Serving Success: Volleyball Professionals Share Their Stories

Behind every powerful serve and game-winning block is a story of dedication and perseverance. In this special interview, we catch up with volleyball professionals, St. Clair and Shawn, to hear their perspectives on the sport, their proudest moments, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. Both players are from St. Kitts and Nevis.

      Definition:   In volleyball, serving is the action used to start a rally (or play). It happens when a player, positioned behind the end line, strikes the ball over the net into the opponent’s court with the intention of making it playable.

Left- St. Clair               Right – Shawn

Career Beginnings & Inspiration

1.         What first inspired you to pick up volleyball, and who were your role models growing up? 

St. Clair: I was in high school when a coach came and asked who would like to learn volleyball.  I raised my hand and that was it!  At the time my role model in Sport was Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway.  He was a hard worker, diligent and a very talented all around player.

Shawn:  I picked up volleyball because I enjoyed playing it when my church had social events. I love sport on a whole but there was just an added calling with volleyball. Occasionally, I would see Ronald Williams, Samuel McClean, Calder Warner and Glenn Quinlan at training sessions, and that inspired my drive to become just as good, and better.

2.         Was there a defining moment when you realised you wanted to pursue volleyball professionally? 

St. Clair: When I got invited to the train with the St. Kitts & Nevis National team, I knew I wanted to go as far as I could with my sport.

Shawn: I played for my high school (then the Basseterre High School) in my last year. My teammates comprised of players who received coaching instruction from an assigned Department of Sports coach and the physical education teacher. I was learning from church games. I felt that I was just as good as my team mates and I thought that I “could get far in this thing”.

3.           How did your family or community influence your path into the sport?

St. Clair:  My mother was always very active, especially in cricket and I loved sports, so getting together with friends in the community was easy.

Shawn:     My church community provided incredible support. We had established inter-congregation competitions and those contributed significantly to my growth. Church colleagues were also the ones who encouraged me to try out for a spot on the national team. At that time, my family was not aware as to how passionate I was about the sport.

Training & Development

4.            What does a typical day of training look like for you?

St. Clair: Water a fruit before I get to the beach. Then a 30 minute warm up and stretch.

Shawn:   Training day usually consisted of a nice but thorough warm up, coaching instruction on particular point of emphasis and situational games

5.              How do you balance physical training with mental preparation?

St. Clair:   It is really important to be physically fit for the beach, so there is a high priority placed on fitness. However, being mentally prepared is critical.  I make sure that I take an hour before training to think about everything I did right and the things that went well in the last sessions, games or tournaments.  This helps set the tone for my performances.

Shawn:      That was always the aim – to find that balance. You watch videos, visualize techniques and it was a blessing to have friends, who became brothers, on the team with me. They provided outlets for stimulating conversations, motivation, support when energy level wasn’t the highest and more.

6.              What sacrifices have you made to reach this level in your career?

St. Clair:     Between training locally and abroad and the constant traveling being away from my family was the hardest thing I have had to do.

Shawn:       To achieve any dream requires sacrifice. Some of these sacrifices included financial, religious (I was a practicing Seventh Day Adventist and most tournaments had matches on the Sabbath, unpaid leave from work etc.)

Patriotism & National Pride

7.                  What does it mean to you personally to represent your country on the court?

St. Clair:    Representing my country is the highest honor possible. The world looks and assess the behavior, intelligence and character of your people through your actions.

Shawn:         I consider myself an ambassador of my country, hence representing St. Kitts and Nevis is always extra special.

8.                  Do you feel a sense of responsibility when wearing your nation’s jersey?

St. Clair:     There is an immense sense of responsibility when wearing my nation’s jersey, hence why I am always conscious of how I conduct myself in person and on my digital platforms.

Shawn:       Of course! We are a small country but a proud people and the objective is to show rivals that we are just as talented or even better. I also felt an obligation to promote my twin island state as paradise- picturesque, hospitable people, rich history etc.

  9.            Can you describe a moment in your career when you felt especially proud to play for your country? 

St. Clair:       The Commonwealth Games in Australia (2018 and 2022) were two of my proudest moments.  The world got to know who we were!

Shawn:         Every moment that I represent St. Kitts and Nevis is memorable- whether it be World Championship or Olympic qualifiers or regional tournaments. It is an achievement. However, there have times when, for various reasons, our team had to sing our national anthem. Those times are forever etched in memory. The pride exuded, the vocal talents, the connection with the spectators, the passion that followed on the court; those are unforgettable moments.

