The University of the Virgin Islands Athletic Department will host its 9th annual Labor Day Invitational Volleyball Tournament at the Sports and Fitness Center on the St. Thomas campus from Sept. 4-6. Five men’s teams and six women’s squads are signed up to play, including four club teams from the U.S. mainland. The mainland squads will go up against teams from Puerto Rico (Metropolitan), St. Martin, Tortola, St. Croix and St. Thomas.
On the men’s side, the tournament will provide pre-season competition for the UVI Buccaneers men’s volleyball squad. UVI’s Buccaneers are scheduled to open their LAI season with a home game on Sept. 18, according to Curtis Gilpin, tournament director and UVI’s associate athletic director.
Gilpin also said he was proud to welcome the Virgin Islands Department of Tourism as a co-sponsor for this year’s tournament. “I think they see potential for building on such events as this and the popular Paradise Jam,” he said. “The tournament has been getting better and better each year, in terms of the quality of play and the level of awareness from the local community. This is also the first time we’ve had four teams from the mainland.” U.S. participants include the Club USA and Club USA West men’s teams, and Club USA and Club Alumni women’s teams.
This year’s tournament begins at 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 4, with an opening reception at the Sports and Fitness Center sponsored by Subway Restaurants. Play tips off at 7 p.m., with six matches scheduled for the evening. Action continues at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 5, with five match-ups scheduled for morning and afternoon sessions. Another six games will round out the day, beginning at 6 p.m. Play continues Sunday, Sept. 6, with a final regular match at 2 p.m., followed by the playoff round. The championship match of the men’s division is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Among the women, the champion will be the team with the best record. In the men’s division, UVI’s Buccaneers squad is seeded second behind Club USA. On the women’s side, the two state-side squads – Club USA and Club Alumni – are seeded first and second, respectively. (See the tournament schedule below.)
Gilpin said he is hoping for a big fan turnout. "This is a great chance for UVI students to get a pre-season look at their Buccaneers," he said. Admission to all tournament games is free, and special giveaways are planned during breaks in the action, with prizes sponsored by Sens. Shawn-Michael Malone, Celestino White and Patrick Simeon Sprauve. The concession will be open for refreshments.
For more information, contact Curtis Gilpin at 693-1104.
Tournament Schedule
Friday, Sept. 4
6 p.m. Welcome Reception (SFC Lobby)
7 p.m. Club Alumni vs. STX (f) and BVI vs. UVI (m)
8:15 p.m. Club USA West vs. VI (m) and BVI vs. STT (f)
9:30 p.m. Club USA vs. St. Martin (f) and Club USA vs. BVI (m)
Saturday, Sept. 5
9 a.m. STX vs. BVI (f) and VI vs. UVI (m)
10:15 a.m. Club Alumni vs. Club USA (f) and Club USA vs. Club USA West (m)
11:30 a.m. St. Martin vs. STT (f) and BVI vs. VI
* * * * *
1:30 p.m. Club Alumni vs. BVI (f) and Club USA West vs. UVI (m)
2:15 p.m. STT vs. STX (f) and VI vs. Club USA (m)
* * * * *
6 p.m. St. Martin vs. BVI (f)
7:15 p.m. Club USA vs. STT (f)
8 p.m. BVI vs. Club USA West (m)
8:30 p.m. St. Martin vs. Club Alumni (f)
9:15 p.m. UVI vs. Club USA (m)
9:45 p.m. STX vs. Club USA (f)
Sunday, Sept. 6
2 p.m. STX vs. St. Martin (f) and 1st vs. 4th (m)
3:15 p.m. BVI Club vs. Club USA (f)
3:30 p.m. 2nd vs. 3rd (m/f)
4:30 p.m. STT vs. Club Alumni (f)
5:30 p.m. Men’s Championship Match