Category: Beach

Canada wins men’s gold on the NORCECA Tour

Posted on

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, April 7, 2024.-In a match that went to the maximum of three sets, the Canadian duo of Jake MacNeil/William Russell won the gold medal  beating the Americans Robert Harrison/Evan Cory 2-1 (16-21, 21-17,15-11) on the first date of the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour 2024 that took place on the sand courts installed on Güibia beach on the Santo Domingo boardwalk.

The bronze went to the Americans Timothy Brewster/Kyle Friend who defeated in an exciting match the pair of Hayerling De Jesús/Oscar Martínez from the Dominican Republic 2-1 (20-22, 21-13, 15-8).

Fifth place went to Arran Chambers/Steven Abrams from Canada who easily defeated the Mexicans Ricardo Galindo/Isaías Aguirre 2-0 (21-14, 21-12), in seventh place were Tyler Penberthy/Bryce Mayer (ISV) after defeating Daniel Dyner/Jhostin Varela (CRC) 2-1 (12-21, 21-12, 15-13).

Franklin Flores/Armando Guatemala (ESA) finished ninth by defeating Rubén Mora/Jefferson Cascante (NCA) 2-0 (21-13, 21-16), in eleventh place was the Dominican duo of Jorge Rosario/Rolvin Maldonado who had Edgar Maldonado/ Luis García of Guatemala 2-0 (21-17, 29-27).

Robert Naarden/Keven Sporkslede of Suriname took 13th place after beating Eddy Toro/Gregory De La Cruz of Aruba 2-1 (15-21, 21-17, 15-12), while 15th place went to the Cayman Islands with the Jesario Ebanks/Stephen Watson duo who defeated the Elkreen Morton/Clerique Ward duo of Saint Kitts 2-0 (21-18, 21-19).

The other results of the day were:

Ricardo Galindo/Isaías Aguirre (MEX) d Tyler Penberthy/Bryce Mayer (ISV) 2-1 (15-21, 21-15, 16-14), Arran Chambers/Steven Abrams (CAN) d Daniel Dyner/Jhostin Varela (CRC) ) 2-1 (18-21, 24-22, 15-11), Jake MacNeil/William Russell (CAN) d Hayerling De Jesús/Oscar Martínez (DOM) 2-0 (21-18, 21-17), Robert Harrison/Evan Cory (USA) d Timothy Brewster/Kyle Friend (USA) 2-1 (21-18, 18-21, 23-21). 

Women’s duo from the United States takes gold in the NORCECA 2024 Tour

Posted on

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, April 7, 2024.- The Americans Hailey Harward/Kylie DeBerg won the gold medal this Sunday after beating the pair of Allanis Navas/María González from Puerto Rico 2-1 (18-21, 23 -21, 15-13) at the first stop of the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour 2024 held on Güibia beach in Santo Domingo.

The bronze medal was won by the United States couple Savannah Simo/Abby Van Winkle after defeating the Cubans Amanda Armenteros/Maykelin Drik 2-0 (21-15, 21-15).

In the match for 5th place, Esperanza Albarrán/Evelyn Ramos (MEX) defeated Dana Rosik/Calinda Kok (CAN) 2-0 (21-17, 21-19), while the Dominicans Nallelin Taveras/Crismil Paniagua were in seventh place after beating Socorro López/LoletteRodríguez (NCA) with a score of 2-0 (21-16, 21-18).

The ninth place went to the Mexicans Susana Torres/Yeray Vidaurrazaga who dominated Kianny Quesada/Ximena Nuñéz from Costa Rica 2-0 (21-14, 21-17), the eleventh position went to Naomy Monney/Danna Aguilar (GUA) who They beat Kathya Vásquez/Daniela Vigil (ESA) 2-0 (21-13,21-16).

Canadians Kristina Vicek/Claire Crossfield took thirteenth position defeating Britney Choon/Tsyan Selvon of Trinidad Tobago 2-1 (21-12, 24-26, 17-15) and in fifteenth place were Deajra Tulloch/Ilean Powery (CAY) beating Zoureena Koningverander/Shaniva Balkaran (SUR) 2-0 (21-16, 21-10).

The other results of the day were:

Dana Rosik/Calinda Kok (CAN) d Socorro López/LoletteRodríguez (NCA) 2-0 (21-8, 21-17), Esperanza Albarrán/Evelyn Ramos (MEX) d Nallelin Taveras/Crismil Paniagua (DOM) 2-0 ( 21-7, 21-11), Hailey Harward/Kylie DeBerg (USA) d Savannah Simo/ Abby Van Winkle (USA) 2-1 (17-21, 21-19, 15-11), Allanis Navas/María González ( PUR) d Amanda Armenteros/Maykelin Drik (CUB) 2-0 (21-15, 21-17).  

Dominican Republic, United States and Canada advance to the semifinals

Posted on

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, April 6, 2024.- The teams from the Dominican Republic, the United States and Canada made their way to the semifinal of the first stop of the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour 2024 after winning their respective quarterfinal matches this Saturday at the event held on the sand courts installed on Güibia beach on the Santo Domingo boardwalk.

The Dominican duo Hayerlin De Jesús/Oscar Martínez advanced after beating in an electrifying game the pair of Tyler Penberthy/Bryce Mayer of the Virgin Islands 2-0 (28-26,25-23), while the Canadians Jake McNeil/William Russell beat their counterparts Arran Chambers/Steven Abrams with a score of 2-0 (21-17, 21-16).

The Americans Robert Harrison/Evan Cory moved on to the next stage, beating Ricardo Galindo/Isaías Aguirre of Mexico 2-0 (21-15, 22-20), meanwhile the couple of Timothy Brewster/Kyle Friend also from the United States placed in the Semifinal defeating the Costa Ricans Daniel Dyner/Jhostin Varela 2-1 (21-14, 20-22,15-7).

The semifinals, the Bronze medal match and the Grand Final will be played this Sunday starting at 8 am.

The other results of the day were:

Hayerlin De Jesús/Oscar Martínez (DOM) d Franklin Flores/Armando Guatemala (ESA) 2-0 (21-11, 21-11), Daniel Dyner/Jhostin Varela (CRC) d Robert Naarden/Keven Sporkslede (SUR) 2- 0 (21-15, 21-12), Timothy Brewster/Kyle Friend (USA) d Tyler Penberthy/Bryce Mayer (ISV) 2-0 (21-12, 21-14), Jorge Rosario/Rolvin Maldonado (DOM) d Elkreen Morton/Clerique Ward (SKN) 2-0 (21-18, 21-19), Ricardo Galindo/Isaías Aguirre (MEX) d Rubén Mora/Jefferson Cascante (NCA) 2-1 (23-21, 15-21, 15-13), Arran Chambers/Steven Abrams (CAN) d Eddy Toro/Gregory De La Cruz (ARU) 2-0 (21-9, 21-13), Jake McNeil/William Russell (CAN) d Edgar Maldonado/Luis García (GUA) 2-0 (21-11, 21-17), Robert Harrison/Evan Cory (USA) d Jesario Ebanks/Stephen Watson (CAY) 2-0 (21-12, 21-5), Eddy Toro/ Gregory De La Cruz (ARU) d Elkreen Morton/Clerique Ward (SKN) 2-0 (21-12, 21-17), Robert Naarden/Keven Sporkslede (SUR) d Jesario Ebanks/Stephen Watson (CAY) 2-0 ( 21-12, 21-18), Franklin Flores/Armando Guatemala (ESA) d Edgar Maldonado/Luis García (GUA) 2-1 (21-19, 19-21, 15-12), Rubén Mora/Jefferson Cascante (NCA) ) d Jorge Rosario/Rolvin Maldonado (SUN) 2-0 (21-15, 21-11).

The women’s teams from the United States, Puerto Rico and Cuba advance to the Semifinals

Posted on

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, April 6, 2024.- The couples from the United States, Puerto Rico and Cuba emerged victorious in their Quarterfinal matches of the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour 2024, which takes place on the sand courts located in Güibia beach in Santo Domingo.

The United States couples formed by Savannah Simo/Abby Van Winkle and Hailey Harward/Kylie Kuyava-De Berg won their respective matches in this phase of the competition. Part of the competition to advance, the duo of Savannah Simo/Abby Van Winkle overcame to the Canadians Kristina Vicek/Claire Crossfield 2-0 (22-20, 21-14), while Hailey Harward/Kylie Kuyava-De Berg were victorious against the Dominicans Nallelin Taveras/Crismil Paniagua 2-0 (21-13, 21-17).

Allanis Navas/María González from Puerto Rico easily defeated the Mexican duo of Esperanza Albarrán/Evelyn Ramos 2-0 (21-16, 21-10), while Amanda Armenteros/Maykelin Drik from Cuba easily defeated the Socorro López/Lolette Rodríguez team from Nicaragua with a score of 2-0 (21-11, 21-13).

The Semifinals and medal matches will be played this Sunday starting at 8 am.

The other results were:

Nallelin Taveras/Crismil Paniagua (DOM) d Kathya Vasquez/Daniela Vigil (ESA) 2-0 (21-7, 21-18), Amanda armenteros/Maykelin Drik (CUB) d Zoureena Koningverander/Shaniva Balkaran (SUR) 2-0 (21-8, 21-11), Hailey Harward/Kylie Kuyava-De Berg (USA) d Naomi Monney/Danna Aguilar (GUA) 2-0 21-15, 21-10), Socorro López/Lolette Rodríguez (NCA) d Kristina Vicek/Claire Crossfield (CAN) 2-0 (21-14, 23-21), Dana Roskic/Calinda Kok (CAN) d Kianny Quesada/Ximena Nuñez (CRC) 2-0 (21-16, 21-11 ), Esperanza Albarrán/Evelyn Ramos (MEX) d Deajra Tulloch/Ileann Powery (CAY) 2-0 (21-8, 21-14), Allanis Navas/María González (PUR) d Susana Torres/Yeray Vidaurrazaga (MEX) 2 -0 (21-12, 21-18), Savannah Simo/Abby Van Winkle (USA) d Britney Choon/Tsyan Selvon (TTO) 2-0 (21-9, 21-7), kristina Vicek/Claire Crossfield (CAN ) d Deajra Tulloch/Ileann Powery (CAY) 2-0 (21-14, 21-17), Britney Choon/Tsyan Selvon (TTO) d Zoureena Koningverander/Shaniva Balkaran (SUR) 2-0 (21-15, 21- 7), Susana Torres/Yeray Vidaurrazaga (MEX) d Kathya Vasquez/Daniela Vigil (ESA) 2-0 (21-6, 21-8), Kianny Quesada/Ximena Núnez (CRC) d Naomi Monney/Danna Aguilar 2-0 (21-13, 21-12).

Dominicans De Jesús/Martínez undefeated on the first day

Posted on

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, April 5, 2024.- The pair formed by Hayerling De Jesús and Oscar Martínez from the Dominican Republic won their two matches on the first day of competition of the first stage of the NORCECA Continental Beach Volleyball Tour 2024 that takes place Play on the sand courts located on Güibia beach.

In the first match the Dominican duo easily dominated Robert Naarden/Keven Sporkslede of Suriname 2-0 (21-8, 21-14), while in the second game they beat the Costa Ricans Daniel Dyner/Justin Varela 2-0 (21- 15, 21-17).

Four other couples that won their matches on the first day were Tyler Penberthy/Bryce Myers of the Virgin Islands, who defeated Elkreen Morton/Clerique Ward of Saint Kitts 2-0 (21-10, 21-10) and Jorge Rosario/Rolvin Maldonado of the Dominican Republic 2-0 (21-12, 21-15), the American pairs of Timothy Brewster/Kyle Friend who defeated the Dominicans Jorge Rosario/Rolvin Maldonado 2-1 (21-11, 18-21, 15- 13) and in the second game to Elkreen Morton/Clerique Ward of Saint Kitts 2-0 (21-6, 21-10) and the other USA pair were Wyatt Harrison/Evan Cory who beat Jake McNeil/Alexander Russell of Canada 2-1 ( 14-21, 21-16, 15-12) and the Guatemalans Edgar Maldonado/Luis García 2-0 (21-17, 21-12), while Arran Chambers/Steven Abrams of Canada beat the Mexicans Ricardo Galindo/Isaías Aguirre 2-0 (24-22, 21-19) and Rubén Mora/Jefferson Cascante of Nicaragua 2-0 (21-19, 21-17).

The competition continues this Saturday starting at 8 am with the continuation of the preliminary round, while in the afternoon the quarterfinals and position matches will be played.

Men’s first day results:

CRC Daniel Dyner/Jhostin Varela d ESA Franklin Flores/Armando Guatemala 2-0 (21-13, 21-15), NCA Rubén Mora/Jefferson Cascante d ARU Eddy Toro/Gregory De La Cruz 2-0 (21-15, 21 -12), GUA Edgar Maldonado/Luis García d CAY Jesario Ebanks/Stephen Watson 2-0 (21-17, 21-14), GUA Franklin Flores/Armando d Robert Naarden/Keven Sporkslede 2-1 (15-21, 21 -16,15-11), MEX Ricardo Galindo/Isaías Aguirre d ARU Eddy Toro/Gregory De La Cruz 2-0 (21-17, 21-14), CAN Jake McNeil/Alexander Russell d CAY Jesario Ebanks/Stephen Watson 2 -0 (21-10, 21-7).

Women’s teams from the United States, Mexico and Cuba undefeated on the first day

Posted on

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, April 5, 2024.- The United States couples Savannah Simo/Abby Van Winkle and Hailey Harward/Kylie Kuyava-De Berg, the Cuban couple Amanda Armenteros/Maykelin Drik and the Mexicans Esperanza Albarrán/Evelyn Ramos They remained undefeated on the first day of competitions of the NORCECA Continental Beach Volleyball Tour Güibia 2024.

The Americans Hailey Harward/Kylie Kuyava-De Berg defeated the Canadians Kristina Vicek/Claire Crossfield 2-0 (21-12, 21-5) in their first match, and in the second match they defeated the Nicaraguans Socorro López/Lolette Rodríguez by 2-0 (21-14,21-10), while the other couple from the United States Savannah Simo/Abby Van Winkle beat Allanis Navas/María Rodríguez from Puerto Rico in their first match by 2-0 (22-20 , 21-13) and her second victory of the day was against Susana Torres/Yeray Vidaurrazaga of Mexico by 2-1 (21-15, 16-21,15-13).

The other pairs that also won their two matches were the Cubans Amanda Armenteros/Maykelin Drik who beat Kathya Vasquez/Daniela Vigil from El Salvador in the first match by 2-0 (21-11, 21-10), while In the second they beat the Dominicans Nallelin Taveras/Crismil Paniagua 2-1 (16-21, 21-15, 15-11) and the Mexicans Esperanza Albarrán/Evelyn Ramos who beat the Canadians Dana Roskic/Calinda Kok 2-1 (21-17, 18-21, 15-9) and Kianny Quesada/Ximena Núñez of Costa Rica 2-0 (21-11, 21-14).

This Saturday the preliminary round continues starting at 8 am and in the afternoon the quarterfinals and position matches will be played.

