Back-to-back defending men’s champions Saint Lucia will once again enjoy home comforts as they host the Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association (ECVA) Senior Beach Volleyball Championship in two weeks.
Last year, Sheldon Descartes and Joseph Clercent claimed gold by defeating compatriots Rio Victor and Darnel Eudoxie at the Buckeye facility on Cul De Sac Bay. The women’s defending champions, Chenoa Evans and Denila Prospere, also secured silver medals.
From May 2-4, Descartes and Clercent will face teams from Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bermuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Vincent and the Grenadines, vying for top honours and the coveted ECVA title on home sand. A three-peat would mark a historic achievement. Saint Lucia’s men’s B team will feature Daniel Joseph and Peter Emmanuel.
The hosts will field four women’s teams. Evans and Prospere will aim for a third consecutive finals appearance, but they’ll face stiff competition, not only from visiting teams but also from local duos. Tenayestlgni Joseph and Clio Philip will team up, along with Marie-Thérèse St. Claire and Kurtrice Jules, as well as Ericka Gaspard and Kerin Neptune.
As an official event on the North, Central America and Caribbean volleyball calendar, this championship provides athletes from eight ECVA member islands a platform to compete at the highest regional level, fostering athletic excellence and personal growth.
The host nation has benefited from the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment programme. Under this initiative, the Saint Lucia Amateur Volleyball Association’s beach programme has received support from Brazilian coach Augusto Sabbatini, who has been training the national teams.
The sub-regional governing body anticipates a thrilling celebration of skill, passion and sportsmanship, bringing together seasoned players and rising talent in an electrifying beach volleyball showcase.
