Cubans Stun Home Favorites to Reach Semifinals in Zapopan

ZAPOPAN, Jalisco, September 6, 2025 .– Cuba’s Kailin Garrido and Maykelin Drik pulled off a major upset on Saturday, defeating Mexican home favorites Susana Torres and Atenas Gutiérrez 2-0 (21-17, 21-17) in the quarterfinals to secure a spot in the women’s semifinals of the seventh stage of the 2025 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour.

The win ended Torres and Gutiérrez’s streak of reaching the podium at every stage this season, marking the first time they will miss the top three.

On Sunday, Kailin/Drik will face USA’s Michelle Shaffer and Rachael Kramer in the semifinals, while Puerto Ricans María González and Allanis Navas – the tournament favorites – will take on Canada’s Akash Grewal and Katarina Pantovic.

González and Navas, aiming for their fifth gold medal in as many appearances this season, advanced with a dominant 2-0 (21-6, 21-11) win over Nicaragua’s Socorro López and Lolette Rodríguez.

Shaffer and Kramer fought through a thrilling three-set battle to overcome Canada’s Darby Dunn and Mikayla Law-Heese 2-1 (27-25, 19-21, 15-13) and book their place in the final four.

Meanwhile, Grewal and Pantovic reached their second consecutive semifinal with a commanding 2-0 (21-12, 21-13) victory over Venezuela’s Aidana Mejías and Valeria Moreno.

In pool play, Torres/Gutiérrez dominated Bennett/Valenciana of the U.S. Virgin Islands 2-0 (21-13, 21-9) to comfortably claim the top spot in Pool A. Meanwhile, González/Navas stayed perfect in Pool B, defeating El Salvador’s Vigil/Tovar 2-0 (21-13, 21-12).

Over in Pool C, Grewal/Pantovic powered past USA’s Shaffer/Kramer 2-0 (21-14, 21-15) to secure first place, and in Pool D, Dunn/Law-Heese clinched the group with a convincing 2-0 (21-10, 21-12) victory over Venezuela’s Ramírez/Valeria. Capping off the action, Guatemala’s Alvarado/Guerra fought hard to earn a 2-1 (21-18, 12-21, 15-11) win over Costa Rica’s Quesada/Aguilar to take third in the pool.

Placement Matches:

C 13/16: Quesada/Aguilar CRC (bye); Cruz/Torres MEX (bye).

C 9/12: Alvarado/Guerra GUA d Bennett/Valenciana ISV 2-0 (21-9, 21-14); Oriana/Yonnielis VEN d Vigil/Tovar ESA 2-0 (23-21, 21-13).