Women’s results day 1:

DOM Nallelin Taveras/Crismil Paniagua d SUR Zoureena Koningverander/Shaniva Balkaran 2-0 (21-15, 21-7), NCA Socorro López/Lolette Rodríguez d GUA Naomi Monney/Danna Aguilar 2-0 (21-11, 21-18 ), CRC Kianny Quesada/Ximena Núñez d CAY Deajra Tulloch/Ileann Powery 2-0 (21-13, 21-12), MEX Susana Torres/Yeray Vidaurrazaga d TTO Britney Choon/Tsyan Selvon 2-0 (21-12, 21 -17), ESA Kathya Vasquez/Daniela Vigil d SUR Zoureena Koningverander/Shaniva Balkaran 2-0 (21-8, 21-12), GUA Naomi Monney/Danna Aguilar d CAN Kristina Vicek/Claire Crossfield 2-1 (21-18 , 17-21, 15-12), CAN Dana Roskic/Calinda Kok d CAY Deajra Tulloch/Ileann Powery 2-0 (21-14, 21-8), PUR Allanis Navas/María Rodríguez d TTO Britney Choon/Tsyan Selvon 2 -0 (21-3, 21-8).

16 countries will compete in the 2024 Güibia NORCECA Tour

Posted on

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, April 4, 2024.- A total of 16 countries will be taking action at the first stop of the 2024 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour that will start this year in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

32 teams, 16 men and 16 women, confirmed their participation during the preliminary inspection held this Thursday seeking to advance from the preliminary group stage that begins this Friday at 8:00 am on the sand courts located on Güibia Beach in Santo Domingo .

The tournament consists of three days of competitions. On the first day of competition, 32 matches will be played, 16 matches per gender. The quarterfinals and semifinals will take place on Saturday and medal matches will be held on Sunday.

Teams:

Women’s Teams: CAN Roskic/Kok, Vicek/Crossfield; CAY Tulloch/Powery; CRC Quesada/Núñez; CUB Amanda/Drik; DOM Taveras/Paniagua; ESA Vasquez/Vigil; GUA Monney/Aguilar; MEX Albarrán/Ramos, Torres/Vidaurrazaga; NCA López/Lolette; PUR Navas/González; SOUTH Koningverander/Balkaran; TTO Choon/Selvon; USA Harward/DeBerg, Savvy/Van Winkle.

Men’s Teams: ARU Toro/De La Cruz; CAN Chambers/Abrams, McNeil/Russell; CAY Jesario/Watson; CRC Dyner/Varela; DOM De Jesús/Martínez, Rosario/Maldonado; ESA Flores/Guatemala; GUA Maldonado/García; MEX Galindo/Aguirre; NCA Mora/Cascante; SKN Morton/Clerique; SOUTH Naarden/Sporkslede; USA Brewster/Friend, Harrison/Cory; ISV Penberthy/Mayer.

Santo Domingo will host the First Event of the 2024 NORCECA Tour

Posted on

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, April 1, 2024. – The 2024 season of the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour will kick off at Güibia Beach on the Santo Domingo Pier in Dominican Republic.

The first stop of the 2024 NORCECA Tour in Güibia Beach will take place from April 5-7, featuring 32 teams (16 per gender) representing 15 countries from the Americas and the Caribbean. During the technical meeting scheduled for April 4, the official team registration and group distribution will be announced.

This is the first of three events leading up to the 2024 NORCECA Continental Tour Finals (May 11-15), which offers the opportunity to qualify for the NORCECA Continental Olympic Qualification Finals (June 19-24).

According to the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Paris 2024 Olympic Qualification System, in which it was established that a series of three (3) NORCECA Beach Tour Finals in 2022, 2023 and 2024, will qualify 12 National Federations per gender for the 2024 NORCECA Continental Beach Volleyball Olympic Qualification Finals foreseen to be held in the city of Tlaxcala, Mexico on June 19-24, 2024, and will qualify two teams (one per gender) for the Olympic Games.

At least seven dates are scheduled on the 2024 NORCECA Tour calendar: 2024 NORCECA Beach Tour

Díaz and Alayo win another Silver at a Beach Pro Tour Challenge event

Posted on

SAQUAREMA, Brazil, April 1, 2024. – The Cuban duo of Noslen Díaz and Jorge Luis Alayo secured the silver medal at the Challenge Beach Pro Tour World Beach Volleyball event held last weekend in Saquarema, Brazil, marking their second consecutive silver at this level.

The Cubans fought hard against hosts George Souto and Andre Loyola, who needed three sets (21-18, 17-21, 19-17) in the gold medal match.

Díaz and Alayo amassed five victories against two defeats, matching their outstanding performance from the previous week in Recife, where they also claimed a silver medal after losing in the final to a Brazilian pair (Evandro and Arthur).

The Cuban team began their journey to the final in elimination group B. They lost to hosts Vinicus Freitas and Frank Heitor (18-21, 14-21), but stayed alive by defeating Ukrainians Sergiy Popov and Eduard Reznik (19-21, 21-17, 15-12).

With a record of 1-1, they advanced to the round of 18 and defeated brothers Javier and Joaquín Bello, who represent Great Britain, in a 2-1 sets victory (21-18, 22-20).

In the round of 16, they won 2-1 (22-20, 19-21, 16-14) against renowned Brazilians Pedro Solberg and Gustavo Carvalhaes, advancing to the quarterfinals where they defeated Austrians Julian Hört and Alexander Horst 2-0 (21-14, 21-17).

**Saquarema Challenge – Final Results**

The next Challenge tournament of the season is set to take place in Guadalajara, Mexico, from April 11-14.

27 Successful at FIVB Beach Volleyball Course

Posted on

SCARBOROUGH, Trinidad and Tobago, March 29, 2024. – The Trinidad and Tobago Volleyball Federation (TTVF) announced the successful completion of the international Beach Volleyball Coaching Course at the Courland Beach Volleyball Facility, which took place from March 24-28 and was conducted by Mr. Rick Bevis a Professor at the Vancouver Island University in Canada with the support of the experienced local coach, Mr. David Thomas.

TTVF President, Daymian Stewart who chaired the closing ceremony expressed his delight and vision for the sport of beach volleyball in this country. The TTVF has a plan to qualify to the Brisbane Olympics in 2032. He also promised his former hometown more events including the growing Trinbago Beach Volleyball Tour and possibly a next continental Tour before year end at the new world class facility.

Stewart emphasized the importance of all stakeholders working together for the young people of our country and was thankful for the presence of the representatives of the Ministry of Sport and Community Development, SPORTT, Tobago House of Assembly and the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic committee.

SPORTT Board of Director Ms. Dianne Ruthlyn Antoine delivered positive greetings for the Minister of Sport and Community Development giving encouragement to the TTVF on its initiative.

THA’s Administrator Ms. Camille Trim of the Division of Community Development, Youth Development and Sport also addressed the ceremony and invited the TTVF to use the facility more.

Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee General Secretary Ms. Annette Knott presented some gifts to the instructors and also expressed her pleasure with the event and the vision of the TTVF.

Mr. Rick Bevis of Vancouver Island University, Canada, the instructor assigned by the international body FIVB was very complementary to the TTVF on its vision and could not resist expressing his willingness to return to help in executing the Beach Volleyball Development plans.

Twenty-Seven (27) of the candidates were successful in there practical and theoretical assessment. They received their certification during the closing ceremony. Thirteen (13) of the successful candidates were from Tobago, there were also two guest participants from Grenada and St. Vincent courtesy scholarships from the continental body NORCECA.

The TTVF express their gratitude to the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, The Tobago House of Assembly, E-IDCOT, Zen Sanctuary Condos, YMCA, FIVB, CAZOVA and NORCECA for all the support.

FIVB Beach Volleyball Course in Tobago

Posted on

SCARBOROUGH, Trinidad and Tobago, March 25th, 2024.- An international Beach Volleyball Coaching Course started on Sunday at the Courland Beach Volleyball Facility constructed for the 2023 Youth Commonwealth Games in Black Rock Tobago.

The course that has thirty (30) participants is organized by the Trinidad and Tobago Volleyball Federation (TTVF) and will conclude on March 28th kicked off with a small opening ceremony chaired by TTVF President, Daymian Stewart expressing the importance of this program to the TTVF’s strategic plan of the Trinidad and Tobago Volleyball Federation, which has as its major milestone the qualification for the 2032 Olympic Games Beach Volleyball in Brisbane.

Also, former NAAA’s boss and SPORTT Company member Mr. Ephraim Serrette greeted the participants and echoed the sentiments of President Stewart about the importance of this development work towards the achieving the desired goals of the federation.

TTOC General Secretary Ms. Annette Knott as the key speaker, welcomed this positive activity in her native Tobago and encouraged the continued use of the facility in Black Rock. She also disclosed that the Olympic movement is already in talks with the TTVF on a next development project for under 19 athletes from around the Caribbean.

FIVB Instructor Rick Bevis during practical session

The final speaker was Mr. Rick Bevis of Vancouver Island University, Canada, the instructor assigned by the international body FIVB. Mr. Bevis expressed his pleasure of attending this course in Tobago and he is happy to be given the opportunity to deliver his knowledge to eager coaches.

Also in attendance was World Cup footballer and THA representative Mr. Cyd Gray and Trinidad and Tobago Senior Beach Coach Mr. David Thomas serving as the assistant instructor.

The participants included two (2) foreigners on Scholarship from NORCECA from Grenada and St. Vincent and Seventeen (17) participants are from Tobago.

The course will close on Holy Thursday with a written and practical examination. The Minister of Sport and Community Development, the Honorable Shamfa Cudjoe-Lewis is expected to address the closing ceremony of the course held in her constituency.

The TTVF expresses its gratitude to the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, The Tobago House of Assembly, E-IDCOT, Zen Sanctuary Condos, YMCA, FIVB, CAZOVA and NORCECA for all the support.

Cuba and Canada win Silver in Recife Challenge Beach Pro Tour

Posted on

RECIFE, Brazil, March 25, 2024.- Cuba’s Jorge Alayo and Noslen Díaz and Canada’s Heather Bansley and Sophie Bukovec earned a silver medal on Sunday at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Recife Challenge tournament in Brazil.

Brazilians Evandro Gonçalves and Arthur Lanci took full advantage of their first home event in Recife, with a 2-0 (21-15, 21-18) win over Alayo and Díaz in front of a packed center court.

Alayo and Díaz earned their way to the finals winning 2-0 over Argentina’s Capogrosso/Capogrosso in the Round of 16, 2-0 against Canada’s Schachter/Dearing in quarterfinals and 2-0 over Bello/Bello from England in semifinals.

While in the women’s field, Latvia’s Anastasija Samoilova and Tina Graudina won the gold-medal match 2-0 (21-18, 21-17) over the Canadians tandem.

Canada came up from the qualifying round to have an almost perfect tournament, including a 2-0 win in semifinals over Ittlinger/Borger of Germany.

Many of the teams competing in Brazil are earning important points towards Paris 2024 Olympic berths. In each gender, 17 spots will be obtained through the Olympic ranking until the June 9 deadline and high-level Beach Pro Tour events offer points towards that ranking.

The battle to qualify for this summer’s Olympics is set to have another chapter in Brazil as the country will host another Beach Pro Tour Challenge event next week, with teams heading south to Saquarema, where they will compete from Thursday to Sunday.

Canada takes silver in Doha

Posted on

DOHA, Qatar, March 9, 2024.- Canada’s Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson take home a silver medal from the first Elite 16 of the year at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour stop in Doha,  and Sara Hughes alongside Kelly Cheng of the United States take the bronze.

Melissa & Brandie knocked out two powerful Brazilian pairs on the way to the final but stopped short of beating a third one Bárbara Seixas and Carol Salgado in the gold medal showdown. Seventh-seeded Barbara & Carol showed a solid performance against the fourth-seeded Canadians and mastered a 2-0 (21-18, 21-18) shutout to lift the trophy in the Qatari capital.

“It was a hard-fought week of great competition. It feels great to be back on tour playing against the best,” said Humana-Paredes. “We had a tough pre-season preparing for this, so we’re happy to see the things we worked on in action. A big team effort! Would have loved a better showing in the finals but the positive is we have a lot of good to take back home and work on.”

Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson

The field in Doha, Qatar, was packed with top-ranking teams. Canada is currently ranked fourth in the world.

Canada defeated number-one ranked Eduarda Santos Lisboa (Duda) & Ana Patricia Ramos of Brazil in the quarterfinals and then in the semis, Melissa/Brandie beat Anastasija Samoilova and Tina Graudina of Latvia 2-1 to advance.  

Hughes/Cheng of USA, reigning world champions who are already qualified for Paris 2024, won the bronze-medal match over Latvia’s Anastasija Samoilova & Tina Graudina on the way to a 2-0 (21-15, 21-18) sweep. For the reigning world champions, the Doha bronze was the pair’s first ever on the Beach Pro Tour. They also have five golds and a silver on their record.

Sara Hughes alongside Kelly Cheng of the United States


Beach volleyball rankings: https://en.volleyballworld.com/beachvolleyball/world-ranking/women

VW Beach Pro Tour Doha Elite16: all results

Clercent and Descartes rally to win gold in men’s play

Posted on

CASTRIES, St Lucia, February 25, 2024.- St. Lucia Team One, represented by Joseph Clercent and Sheldon Descartes were  required to come from a set down to take gold in the Men’s Final of Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association (ECVA) Senior Beach Volleyball Tournament here at the Cul de Sac Bay.

In an all St Lucia finale, Clercent and Descartes, beat the St Lucia Team Two, composed of Rio Victor and Darnell Eudoxie, 2-1 (14-21, 21-15, 15-4).

Experienced showed when it mattered most, as Clercent and Descartes, with their title on the line, kept their composure, clawing back after trailing.

They, thus played unbeaten in the Tournament, finishing with five wins.

Both Clercent and Descartes were happy that they were able to maintain their hold on the title, stating that their experienced counted.

“We have the experience, the knowledge and we have the game ethics, hence we were able to outpower them with our shots. We attacked them mentally and that broke down the younger players and we were able to capitalize on them”, Clercent assessed.

Meanwhile, Descartes is pleased that younger players are coming through.

“I like that we are seeing new talents coming through which means that more Volleyball is being played in those countries, hence, I am encouraging the young players to play Beach Volleyball, as it will help them in their indoor or court game”, Descartes said.

Before reaching the final, Clercent and Descartes had earlier in the day three, saw off St Lucia’s Team Three of Jevauny Roberts and Peter Emmanuel,  2-0(21-12, 21-11), as they dueled in the quarter finals.

They then had a 2-0 (21-16, 21-16) trumping  over the St Vincent and the Grenadines duo of  Jamaar Cropper and Ronaldo Franklyn, in the semi-finals.

Meanwhile, Victor and Eudoxie beat Antigua and Barbuda’s Adrian Constant and Jamarie James 2-0 (21-19, 21-14) in their semifinal pairing. Before that, they overcame St Kitts and Nevis’ duo of  Elkreen Morton and Clerique Ward  2-1( 21-16, 18-21, 15-10) in the quarter final.

 In other quarter final results, Constant and James had a 2-0 ( 21-19, 21-14) win over Grenada’s  Darren Oxford and Isaac Nelson, while  Cropper/ Franklyn in combination beat Yahn Florent and Ray Robinson of Dominica 2-0(21-17, 21-11).

St Vincent and the Grenadines took the bronze medal, as Cropper and Franklyn outdid  Constant and James, 2-0 (21-16, 23-21)

The other teams that sought honours in the  tournament were Bermuda, Dominica Team Two, British Virgin Islands and Anguilla.

