Anguilla Defeats Host Country BVI in Five-Set Thriller

on Day 1 of the ECVA Senior Volleyball Championship 

TORTOLA, BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS – August 12, 2026 – Day 1 of men's competition at the 2026 Eastern Caribbean Senior Championships delivered four hard-fought contests in Tortola, with every match decided in four or five sets. 

The standout results of the day came on the tournament's own home court, where Anguilla defeated host nation BVI 3-2 (23-25, 25-16, 24-26, 25-10, 13-15) in a five-set thriller that had the crowd on its feet until the final point. BVI came out strong and twice pushed the match to the brink of victory, but Anguilla held its composure to close out a decisive fifth set, denying the hosts a winning start on their own court in the day's most compelling match.

Saint Lucia delivered the second major upset of the day, edging defending champions Antigua 3-2 (21-25, 25-23, 25-21, 18-25, 10-15) in a match that swung back and forth through all five sets before Saint Lucia's composure carried them through the decider, delivering an early setback to the champions' title defence.

St Vincent opened its campaign with a 3-1 win over Grenada (21-25, 23-25, 25-23, 18-25), while Dominica edged Bermuda 3-1 (25-19, 25-22, 22-25, 25-21) in a tightly contested battle. Both matches saw the trailing side snatch a set to keep the contest alive, before the eventual winners closed things out with a stronger finish.

Speaking after the match, BVI team captain Norville Braithwaite said the team would need to minimize its errors going forward. He added that ahead of their next match, the team plans to refine its play and bring its execution back in line with how they have prepared in training.

Day 2 we expected more thrilling games ahead of the weekend championship matches.

The championship continues through August 16 at the Multipurpose Complex in Tortola, BVI.