BVI hosting weekend OECS Men Volleyball championships

BY DEAN GREENAWAY

Host BVI met French St. Martin in last night’s final game, in the opener of the 15th OECS Men’s Volleyball Championships which runs through Sunday at the Multipurpose Sports Complex in Road Town.

The tournament—which is being held here for the very first time—has attracted a record eight teams including the host. BVI Volleyball Association president Roy Barry said defending champions St. Lucia along with Dominica, Antigua, St. Kitts, Anguilla and French and Dutch St. Martin are competing in the event that culminates with the gold medal match on Sunday night.

“We will be hosting the tournament at the new Multipurpose Center which will be used for such an activity for the very first time,” Barry said preceding the tournament. “It will also be the first time in the BVI that we are having indoor Volleyball at such a grand stage.”

Competition began at 9 a.m. this morning with first of six games. Evening sessions will begin at 6 p.m. The semifinals will be played on Saturday and the medal games will be played on Sunday beginning at 7 p.m. Admission for evening sessions on Friday and Saturday night is $5 for adults and $3 for Children. Today and Saturday’s morning sessions will cost $5, while Sunday’s finals cost $10 for adults and $3 for children.

Association vice president Sabinah Mason said the BVI team is ready and excited to be playing at home. While the BVI’s has never won an OECS men’s medal, Barry said the team showed improvement during last year’s tournament in Antigua and they won a Labor Day tournament at the University of the Virgin Islands in September. The BVI women’s team won its first OECS medal in 1993 and captured goal in 2003.