Grenada women mine ECVA gold at Cul de Sac

Posted on

CASTRIES, St Lucia, February 25, 2024.-  The pair of Thornia Mitchell and  Renisha Stafford took gold, as Grenada bossed the women’s segment of the Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association (ECVA) Senior Beach Volleyball Tournament here at the Cul de Sac Bay.

Mitchell and Stafford on day three of the tournament, kept their perfect record intact, defeating St Lucia’s  Team One of Chenoa Evans and Denila Prospere 2-1( 22-10, 17-21, 15-9) in the final to take the gold medal.

The  Grenadians thus avenged their loss in the 2023 final, as they fell to Evans and Prospere.

Commenting on the victory, Mitchell put it down to composure.

“ For us, it was about assuring each other. We were there for each and pushed ourselves”, she outlined.

Noting that it was always their ambition to be at the top of the podium, Mitchell related, “We came here with the main intention to execute and that is what we did. We are proud of ourselves. This a moment for us and for Grenada to win an ECVA title. It is a dream come true”.

En route to the final, Mitchell and Stafford won 2-0( 21-17 , 21-17) over Bermuda’s Megan Hands and Hailey Moss in the semifinals and overcame Saquanna Duncan and Shanadia Sylvester of St Vincent and the Grenadines 2-0( 21-9, 21-16 )) ,

On the other hand, Evans and Propere beat Dominica’s Zahidu  Henry and Nyla Edmund  21-9, 21-5 in the semifinals. This after they had taken care of  Antigua’s pair of  Sharifa Simmons and Jassania Joseph 2-0 ( 21-9, 21-13) in the quarter finals.

The other quarter finals saw Henry and Edmund  outlasting Tenayshestigni Joseph and Clio Phillip, representing St Lucia Team Two 2-1 (21-12, 19-21, 18–16) in their match up, while Hands and  Moss defeated St Kitts and Nevis’ Shanella and Shania Harris 2-1(21-9, 11-21, 16-14).

Also,  on day three, the British Virgin Island’s team of  Zoe Richards and Makalia Powell defeated  Anguilla’s  Deandra Flemming  and Lavesha Richardson  2-0( 21-16, 21-10), in the match to determine the ninth and tenth places.

And, Dominica’s Henry/ Edmund  took bronze defeating Bermuda’s Hands/ Moss 2-0 (21-11, 21-17).

St Lucia Team One and Grenada perfect in Women’s title race

Posted on

CASTRIES, St Lucia, February 24, 2024.-  St Lucia Team One, represented by Chenoa Evans and Denila Prospere and the Grenadian pair of Thornia Mitchell and Renisha Stafford, head into the quarter finals of the Women’s segment of the Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association (ECVA) Senior Beach Volleyball Tournament here at the Cul de Sac Bay, undefeated.

After day two, Evans and Prospere  led Group A with 4:0 win/loss ratio, with Mitchell and Stafford also having four wins from as many matches, to top Group A , at the end of the preliminary round.

In day two action, Evans and Prospere beat Saquanna Duncan and Shanadia Sylvester of St Vincent and the Grenadines 2-0( 21-15, 21-13)) , but were taken to three sets by Dominica’s Zahidu Henry and Nyla Edmund, winning 2-1(21-8, 17-21, 15-12)

Mitchell and Stafford were more clinical in their two matches on the day, registering 2-0 wins over Anguilla’s  Deandra Flemming  and Lavesha Richardson  21-14, 21-7, as well as the St Kitts pair of Shanella and Shania Harris, 21-5, 21-9.

Other results from day two, St Lucia Team Two,  of Tenayshestigni Joseph and Clio Phillip beat Antigua’s Sharifa Simmons and Jassania Joseph 2-0 (21-10, 21-12), as well as the Harris’ of St Kitts, 2-0( 22-20, 21-14)

St Vincent and the Grenadines’ Duncan and Sylvester won their first match, beating the British Virgin Islands’ pair of Zoe Richards and Makalia Powell 2-0 ( 21-13, 21-14)

Richards and Powell were also beaten by Bermuda’s Megan Hands and Hailey Moss 2-0 (21-10, 21-14) . The combination of Hands and Moss also had  a 2-0 ( 23-21, 21-15) triumph over Dominica’s Henry and Edmund.

And, Simmons and Joseph saw off Flemming and Richardson, 21-15, 21-11, to record their lone win.

The quarter finals pairings see St Lucia Team One versus Antigua and Barbuda; Bermuda faces St Kitts and Nevis, with Grenada taking on St Vincent and the Grenadines and Dominica meets St Lucia Team Two.

The minor place pits the British Virgin Islands and Anguilla in a battle for the ninth and tenth position.

Meanwhile, the semifinals match ups show the winner between St Lucia Team One meeting the winner of the Dominica versus St Lucia Two match , and the winner of the St Vincent and the Grenadines versus Grenada encounter, faces either Bermuda or St Kitts and Nevis.

The winners of the semifinals advance to the gold medal match and the losers in the third place.

Grand stand finish looms as Men chase ECVA title

Posted on

CASTRIES, St Lucia, February 24, 2024.- A grand stand finish looms as quarter finalists in the Men’s segment of the Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association (ECVA) Senior Beach Volleyball Tournament here at the Cul de Sac Bay, have been decided, after eight matches that were completed on day two.

St Kitts and Nevis winners of Group A, will face off against St Lucia Team Two , while St Lucia Team One,  who took Group B will oppose St Lucia Team Three.

Group C winners- St Vincent and the Grenadines  will take on  Dominica  Team One and  Grenada, winners of Group D faces Antigua and Barbuda.

In the final set of group matches, St Kitts and Nevis pair of Elkreen Morton and Clerique  Ward  beat Dominica’s  Yahn Florent and Ray Robinson 2-0 ( 21-17, 21-13) to maintain their unbeaten run.

But a little more challenge was on offer for the St Lucia Team One of Sheldon Descartes and Joseph Clercent who had to dig deep to ward off  Bermuda’s Kyle  Hamilton and Benjamin  Barnett 2-1( 21-8, 27-29, 15-9)  to also register their second win in as many matches.

To top Group C, St Vincent and the Grenadines pair of Jamaar Cropper and Ronaldo Franklyn had a hard -fought 2-0 ( 21-17, 23- 21) triumph over Antigua and Barbuda’s Adrian Constant and  Jamarie James, with Darron Oxford and Isaac Nelson of Grenada comfortably defeating  Anguilla’s Aiden Hazzard  and Da’ Qwan Fredericks 2-0( 21-11, 21-15).

It was Anguilla’s second loss for the day, as they were beaten by St Lucia’s Team Three of Jevauny Roberts and Peter Emmanuel, 2-0 ( 21-14, 21-16)

In the play offs to decided the other quarter finalists Rio Victor and Darnell Eudoxie of St Lucia Team Two ousted the Dominica Team Two combination of Bill Frederick and  Mervin Mingo 2-1 ( 21-15, 17-21, 15-12)

Antigua and Barbuda’s Constant and James, overcame Bermuda’s Hamilton and Barnett 2-0 (21-18, 21-19) and Dominica’s Florent and Robinson Anguilla’s Hazzard  and Fredericks 2-0( 21-9, 21-14).

Also advancing from the play off was St Lucia Team Three represented by Jevauny Roberts and  Peter Emmanuel. They beat the British Virgin Islands’ J’adon George and Jose Ramirez 2-0( 21-12, 21-13).

The semifinals will feature the winner between St Lucia Team Two and  St Kitts and Nevis versus either Antigua and Barbuda or Grenada, and the winners of the  St Lucia Team One versus St Lucia Team Three, against the St Vincent and the Grenadines/ Dominica duel.

A mouth- watering final pits the winners of the semi-finals, while the losers battle for the consolation third place.

Honours even in Men’s play on day one

Posted on

CASTRIES, St Lucia, February 23, 2024:  Honours were even on day one of the Men’s segment of the Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association (ECVA) Senior Beach Volleyball Tournament here at the Cul de Sac Bay.

Spreading across all four groups, seven matches were decided, with five registered 2-0 wins, while  two needed a third set.

In  Group B, defending pair, Joseph Clercent and Sheldon Descartes beat Dominica Team Two representatives, Mervin Mingo and Bill Frederick, 2-0 (21-14, 21-8).

Also,  in Group B, Bermuda’s  Kyle Hamilton and Benjamin Barnett defeated Mingo and Fredrick, 2-1(16-21, 21-8, 15-13).

The tale was similar in Group A, as St Kitts and Nevis’ Elkreen Morton and Cleric Ward stopped the British Virgin Islands’ duo of J’adon George and  Jose Ramirez 2-0 (21- 6, 21-6).

Then, Yahn Florent and Ray Robinson, who formed Dominica’s Team One, had a comfortable 2-0 ( 21-5, 21-4) triumph over George and Ramirez.

Likewise, Group C hosted two matches. St Vincent and the Grenadines’  Jamaar Cropper and Ronaldo Franklyn defeated St Lucia Team Two’s Darnell Rio Victor  and Darnell Eudoxie 2-1( 20-22, 21-17, 15-13).

However, Victor and Eudoxie rebounded to go past Jamarie James and Adrian Constant 2-0 ( 25-23, 21-16).

And, the lone match in Group D, saw Grenada’s Darron Oxford and Isaac Nelson, recording a 2-0( 23-21, 21-13) trumping at the expense of St Lucia Team Three’s  Jevauny Roberts and Peter Emmanuel.

Day Two  Group Fixtures

Group A:  Morton/ Ward vs Florent/ Robinson

Group B: Hamilton/ Benjamin vs Descartes/ Florent

Group C: James/ Constant vs Cropper/ Franklyn

Group D: Roberts/ Emmanuel vs Aiden Hazzard / Da’ Qwan Fredericks( Anguilla)

Hazzard/ Fredericks vs Oxford/ Nelson

Following the remainder of matches in the Group stage, the second and third places in the four groups will duel for four quarter final places.

The winners of the group advance directly to the quarter finals.

Four women’s duos steady on day one in St Lucia

Posted on

CASTRIES, St Lucia, February 23, 2024:  St Lucia Team One, St Kitts and Nevis, Dominica and Grenada Women’s outfits, left day one of the  Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association (ECVA) Senior Beach Volleyball Tournament here at the Cul de Sac Bay, with two wins under their belts.

The St Lucian pair of Denila Prospere and Chenao Evans, beat Zoe Richards and Makalia Powell of the British Virgin Islands 2-0 ( 21-13, 21-11), before ousting Bermuda’s Megan Hands/ Hailey Moss, 2-0 ( 21-9, 21-14).

Also,  in Group A,  Dominica’s Zahidu Henry and Nyla Edmund, defeated the British Virgin Islands’ pair of Richards and Powell,  2-0 (21-10, 21-19), then handed a  2-0(21-16, 21-15) defeat to Vincentians Shanadia Sylvester and Saquanna Duncan.

Meanwhile, St Kitts and Nevis and Grenada recorded their double wins in Group B.

The St Kitts and Nevis’ duo of Shanella Harris/ Shania Harris,  defeated Antigua and Barbuda’s ,  Jassania Joseph and Sharifa Simmons,  2-0 (21-13, 21-6), as well as Anguilla’s Deandra Flemming  and Lavesha Richardson 2-0 ( 21-18, 21-15).

Likewise, Grenada’s Thornia Mitchell and Renisha Stafford beat St Lucia Team Two, comprising Jemima Evans and Clio Phillip, 2-0 (21-14, 21-17),  then continued their winnings ways over Antigua’s Joseph and Simmons, also 2-0 (21-13, 21-12).

In other day one results, Bermuda beat St Vincent and the Grenadines 2-0 (21-13, 21-12) and St Lucia Team Two defeated Anguilla,  2-0 (21-15, 21-13).

Group A fixtures for day two: Bermuda vs British Virgin Islands, St Vincent and the Grenadines vs St Lucia Team One, Bermuda vs Dominica, St Vincent and the Grenadines vs British Virgin Islands, and St Lucia vs Dominica.

And, Group B matches pit St Lucia Team Two vs St Kitts and Nevis, Grenada vs Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda vs St Lucia Team Two, St Kitts and Nevis vs Grenada and Anguilla versus Antigua and Barbuda.

ECVA host biggest Beach Tournament

Posted on

CASTRIES, St Lucia, February 22, 2024: Twelve men’s teams and  ten women’s  teams battle for  supremacy  in the 2024 Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association (ECVA) Senior Beach Volleyball Tournament here at the Cul de Sac Bay.

Twelve teams are slotted in the Men’s segment. In Group A are St Kitts and Nevis, Dominica and the British Virgin Islands. Making up Group B are St Lucia Team One, Bermuda and Dominica Team Two, with St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Lucia Team Three, along with Antigua and Barbuda, composing Group C. And, completing the lot, are Grenada, Anguilla and St Lucia Team Three, are stashed in Group D.

Meanwhile, the women’s teams have been placed into two groups. In Group A are St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Lucia Team One, the British Virgin Islands, Dominica and Bermuda.  Comprising Group B are duos representing St Lucia Team Two, Grenada, Anguilla, St Kitts and Nevis and Antigua and Barbuda.

St Lucia trumped both segments in 2023, when sixteen teams contested for honours. The pair of Sheldon Descartes and Joseph Clercent beat the St Kitts and Nevis’ St Clair Hodge and Shawn Seabrookes, in straight sets, 2-0 in the final.

In the women’s title match, Denila Prospere and Chenao Evans kept the Grenadian duo of  Thornia Mitchell and Renisha Stafford, at bay, to win 2-1.

And, the defending champions are more than confident of retaining their titles.

The seasoned Clercent, underscored that whenever he enters the court, he has one aim and that is to win.

 “ We are going out their to do our best … When we go out to play Volleyball, we go out to play and win”, Clercent commented.

Likewise, Chenao Evans believes she and Prospere have what it takes to take the gold medal again.

“ We are seeing some new faces who were not here last year, but winning is always what is first and foremost on our minds… My partner and I are confident of coming out on top once more and with the home support we can do it.

The format of the men’s category sees the tops in each of the four groups earning direct places to the quarter finals, whilst the other eight will engage in play offs for the other four spots.

Among the women, the top four teams in each group head to the quarter- finals, whilst the fifth places will vie for the ninth and tenth spots.

Eight matches are carded for the opening day in men’s play, while ten are to be decided among the women.

The playing days for the tournament are February 23 to 25.

2024 Volleyball Canada Beach National Teams

Posted on

TORONTO, Ontario, January 19, 2024.- Volleyball Canada’s 2024 National Beach Volleyball Team includes the world’s number four-ranked duo of Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson. Rounding out the senior carded athletes are two-time Olympian Sarah Pavan (who plays on the tour with Molly McBain) and 2022 World silver medalist Sophie Bukovec, who plays on the tour with Heather Bansley, another two-time Olympian.

On the men’s side, Canada’s top-ranked team is Sam Schachter (2016 Olympian) and Dan Dearing.

The athletes listed below make up the 2024 Canadian Beach Volleyball Team.

In May 2024, approximately 28 additional Beach National Team Summer Program athletes (16 men and 12 women) will be selected for four months of carding. 

Teams play on the Beach Pro Tour and/or the NORCECA Tour. Canada will host a Beach Pro Tour stop Elite 16 event in Montreal late this summer; and a Futures event in Halifax, NS, in late August.

Canada’s Olympic team will not be confirmed until mid-summer.

