San José, Costa Rica, December 6, 2024.- Brennan/Phillips and Wilson/Myszkowski from the United States, Austin/Buckner from the U.S. Virgin Islands, Aguilar/Quesada from Costa Rica, and Vidaurrazaga/Ramirez from Mexico finished the first day of the women’s division at the ninth stage of the NORCECA Tour in La Sabana, Costa Rica, undefeated.
In the most contested match of Pool A, the U.S. team of Peri Brennan and Molly Phillips edged Mexico’s Atenas Gutiérrez and Susana Torres in a thrilling three-set battle, 2-1 (21-19, 12-21, 21-19). The Mexican duo Gutiérrez/Torres had previously secured a solid 2-0 win against the Dominican Republic’s Crismil Paniagua and Yari Cleto (21-12, 21-18).
Pool B featured dominance by T’ara Austin and Taylor Buckner of the U.S. Virgin Islands and the local pair of Aliza Aguilar and Kianny Araya, both of whom claimed convincing victories in their respective matches.
The Costa Ricans defeated Keiry Guzmán and Fátima Rendón from El Salvador 2-0 (21-13, 21-11) and also triumphed over Barbados’ Destiny Layne and Serena Edwards 2-0 (21-11, 21-14). Meanwhile, Austin/Buckner (ISV) left no room for surprises, beating the pairs from Barbados and El Salvador with commanding 2-0 results (21-09, 21-11) and (21-12, 21-09), respectively.
In Pool C, the U.S. pair of Wilson Taylor and Natalie Myszkowski dominated their matches, defeating El Salvador’s Karla Tovar and Sofía Vigil 2-0 (21-10, 21-7) and Canada’s Sophia Hladyniuk and Myriam Robitaille 2-0 (21-14, 21-17). Costa Rica’s Katherine Quesada and Eugenia Ramírez managed an important 2-0 victory against Tovar/Vigil of El Salvador (21-12, 21-15) but fell to the Canadians in a close 2-1 battle (15-21, 21-17, 15-13).
Mexico’s Yeray Vidaurrazaga and María Ramírez showcased their superiority in Pool D, easily defeating Nicaragua’s Norma Brenes and Lolette Rodríguez 2-0 (21-08, 21-07) before securing their second win against Guatemala’s Natalia Girón and Paola Alvarado 2-0 (21-11, 21-17). Guatemala’s Girón/Alvarado also claimed a hard-fought victory against Costa Rica’s Valentina Molina and Sofía Vega, winning 2-1 (21-19, 15-21, 15-13).
The NORCECA Tour continues Saturday with the decisive final pool-play matches, followed by the quarterfinals and placement matches.
WOMEN’S RESULTS
POOL A Brennan/Phillips (USA) Bye/Paniagua/Cleto (DOM) Bye/ Gutiérrez/Torres (MEX) – Paniagua/Cleto (DOM) 2-0 (21-12/21-18)/Brennan/Phillips (USA)-Gutiérrez/Torres (MEX)2-1 (21-19/12-21/21-19) POOL A Austin/Buckner (ISV)-Layne/Edwards (BAR) 2-0 (21-09/21-11) /Aguilar/Quesada (CRC)-Guzmán/Rendón (ESA) 2-0 (21-13/21-11)/Aguilar/Quesada (CRC)-Layne/Edwards (BAR) 2-0 (21-11/21-14)/Austin/Buckner (ISV)-Guzmán/Rendón (ESA) 2-0 (21-12/21-09)/ POOL A Wilson/Myszkowski (USA) – Tovar/Vigil (ESA) 2-0 (21-10/21-7) /Hladyniuk/Robitaille (CAN)-Quesada/Ramírez (CRC) 2-1 (15-21/21-17/15-13) / Wilson/Myszkowski (USA)-Hladyniuk/Robitaille (CAN) 2-0 (21-14/21-17) /Quesada/Ramírez (CRC) – Tovar/Vigil (ESA) 2-0 (21-12/21-15) POOL A Vidaurrazaga/Ramírez (MEX)-N. Brenes/Lolette (NCA) 2-0 (21-08/21-07)/N. Girón/Alvarado (GUA)-Molina/Sofi V (CRC) 2-1 (21-19/15-21/15-13)/N. Brenes/Lolette (NCA)-Molina/Sofi V (CRC) 2-1 (21-13/18-21/15-09) / Vidaurrazaga/Ramírez (MEX) -N. Girón/Alvarado (GUA) 2-0 (21-11/21-17)