The Cayman Islands Volleyball Federation has announced that the Cayman under-18 boys beach volleyball team of Dylan Lynee and William Duty has qualified for the world championships.
They have qualified for the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) Under-18 Beach Volleyball World Championships, to be held in Doha, Qatar from 8-11 Oct., the federation said in a press release.
This milestone follows their showing at the under-18 North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation (NORCECA) and under-21 World Championship Qualifiers, held from 4-9 July in the Dominican Republic.
During these qualifiers, Cayman’s national youth teams – under-18 men and women, and under-21 men and women – competed against high-ranking teams from across the region, including the USA, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the host nation.
Representing the Cayman Islands were:
• Under-21 women: Joanna Robinson and Brianna Delapenha
• Under-21 men: Stephen Wilson and Dylan Lynee
• Under-18 women: Luna Ebanks and Krisi Smith
• Under-18 men: Dylan Lynee and William Duty
Despite entering the tournament with lower seedings and representing a programme that is only two years old, Cayman’s youth athletes demonstrated exceptional skill, teamwork and determination, the federation said in the release.
In contrast, many of their competitors came from countries with well-established beach volleyball programmes dating back decades, it added.
By finishing among the top eight teams, in sixth place, the Cayman under-18 boys met the NORCECA/FIVB eligibility requirements and will now compete in the World Championships.
“This result speaks volumes about the rapid development and potential of Cayman’s youth beach volleyball,” Dean Lynee, Cayman Islands Volleyball Federation youth director, said in the release.
“That our programme, still in its infancy, can already compete at this level is a credit to our athletes, coaches and the broader support system. Dylan and William’s performance was outstanding,” he added.
The federation also recognised the valuable support of sponsors, including the Maples Group, which enabled the delegation to travel and compete internationally.
As the team prepares for Qatar, they remain focused on strengthening youth development pathways, expanding participation and ensuring that future teams continue to build on this early success, the federation said.
“We are proud of the strides made in just two years and are excited about what the future holds,” Lynee concluded in the release.
“We thank all supporters – families, sponsors, coaches, and volunteers – for helping us make this journey possible.”