For Paris 2024, the winners of the World Championships have already qualified, as well as the host nation (France). The international race for the remaining Olympic spots started at the beginning of 2023 and is about to heat up in 2024 when 17 duos per gender secure spots under the Eiffel Tower through the Olympic Ranking, based on each pair’s best 12 performances in qualifying events between January 1, 2023 and June 10, 2024. Meanwhile, another five teams per gender will make the cut as winners of the five Continental Olympic tournaments, which are scheduled between June 13 and 23.
 
Senior National Team Carded
Sarah Pavan (Kitchener, ON)
Melissa Humana-Paredes (Toronto, ON) 
Brandie Wilkerson (Toronto, ON)              
Sophie Bukovec (Toronto, ON)

Full-Time Training Carded (Senior B/Next Gen)
Women
Molly McBain (Toronto, ON)
Heather Bansley (Waterdown, ON)
Lea Monkhouse (Mississauga, ON)
Marie-Alex Bélanger (Saint-Alphonse-Rodriguez, QC)
Amy Ozee (Maui, HI, USA)
Anna Licht (Toronto, ON)
Men
Sam Schachter (Richmond, Hill, ON)
Daniel Dearing (Toronto, ON)
Alexander Russell (Surrey, BC)
Jake MacNeil (Georgetown, ON)
Tynan Gannett (Dartmouth, NS)
Arran Chambers (Edmonton, AB)
Steven Abrams (Georgetown, ON)
Luke de Greeff (Victoria, BC)

2024 In Focus: Race For Olympic Spots Under Eiffel Tower About To Heat Up

Posted on

With only the world champions already qualified for Paris 2024, 23 spots per gender are still up for grabs.

The 2024 beach volleyball season is set to heat up from 27 July to 10 August, when the Olympic Games Paris 2024 tournaments will be held at the iconic Eiffel Tower Stadium, where a temporary outdoor arena will provide an exceptional setting for participants and spectators alike.

Beach volleyball will mark its eighth appearance at the Olympic Games, having first captivated audiences during its debut at the Atlanta 1996. The formula for the beach volleyball tournament at Paris 2024 will remain the same as in Tokyo 2020.

Women’s 2023 World Champion Kelly Cheng

While the two teams (one per gender) to represent the host nation France are yet to be announced, only two duos have already qualified to compete at Paris 2024 after topping the podium at the 2023 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships in Mexico. These are Czechia for the men’s tournament earned by the 2023 world champions Ondrej Perusic and David Schweiner and USA on the women’s side earned by the women’s 2023 World Champions Sara Hughes and Kelly Cheng.

David Schweiner ecstatic about his team’s first Olympic win at Tokyo 2020

A total of 24 teams per gender will compete at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, with a maximum of two teams per gender per country.

The race for the remaining vacancies started at the beginning of 2023 and is about to heat up in 2024 when it will climax with 17 duos per gender booking their spots under the Eiffel Tower through the Olympic Ranking, based on each pair’s best 12 performances in qualifying events between 1 January 2023 and 10 June 2024. Meanwhile, another five teams per gender will make the cut as winners of the five Continental Olympic tournaments, set to be held between 13 and 23 June.

While the final list of teams qualifying for Paris 2024 through the Olympic Ranking will not be confirmed until June 10, several prominent teams are strong contenders. The likes of Tokyo 2020 Olympic champions Anders Mol and Christian Sorum of Norway and reigning European champions David Ahman and Jonatan Hellvig of Sweden, who are currently leading the men’s chart, will be in the running. On the women’s side, World Championship silver medallists Eduarda Santos Lisboa (Duda) and Ana Patricia Ramos of Brazil and the highly ranked American pairing of Taryn Kloth and Kristen Nuss, currently heading the women’s chart, are in a strong position for qualification.

It is important to note that, as a general principle, quota places are allocated to the respective National Olympic Committees and not directly to the athletes or teams that earned them.

In each gender, the 24 qualified teams will be split into six single round-robin pools of four for the first stage of the Olympic tournament in Paris. The six pool winners, the six pool runners-up and the two best ranked third-placed teams will enter the single-elimination playoffs that then lead to the medal matches on the last competition day directly from the round of 16, while the remaining four third-placed teams will move on to a “lucky loser” playoffs to decide the 2 winning teams advancing to the round of 16.

Beach volleyball qualification system for Paris 2024

2024 In Focus: The Third Season Of The Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Beginning Soon!

Posted on

The race for spots at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 will highlight the first half of the year.

After two successful seasons in 2022 and 2023, the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour is soon to get its third one underway. As in the previous editions, the three levels of the Beach Pro Tour will spread beach volleyball fever all over the world, with plenty of opportunities for top-calibre players and aspiring athletes alike to join in on the action and test themselves against their opponents.

Just like the full 2023 season, the first half of the 2024 season, until 10 June, will continue to offer valuable points towards the race for Olympic tickets to Paris 2024, and just like in 2021, a tournament in Ostrava, Czechia, this time an Elite16 event, will be the last one to count towards the Olympic rankings. At the end of this, the 17 teams per gender to qualify for the Olympic Games in France via the FIVB Olympic Rankings will be known. For information on the full qualification process for the Olympic Games beach volleyball competition, please click here.

The unique venue in Czechia’s third largest city also hosted the 4-star tournament in the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour in 2021, which saw a dramatic turn of events in the fight for places at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. Kerri Walsh Jennings and her partner Brooke Sweat lost their qualification match to the then new and relatively unknown Dutch pairing of Katja Stam and Raisa Schoon. That allowed another up-and-coming team, Sarah Sponcil and Kelly Cheng (then Claes), to book a last-minute ticket to Tokyo 2020 as the second qualified American pair, instead of Walsh and Sweat. That sensational win over Walsh and Sweat also set the beginning of Stam and Schoon’s incredible story that also led them to the Games in Tokyo.

Katja Stam spikes above Kerri Walsh’s block at Ostrava 2021 4-star tournament

While the full 2024 Beach Pro Tour calendar is being adapted to optimise the number of events and their geographical distribution, it is already clear that there will be at least eight Elite16 and eight Challenger tournaments.

The Finals will be held in Doha, Qatar again from 5 to 8 December, 2024. Doha will also host an Elite16 event in early March, keeping alive the tradition of hosting two events per season, which started with a Challenge tournament and the Finals in 2022, and an Elite16 stop and the Finals in 2023.

Later in March, Brazil will welcome two Challenge events. The Beach Pro Tour will pay a first visit to Recife, its first world-level competition since 1996, and will then return to Saquarema, which hosted the Beach Pro Tour in 2023 as well.

Celebrations during the Saquarema Challenge 2023 award ceremony

April’s calendar includes two stops in Mexico and one in China – the Tour will visit Guadalajara for the first time for a Challenge stop before returning to Tepic for an Elite16 tournament, the second in the western Mexican town, after 2023. In late April, the Chinese city of Xiamen will host a Challenge tournament, its first Beach Pro Tour event, after hosting regular high-level World Tour stops from 2013 to 2019.

A European leg of one Challenge and five Elite16 tournaments will take place from late May till late August, before and after the Olympic Games in Paris. It will start in Portugal, with the Elite16 event from 22-26 May.

The Beach Pro Tour will then hold its first event, a Challenge tournament, in the iconic Polish village of Stare Jablonki, which hosted several World Tour Grand Slam and Open stops from 2004 to 2014, as well as the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships in 2013.

2013 world champion Xue Chen of China is likely to compete in Stare Jablonki again 10 years later

After Ostrava in June, the Beach Pro Tour will visit two more iconic European venues in July before the start of the Games in Paris. One is Gstaad in Switzerland, which has been a regular host of world-level events since 2000, including the 2007 World Championships. The other host city is Vienna in neighbouring Austria, which set the stage for the 2017 World Championships, 5-star tournaments in 2018 and 2019, and the CEV European Championships in 2021 and 2023.

After Paris 2024, the Beach Pro Tour will stay in Europe for one more Elite16 stop in Hamburg, a hub of beach volleyball in Germany. The city hosted the European Championships back in 2008, one of the Majors on the FIVB World Tour in 2016, the World Tour Finals in both 2017 and 2018, the World Championships in 2019 and two Elite16 events in 2022 and 2023 (pictured in the main photo).

The last Elite16 stop of the year is set to be at the end of August in Montreal, Canada. The Canadian city organised numerous World Tour Open events during the first decade of the century and returned to the world beach volleyball stage with its first Elite16 tournament in 2023.

Packed stands in Montreal during the Elite16 tournament in 2023

In October, the Beach Pro Tour will once again visit Brazil for a Challenge stop in Joao Pessoa, which hosted the last Elite16 tournament in 2023.

Finally, in late November and early December, before the Finals in Doha, Challenge tournaments will take place in India, and in the Philippines, which will host its second high-level event again in Nuvali, where the last Challenge stop of 2023 also took place.

Beach Pro Tour 2024 – official website

2024 Beach Pro Tour Calendar

USA’s Megan Kraft and Terese Cannon Win NORCECA Tour 2023 Finals

Posted on

JUAN DOLIO, Dominican Republic, December 17, 2023. – Megan Kraft and Terese Cannon from the United States won the 2023 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Continental Tour Finals defeating Canada’s Sarah Pavan and Molly McBain 2-1 (21-16, 14-21, 15-11) in the gold medal match at Juan Dolio, Dominican Republic.

Megan and Terese needed 53 minutes to celebrate their first-ever NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour in great style.

The American duo was aggressive in the first set, taking an early lead of 13-7. Roles switched in the second set, as Pavan and McBain found stability in their serve and rushed to a 10-5 lead, forcing the tie-break. In the tie-break, Cannon avoided Pavan’s block, allowing them to be more tactical.

“It was really windy in the beginning of the game, and we served really well. Also, our side out was cleaner,” said Megan. “Canada served better in the second set. In the third set the wind died, so it was more a classic game, we trusted our side out and we served as tactically as we could” she added.

Terese said “It was a good match, there was a lot of back and forth like Megan said. They are a really good team, they know us well, we play them all the time, so it was exciting volleyball”.

In the semifinals, Kraft and Cannon also went to three sets, earning battled 2-1 (21-19, 18-21, 16-14) victory against María González/Allanis Navas from Puerto Rico. On the other hand, Pavan and McBain easily defeated Valentina López/Kianny Quesada from Costa Rica 2-0 (21-9, 21-13).

González/Navas won the bronze medal easily dominating López/Quesada 2-0 (21-6, 21-10). González and Navas won the silver medal in the 2022 NORCECA Finals, and they are ending this NORCECA 2023 season with a total of four medals, winning two gold medals (Cayman Islands, Punta Cana) and one silver medal in San Salvador.

Women’s Results Sunday:

GOLD MEDAL Megan Kraft/Terese Cannon USA d Sarah Pavan/Molly McBain CAN 2-1

BRONZE MEDAL María González/Allanis Navas PUR d Valentina Molina/Quesada CRC 2-0 (21-6, 21-10)

SEMIFINALS USA d PUR 2-1 (21-19, 18-21, 16-14); CAN d CRC 2-0 (21-9, 21-13)

POSITIONS POS 5 MEX d CUB 2-1 (15-21, 21-12, 16-14); POS 7 DOM d NCA 2-0 (21-14, 21-13); POS 9 GUA d CAY 2-1 (21-13, 19-21, 15-8); POS 11 ISV d ESA 2-1 (21-13, 19-21, 15-8); POS 13 PAN d TTO (forfeit team B); QF LOSERS MEX d DOM 2-0 (21-8, 22-20); CUB d NCA 2-0 (21-9, 21-13)

Cubans Díaz and Alayo Champions of NORCECA Finals in rematch against Schacter and Dearing

Posted on

JUAN DOLIO, Dominican Republic, December 17, 2023. – Cubans Noslen Díaz and Jorge Alayo got  their revenge against Canada’s Samuel Schachter and Daniel Dearing with a 2-0 (24-22, 22-20) victory, claiming the championship title of the 2023 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Continental Tour Finals in Juan Dolio, Dominican Republic.

The duo of Noslen Díaz and Jorge Alayo concluded the NORCECA Tour 2023 with a bronze medal in Varadero and this gold medal.

In the NORCECA 2022 Finals, Díaz and Alayo fell to Schachter and Dearing, but this year, they achieved their anticipated victory, coming from behind in the first set by a four-point deficit (11-16). Díaz serves and Alayo’s block allowed them to level the score at 20 and again at 22.

In the second set, with some raindrops, the Cubans led 20-18, but Daniel, with his attack and block, leveled the score at 20. However, Díaz and Alayo prevailed with a strong serve and a Canadian unforced error.

“It was great that we reached the final again with them; now we are 1-1”, expressed Noslen Díaz. “We started behind, and I think our power in serving made the difference, allowing us to take control of the match” he underlined.

Jorge Alayo said, “I thank Noslen and the entire coaching staff who supported us throughout the year. This was a great match to get revenge from last year. There was a lot of emotion; we fought for every point and gave a good spectacle”.

Alayo and Díaz advanced to the gold medal match by defeating Rubén Mora/Jefferson Cascante of Nicaragua 2-0 (21-9, 21-14) in semifinals, while Schachter/Dearing beat Miles Partain/Andrew Benesh of the United States 2-0 (21-16, 21-19).

In the bronze medal match, Partain/Benesh defeated Mora/Cascante 2-0 (21-16, 21-9), winning their first NORCECA Beach Tour medal.

Men’s Results Sunday:

GOLD MEDAL Noslen Díaz/Jorge Alayo CUB d Samuel Schachter/Daniel Dearing CAN 2-0 (24-22, 22-20)

BRONZE MEDAL Miles Partain/Andrew Benesh USA d Rubén Mora/Jefferson Cascante NCA 2-0 (21-16, 21-9)

SEMIFINALS CAN d USA 2-0 (21-16, 21-19); CUB d NCA 2-0 (21-9, 21-14)

POSITIONS POS 5 MEX d PUR 2-0 (21-17, 29-27); POS 7 DOM d TTO 2-1 (22-20, 18-21, 15-9); POS 11 CRC d GUA 2-0 (21-13, 21-16); POS 9 ESA d ISV 2-0 (21-18, 21-15); POS 13 SKN d PAN (forfeit team B); POS 15 VIN d ARU 2-0 (21-17, 21-17); QF LOSERS MEX d TTO 2-0 (21-10, 21-15); PUR d DOM 2-1 (21-23, 21-18, 15-11)

Costa Rica, Canada, Puerto Rico and USA Women Final Four at NORCECA Finals

Posted on

JUAN DOLIO, Dominican Republic, December 16, 2023. – Costa Rica, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the United States are the four finalists in the women’s tournament of the NORCECA Beach Volleyball  Continental Tour Final in Juan Dolio, Dominican Republic.

The semifinals will take place on Sunday between Maria Navas/Allanis Navas of Puerto Rico and Megan Kraft/Terese Cannon of the United States, and Valentina Molina/Kianny Quesada of Costa Rica against Canadians Sarah Pavan/Molly McBain.

Costa Rica’s duo of Valentina Molina/Kianny Quesada, advanced to semifinals defeating the Nicaragua’s Socorro López and Lolette Rodríguez 2-0 (21-11, 21-17).

Kianny Araya of Costa Rica

Earlier, the “Ticas” had finished the preliminary round as second in pool B behind Americans Megan Kraft and Terese Cannon, while López/Lolette finished at the top of pool A after a 2-0 (21-19, 21-16) victory against Dominicans Paniagua/Tavares.

