Bermuda men finished tenth out of 14 countries when the fifth stop of the North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation Beach Volleyball Tour concluded in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic yesterday.

Benjamin Barnett and Sean Tucker were bested 2-0 by the El Salvador duo of twin brothers, Yoel and Christopher Guardado in their ninth play-off fixture.

Barnett and Tucker had initially finished third in pool A, behind Cayman Islands and Dominican Republic. After receiving a bye in their opening match, the Bermuda pair went on to lose 2-0 to the host nation and 2-1 against the Cayman Islands.

On Thursday, the Bermuda duo picked up their first win of the tournament when they defeated Trinidad & Tobago’s Joel Theodore and Stephen Enile 2-0.

Barnett recounted how they recorded they managed to pick up their only win when his playing partner was struggling with a hamstring problem.

“This tournament was a fantastic experience for us,’’ Barnett said. “We had to adapt quickly as after winning our first set as my partner Sean pulled his hamstring and that significantly affected his movement.

“This added a different dynamic that we had to manage going into the next day where we faced Trinidad & Tobago. Although Sean's leg wasn’t 100 percent, we developed a game plan prior to the match.

“We stuck to this plan, worked together and came out victorious in straight sets. This was extremely rewarding and only by attending these tournaments can we gain this experience.

“We are very proud to have achieved this result and show our resolve as a team. We learnt much from interacting with the other teams about the game and asking questions. As players, these learning are so important as we expand our knowledge of the game.

“I am so grateful for the opportunity to travel to this tournament. We achieved the highest placing for Bermuda in the Norceca Tour, and this is a testament to the dedication of my coaches and support from the Bermuda Volleyball Association.”

While Barnett and Tucker return home today, two under-23 teams head in the opposite direction tomorrow. Alexander Southern and Braedon Cooke and Kaylee Trott and Hailey Trott are the partnerships that have been chosen to fly the island’s flag from Tuesday to Thursday.

Last month, Hailey Trott and Isabella Sousa won the island's first first-ever medal, when they secured bronze at the Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association Under-21 Beach Volleyball Championships in St Kitts & Nevis.