A formidable Saint Lucia squad will head to Antigua & Barbuda next week for the Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association (ECVA) Under-23 Men’s Championship, set for November 12–17 at the YMCA in St John’s.
Saint Lucia last claimed the title in 2021 but missed the playoffs in 2023, finishing fifth after winning just two of four group-stage matches.
This year’s tournament features a reduced field of six teams, down from 10 in the previous edition hosted by the British Virgin Islands. Saint Lucia will face off against host nation Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Anguilla and defending champions St Vincent & the Grenadines in the battle for sub-regional supremacy.
The 10-member roster heading to Antigua includes a relatively seasoned core, with most players boasting regional experience and two returning from the 2023 campaign. Team officials confirmed that two originally selected athletes were unable to secure medical clearance, prompting last-minute adjustments.
Still only 18, Peter Emmanuel is making quite a name for himself in volleyball circles. The Le Club middle blocker has competed up to the World Championships in age-group beach competition, and he is no stranger to the hardcourt. Like Emmanuel, setter Delano Baptiste was a member of the 2023 team.
Captain and outside hitter Daniel Mayers-James was a teammate of Emmanuel’s and Baptiste’s on Saint Lucia’s team to the 2023 Windward Islands Secondary School Games, along with opposite Kamal Leopold and middle Cumaury Taoto. Mayers-James was also named most valuable player for Sir Arthur Lewis Community College in this year’s inter-school competition.
Two other players with beach experience are included. Backup setter Diallo Albert and libero Lindan Clarke combined to make the ECVA beach quarterfinals earlier this year. Middle Josiah Dupre is representing Saint Lucia in a second different sport this year, after competing at the 2025 CARIFTA Games in Trinidad & Tobago. And opposite Allister Simon was a late addition to the team for ECVA.
This year, there will be a single round-robin, followed by the playoffs. Saint Lucia open their campaign on Wednesday, November 12, against defending champions St Vincent & the Grenadines. They then play Anguilla and Antigua & Barbuda the following day, with Grenada up next. Their final group match will be against Dominica.
The victorious team will walk away with gold medals and a prestigious team trophy, but will also secure a coveted spot in the NORCECA 2026 Pan American Cup.
“This championship will not only strengthen the development pathway but also provide a dynamic bridge between junior and senior National Teams,” ECVA president Glenn Quinlan said. “We are setting the stage to deepen national federation engagement, ignite regional competitiveness, elevate the technical and tactical standards of play, and inspire year-round activity within ECVA’s member federations.”
Teams will compete with the elite Mikasa V200W ball, ensuring every serve, spike, and block is delivered with finesse and flair.
