The 2026 Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association (ECVA) Championships kicked off Wednesday at the Multi-Purpose Sports Complex in Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands, delivering a dramatic opening day that delivered contrasting results for Saint Lucia’s national squads. As the defending women’s champions prepared to launch their title defense, they faced off against a determined Bermuda side that had been waiting for revenge after two prior final losses to Saint Lucia. In what organizers called a thrilling five-set thriller, Bermuda pulled off a hard-earned 3-2 victory, with set scores reading 18-25, 25-14, 25-21, 13-25, 15-10.
Speaking after the upset win, Bermuda captain Natalie Gazzard reflected on the team’s months of preparation for the contest. Gazzard noted that her side entered the match knowing full well the challenge of facing the reigning champions, who had beaten Bermuda in two straight ECVA finals. She credited her team’s intense summer training built around a “nothing touches the ground” work ethic, and specifically praised her hitters and setter for their consistent court control throughout the match. Gazzard said she was deeply proud of the squad’s performance, adding that she felt the team dominated key stretches of the contest to earn the milestone win.
On the men’s side of the opening day draw, Saint Lucia authored an upset of their own, battling back from a two-set deficit to defeat Antigua & Barbuda in another five-set classic. The final set scores confirmed Saint Lucia’s 3-2 win: 25-21, 23-25, 21-25, 25-18, 15-10. In post-match comments, the Saint Lucia Volleyball Association described the opener as a grueling, hard-fought battle, highlighting that the team’s unmatched determination and resilience were the key to turning the tide after falling behind early.
Sheldon Descartes, captain of Saint Lucia’s men’s squad, shared that the team prioritized meticulous preparation even in the weeks leading up to the tournament. “Even in practice, we were making sure that we were planning out some of our routes as to what we need to execute to get the game done,” Descartes explained. The captain acknowledged that after dropping the second and third sets, the squad briefly lost focus and strayed from their game plan. But a critical mid-match reset allowed the team to regain its composure: “But as soon as we got back in the game, we made sure we stayed on point,” he added, crediting that adjusted focus for the comeback win. As the tournament continues, both Saint Lucia squads will look to build on their opening day results, with the men looking to carry their momentum forward and the women aiming to bounce back from their narrow opening loss in their title defense campaign.