Bermuda girls volleyball teams produced solid displays at the Nike Florida Holiday Challenge in Daytona Beach, Florida, last weekend.

Competing under the Paradise Hitters Volleyball Club banner, the 15 and under side delivered an outstanding performance to finish fifth of 20 teams.

The Bermuda Volleyball Association described the younger age group’s impressive record as a reflection of the hard work that went into the preparation for the tournament, with the team’s success a testament to their commitment on and off the court.

Sean Tucker, head coach of the 15 and under group, was delighted with the side’s display at the two-day event, where they came close to playing for a bronze medal on the last day.

“I’m beyond proud of our under-15 girls at the Daytona tournament,” Tucker said.

“They dominated Day 1, going undefeated to secure their spot in the gold bracket of 20 strong teams. We fought tough for third-place, taking it to a nail-biting tie-break third set before narrowly falling short, leaving us to play for fifth position, where we won our match.

“The girls left everything on the court, skill, heart and pure grit. It is an amazing result and the BVA and I were overjoyed with their performance.”

The 17 and under squad faced tough opponents but coaches and supporters alike praised the athletes for their perseverance, positive spirit and ability to rise to the challenge.

Despite the results, the BVA believes the group’s tournament experience was marked by growth, camaraderie and memorable moments that will fuel their continued development.

Coach Mike Gazzard was impressed by the manner in which the players carried themselves over the two days.

“While the results didn’t fall our way, I’m extremely proud of how the girls competed throughout the tournament,” the coach said.

“Four of our five matches went to a deciding third set, which shows how close we were against such strong opposition.

“The effort, resilience and composure displayed by the girls at this level was impressive, even in difficult moments.

“Experiences like this are invaluable. We’ll use them as motivation as we return to training with a clear focus on improvement and preparation for the Nike Boston National Qualifier in March 2026.”