Teams from Saint Lucia will be contesting the men’s and women’s titles at the Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association (ECVA) level, as the organisation announced a change to its main age-group beach competition.
Taking place this week in Frigate Bay, St Kitts & Nevis, the tournament, this year for Under-20 athletes, was for Under-21 the past three years.
Returning for Saint Lucia is half of the 2021 U21 silver medal men’s team, Peter Emmanuel. Second last year in tandem with Rio Victor in St Kitts last June, he is teaming up with Lindan Clarke this time around.
Also in Basseterre for the July 10-12 tilt are Abigail Evans and Aryanna Desir, who will be tasked with emulating 2025 champions Ericka Gaspard and Clio Phillip.
Leading the squad is coach Terry Verdant, who is also taking part in a coaches education session facilitated by ECVA and the NORCECA Volleyball Confederation.
The St Kitts Amateur Volleyball Association (SKAVA), ECVA, and the North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation (NORCECA) will host 11 territories for this zonal championship. All matches will be played under the current FIVB Official Beach Volleyball Rules of the Game.
Matches are expected to run throughout each day, giving fans and visitors ample opportunity to enjoy high-level beach volleyball in one of the region’s most scenic coastal settings.
“The 2026 ECVA U-20 Beach Volleyball Championship will serve as a key development platform for young athletes and a boost for local sport tourism,” said ECVA.
ECVA president Glenn Quinlan, meanwhile, underscored the importance of this event.
“Events like the ECVA U-20 Beach Volleyball Championship are critical stepping stones in the pathway from grassroots to the elite level,” he observed. “Each edition strengthens our programmes, exposes our players and coaches to higher standards of competition, and helps to build a sustainable future for volleyball throughout the Eastern Caribbean.”
The event is being staged with the support of the Association of National Olympic Committees of the Eastern Caribbean States (ANOCES), the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB), and the St Kitts and Nevis Olympic Committee (SKNOC).
