanying the teams are two of the BVA’s dedicated coaches, Benjamin Barnett and Sean Tucker. These coaches will not only guide our athletes but will also be pursuing their FIVB Level 1 Beach Volleyball coaching certification during the event.
The coaches will benefit from the FIVB Beach Volleyball Coaches Course, taking place from June 2nd to June 6th, 2025. This coaching seminar will coincide with a U21 Athlete Training Camp, which is being held in preparation for the ECVA U21 Beach Championships. Bermuda’s athletes and coaches are set to gain valuable knowledge and skills ahead of the competition on June 6, 2025.
This initiative underscores the region’s commitment to increasing beach volleyball’s presence within the Eastern Caribbean. Similar to the 2024 event, the coaching course, training camp, and tournament are being paired together. This unique approach provides an integrated development platform that enhances coaching skills, sharpens athlete performance, and fosters youth development in the sport. By bringing these elements together, the program aims to elevate the standard of beach volleyball throughout the region and create lasting opportunities for growth.
BVA Co-President Brandon Sousa expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "We are incredibly excited to announce our participation in the 2025 ECVA U21 Beach Volleyball Championships in St. Kitts and Nevis. Building on our recent success on the international beach volleyball stage, our teams have been training rigorously and are eager to compete. They are prepared to demonstrate their skills, competitive spirit, and determination. Our ultimate goal at this event is to qualify for the NORCECA U21 Beach Volleyball World Championship Qualifier in July 2025, and we are fully confident in our ability to achieve this. We anticipate a fantastic competition and are confident that our athletes will make Bermuda proud as we aim to secure qualification!"
