The University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona volleyball teams are set to headline the UWI Volleyball Invitational Games 2025, a landmark three-day tournament that will bring together UWI campuses and top Antiguan clubs in a regional showcase of talent, competition, and cultural exchange.
Scheduled for May 23–25 at the YMCA Sports Complex in St. John’s, Antigua, the tournament marks the first major sports event hosted by The UWI Five Islands Campus and the latest effort to revitalize inter-campus sporting competition following the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking to Sportsmax.TV, head coach of the UWI Mona teams, Ricardo Chong, said both the men’s and women’s squads are looking forward to the experience, which he sees as both a competitive test and developmental opportunity.
“It’s a mixture of both experienced players and younger, up-and-coming talent,” Chong explained. “A number of our players are also part of the national senior programme, so we’re taking a strong, well-balanced team into Antigua.”
Among the standout players on the women’s team are Erica Harris and Anesia Edwards, both current members of Jamaica’s senior national team, and team captain Johanna Belmar, who represents Trinidad and Tobago internationally. Supporting them are veterans like Paula-Ann Porter Jones, who bring valuable experience to the court.
On the men’s side, Chong will look to national team players such as Delford Morgan, Shavar James, and captain Tavario Clarke, who was recently called into the Jamaica senior men’s programme.
Tavario Clarke
The format of the tournament will be round-robin, with matches on Friday and Saturday to determine seedings, followed by playoffs, semi-finals, and finals on Sunday. Matches run May 23 from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., May 24 from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., and May 25 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The Mona teams will face off not only against the UWI Five Islands Campus teams, but also local powerhouses including Pytonz, Da Storming Lions, Stoneville, Da Squad, and Jets, who are expected to bring the heat following strong showings in the recently concluded Antiguan club leagues.
Chong said this kind of cross-regional exposure is exactly what Caribbean volleyball needs: “This tournament is a chance for our players to compete against unfamiliar styles. Antigua plays in a different zone—ECVA—while Jamaica falls under CAZOVA. Over the years, ECVA teams have progressed rapidly, largely due to better infrastructure, frequent competition, and investment in coaching.”
Johanna Belmar
While the Jamaican teams enter as favourites, Coach Chong is not taking anything for granted. “We’re expecting tough games,” Chong said. “These Antiguan clubs are strong, and they’re even combining players from different teams to challenge us. We’ve been training consistently and we’re going there to win, but also to learn.”
This event is co-hosted by The UWI Five Islands Campus, the UWI Faculty of Sport, The UWI Mona Volleyball Team, and the Antigua & Barbuda Volleyball Association. Local Organizing Committee Chair Oshane Grant praised the tournament as a critical step toward building stronger campus and community connections across the region.
“This tournament represents a significant step in developing volleyball across our campuses and strengthening ties with local communities,” said Grant.
The UWI Mona teams are being sponsored by Caribbean Flavours and Fragrances, a member of the Derrimon Group of Companies.
With pride, preparation, and the spirit of regional unity on the line, UWI Mona's volleyballers are poised to make a statement—not just on the court, but for the future of Caribbean inter-campus sports.
Main photo: Coach Ricardo Chong