Sarah Pavan and Molly McBain of Canada dominated their quarterfinal match against Amanda Armenteros/Maykelin Drik of Cuba 2-0 (21-16, 21-16). Pavan/McBain had finished first in pool D with a victory over Atenas Gutiérrez and Abril Flores of Mexico 2-0 (21-3, 21-17).

Terese Cannon USA

Puerto Ricans María González and Allanis Navas started the day by winning pool C after defeating Daniela Vigil/Sofía Velásquez of El Salvador 2-0 (21-6, 21-9) and then they clinched their spot in the semifinals with a 2-0 (21-16, 21-11) victory over Gutiérrez/Flores (MEX) after recovering from a four-point deficit (4-8) in the first set.

Americans Megan Kraft and Terese Cannon were the last team to secure their spot in the semifinals after defeating Crismil Paniagua and Nallelin Tavares of the Dominican Republic.

In the classification matches for positions 9/12, Natalia Girón/Paola Alvarado of Guatemala defeated Vigil/Velásquez (ESA) 2-0 (21-18, 21-15), and Heather Thompson/Stefania Gandolfi of the Cayman Islands defeated Almeida-Anz/Buckner (ISV) 2-0 (21-18, 21-19).

María González of Puerto Rico

Women’s Results Saturday:

QUARTERFINALS Molina/Quesada CRC d López/Lolette NCA 2-0 (21-11, 21-17); Pavan/McBain CAN Amanda/Drik CUB 2-0 (21-16, 21-16); González/Navas PUR d Gutiérrez/Flores MEX 2-0 (21-16, 21-11); Kraft/Cannon USA Paniagua/Taveras DOM 2-0 (21-6, 21-9)

CLASSIF. 9/12 GUA d ESA 2-0 (21-18, 21-15); CAY d ISV 2-0 (21-18, 21-19); CLASSIF. 13/16 PAN d VIN (21-7, 21-15)

POOL A López/Lolette NCA d Paniagua/Taveras DOM 2-0 (21-19, 21-16)

POOL B Kraft/Cannon USA d Molina/Quesada CRC 2-0 (21-17, 21-10); N. Girón/Alvarado GUA d González/Urrunaga PAN 2-1 (18-21, 21-4, 15-9)

POOL C González/Navas PUR d Vigil/Velásquez ESA 2-0 (21-6, 21-9); Amanda/Drik CUB d Sylvester/Duncan VIN 2-1 (21-4, 21-4)

POOL D Pavan/McBain CAN d Gutiérrez/Abril MEX 2-0 (21-3, 21-17)

Nicaragua, Cuba, USA and Canada Men advance to Semifinals at the NORCECA Tour Finals

Posted on

JUAN DOLIO, Dominican Republic, December 16, 2023. – Nicaragua, Cuba, United States, and Canada advanced to the men’s semifinals of the NORCECA Continental Tour Beach volleyball Tour Finals in Juan Dolio, Dominican Republic.

Rubén Mora, alongside Jefferson Cascante of Nicaragua, will face Cuban tandem of Noslen Díaz and Jorge Alayo in Sunday’s semifinals. In the other semifinal, Miles Partain and Andrew Benesh of the United States will compete against the 2022 Tour Final champions, Samuel Schachter and Daniel Dearing of Canada.

Mora and Cascante booked their ticket to semifinals defeating the Dominican duo of Hayerling De Jesús/Oscar Martínez 2-0 (22-20, 21-13). In the morning, Mora/Cascante finished second in pool B with a 2-0 (21-5, 21-11) victory over Jamaar Cropper/Shadron Delpesche from St. Vincent.

Cuba’s Noslen Díaz and Jorge Alay started the day by finishing first in pool D with a comfortable 2-0 (21-9, 21-6) win against Cruz/Coutinho from Aruba. They then closed the day with a 2-0 (21-13, 21-15) quarterfinal victory against the Puerto Rican duo of Arnaldo Torres/William Rivera.

Rubén Mora NCA

Meanwhile, Americans Miles Partain and Andrew Benesh won their quarterfinals against Miguel Sarabia and Juan Virgen of Mexico 2-0 (21-18, 21-13). They had previously topped pool C with a 2-0 (21-17, 21-11) victory over the Guardado brothers from El Salvador.

Sarabia/Virgen (MEX) advanced to the quarterfinals as the second-place team in pool D after defeating Bucklin/Mayer from the U.S. Virgin Islands 2-0 (21-15, 21-16).

Canadians Samuel Schachter and Daniel Dearing faced a challenging match against Julian Araya/Stanley Grant of Costa Rica on Saturday, recovering from losing the first set 2-1 (19-21, 21-13, 15-13). However, they advanced to the semifinals with a 2-0 (21-15, 21-9) win against Enile/Theodore from Trinidad and Tobago.

In other results, the Guardado brothers (ESA) defeated Araya/Stanley (CRC) 2-0 (24-22, 22-20), and Bucklin/Bryce Mayer (ISV) won 2-0 (21-7, 21-12) against Izaguirre/García (GUA) in the classification matches for positions 9 to 12.

Daniel Dearing CAN

In the classification matches for positions 13 to 16, Clerique/Hodge (SKN) dominated 2-0 (21-15, 21-14) against Cropper/Delpesche (VIN), and Araúz/Del Cid (PAN) defeated De La Cruz/Jahim Coutinho (ARU) 2-0 (21-12, 21-16).

Men’s Results Saturday:

QUARTERFINALS Mora/Cascante NCA d De Jesús/Martínez DOM 2-0 (22-20, 21-13); Diaz/Alayo CUB d Torres/Rivera PUR 2-0 (21-13, 21-15); Partain/Benesh USA d Sarabia/Virgen MEX 2-0 (21-18, 21-13); Schacter/Deargin CAN d Enile/Theodore TTO 2-0 (21-15, 21-9)

CLASSIF. 9/12 ESA d CRC 2-0 (24-22, 22-20); ISV d GUA 2-0 (21-7, 21-12); CLASSIF. 13/16 SKN d VIN 2-0 (21-15, 21-14); PAN d ARU 2-0 (21-12, 21-16)

POOL A De Jesús/Martínez DOM Izaquirre/García L. GUA 2-0 (31-29, 21-11); Enile/Theodore TTO d Del Cid/Araúz PAN 2-0 (23-21, 21-18)

POOL B Schacter/Dearing CAN d Araya/Stanley CRC 2-1 (19-21, 21-13, 15-13); Mora/Cascante NCA d Cropper/Delpesche VIN 2-0 (21-5, 21-11).

POOL C Partain/Benesh USA d Guardado C./Guardado Y. ESA 2-0 (21-17, 21-11); Torres/Rivera PUR d Hodge/Clerique SKN 2-0 (21-11, 21-15)

POOL D Sarabia/Virgen MEX d Bucklin/Mayer ISV 2-0 (21-15, 21-16); Díaz/Alayo CUB d De La Cruz/Coutinho ARU 2-0 (21-9, 21-6)

Puerto Rico and USA Women with Successful opening at Juan Dolio NORCECA Finals

Posted on

JUAN DOLIO, Dominican Republic, December 15, 2023. – María González/Allanis Navas from Puerto Rico and Megan Kraft/Terese Cannon from the United States had a successful start in the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Continental Tour Finals that kicked off in Juan Dolio, Dominican Republic on Friday.

González/Navas, as well as Kraft/Cannon earned two victories in as many matches in pool C of the event, that grants ranking points for the NORCECA Olympic qualification for Paris 2024.

María and Allanis were decisive against Shanadia Sylvester and Saquanna Duncan from St. Vincent 2-0 (21-6, 21-6), and then defeated Cuba’s duo of Amanda Armenteros/Maykelin Drik 2-0 (21-16, 21-15).

In pool B, the United States duo of Megan Kraft and Terese Cannon, notched up two wins against Central American teams. First, they defeated Krisleen González and Iris Urrunaga from Panama 2-0 (21-11, 21-8), and then, with an emphatic 2-0 (21-3, 21-7), they outperformed Natalia Girón and Paola Alvarado from Guatemala.

Kianny Araya Quesada CRC

Kraft/Cannon will decide the top spot in their pool against Valentina Molina and Kianny Quesada from Costa Rica, who also started with two victories; 2-0 (21-15, 21-16) against Girón/Alvarado (GUA) and 2-0 (21-10, 21-4) against González/Urrunaga.

First place in pool A will be contested between Socorro López and Lolette Rodriguez from Nicaragua and Crismil Paniagua and Nallelin Tavares from the Dominican Republic.

López/Lolette dominated 2-0 (21-16, 21-13) against Cristina Almeida-Anz/Taylor Buckner from the U.S. Virgin Islands. Paniagua/Tavares also defeated the team of Almeida-Anz/Buckner, but in a challenging match of long rallies (24-22, 27-25).

Meanwhile, Atenas Gutiérrez and Abril Flores from Mexico opened with a convincing 2-0 (21-5, 21-9) against Heather Thompson/Stefania Gandolfi from Cayman Islands. Sarah Pavan and Molly McBain from Canada also defeated Thompson/Gandolfi 2-0 (21-4, 21-6).

Gutiérrez/Abril (MEX) and Pavan/McBain (CAN) will face each other on Saturday for the top spot in pool D.

The group stage will conclude on Saturday morning, followed by the quarterfinals and classification matches for positions 9 to 12.

Women’s Results Friday

POOL A: López/Lolette NCA d Almeida-Anz/Buckner ISV 2-0 (21-16, 21-13); Paniagua/Tavares DOM d Almeida-Anz/Buckner ISV 2-0 (24-22, 27-25)

POOL B: Molina/Quesada CRC d N. Girón/Alvarado GUA 2-0 (21-15, 21-16); Kraft/Cannon USA d González/Urrunaga PAN 2-0 (21-11, 21-8); Kraft/Cannon USA d N. Girón/Alvarado GUA 2-0 (21-3, 21-7); Molina/Quesada CRC d González/Urrunaga PAN 2-0 (21-10, 21-4)

POOL C: Amanda/Drik CUB d Vigil/Velásquez ESA 2-0 (21-14, 21-11); González/Navas PUR d Shanadia/Duncan VIN 2-0 (21-6, 21-6); González/Navas PUR d Amanda/Drik CUB 2-0 (21-16, 21-15); Vigil/Velásquez ESA d Shanadia/Duncan VIN 2-0 (21-15, 21-9)

POOL D: Gutiérrez/Flores MEX d Thompson/Gandolfi CAY 2-0 (21-5, 21-9); Pavan/McBain CAN d Thompson/Gandolfi CAY 2-0 (21-4, 21-6).

Canada, Cuba, USA and Dominicans start strong at NORCECA Beach Finals

Posted on

JUAN DOLIO, Dominican Republic, December 15, 2023.- The tandems of Canada, Cuba, the United States and Dominican Republic started strong the 2023 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Continental Tour Finals at Juan Dolio, Dominican Republic.

The NORCECA Tour Final awards ranking points as part of the NORCECA qualification system for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Canadians Samuel Schachter and Daniel Dearing, champions of the 2022 NORCECA Finals, started their campaign with a comfortable 2-0 victory (21-11, 21-9) against Jamaar Cropper and Shadron Delpesche from Saint Vincent in pool B. But then, they faced a tough battle against Nicaragua’s duo of Rubén Mora and Jefferson Cascante, winning 2-0 (23-21, 21-15).

Mora/Cascante (NCA) had previously celebrated a victory over Julian Araya and Stanley Grant from Costa Rica 2-0 (21-15, 21-19), who later defeated Cropper/Delpesche (VIN) 2-0 (21-15, 21-15).

Noslen Díaz and Jorge Alayo from Cuba had a productive day in pool D, earning two hard-fought victories. Diaz and Alayo opened with a demanding match, winning 2-0 (21-19, 22-20) against Garrett Bucklin/Bryce Mayer from the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Cuban duo then closed the first day of competition with a 2-0 (21-16, 21-16) victory over Miguel Sarabia and Juan Virgen.

Sarabia/Virgen had previously defeated Gregory De La Cruz/Jahim Coutinho from Aruba 2-0 (21-8, 21-8). Bucklin/Mayer (ISV) also defeated De La Cruz/Coutinho (ARU) 2-0 (21-9, 21-12).

USA’s Miles Partain and Andrew Benesh had no setbacks in pool C, with a 2-0 (21-14, 21-11) victory against Arnaldo Torres/William Rivera from Puerto Rico and a 2-0 (21-7, 21-9) win over Clerique Ward/St Clair Hodge from Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Puerto Rico earned a 2-0 (21-17, 21-18) victory against twin brothers Yoel and Christopher Guardado from El Salvador, who later defeated Clerique/Hodge (SKN) 2-0 (21-17, 21-18).

In pool A, Dominicans Hayerling De Jesús and Oscar Martínez secured their first victory in the tournament with a 2-0 (21-10, 21-15) win against Victor Araúz/Adamit Del Cid from Panama. They then took on Joel Theodore/Stephen Enile from Trinidad and Tobago, winning 2-0 (21-8, 21-9), who had earlier defeated José Miguel Izaguirre and Luis García from Guatemala in overtime 2-1 (21-18, 16-21, 15-11).

Izaguirre/García (GUA) claimed a 2-0 (21-16, 21-15) over Araúz/Del Cid (PAN).

The preliminary stage ends on Saturday morning, and the quarterfinal round will be held in the afternoon, as well as classification matches for positions 9 to 16.

Men’s Results Friday:

POOL A: Theodore/Enile TTO d Izaguirre/Luis García GUA 2-1 (21-18, 16-21, 15-11); De Jesús/Martínez DOM d Araúz/Del Cid PAN 2-0 (21-10, 21-15); De Jesús/Martínez DOM d Theodore/Enile TTO 2-0 (21-8, 21-9); Izaguirre/Luis García GUA d Araúz/Del Cid PAN 2-0 (21-16, 21-15)

POOL B: Mora/Cascante NCA d Araya/Stanley CRC 2-0 (21-15, 21-19); Schacter/Dearing CAN d Cropper/Delpesche VIN 2-0 (21-11, 21-9); Schacter/Dearing CAN d Mora/Cascante NCA 2-0 (23-21, 21-15); Araya/Stanley CRC d Cropper/Delpesche VIN 2-0 (21-15, 21-15)

POOL C: Guardado C./Guardado Y. ESA d Hodge/Clerique SKN 2-0 (21-17, 21-19); Partain/Benesh USA d Torres/Rivera PUR 2-0 (21-14, 21-11); Partain/Benesh USA d Hodge/Clerique SKN 2-0 (21-7, 21-9); Torres/Rivera PUR d Guardado C./Guardado Y. ESA 2-0 (21-17, 21-18)

POOL D: Diaz/Alayo CUB d Bucklin/Mayer ISV 2-0 (21-19, 22-20); Sarabia/Virgen MEX d De La Cruz/Coutinho ARU 2-0 (21-8, 21-8); Bucklin/Mayer ISV d De La Cruz/Coutinho ARU 2-0 (21-9, 21-12); Diaz/Alayo CUB d Sarabia/Virgen MEX 2-0 (21-16, 21-16)

Time for the NORCECA Tour 2023 Finals

Posted on

JUAN DOLIO, Dominican Republic, December 14, 2023. – It’s time for the 2023 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Continental Tour Finals at the Juan Dolio Beach, Dominican Republic, nearby to the Hotel Costa Caribe from December 15-17.

