The 2026 Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association (ECVA) U20 Beach Volleyball Championship wrapped up recently in St. Kitts and Nevis, and the Antigua and Barbuda Amateur Volleyball Association (ABAVA) is highlighting the strong showing and meaningful progress its delegation achieved at the regional tournament. Beyond competitive results that exceeded many expectations, the nation also notched critical off-court wins that will strengthen volleyball development across the country for years to come.
On the competitive side of the tournament, Antigua and Barbuda’s young rosters brought unwavering determination and fierce national pride to every match, going head-to-head with some of the most promising up-and-coming beach volleyball talent across the Eastern Caribbean.
In the women’s division, the pairing of Faith Gibson and Philisha Burnette turned heads with their consistent calm and poise under tournament pressure. After a grueling, hard-won three-set victory over St. Vincent and the Grenadines – decided by final scores of 14-21, 22-20, 15-9 – the duo closed out their run with another impressive three-set win against St. Eustatius. Tacking on scores of 21-13, 17-21, 20-18, the win earned Gibson and Burnette a solid fifth-place finish overall, a standout result for the young pairing.
For the men’s team, partners George Freeland and Miguel Peña-Lugo displayed incredible toughness and tenacity throughout every set they played. The pair advanced to a thrilling three-set semifinal matchup against Dominica, taking the opening set in dominant fashion before a late shift saw them fall 1-2 (21-8, 15-21, 7-15). Undeterred by the narrow semifinal loss, Freeland and Peña-Lugo advanced to the bronze medal match against host nation St. Kitts and Nevis, pushing the heavily favored home team to the limit before dropping a tight two-set match 0-2 (19-21, 15-21) to claim fourth place overall.
While the team did not claim a podium finish, ABAVA leaders emphasize that the competitive experience gained at the regional tournament will be an invaluable asset as Antigua and Barbuda continues to invest in growing its youth beach volleyball programs and building a pipeline of talent for future international competitions.
Beyond the on-court results, the trip to St. Kitts and Nevis delivered major milestones for Antigua and Barbuda’s technical volleyball ecosystem. ABAVA has formally congratulated Coach Braulio Estrada López on his successful completion of the ECVA Beach Volleyball Coaches Course, a qualification that expands the country’s pool of expertly trained coaches and supports more structured long-term athlete development across the nation.
Two other Antigua and Barbuda delegates also earned key regional credentials: Randy St. Jean and Josanne Lewis recently graduated from the ECVA National Beach Volleyball Referee Course, expanding the country’s roster of internationally certified match officials. This certification marks a critical step forward for Antigua and Barbuda, allowing local officials to officiate higher-profile regional and international competitions moving forward.
Finally, ABAVA recognized the foundational work of team leaders Jamarie James and Rosemarie Simon, whose meticulous preparation, steady leadership, and unwavering commitment to the athletes supported the national delegation throughout the entire tournament. ABAVA notes that their contributions off the court were a core factor in enabling the athletes to deliver their best performances when it mattered most.