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
through 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,
according to Tournament Director Curtis Gilpin. UVI's Buccaneers
are scheduled to open their LAI season with a home game on Sept.
18, said Gilpin, who is also 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. The
prizes are 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 (340)
693-1104.
Tourney Schedule
Friday, Sept. 4, 2009
6:00 p.m. Welcome Reception (SFC Lobby)
7:00 p.m. Club Alumni vs. STX (f)
BVI vs. UVI (m)
8:15 p.m. Club USA West vs. VI (m)
BVI vs. STT (f)
9:30 p.m. Club USA vs. St. Martin (f)
Club USA vs. BVI (m)
Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009
9:00 a.m. STX vs. BVI (f)
VI vs. UVI (m)
10:15 a.m. Club Alumni vs. Club USA (f)
Club USA vs. Club USA West (m)
11:30 a.m. St. Martin vs. STT (f)
BVI vs. VI
* * * * *
1:30 p.m. Club Alumni vs. BVI (f)
Club USA West vs. UVI (m)
2:15 p.m. STT vs. STX (f)
VI vs. Club USA (m)
* * * * *
6:00 p.m. St. Martin vs. BVI (f)
7:15 p.m. Club USA vs. STT (f)
8:00 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, 2009
2:00 p.m. STX vs. St. Martin (f)
1st vs. 4th (men)
3:15 p.m. BVI Club vs. Club USA (f)
3:30 p.m. 2nd vs. 3rd mf)
4:30 p.m. STT vs. Club Alumni (f)
5:30 p.m. Men's Championship Match