The NORCECA Tour Final is part of the Olympic qualification system for beach volleyball in NORCECA for Paris 2024, hence the significance of the event that brings together big names from the NORCECA Tour and the Volleyballworld Beach Pro Tour.

In men, Miles Partain and Andrew Benesh from the United States, ranked fourth in the world. Canadians Samuel Schachter and Daniel Dearing, defending champions from the 2022 Tour Final, and Cuba with Noslen Díaz/Jorge Alayo, who finished second, in addition to bronze this year in Varadero.

Miguel Sarabia and Juan Virgen from Mexico, winners of the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games, claimed gold at the third stage in Cayman Islands, they began the season in Aguascalientes with a silver medal and won bronze in San Salvador a week ago.

On the women’s side, current Central American and Caribbean champions, María González and Allanis Navas from Puerto Rico, silver medalists in the 2023 Tour Final, champions this year in the Cayman Islands and Punta Cana and finished second in San Salvador.

2019 world champion, Canada’s Sarah Pavan, joins Molly McBain, aiming to collect the most points in their Olympic qualification quest.

The tandem of Atenas Gutiérrez and Abril Flores from Mexico, winners of the first stage in Aguascalientes, are also here.

A total of seventeen countries (14 women’s teams and 16 men’s teams) will compete for valuable ranking points, divided into four pools per gender as follows:

Women’s Pools: POOL A Dominican Republic, U.S. Virgin Islands, Nicaragua; POOL B United States, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama; POOL C Puerto Rico, El Salvador, Cuba, St. Vincent; POOL D Canada, Mexico, Cayman Islands, TTO (forfeit).

Men’s Pools: POOL A Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Trinidad & Tobago, Panama; POOL B Canada, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, St. Vincent; POOL C United States, El Salvador, St. Kitts & Nevis, Puerto Rico; POOL D Mexico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Cuba, Aruba.

Women’s Teams

CANADA Sarah Pavan/Molly McBain; CAYMAN ISLANDS Heather Thompson/Stefania Gandolfi; COSTA RICA Valentina Molina/Kianny Araya Quesada; CUBA Amanda Armenteros/Maykelin Drik; DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Crismil Paniagua/Nallelin Tavares; EL SALVADOR Daniela Vigil/Sofía Velásquez; GUATEMALA Natalia Girón/Paola Alvarado; MEXICO Atenas Gutiérrez/Abril Flores; NICARAGUA Socorro López/Lolette Rodríguez; PANAMA Krisleen González/Iris Urrunaga; PUERTO RICO María González/Allanis Navas; ST VINCENT Shanadia Sylvester/Saquanna Duncan; UNITED STATES Megan Kraft/Terese Cannon; U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS Cristina Almeida-Anz/Taylor Buckner

Men’s Teams

ARUBA Gregory De La Cruz/Jahim Coutinho; CANADA Samuel Schachter/Daniel Dearing; COSTA RICA  Julian Araya/Stanley Grant; CUBA Noslen Díaz/Jorge Alayo; DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Hayerling De Jesús/Oscar Martínez; EL SALVADOR Christopher Guardado/Yoel Guardado; GUATEMALA José Miguel Izaguirre/Luis García; MEXICO Miguel Sarabia/Juan Virgen; NICARAGUA Rubén Mora/Jefferson Cascante; PANAMA Victor Araúz/Adamit Del Cid; PUERTO RICO Arnaldo Torres/William Rivera; ST KITTS & NEVIS Clerique Ward/St Clair Hodge; ST VINCENT Jamaar Cropper/Shadron Delpesche; TRINIDAD & TOBAGO Joel Theodore/Stephen Enile; UNITED STATES Miles Partain/Andrew Benesh; U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS Garrett Bucklin/Bryce Mayer

Cuban Duo takes Gold in Women’s Under-23 Beach

Posted on

JUAN DOLIO, Dominican Republic, December 14, 2023.- The Cubans Amanda Armenteros and Maykelin Drik defeated the Americans Sierra Caffo and Ella Larkin 2-0 (21-19, 21-18) in a tight match to win the gold in the NORCECA U-23 Beach Tournament that was played on the sand courts located on the beach of Juan Dolio, Dominican Republic.

The bronze medal game was won by the United States team Delayne Maple/Xolani Hodel over the Canada pair Katarina Pantovic/Erika Vermette 2-0 (21-11, 21-17).

The Costa Rican team composed of Valentina Molina/kianny Araya placed fifth after beating the Americans Alisa Gavva/Karolina Urbanovich 2-0 (21-16, 21-13).

Seventh place belonged to the Dominicans Crismil Paniagua/Nallelin Taveras, who beat the duo of Keiry Guzmán/Daniela Vigil from El Salvador 2-1 (21-15, 19-21, 15-11), while the duo of Kadderly Salazar /Yuliana Chávez of Nicaragua took ninth place, beating L’fe Roberts/Meeka Johnson (TTO) 2-0 (21-10, 21-15).

In eleventh position were Shanadia Unique/Saquanna Duncan (VIN) who defeated Lavesha Richardson/Deandra Fleming (AGU) 2-0 (21-18, 21-12).

Cuba Men Tops U-23 NORCECA Tournament

Posted on

JUAN DOLIO, Dominican Republic, December 14, 2023.- Jorge Alayo and Noslen Díaz of Cuba defeated the American duo of Tate Calles/Brendan Onishchenko 2-0 (21-15, 21-13) in the gold match to take top honors in the NORCECA U-23 Beach Volleyball Tournament that was held on the courts located on the beach of Juan Dolio, Dominican Republic.

The Bronze match was won by the Canadian team Tynan Gannett/Steven Abrams who beat Kyle Paulson/Sebastián Rodríguez (USA) 2-0 (21-18, 21-14).

The Costa Ricans Julián Araya/Stanley Grant defeated the brothers Yoel and Christopher Guardado of El Salvador 2-1 (21-19, 17-21, 15-9) to finish in fifth place, while the seventh place went to the Dominicans Rolvin Maldonado/Alexander Wilmore due to injury from the Saint Kitts team.

The ninth position was occupied by the duo of Javier Solís/Josué Meneses from Nicaragua who dispatched Jerome Morrison/Jahreef Miguel (TTO) 2-0 (21-12, 21-19) and in eleventh position were the Dominicans Elixander Gómez/Blendy Tavarez after defeating Gregory De La Cruz/Joshua Hoepelman of Aruba 2-1 (11-21, 21-18, 15-13).

The duo of Jamaar Cropper/Shadron Delpesche (VIN) beat Alexander Solovey/Thelion Coutinho (ARU) 2-0 (21-12, 21-12) to take thirteenth place.

In the match for position number 15, Braedon Cooke/Connor Somerville (BER) defeated Trevon Smith/Kaiden Proctor (AGU) 2-0 (21-15, 21-12).

Women’s duos from the United States advance to the Semifinals in the NORCECA U-23 Beach Tour

Posted on

JUAN DOLIO, Dominican Republic, December 13, 2023.- The pairs formed by Delayne Maple/Xolani Hodel and Sierra Caffo/Ella Larkin from the United States advanced this Wednesday to the Semifinals of the NORCECA U-23 Beach Voeball Tournament that is being held on the courts located on Juan Dolio beach, Dominican Republic.

The duo of Maple/Hodel (USA) beat Alisa Gavva/Karolina Urbanovich of Canada 2-0 (21-10, 21-16), while Caffo/Larkin (USA) had Crismil Paniagua/Nallelin Taveras (DOM) 2 -0 (21-12, 21-18).

USA

The other two couples in the Semifinal are Gisell Armenteros/Maykelin Drik from Cuba and Katarina Pantovic/Erika Vermette from Canada.

CAN

Armenteros/Drik (CUB) defeated Keiry Guzmán/Daniela Vigil (ESA) 2-0 (21-9, 21-7) and the Canadians Pantovic/Vermette beat Valentina Molina/Kianny Quesada of Costa Rica 2-0 (21 -9, 21-10).

CUBA

Both American teams will face each other, while Cuba will face Canada in the Semifinals to be played this Thursday morning.

United States, Cuba, and Canada advance to Men’s Semifinals in NORCECA U-23 Tournament

Posted on

JUAN DOLIO, Dominican Republic, December 13, 2023. – Both United States teams, Tate Calles/Bredan Onishchenko and Kyle Paulson/Sebastián Rodríguez, the Cuban duo Noslen Díaz/Jorge Alayo, and the Canadian pair Tynan Gannett/Steven Abrams, progressed to the Semifinals of the NORCECA U-23 Beach Volleyball Tour played on the courts of Juan Dolio beach, Dominican Republic, this Wednesday.

Canadian pair Tynan Gannett/Steven Abrams

Calles/Onishchenko (USA) beat Zendai Richards/Clerique Ward (SKN) by forfeit, while the duo of Paulson/Rodríguez (USA) defeated the Costa Rican duo Julián Araya/Stanley Grant 2-0 (21-16, 21-15) to secure their spots in semifinals.

Díaz/Alayo (CUB) advanced after beating Rolvin Maldonado/Alexander Wilmore (DOM) 2-0 (21-5, 21-6), and Gannett/Abrams defeated Yoel Guardado/Christopher Guardado (ESA) 2-0 (21-17, 21-19).

Díaz/Alayo (CUB)

The United States teams will face each other, while Cuba will face Canada in the Semifinals scheduled for Thursday morning.

Costa Rican female duo divides their first two commitments

Posted on

JUAN DOLIO, Dominican Republic, December 12, 2023.- The Costa Rican couple, Valentina Molina/Kianny Araya, achieved a victory and a loss on the first day of competitions of the NORCECA U-23 Beach Volleyball Tour that is being held the courts of Juan Dolio beach, Dominican Republic.

In the first match Molina/Araya (CRC) dispatched Shanadia Sylvester/Saquanna Duncan of Saint Vincent 2-0 (21-4, 21-5), while in the second they fell to Delayne Maple/Xolani Hodel of the United States 2- 0 (21-11, 21-11).

In group A, the Cubans Amanda Armenteros/Maykelin Drik are undefeated after beating Lavesha Richardson/Deandra Fleming of Anguilla 2-0 (21-11, 21-7) and the Dominican pair of Crismil Paniagua/Nallelin Taveras 2-0 ( 21-13, 21-11). In the same group, the Canadians Alisa Gavva/Karolina Urbanovich beat Crismil Paniagua/Nallelin Taveras (DOM) 2-0 (21-19, 21-18) and in the second game they beat Lavesha Richardson/Deandra Fleming (AGU) 2-0 (21-8, 21-9).

Laura Molina CRC

In group B, Sierra Caffo/Ella Larking (USA), dominated Katarina Pantovic/Erika Vermette (CAN) 2-0 (21-14, 21-16) and the pair formed by Keiry Guzmán/Daniela Vigil of El Salvador 2 -0 (21-12, 21-5).

Other results:

Delayne Maple/Xolani Hodel (USA) d Kadderly Salazar/Yuliana Chávez (NCA) 2-0 21-7, 21-4), Katarina Pantovic/Erika Vermette (CAN) d L’fe Roberts/Meeka Johnson (TTO) 2- 0 (21-11, 21-14), Kadderly Salazar/Yuliana Chávez (NCA) d Shanadia Sylvester/Saquanna Duncan (VIN) 2-0 (21-11, 21-18) and Keiry Guzmán/Daniela Vigil (ESA) d L’fe Roberts/Meeka Johnson (TTO) 2-0 21-7, 21-11).

Six undefeated men’s pairs at the start of the Under-23 Tournament

Posted on

JUAN DOLIO, Dominican Republic, December 12, 2023.- Six teams were undefeated on the first day of competitions of the NORCECA U-23 Beach Volleyball Tour that is being held on the sand courts located on Juan Dolio beach, Dominican Republic.

In group A, Tate Calles/Brendan Onishchenko (USA) defeated Rolvin Maldonado/George Wilmore (DOM) 2-1 (15-21, 21-18, 15-11) and in the second match they defeated Trevon Smith/Kaiden Proctor (AGU) 2-0 (21-1, 21-0).

In group B, the Cuban duo Jorge Alayo/Noslen Díaz easily won their two matches, the first against the Dominicans Elixander Gómez/Blendy Tavarez 2-0 (21-9, 21-16), and the second against the couple from Bermuda Braedon Cooke/Connor Somerville 2-0 (21-6, 21-11).

Also in group B, Saint Kitts won both of their games, against Braedon Cooke/Connor Somerville (BER) 2-0 (21-6, 21-13) and against the pair ElixanderGómez/Blendy Tavarez (DOM) 2-1 (21- 23, 21-10, 15-12).

DOM vs CUB

In group C, the twins Yoel Guardado/Christopher Guardado (ESA) defeated the pair Jerome Morrison/Jahreef Miguel (TTO) 2-0 (21-13, 21-6) and the pair of Alexander Solovey/Thelion Coutinho (ARU )2-0 (21-10, 21-7), while the Costa Rican duo Julián Araya/Stanley Grant defeated Jerome Morrison/Jahreef Miguel (TTO) 2-0 (21-11, 21-7) and Alexander Solovey/Thelion Coutinho (ARU) 2-0 (21-5, 21-7).

The Americans Kyle Paulson/Sebastián Rodríguez, in group D, beat Javier Solís/Josue Meneses (NCA) 2-0 (21-15, 21-9) and the Canadians Tynan Gannett/Steven Abrams 2-0 21-19, 21-19)

Other results of the first day were:

Gregory De La Cruz/Joshua Hoepelman (ARU) d Trevon Smith/Kaiden Proctor (AGU) 2-0 (21-15, 21-12), Zendai Richards/Clerique Ward (SKN) d ElixanderGómez/Blendy Tavarez (DOM) 2- 1 (21-23, 21-10, 15-12), Tynan Gannett/Steven Abrams (CAN) d Jamaar Cooper/Shadron Delpesche (VIN) 2-0 (21-7, 21-12), Javier Solís/Josue Meneses (NCA) d Jamaar Cooper/Shadron Delpesche (VIN) 2-0 (21-16, 21-11) and Rolvin Maldonado/George Wilmore (DOM) d Gregory De La Cruz/Joshua Hoepelman (ARU) 2-0 (21- 13, 21-15).

All set for the Under 23 Tournament in Juan Dolio

Posted on

JUAN DOLIO, Dominican Republic, December 11, 2023. – A total of 28 teams will be competing in the Under 23 Tournament as part of the 2023 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour, which kicks off on Tuesday at Juan Dolio, Dominican Republic.

16 men’s teams and 12 women’s teams registered during Monday’s preliminary inspections, aiming to advance from the group preliminary round starting on Tuesday at 9:00 am (local time) on the courts located on the beach in Juan Dolio.

28 matches are scheduled for Tuesday, 16 in the men’s division and 12 in the women’s division. The preliminary round will conclude on Wednesday morning, and Quarterfinals along with the losers’ round will be played in the afternoon. The Semifinals and Finals will be held on Thursday, as well as the position round.