Challenges & Resilience

10.                     What has been the toughest obstacle in your career so far, and how did you overcome it? 

St. Clair:       The toughest obstacle was gaining the respect of larger countries who has more resources to develop their athletes.  Additionally, some officials felt that we did not belong because we never won a major tournament on tour.  But we never let that phase us and we fought and competed in every game!

Shawn:           The toughest period was when I was unable to join the team while away studying- because of academic and travel processing reasons.

11.                        How do you handle the pressure of high-stakes matches, especially when representing your country?

St. Clair:         Pray and trust my teammate and best friend to have my back!  I support him and he supports me on the big stage and we know that we are taking this journey together

Shawn:         My country is considered the underdog in most cases because of our size. However, that provides the added drive to want to stand out. We approach each challenge with a plan ad try to execute. There are times also when our ability to make on-court adjustments is very important. It also makes things easier when you are going into competition with very close friends who share a similar pride, thirst to give of their best and level of sporting intelligence.

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12.                      What role has failure or setback played in shaping your growth as an athlete?

St. Clair:          Without failure, I wouldn’t be the athlete I am today.  It not only motivated me to be even better than I thought possible, but it has allowed me to coach younger players along the way.

Shawn:             Setbacks serve as inspiration. This has been translated into working with our young players. What I was not able to accomplish, I commit to helping them achieve. This mindset has allowed me to smile at cultivate an unselfish personality, with the aim of growth as a unit.

Team & Leadership

13.                         How would you describe your role within the team? 

St. Clair:            I’m a joint team leader.  As Beach volleyball is only two players, I listen a lot to my teammate because I need to make him as comfortable as possible, so that he can perform at his peak.  On the indoor, I have realized that my teammates feed off my energy and performance.  If I have a good game and high energy, the team follows and we do well

Shawn:             My role fluctuated according to the particular years. At times, I was the student athlete who was eager to execute instruction, other times I was a leader to rally my colleagues, other times I was a listening ear, and all times a supportive teammate- we are one unit.

14.                           In what ways do you motivate your teammates during challenging games? 

St. Clair:             By being the example.  When things go wrong, I would keep them focused through advice and strategy and I go out and lead the charge.  Then celebrate victories with the team and with individuals who stood out.  When we lose, I help the team to focus on what went well, how we can improve and how we can do well at the next opportunity.

Shawn:                 Even the simplest actions can make a world of difference- a smile, assuring them that you have their back, a simple high five, a hug, a listening ear, a reassuring comment, joining them in a chant, being a friend on and off the court, and even a fiery conversation.

 Memorable Moments

15.                            What has been your most unforgettable match, and why?

St. Clair:         So many, but playing at home in the OECS indoor Volleyball Championships against the defending champions St. Lucia. We were locked in and focused and wanted our first title!  We beat them 3-0!!

Shawn:               One of my most memorable match was at the Central American and Caribbean Games in 2006. We played against the defending beach volleyball champions, Puerto Rico. We lost the first set 21 -3. It was truly a humbling experience but it served as the motivation for the future. Look at us now.

16.                          Have you had any encounters with fans that really stayed with you?

St. Clair:        Our very first Central American and Caribbean Games in Cartagena Columbia, was one of the most eye opening experiences.  The fans, kept cheering and rushing to get pictures, hugs and they were chanting, “I love you!”  I assumed that was the only English they knew.

Shawn:          In both Commonwealth Games that we have participated in, the fans have been super. How they have embraced our fighting spirit and made it their priority to get photos with us and autographs have been inspirational. Spanning our career, fans have grasped our “WOOSAH” chant. It is always humbling to hear fans, officials and even our opponents shout “Woosah”.

Future & Legacy

17.                            What message do you hope young athletes in your country take from your journey?

St. Clair:               As an athlete, you are an ambassador not just for yourself but for your country. What you do impacts an entire nation.  Learn from the experiences and appreciate what you have and share your experiences with someone else.

Shawn:                 There’s an old saying, “Good, better, best; never let it rest til good becomes better and better becomes best.” I encourage them to keep giving of their best efforts. The challenges are going to always come but the rewards will always come as well. I also give them the assurance that I am in their corner, to help their growth. Sport is the ideal avenue to shape personality and build character. I am a testimony. If I were to chronicle my sport life, it would be titled, “When Teammates Become Family”. My journey with St. Clair, Quinlan, Jason and Campbell has molded me for life.

18.                                What are your next goals — for yourself and for your country’s team?

St. Clair:                 To develop a cadre of athletes much better than I am, not just in Volleyball but as individuals. Build outstanding characters of society and hope that the ripple effect continues.

Shawn:               Wherever I can assist in the development of sport I am readily available. Whether it is coaching, mentorship, workshop facilitations, policy creation etc.

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