Women’s Teams from Canada, El Salvador, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua, and USA  Start Strong and Undefeated at NORCECA U18 Beach Volleyball Qualifier

JUAN DOLIO, Dominican Republic, July 7, 2025.- The women’s pairs from Canada (Ruby Cochrane/Sophie Hancock), El Salvador (Fátima Rendón/Devora Medina), Puerto Rico (Itzamar Martínez/Yamila González), Nicaragua (Yulimar Alvarado/Brisa Bermúdez), and the United States (Jordyn Scribner/Ella Grimes) kicked off the NORCECA U18 Beach Volleyball Qualifier with strong, undefeated performances on the first day of competition. The event is being held on the sands of Juan Dolio Beach in the Dominican Republic and serves as a qualifier for the FIVB U18 World Championship.

Canada’s Cochrane/Hancock were unstoppable in Pool A, winning both of their matches in straight sets. They defeated Philisha Brunette/Nevae Robertson of Antigua 2-0 (21-7, 21-2), and then Dominican Republic’s Zoe Paniagua/Steyce Turbi 2-0 (21-4, 21-11).

In Pool B, El Salvador’s Rendón/Medina secured two wins, first over Sarah Mohammed/Jenissa Morrison of Trinidad & Tobago 2-0 (21-3, 21-8), and then against Costa Rica’s Mariana Jiménez/Luciana Soto 2-0 (21-19, 21-16). In the same pool, Puerto Rico’s Martínez/González matched their success, defeating Jiménez/Soto (CRC) 2-0 (21-11, 21-18) and Mohammed/Morrison (TTO) 2-0 (21-7, 21-9).

In Pool C, Nicaragua’s Alvarado/Bermúdez beat Vernecia Caines/Verneeci Caines of the U.S. Virgin Islands in straight sets, 2-0 (21-16, 21-16), and then won a hard-fought three-setter against Guatemala’s Harumi Monney/Mónica Cano 2-1 (21-14, 19-21, 15-8).

Finally, in Pool D, the U.S. team of Scribner/Grimes earned a dominant 2-0 (21-5, 21-3) win over Cynne’ Liburd/Cayla Jno-Baptiste of Anguilla and followed up with a 2-0 (21-18, 21-15) victory over Mexico’s Ángela Pérez/Melina Román.

This tournament awards five qualification spots per gender to the FIVB U18 Beach Volleyball World Championship, scheduled for October 7–11 in Doha, Qatar.

Other results of the day were: GUA Monney/Cano and CAY Luna Ebanks/Krisi Smith 2-0 (21-16, 21-9); MEX Pérez/Román and BER Olivia Gazzard/Sophie Weikl 2-0 (21-8, 21-4); BER Gazzard/Weikl and AGU Liburd/Jno-Baptiste 2-0 (21-14, 21-11).