UK Volleyball Team to Play in Bahamas Tournament

Four elite NCAA women's volleyball programs to compete in Paradise Invitational at Grand Hyatt Baha Mar

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The University of Kentucky volleyball team has been announced as one of four teams participating in the 2026 Paradise Invitational, a premium NCAA women's volleyball multi-team event taking place September 11-13 at the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar resort in Nassau, Bahamas. Kentucky will join Houston, Purdue, and SMU in the elite non-conference tournament featuring one team from each Power 4 conference.

Why it matters

The Paradise Invitational aims to elevate the entire volleyball experience by combining high-stakes competition with exclusive fan access and destination-driven programming in a beautiful Caribbean setting. This event provides Kentucky's volleyball team a unique opportunity to play top competition while also allowing players, coaches, and fans to experience the culture and scenery of the Bahamas.

The details

The 2026 Paradise Invitational will mark the fourth year these four teams have participated in a non-conference event together, with the 2025 version taking place in Lexington where Kentucky beat SMU and Houston. Tickets for the 2026 event will go on sale March 16 at ParadiseInvitational.com, and the match-ups, schedule, and television assignments will be announced later this spring.

  • The 2026 Paradise Invitational will take place September 11-13 in Nassau, Bahamas.
  • Tickets for the event will go on sale March 16, 2026.

The players

Craig Skinner

Head coach of the University of Kentucky volleyball team.

Glenn Smith

CEO of GS Global Sports, the organizer of the Paradise Invitational.

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What they’re saying

“The Paradise Invitational is about elevating the entire experience. This isn't just matches on a court—it's access, atmosphere, and world-class volleyball coming together in a way that hasn't been done before in a beautiful setting. We want players, coaches and fans to be able to experience and enjoy playing elite level competition while also providing an opportunity to experience beautiful scenery and culture.”

— Glenn Smith, CEO, GS Global Sports (Paradise Invitational)

What’s next

The match-ups, match schedule, match times and television assignments for the 2026 Paradise Invitational will be announced by GS Global Sports and ESPN later this spring as the event nears closer.

The takeaway

The Paradise Invitational provides Kentucky's volleyball team a unique opportunity to compete against elite programs from across the Power 4 conferences in a premier destination setting, allowing players, coaches and fans to experience high-level competition alongside the culture and scenery of the Bahamas.