Volleyball season is officially underway on Ambergris Caye. The San Pedro Volleyball Association launched its 2026 Shark Cup Tournament on Sunday, September 27, with an Under-13 marathon at the Angel Núñez Auditorium — a packed one-day event that kept four local teams busy from start to finish.
The field featured Zen Warriors Juniors, Zen Warriors Seniors, and two squads from San Pedro High School, the SPHS Baby Sharks 1 and Baby Sharks 2. Games were played four-a-side with a required mix of two boys and two girls on court at all times, and free substitution allowed when needed. Each match ran as best-of-three, with the first two sets to 21 points and a decider, if necessary, to 15.
Zen Warriors Seniors were the story of the day. They opened with a commanding 21-10, 21-10 win over their clubmates in the Juniors team, then handled Baby Sharks 2 at 21-7, 21-19. Their final match against Baby Sharks 1 was the only one all day to go the distance — Baby Sharks 1 took the opening set 21-14 before the Seniors clawed back with 21-19 and 15-10 set wins to finish the marathon unbeaten across three matches.
Baby Sharks 2 also had a solid run, beating their B-team rivals in two tight 21-18 sets and crushing the Juniors 21-4, 21-12. The Juniors, for their part, will want to forget the day — they dropped all their fixtures, though Baby Sharks 1 did need a fight in their 21-10, 21-18 win over them.
This year's Shark Cup has a new shape. Instead of a single tournament, the association is running marathons for different age categories across the season, with standings building toward semifinals and finals in December. The opening event was free to enter, and organisers encouraged spectators to come along and support the young players.
The next marathon is set for October 18 and will feature Under-15 divisions for both boys and girls, with more age groups to follow as the tournament works toward its December climax.
For visitors to San Pedro, it's a nice reminder that the island's community life goes well beyond the beach bars and reef trips. Catching a local volleyball marathon at the Angel Núñez Auditorium is a free, family-friendly way to spend a Sunday afternoon and see the town's sporting culture up close — and with events running monthly through the season, there's a decent chance one lands during your stay.
