The second annual UWI Beach Volleyball Invitational will serve off today at the UWI Mona Bowl Sand Court.

The two-day event, which attracted some quality teams last year, has again drawn the interest of several teams, to include units from The Cayman Islands and Trinidad and Tobago.

Cristen Alexander and Jennifer Bill of Cayman will return to defend the female title, while Ryck Webb and Gatasheu Bonner will try to continue to keep Dellan Brown and Donovan Richards at bay in local beach volleyball competitions.

Other keen rivalries should come from the pairs of Kai Wright and Shedeiky Hamilton-Barnes, Cherine Richards and Cheryl Daley and Tsahai Williams and Nardarake Hutchinson as they match skills and wits.

JaVA will also be seeking to use the event to further prepare the national youth (U-19) boys and girls teams for competition in the Youth Olympic Games Qualifier in Trinidad in November as well as possible qualification to the FIVB World Beach Volleyball Championship in Cyprus in July 2013. Sixteen-year-old Rojey Hutchinson and Shavar Bryan will measure up against the big boys, while 14-year-old Tiona Graham and Lisanne Roofe will take on the challenge in the female division.

The event attracted several spectators last year and the intense rivalries anticipated, coupled with the beauty of the game, the prizes and surprises and overall entertainment package will make this year’s event a spectator’s delight.

First set of matches are scheduled to serve off at 8:30 today, with the semi-finals and final will be played tomorrow.