Cuba and Costa Rica practice NORCECA Beach Volleyball U23 Continental Tour

Men’s Teams: DOM Rolvin Maldonado/Alexander Wilmore, Elixander Gomez/Blendy Tavarez, CUB Noslen Diaz/Jorge Alayo, CRC Julian Araya/Stanley Grant, CAN Tynan Gannett/Steven Abrams, NCA Carlos Solis/Alexander Meneses, ESA Yoel Guardado/Christopher Guardado, SKN Zendai Richards/Clerique Ward, AGU Trevon Smith/Kaiden Proctor, ARU Gregory De La Cruz/Joshua Hoepelman, Vladimir Solovey/Thelion Coutinho, BER Braedon Cooke/Connor Somerville, TTO Jerome Morrison/Jahreef Miguel, USA Kyle Paulson/Sebastian Rodriguez, Tate Calles/Brendan Onishchenko, VIN Jamaar Cropper/Chadron Delpesche.

Women’s Teams: DOM Crismil Paniagua/Nallelin Taveras, CAN Katarina Pantovic/Erika Vermette, Alisa Gavva/Karolina Urbanovich, CRC Laura Molina/Kianny Araya, NCA Kadderly Rosales/Yuliana Chavez, ESA Keiry Guzman/Daniela Vigil, AGU Lavesha Richardson/Deandra Fleming, CUB Amanda Armenteros/Maykelin Drik, TTO L’fe Roberts/Meeka Johnson, USA Delayne Maple/Xolani Hodel, Sierra Caffo/Ella Larkin, VIN Shanadia Sylvester/Saquanna Duncan.

Turner and Kraft of USA Champions at NORCECA in El Salvador

Posted on

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, December 10, 2023. – Molly Turner and Deahna Kraft from the United States were crowned champions in the fifth stop of the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour after defeating Maria Gonzalez/Allanis Navas from Puerto Rico 2-1 (14-21, 21-19, 15-11) in El Salvador.

As a team, this is the first medal for Molly Turner and Deahna Kraft. For Kraft it’s her first time competing at a NORCECA Beach Tour event. For Molly Turner, this was her fourth NORCECA, and she has won two gold medals and one silver in previous competitions; she now has earned three gold medals throughout her career in NORCECA.

Deahna Kraft USA / Allanis Navas PUR

Molly and Deahna came from behind after losing the first set against the strong defense from Puerto Rico. The match extended to a third set, where Gonzalez and Navas recovered from a three-point deficit (3-6) to tie at seven points, but it wasn’t enough to beat the American duo.

“That was a really fun match, an amazing opponent and you really have to earn every single point with them; they never give you free points,” said Deahna. “We definitely found another gear because we were exhausted, they are so good. It’s fun when both teams are giving their all, it’s great”.

The podium of the female and male branches

Molly and Deahna sealed their spot in the final by dominating 2-0 (21-18, 21-16) over the team of Lea Monkhouse/Marie-Alex Bélanger from Canada in the semifinals.

Meanwhile, Gonzalez and Navas overcame the Mexican tándem of Atenas Gutiérrez/Abril Flores 2-0 (21-17, 21-18).

Lea Monkhouse and Marie-Alex Bélanger also celebrated their first NORCECA medal together as a team, clinching the bronze in a thrilling match against Gutiérrez/Flores from Mexico. The Mexican team narrowly missed a set point (19-20) to force a third set, leading to a final score of 2-0 (21-18, 24-22) for Monkhouse and Bélanger.

Canadians Chambers and Kopp Win First-Ever NORCECA Beach Tour Gold Medal

Posted on

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, 10 de diciembre de 2023.- Los canadienses Arran Chambers y Liam Kopp ganaron su primera medalla de oro tras derrotar a Jordan Hoppe y James Shaw de los Estados Unidos 2-1 (15-21, 21-17, 15-13) en la final de la quinta parada del Tour NORCECA en San Salvador, El Salvador.

This is Chambers and Kopp fourth NORCECA tournament together and their third medal; but first gold, they also won the bronze medal at the beginning of the 2023 season in Aguascalientes and another bronze in Cayman Islands last year.

Arran Chambers CAN_ Jordan Hoppe USA

Arran and Liam recovered from a challenging first set, struggling to control Shaw’s serves and blocks, but managed to come back capitalizing on their opponents’ errors. In the third set, they reached an even 13 and secured the gold medal on a blocking point from Liam.

“I can’t even describe the feeling, it’s insane” said Liam after winning the gold medal. “We’ve working so hard this year and it feels good to finish the season off on a high note. It was awesome to have the support of so many Canadians here”.

Miguel Sarabia MEX / Michael Siraguse USA

To advance to the gold medal match, the Canadian duo defeated Miguel Sarabia and Juan Virgen from Mexico in semifinals 2-0 (21-15, 21-15).

In the other semifinal, Hoppe and Shaw defeated their compatriots Charles Siragusa/Zephyr Dew 2-0 (21-19, 21-15).

The bronze medal went to Sarabia/Virgen (MEX) after beating Siragusa/Dew from the United States 2-0 (21-12, 21-19).

Two USA teams to meet in Semifinals at El Salvador

Posted on

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, December 9, 2023.- The two teams of the United States will face each other in the semifinals of the men’s tournament of the fifth stage of the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour in El Salvador.

Jordan Hoppe and James Shaw will play against Charles Siragusa/Zephyr Dew in Sunday’s  semifinals at the Flor Blanca Sports Complex; for all four players, this is their first time competing at the NORCECA Beach Tour.

Jordan Hoppe and James Shaw advanced smoothly to the semifinals after defeating Marc Lomeli and Anthony Pippen from the U.S. Virgin Islands 2-0 (21-10, 21-10).

Zephyr Dew USA

Meanwhile, Charles Siragusa/Zephyr Dew faced a challenging match against the team from El Salvador of Franklin Flores and Armando Guatemala, winning 2-1 (21-19, 19-21, 15-11), reaching an even 17 in the first two sets. The Salvadorans made a comeback (7-11) in the third set.

Arran Chambers and Liam Kopp from Canada earned their spot in semifinals with a victory over Criforth Lobo/Yulius Brown from Costa Rica, who withdrew from the competition as Criforth suffered an injury.

Liam Kopp y Arran Chambers CAN

The Mexican duo of Miguel Sarabia and Juan Virgen recovered from losing the first set to claim a dramatic victory over Jake MacNeil/Alexander Russell from Canada, winning 2-1 (18-21, 21-19, 18-16) and winning their place in the semifinals.

Earlier, MacNeil/Russell (CAN) topped Pool C with a victory 2-0 (21-13, 21-16) over Lomeli/Pippen (ISV). Hoppe/Shaw (USA) dominated Pool D after defeating Martes/Quinten (CUR) 2-0 (21-7, 21-10), while Sarabia/Virgen (MEX) finished second with a 2-0 (21-16, 21-13) win over Izaguirre/Ventura (GUA).

Miguel Sarabia y Juan Virgen MEX

Men’s Results Saturday:

Quarterfinals: Chambers/Kopp CAN d Lobo/Brown CRC (injury team B); Hoppe/Shaw USA d Lomeli/Pippen ISV 2-0 (21-10, 21-10); Sarabia/Virgen MEX d MacNeil/Russell CAN 2-1 (18-21, 21-19, 18-16); Siragusa/Dew USA d Flores/Guatemala ESA 2-1 (21-19, 19-21, 15-11)

Classif. 9/12: Izaguirre/Ventura GUA d Theodore/Enile TTO 2-0 (21-17, 21-19); Guardado Y./Guardado C. ESA d Solís/López NCA (injury team B)

Classif. 13/16: Vargas/Pepe ESA d Sousa/Barnett VER 2-0 (21-12, 21-12); Anthony/Martes CUR d Seabrookes/Clerique SKN 2-0 (21-15, 21-19)

Pool B Solís/López NCA d Vargas/Pepe ESA  2-0 (21-13, 21-19);

Pool C MacNeil/Russell CAN d Lomeli/Pippen ISV 2-0 (21-13, 21-16); Guardado Y/Guardado C ESA d Sousa Barnett BER 2-0 (21-5, 21-11)

Puerto Rico, Mexico, USA and Canada advance to Semifinals in El Salvador

Posted on

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, December 9, 2023.- Puerto Rico, Mexico, United States, and Canada advanced to the semifinals of the women’s tournament of the fifth stage of the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour after dominating the quarterfinal round at the Flor Blanca Sports Complex in San Salvador, El Salvador.

María González/Allanis Navas from Puerto Rico will face Atenas Gutiérrez/Abril Flores from Mexico in Sunday’s semifinals, aiming to win their third consecutive gold medal in the 2023 NORCECA Tour season.

In the other semifinal, Molly Turner and Deahna Kraft from the United States will compete against Lea Monkhouse and Marie-Alex Bélanger from Canada.

Atenas Gutierrez y Abril Flores MEX

María González and Allanis Navas had a tough closing match against Yvonne Soler and Laura Molina from El Salvador, who made a comeback from a seven-point deficit (12-19) in the second set before the Puerto Ricans earned a 2-0 (21-7, 21-17) victory.

Molly Turner and Deahna Kraft from the United States worked hard in the beginning of their quarterfinal match to win 2-0 (22-20, 21-14) against Canada’s Devin Corah and Adriel Goodman.

Marie Alex Belinger / Lea Monkhouse CAN

Meanwhile, Lea Monkhouse and Marie-Alex Bélanger, the other Canadian team, managed to clinch victory against Americans Avery Poppinga and Katie Lindstrom in a tight contest, securing a 2-0 (21-19, 24-22) win.

Both duos had previously competed for a spot in the quarterfinals, with Bélanger/Monkhouse winning Group D against Gutiérrez/Abril from Mexico 2-0 (21-15, 21-17), and Poppinga/Lindstrom finishing second in Group C with a hard-fought victory of 2-1 (18-21, 21-17, 15-8) against Katherine Quesada/Eugenia Ramírez from Costa Rica.

Atenas Gutiérrez and Abril Flores emerged victorious in the match between the two Mexican teams in the event. Atenas and Abril defeated Katherine Albarrán and Yeray Vidaurrazaga 2-0 (21-14, 21-18).

Maria Gonzalez y Allanis Navas PUR

Earlier, Albarrán and Vidaurrazaga had advanced to the quarterfinals as first place of Pool C, winning their last pool-play match against Daniela Vigil/Keiry Guzmán from El Salvador in two sets, both ending at 21-13.

Women’s Results Saturday:

Quarterfinals: Gutiérrez/Flores MEX d Albarrán/Vidaurrazaga MEX 2-0 (21-14, 21-18); Turner/Kraft USA d Corah/Goodman CAN 2-0 (22-20, 21-14); Monkhouse/Bélanger CAN d Poppinga/Lindstrom USA 2-0 (21-19, 24-22); González/Navas PUR 2-0 (21-7, 21-17)

Classif. 9/12: Vásquez/Velásquez ESA d Silva/Lolette NCA 2-1 (22-24, 21-16, 15-11); Quesada/Ramírez CRC d Almeida-Anz/Bennett ISV 2-0 (21-10, 21-14)

Pool C Albarrán/Vidaurrazaga MEX d Daniela/Guzmán ESA 2-0 (21-13, 21-13); Poppinga/Lindstrom USA d Quesada/Ramírez CRC 2-1 (18-21, 21-17, 15-8)

Pool D Bélanger/Monkhouse CAN d Gutiérrez/Abril MEX  2-0 (21-15, 21-17); Vásquez/Velásquez ESA d Austin/Charles ISV 2-0 (21-12, 21-19)

Perfect ending for Nuss & Kloth in Doha

Posted on

DOHA, Qatar, December 9, 2023.- Taryn Kloth & Kristen Nuss triumphed at the very end of the international beach volleyball season as 2023 Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Finals champions in Doha.

This way the trophy took off for the United States for the second consecutive time, after the inaugural event was won by American compatriots Sara Hughes & Kelly Cheng. It was the third high-level gold for Kloth & Nuss this year, after the victories at the La Paz Challenge and the Uberlandia Elite16. That makes a total of five golds for the American pair on the Beach Pro Tour, with the two trophies from 2022. Their total medal count on the Tour improved to eight.

Nuss and Kloth USA

Watch Beach Pro Tour Doha Finals replays on VBTV.

The Finals silver was earned by Germany’s Cinja Tillmann & Svenja Muller. It was their first silver on the Tour, in addition to the one gold and one bronze in their collection.

The bronze went to the number one team in the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Ranking, Ana Patricia Ramos & Eduarda Santos Lisboa (Duda) of Brazil. That brings their total Beach Pro Tour count to 14 podiums.

Despite the five aces the Germans piled up during the final, the match was quite a one-sided affair, with the unforced errors making the biggest difference towards the Americans’ emphatic 2-0 (21-17, 21-14) success. Taryn Kloth topped the scorers’ chart of the game with 17 points to her name. Her tally included 12 spike kills, three kill blocks and two aces. Kristen Nuss added another 13 points, including one ace. On the German side, Svenja Muller scored 14 times, while Cinja Tillmann finished with 12 points.

In semifinals, Nuss & Kloth took revenge from Mariafe & Clancy for the straight-set defeat in their Pool B encounter and mastered a 2-0 (21-19, 21-13) shutout to push through to the gold medal match. Nuss topped the scorers’ chart of the match with 17 points, including two aces, while Kloth raised four kill blocks to finish with 14 points.

VW Beach Pro Tour Doha Finals: all results

Canadians Chambers/Kopp take on Pool A in El Salvador

Posted on

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, December 8, 2023. – Canadians Arran Chambers and Liam Kopp won Pool A on the first day of the fifth stage of the 2023 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour, which kicked off on Friday at the Flor Blanca Sports Complex in San Salvador, El Salvador.

Chambers and Kopp advanced undefeated to the quarterfinals after a long day with three victories.

First, they defeated Franklin Flores and Armando Guatemala from El Salvador 2-0 (23-21, 21-13), then earned a 2-0 (21-6, 21-12) win against Shawn Seabrookes/Clerique Ward from St. Kitts and Nevis, and finished the day witn a 2-0 (21-11, 21-14) victory over Joel Theodore/Stephen Enile from Trinidad and Tobago.

Franklin Flores and Armando Guatemala from El Salvador, finished second in Pool A and also advanced to the quarterfinals. The Salvadorans defeated Seabrookes/Clerique (SKN) 2-0 (21-11, 21-8) and Theodore/Enile (TTO) 2-0 (21-13, 21-14).

Zephyr Dew USA- Yulius Brown CRC

The first and second places in Pool B were also decided, with the U.S. pair of Charles Siragusa/Zephyr Dew advancing undefeated and Criforth Lobo/Yulius Brown from Costa Rica with two wins.

Siragusa/Dew defeated El Salvador’s David Vargas “Pepe” with his son Gabriel “Gabo” 2-0 (21-15, 21-11); then they beat Carlos Solís and Denis López from Nicaragua 2-0 (21-17, 21-19) and closed the pool with a 2-0 victory (22-20, 21-16) against Criforth Lobo and Yulius Brown from Costa Rica, who couldn’t complete the match due to a minor injury from Lobo.

The tandem of Lobo/Brown beat Solís/López 2-0 (21-19, 21-19) and Gabo/Pepe 2-0 (21-15, 21-17).

Group C will be decided on Saturday when Jake MacNeil/Alexander Russell from Canada face Marc Lomeli/Anthony Pippen from the U.S. Virgin Islands, and twin brothers Christopher and Yoel Guardado from El Salvador play the team of Brandon Sousa/Benjamin Barnett from Bermuda.

