🏐 PLAYER SPOTLIGHT 🏐
Best Outside Hitter – Josanne Lewis 🇦🇬
2026 ECVA Men and Women Indoor Championship | Tortola, BVI 🇻🇬
At the Men and Women Volleyball Championship in Tortola, BVI, Antigua and Barbuda's Josanne Lewis was named Best Outside Hitter. We sat down with her to talk about her journey, life off the court and what it takes to reach this level.
Q: Every great outside hitter has an origin story. What first drew you to volleyball, and was there a moment early on when you realized this was the sport you wanted to chase seriously?
Josanne: "Playing at different levels, from Antigua to college abroad, really changed my perspective. I experienced the highs of being recognized individually, but also the responsibility of being someone my teammates could depend on. Volleyball has taken me places I never imagined, introduced me to people I never would have met, and taught me so much about discipline, leadership, and resilience. So for me, there wasn't just one moment, it was a gradual realization that this sport had become a part of who I am."
Q: Off the court, what does Josanne Lewis look like? How do you spend your time when you're not training or competing, and does anything you do outside the sport make you better on it?
Josanne: "Off the court, I'm a Psychology student, so I spend a lot of time studying and learning about people, behavior, and mental issues. I'm someone who enjoys quiet time. I like being around nature, spending time with family and people that I love, and just taking time to reset mentally."
Q: Being from Antigua and Barbuda and earning recognition on a regional stage like this, who are the people (family, coaches, teammates) you point to as the reason you received this award?
Josanne: "My family has always been a major source of support. They've watched me grow from a little girl who started playing volleyball into the athlete and person I am today. My coaches have also pushed me, challenged me, and believed in me during moments when I had to grow through uncomfortable situations.
And my teammates deserve a huge amount of credit. Volleyball is a team sport, and an outside hitter doesn't get to shine without the teammates fighting alongside you. Every person I've played with has contributed something to my development."
Q: If a young girl in Antigua watched you play and wants to follow in your footsteps, what's the one piece of advice you'd give her about what it really takes to get to this level?
Josanne: "People see the awards, the MVPs, the championships, the travel, and moments like being named Best Outside Hitter. They don't always see the conditioning, the practices when you're tired, the mistakes, the losses, the times you question yourself, or all the moments when you have to choose discipline over comfort.
Believe in yourself, listen to the people who genuinely want to help you grow, stay humble, and work hard even when nobody is watching."
Congratulations, Josanne, on a well-deserved award! 👏🇦🇬
#ECVA #Volleyball #BestOutsideHitter #JosanneLewis #AntiguaAndBarbuda #TortolaBVI #CaribbeanVolleyball #WomenInSport #PlayerSpotlight
