Baha Mar Set to Host Paradise Invitational

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The Bahamas is about to become the center of the college volleyball world, as four power four programs descend on Baha Mar for the inaugural Paradise Invitational.

The three-day event runs September 11th through 13th at the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar, featuring the Kentucky Wildcats, Purdue Boilermakers, Houston Cougars and SMU Mustangs.

Of those teams, three reached at least the NCAA sweet 16 last season, including Kentucky, which advanced to the national championship match.

Kentucky and SMU open the event Saturday, with Purdue and Houston meeting in the other matchup.

The championship and third-place matches follow Sunday.

However, the Paradise Invitational is more than a one-year showcase.

These four programs have been meeting in the same non-conference event for the past two years, with SMU hosting in Dallas in 2024, and Kentucky hosting in Lexington in 2025.

Now the series makes its way to Nassau.

The move to Baha Mar gives this four-team rivalry a destination-event feel, bringing elite power four volleyball to The Bahamas and adding to the country’s resume for hosting elite college sports.

Denning Leads Bahamas at World Junior Surfing Debut

Team Bahamas’ historic run at the International Surfing Association World Junior Championships has come to an end.

Eliza Denning was the lone remaining competitor for Team Bahamas in Surf City, El Salvador, advancing to round two of the U-18 girls division before finishing fourth in her heat with a total score of 2.04.

Denning had earlier advanced through repechage, finishing second in her heat with 3.27 points.

The Junior Pan Am Games Sailing gold medalist admitted she could have surfed better, but said the experience gave her a chance to see the level of junior surfing around the world.

Denning was part of the first Bahamian team to compete at the Isa World Junior Championships, alongside Isaiah Thompson, D’andro Thompson, Makayla Hauber and Yemaya Hauber.

Head Coach Tom Glucksmann called the competition a building block, with the team now planning weekly training, more international competition and efforts to bring more young Bahamians into the sport.

Chisholm Placed on Ill With Thumb Injury

Jazz Chisholm Jr. has been placed on the 10-day injured list after suffering a sprained right thumb in Tuesday night’s five-three win over the Colorado Rockies.

Chisholm injured the thumb while diving headfirst into second base in the eighth inning, trying to stretch a hit into a double.

He remained in the game briefly, but after making a throw in the ninth, the Yankees replaced him at second base with Jose Caballero.

Manager Aaron Boone says Chisholm will take part in no baseball activities for seven to ten days as the thumb heals.

The Yankees have recalled infielder Anthony Volpe from triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to take Chisholm’s place on the roster.

Chisholm is eligible to return as early as September 19th when the Yankees are in Arizona, but the club has not announced a specific return date.