Category: News Articles

KFC Deacons and Foundation United Start Strong

Monday, October 6, 2025 – Defending champions KFC Deacons opened their defence of the senior volleyball knockout crown with a straight sets victory over Club United when the new season was served off on Monday, October 6, at the Wildey Gymnasium.

Even with the Oxley cousins Akeel and Ashe sitting out the match Deacons proved too strong beating Club 25-14, 25-23, 25-16. Southpaw Isaiah Francis, Korey Webster and Ahkeem Mayers led an attack from Deacons where Club’s focus seemed to be on getting respectable score-lines.

Foundation United continued their impressive run from last season as they stopped Chargers 25-23, 25-23, 23-25, 25-11. Barbados players Brandon Leonce and Dominic Durant along with Rashawn Alleyne exploited more mature setting from junior national player Tajor Reid to defeat Chargers.

Deacons and Hill Road Dominate Women’s Knockout Openers

Monday, October 6, 2025 — The women’s division of the knockout tournament opened with commanding performances as Deacons and Hill Road swept their opponents in straight sets.

Deacons formalized a rough start for Club, cruising to a 25-20, 25-12, 25-19 victory. Fresh off their junior knockout triumph the day before, Deacons leaned into their youthful energy, with setter Tanaya Stapleton-Branch orchestrating plays alongside southpaw Markanna Rollins, Janica Grant, and McKayla Mayers. The young guns meshed seamlessly with seasoned campaigners Danielle Evanson, Mona Crawford, and Kamesha Webb to suppress Club’s resistance.

Meanwhile, Hill Road made quick work of Burger King Clapham Toners, dispatching them 25-9, 25-15, 25-21.

With defending champions UWI Blackbirds opting out of this year’s knockout, the stage is set for a new queen.

Bajan Women defeat Jamaica

Nassau, Bahamas, August 17, 2025 – Barbados girls made an outstanding start to their campaign at the championship with a straight sets drubbing of defending champions Jamaica 25-21, 25-19, 25-21.

In the first two sets the power hitting from captain Ashley Jordan, professional Shonte Seale, middle Nerissa Dyer and Michaela Beckles along with opposite Chante Moore was fired up by setter Carah Watson.

Jamaica rebounded well in the third set leading 9-2 and 14-5 before Barbados regained their rhythm creeping back to within two points and locking at 18 after coach Michael Brathwaite inserted Dessani Waithe to serve for Beckles.

Panic set in among the Jamaicans as Waithe spiced her serves with two aces while forcing a number of bad passes as Barbados gained the lead for the first time in the set to hold a two points advantage, 20-18.

With solid blocks at the net coming from a reinserted Beckles and vicious counters from Seale Barbados surged home in a spectacular fashion.

Bajan Men Take First Game

Nassau, Bahamas, August 17, 2025 – Former 10 times kings Barbados made a winning start to the 19th CAZOVA championships this morning in the Kendal GL Isaac National Gymnasium in the Bahamas.

The Bajans played a poor serving game at times but still took their first match stopping Guadeloupe 25-23, 25-15, 23-25, 25-12. Guadeloupe were also guilty of making numerous serving errors and they could not match the attacking power of their opponents.

Captain Akeel Oxley along with opposite player Ahkeem Mayers and outside attacker Jabarry Goodridge proved a potent spiking force at the net for the winners. Captain Alexandre Watson and Jordy Bihardy battled strongly for Guadeloupe.

Coach of Guadeloupe Ishmael Ollivierre indicated that a lack of consistency affected his team’s performance. “We started really well leading Barbados but then we made too many simple errors in serving and attacking.

“This is the first time we are returning to CVC after a long absence and it was our first game. We will look at what we did wrong and prepare to do better in the next game,” said Ollivierre.

Andrew Culpepper of Barbados did not mince his words in spite of taking the win. “We served horribly. I do not know if it was just anxiety and the fellows trying too hard in that first game.

“After we recognised that our opponents were struggling to pass the ball we went to the float serves which put more pressure on their passers. I wanted to also give court time to everyone after going up two sets.

“That was important at this stage to give everyone a feel of the court. That did not work out in the third set but we will look to tighten up on those small areas and get ready for our next match,” said Culpepper.

Vintage Volliers, Division Three Kings

Saturday, July 12, 2025 – Vintage Volliers showed that age is just a number when one has the skills and smarts as they captured the men’s division three volleyball title with a 25-16, 25-19 win over the youthful Chargers at Bay Street.

Vintage totally outplayed Chargers with their younger players making too many unforced errors. National youth player Joshua Ashby and Nathan Singh made some telling efforts to deny Vintage the title.

However, the experience of former Barbados middles Hudson Griffith and Dwayne Howell along with Kengie “Kenny G” Matthews, Raymond Layne, Winston “Bobby Brown” Gittens and Captain Adrian Ward outsmarted and outplayed Chargers, thrilling scores of spectators who ringed the Bay Street court.

Foundation United Clinch Division Three Women

Saturday, July 12, 2025 – Wow Foundation United pulled off a thrilling reversal to clinch the Division Three women’s volleyball crown over Spikenards, winning 19-25, 25-14, 25-10. After dropping the first set, Foundation stormed back with dominant performances in the next two, showcasing their depth and resilience.

This victory capped off an impressive season for Foundation United, who finished **undefeated in Zone C of the Division Three Women’s league. Their win over Spikenards not only sealed the championship but also highlighted the strength of their development program. Cuzarah Batson and Sienna Hall starred for Foundation.