By BRENT STUBBS

Chief Sports Editor

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Back home after completing their past season on the professional circuit in Europe, Shonari Hepburn and Kyle Wilson are both eager to make their presence felt on the Bahamas men’s national team at the Caribbean Volleyball Championships.

Hepburn, 32, just wrapped up his season with Panionios in Greece as a middle blocker and Wilson, 25, completed his first season with the Daugavpils Universitate/Ezereme as an outside hitter.

This past weekend, the duo played in the men’s scrimmage games at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium in preparation for the CVC tournament, scheduled for August 15-23, at the same venue against eight visiting men’s teams. 

Seven teams are expected to join The Bahamas ladies’ team as well.

Hepburn, who has played on the pro circuit since 2016 after graduating from Niagara College where he played on the Knights team from 2013-2016, said he’s thrilled to get the opportunity to display his skills in front of the home crowd.

At 6-feet, 6-inches, Hepburn said this is going to be his first opportunity to compete at home in a major international tournament. 

“To be hosting CVC is like a dream come true,” Hepburn said. “Having played in the Bahamas Games, I saw the crowd and I felt the energy.

“I was just hoping that someday soon we would get to play at home in the CVC. So if we could win at home, it would be magical.”

Looking at the landscape of the team coach Glen Rolle is assembling, Hepburn said he likes what he’s seeing and is confident that Team Bahamas can perform very well.

“When I came home, I was a bit sceptical, but after a few practices and seeing how the young guys are playing, I’m really looking forward to it,” Hepburn said. 

“I feel it’s our tournament to lose. Everybody can play and everybody is physical, but there are a few guys who haven’t played at that level. 

“So they just have to understand what to expect playing for Team Bahamas, playing at home and playing against the teams when they come to the tournament.” Wilson, who attended Queen’s College, said he too is thrilled to be home to participate in the CVC Tournament.

“I’m ready to show the Bahamian people what high level volleyball is all about,” he said. “I want to be able to inspire more of the younger kids to play the game.”

As for the make up of Team Bahamas, Wilon said there’s a lot of potential on the horizon.

“I think we still have a lot to learn because a lot of these kids have not played at that level,” he said. “So having the experienced plsyn=ers around will help to bring them up to the eevel for them to compete.”

Hepburn and Wilson are expected to be joined by. 

Looking back at his season, Hepoburn said it was a good one as he helped to get Panionios promoted from the second division to the first division.

“For me, it was making sure that I kept my level at a standard because division two is different from division one. It’s more competitive the higher you go,” said Hepburn, who excelled as the top middle blocker in the league.

When he returns to complete the second year of his two-year deal with Panionios, Hepburn said he wants to get better than he was with his team the year before.

“Every year, the team I’ve played on has been in the top four, so I’m trying to do that again.”

After playing for the past decade, Heoburn said it;s been varied from year to year.

“Some seasons have been better than others, but it’s all a learning process,” Hepburn said. “But it’s not all about me. It’s about making connections for the other players.

“Having been through it, I was able to convince Kyle, who wasn’t sure about what he would do.I was able to put him in the right people so that he had to bypass some of the things that I had to do to get there.”

After completing his initial season in Latvia Daugavpils Universitate/Ezereme, Wilson said he learned a lot.

“It wasn’t too difficult than playing high level college volleyball, who finished his four-year stint with the McKendree Bearcats in 2024. “Everybody is pretty much bigger and stronger.

“But the speed of the game is the same. Everything else is pretty much the same, except that they hit harder and jump higher.”

As he waits to find out where he will play next, Wilson said he just has to be “patient” and “trust the process” and learn as much as I can.”