Curaçao, T&T crowned kings and queens of Caribbean volleyball

NASSAU, Bahamas (CMC):

The thunderous cheers of a passionate home crowd were not enough to derail a determined Curaçao squad, as they swept the hosts to claim the men’s title on a thrilling final night here on Saturday at the 2025 Caribbean Volleyball Championships.

In the women’s final, Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) staged a spectacular comeback to dethrone Barbados in a nail-biting four-set thriller.

The Kendal Isaac Gymnasium in Nassau was the stage for a night of elite volleyball, where two new champions were etched into the history books.

The Curaçao men’s team put on a clinical performance, dismantling the host nation, The Bahamas, in straight sets (25-21, 25-23, 25-16) to secure their championship victory.

The first two sets were tightly contested battles, with The Bahamas pushing their opponents to the limit. However, Curaçao’s composure under pressure and flawless execution proved to be the difference.

After narrowly escaping the second set, Curaçao shifted into another gear in the third, overwhelming the hosts with powerful serves and impenetrable blocking to seal a dominant 25-16 victory and the coveted title.

Team captain Raygid Isenia, beaming with pride, encapsulated his team’s journey. “We deserve this. We played really hard. We have great players. We executed to the T, so I’m really, really happy to finally get this one for sure.”

In the women’s final, the narrative was one of resilience. Trinidad and Tobago dropped a hard-fought first set to a powerful Barbados side 23-25, but refused to be counted out.

What followed was a monumental display of heart and skill, as T&T battled back to claim three consecutive nerve-racking sets (25-23, 26-24, 31-29) to win the match 3-1.

The final set was a classic, extending deep into extra points in a test of endurance and willpower that had the entire gym on the edge of their seats.

For Trinidad and Tobago captain Delicia Pierre, the victory was the culmination of a singularly focused effort.

“It’s just wonderful knowing that this is what we set our mind to, to come here and do it, and it came into fruition,” Pierre said. “It’s really a great feeling to see it come to life.”