The 2017 men's and women's tournaments were moved to the U.S. mainland due to heavy damage caused by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. The tournament organizers decided to solicit hosting bids from all participating teams in both tournaments, with each tournament intended to be hosted by a school in that specific event. The substitute venue for the 2017 men's tournament was Vines Center at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. The 2017 women's edition used two different venues, with the Reef division at the Charles E. Smith Center on the campus of George Washington University in Washington, D.C. and the Island division at the neutral Titan Field House at Eastern Florida State College in Melbourne, Florida, presumably after no school in the Island division submitted a bid. The tournament moved back to the Virgin Islands in 2018.
Format
The tournament began in 2000 as a women's tournament. In 2001 a men's tournament was added and both have been played every year since 2001. In its current format both tournaments feature eight teams playing three games.
Men's format
The men's tournament was introduced in 2001 with a six-team, three-game format. In 2006, the tournament was expanded to eight teams playing in a predetermined bracket. All teams play three games with the final day's games determining placement in all positions, first through eighth.
Women's format
The original women's format was a six-team tournament with teams divided into two groups of three for a round-robin competition. Group standings following the conclusion of the three games decided the entrants to the fifth-place, third-place, and championship games. In 2001, the women's tournament was altered to include three divisions - St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix. The following year the St. Croix division was dropped leaving two divisions. Over the years the women's tournament has featured anywhere from six to 10 teams. In 2008, the format was altered to its current form, featuring the Reef and Island divisions with four teams playing in each division. All teams play three games with the final day's games determining placement in all positions, first through fourth in each division.