Canada’s MacNeil/Russell defeated the Guardado team (forfeit) and Bermuda’s Sousa/Barnett 2-0 (21-12, 21-11). Meanwhile, Lomeli/Pippen (ISV) won 2-0 (21-10, 21-16) against Bermuda but were defeated 2-0 (21-19, 21-16) by the Guardado duo.

Juan Virgen MEX – Jordan Hoppe USA

Jordan Hoppe and James Shaw from the United States ended the day with two victories in Pool D. They opened the preliminary round defeating Mexico’s Miguel Sarabia alongside Juan Virgen 2-0 (21-16, 21-14) and then dominated Guatemala’s José Miguel Izaguirre/Mario Ventura 2-0 (21-10, 21-11).

Sarabia/Virgen quickly defeated the Curacao pair of Lysandro Martes/Quinten Anthony 2-0 (21-9, 21-10), who had previously lost in three sets 2-1 (19-21, 21-12, 15-7) against Izaguirre/Ventura.

The preliminary group round will be completed on Saturday morning.

Men’s Results Friday:

Pool A: Chambers/Kopp CAN d Guatemala/Flores ESA 2-0 (23-21, 21-13); Theodore/Enile TTO d Seabrookes/Clerique SKN 2-1 (18-21, 21-16, 15-9); Chambers/Kopp CAN d Seabrookes/Clerique SKN 2-0 (21-6, 21-12); Guatemala/Flores ESA d Seabrookes/Clerique SKN 2-0 (21-11, 21-8); Chambers/Kopp CAN d Theodore/Enile TTO 2-0 (21-11, 21-14); Guatemala/Flores ESA d Theodore/Enile TTO 2-0 (21-13, 21-14)

Pool B: Lobo/Brown CRC d Solís/López NCA 2-0 (21-19, 21-19); Siragusa/Dew USA d Vargas/Pepe ESA 2-0 (21-15, 21-11); Lobo/Brown CRC d Vargas/Pepe ESA 2-0 (21-15, 21-17); Siragusa/Dew USA d Solís/López NCA 2-0 (21-17, 21-19); Siragusa/Dew USA d Lobo/Brown CRC 2-0 (22-20, 21-16)

Pool C: MacNeil/Russell CAN d Guardado/Guardado ESA (forfeit); Lomeli/Pippen ISV d  Sousa/Barnett BER 2-0 (21-10, 21-16); Guardado/Guardado ESA d Lomeli/Pippen ISV 2-0 (21-19, 21-16); MacNeil/Russell CAN d Sousa/Barnett BER 2-0 (21-12, 21-11)

Pool D: Hoppe/Shaw USA d Sarabia/Virgen MEX 2-0 (21-16, 21-14); Izaguirre/Ventura GUA d Anthony/Martes CUR 2-1 (19-21, 21-12, 15-7); Hoppe/Shaw USA d Izaguirre/Ventura GUA 2-0 (21-10, 21-11); Sarabia/Virgen MEX d Anthony/Martes CUR 2-0 (21-9, 21-10)

USA’s Turner/Kraft and González/Navas of Puerto Rico win their Pools in El Salvador

Posted on

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, December 8, 2023.- Molly Turner and Deahna Kraft from the United States, along with Puerto Ricans María González and Allanis Navas, won their respective pools on the first day of action at the fifth stage of the 2023 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour at the Flor Blanca Sports Complex.

Turner/Kraft topped Pool A and González/Navas won Pool B, both moved into Saturday’s quarterfinals.

Molly Turner alongside Deahna Kraft from the United States secured the top spot in Pool A with victories over Nahima Silva and Lolette Rodríguez from Nicaragua 2-0 (21-10, 21-8), and El Salvador’s Yvonne Soler and Laura Molina 2-0 (21-15, 21-13).

Laura Molina ESA- Molly Turner USA

With the dramatic victory of Soler/Molina (ESA) 2-1 (15-21, 21-15, 15-5) over Silva/Rodríguez (NCA), the local team also advanced to the quarterfinals as the second team from Pool A.

In Pool B, María González and Allanis Navas from Puerto Rico needed three sets to triumph over Canadians Devin Corah/Adriel Goodman 2-1 (21-12, 18-21, 15-11), who had previously won 2-0 (21-10, 21-15) against Cristina Almeida-Anz/Amber Bennett from the U.S. Virgin Islands.

González and Navas concluded the day defeating Almeida-Anz/Bennet 2-0 (21-7, 21-9). Both González/Navas and Corah/Goodman advanced to the next round.

In Pool C, Mexico’s Katherine Albarrán and Yeray Vidaurrazaga won both of their matches of the day, both in three sets and coming from behind. The Mexican duo started the day with a 2-1 victory (21-14, 19-21, 15-10) against Katherine Quesada and Eugenia Ramírez from Costa Rica, and then surprised Avery Poppinga/Katie Lindstrom from the United States with a 2-1 win (16-21, 21-17, 15-6).

Adriel Goodman CAN

Poppinga/Lindstrom (USA) and Quesada/Ramírez (CRC) won against Daniela Vigil/Keiry Guzmán 2-0 (21-8, 21-17) and 2-0 (21-11, 21-10) respectively.

Lea Monkhouse and Marie-Alex Bélanger from Canada had two comfortable victories in Pool D; first against Kathya Vásquez and Sofía Velásquez from El Salvador 2-0 (21-13, 21-8), and then against T’ara Austin/Mannika Charles from the U.S. Virgin Islands 2-0 (21-8, 21-8).

In the same pool, Atenas Gutiérrez and Abril Flores from Mexico secured an emphatic victory of 2-0 (21-4, 21-11) against Austin/Charles (ISV) and 2-0 (21-16, 21-9) against El Salvador’s Vásquez/Velásquez.

Monkhouse/Bélanger and Gutiérrez/Flores will decide the first-place finisher in Pool D.

Pool-play will resume on Saturday morning, the quarterfinals will follow.

Women’s Results Friday

Pool A: Turner/Kraft USA d Silva/Lolette NCA 2-0 (21-10, 21-8); Turner/Kraft USA d Soler/Molina ESA 2-0 (21-15, 21-13); Soler/Molina ESA d Silva/Lolette NCA 2-1 (15-21, 21-15, 15-5)

Pool B: Corah/Goodman CAN d Almeida-Anz/Bennett ISV 2-0 (21-10, 21-15); González/Navas d Corah/Goodman CAN 2-1 (21-12, 18-21, 15-11); González/Navas d Almeida-Anz/Bennett ISV 2-0 (21-7, 21-9)

Pool C: Albarrán/Vidaurrazaga MEX d Quesada/Ramírez CRC 2-1 (21-14, 19-21, 15-10); Poppinga/Lindstrom USA d Daniela/Guzmán ESA 2-0 (21-8, 21-17); Albarrán/Vidaurrazaga MEX d Poppinga/Lindstrom USA 2-1 (16-21, 21-17, 15-6); Quesada/Ramírez CRC d Daniela/Guzmán ESA 2-0 (21-11, 21-10)

Pool D: Bélanger/Monkhouse CAN d Vásquez/Velásquez ESA 2-0 (21-13, 21-8); Gutiérrez/Flores MEX d Austin/Charles ISV 2-0 (21-4, 21-11); Bélanger/Monkhouse CAN d Austin/Charles ISV 2-0 (21-8, 21-8); Gutiérrez/Flores MEX d Vásquez/Velásquez ESA 2-0 (21-16, 21-9)

NORCECA Tour Fifth Stage serves off on Friday at El Salvador

Posted on

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, December 7, 2023.- The Fifth Stage of the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour serves off on Friday where 14 women’s and 16 men’s teams are set to compete at the Beach Sports Stadium of Flor Blanca Sports Complex in San Salvador, El Salvador.

The event that will be livestreamed on www.AloudSports.com, features medalists of this 2023 season.

María González and Allanis Navas from Puerto Rico won the last two stages of the tour, in addition to clinching the championship at the Central American and Caribbean Games right here in San Salvador.

The duo of Atenas Gutiérrez and Abril Flores emerged as winners of the first stage in Aguascalientes. Atenas also claimed the silver medal in the second stage in Varadero, but with Susana Torres.

American Katie Lindstrom took home Varadero’s gold with Teegan Van Gunst, but here she pairs with Avery Poppinga.

Molly Turner, who finished in second place in Punta Cana, will team up with Deahna Kraft as another pair representing the United States.

Lea Monkhouse from Canada, who won the bronze medal in the third stage in the Cayman Islands, is joining forces with Marie-Alex Bélanger.

El Salvador during prleliminary inquiry

On the men’s side, Miguel Sarabia and Juan Virgen from Mexico, champions of the Central American and Caribbean Games here in El Salvador, won the third stage of the tour in the Cayman Islands and kicked off the season in Aguascalientes with a silver medal.

Both Canadian teams, Arran Chambers/Liam Kopp and Jake MacNeil/Alexander Russell, also earned medals this year. Chambers/Kopp claimed bronze in Aguascalientes, while MacNeil/Russell won silver in Punta Cana.

Women’s Teams

CANADA Devin Corah/Adriel Goodman; Lea Monkhouse/Marie-Alex Bélanger; COSTA RICA Katherine Quesada/Eugenia Ramírez; EL SALVADOR Yvonne Soler/Laura Molina; Kathya Vásquez/Sofía Velásquez; Daniela Vigil/Keiry Guzmán; MEXICO Katherine Albarrán/Yeray Vidaurrazaga; Atenas Gutiérrez/Abril Flores; NICARAGUA Nahima Silva/Lolette Rodríguez; PUERTO RICO María González/Allanis Navas; UNITED STATES Molly Turner/Deahna Kraft; Avery Poppinga/Katie Lindstrom; U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS Cristina Almeida-Anz/Amber Bennett; T’ara Austin/Mannika Charles

Men’s Teams

BERMUDAS Brandon Sousa/Benjamin Barnett; CANADA Arran Chambers/Liam Kopp; Jake MacNeil/Alexander Russell; COSTA RICA Criforth Lobo/Yulius Brown; CURACAO Lysandro Martes/ Quinten Anthony; EL SALVADOR Christopher Guardado/Yoel Guardado; Franklin Flores/Armando Guatemala; Gabriel Vargas/ David Vargas; GUATEMALA José Miguel Izaguirre/Mario Ventura; MEXICO Miguel Sarabia/Juan Virgen; NICARAGUA Carlos Solís/Denis López; ST. KITTS & NEVIS Shawn Seabrookes/Clerique Ward; TRINIDAD & TOBAGO Joel Theodore/Stephen Enile; UNITED STATES Jordan Hoppe/James Shaw; Charles Siragusa/Zephyr Dew; U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS Marc Lomeli/Anthony Pippen

Official Announcement for the fifth stop of the NORCECA Tour

Posted on

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, December 7, 2023. – The official announcement of the return of the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour after 13 years to the City of San Salvador, was made during a press conference for the local media.

The organizing committee, along with several teams already in San Salvador, provided details about the fifth stage of the Tour that runs from December 8 to 10. A level-of play is expected, with the participation of medalists from the recent Central American and Caribbean Games held here in El Salvador.

The venue will be at the beach sports stadium at the Flor Blanca Sports Complex, which, according to Yamil Bukele, the Ad Honorem director of the Salvadoran Institute of Sports (INDES), “is one of the legacies left by the Central American and Caribbean Games”.

Trophies

“We will have the pleasure of witnessing high-level volleyball, and I want to encourage our athletes to give their best. For us, they are already champions, but, of course, we want the best results at the end of these three days of competition”, stated Bukele.

The competition will feature representatives from 13 countries, with 16 confirmed men’s pairs and 14 women’s pairs, according to Eduardo Paiz, member of the organizing committee.

Shen Liou, the president of the Salvadoran Volleyball Federation, mentioned that “games will be played from 8:30 in the morning until 7 in the evening on three courts, with more than 40 matches throughout the tournament. Admission will be free of charge so that everyone can enjoy this spectacle”.

The champions from the past Central American and Caribbean Games are returning to El Salvador, Juan Virgen alongside Miguel Sarabia from Mexico, and the Puerto Rican duo of Allanis Navas and María González. Also from Mexico, Atenas Gutiérrez and Abril Flores, bronze medalists.

The NORCECA Tour awards ranking points as part of the qualification process for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

El Salvador Welcomes the Fifth Stage of the NORCECA Beach Tour

Posted on

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, December 5, 2023.- El Salvador welcomes the fifth stage of the 2023 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour from December 8 to 10 at Flor Blanca Sports Complex in the City of San Salvador.

This is the third occasion that El Salvador hosts the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour. El Salvador last hosted the NORCECA Tour thirteen years ago in 2010, with the first occasion being in 2008.

The event that serves off on Friday at the Beach Sports Stadium at Flor Blanca Sports Complex that was built for this year’s twenty fourth edition of the Central American and Caribbean Games, will be livestreamed on www.AloudSports.com.

Sports Complex Flor Blanca

The fifth stage of the NORCECA Tour has a “pre-registration” of 30 teams representing 13 countries; 14 women’s pairs and 16 men’s pairs. The official list will be confirmed during the general technical meeting scheduled for Thursday.

Canada and the United States each present two pairs per gender. El Salvador has three women’s teams and two men’s teams. Costa Rica and Nicaragua have one team per gender. Mexico and the U.S. Virgin Islands have two women’s teams and one men’s team.

Puerto Rico will compete in the women’s division, while Bermuda, Curacao, Guatemala, Saint Kitts and Nevis, as well as Trinidad and Tobago, will participate only in men.

Nicaragua Women and Costa Rica Men Central American U17 Beach Champions

Posted on

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica, November 25, 2023.- The duo of Ella Resau and Yulimar Alvarado from Nicaragua and Stanley Grant and Cristian Oporta from Costa Rica are the Champions of the first edition of the Under-17 Central American Beach Volleyball Championship held at the Parque Metropolitano la Sabana in Costa Rica.

Cristian Oporta and Stanley Grant, from Costa Rica, beat Yustin Gantes and Einar Rodríguez, from Panama, 2-0 (21-13, 21-9) and later, in the last game of the tournament, they confirmed their supremacy against Nicaraguan duo of José Fernando Castro and Diego Cardoza, whom they beat 2-0 (21-10, 21-13), with six consecutive wins and no defeats confirming their Central American crown for their country.

Oporta and Grant opened the way to the title on Friday, when they beat Guatemala (2-1) and Panama (2-1); a firm step that they maintained on Saturday, by beating Nicaragua (2-0) and Guatemala (2-1), and that they consolidated this Sunday with new victories over Panama (2-0) and Nicaragua (2-0).

NICARAGUA

Second place went to Juan Carlos Menéndez and Daniel Sosa from Guatemala and Panama’s Yustin Gantes and Einar Rodríguez won the bronze.

In women, the U17 gold went to the Nicaragua’s Ella Resau and Yulimar Alvarado, who this Sunday in a key game added their fourth win in a row beating Devora Medina 2-1 (21-11, 18-21, 15-9) and Daniela Vigil, from El Salvador (silver medal).

Costa Ricans Sury Jiménez and Mariana Fallas defeated Panamanians Keysi Fuentes and Dayanis Ríos 2-0 this Sunday, 21-17, 21-14, to finish third place in the U17 Central American Beach Volleyball Championship.

The silver medal went to El Salvador and Costa Rica took the bronze.

ALBUM FLICKR SUB 17 MASCULINO

ALBUM FLICKR SUB 17 FEMENINO

AFECAVOL I SUB17 DE VOLEIBOL DE PLAYA

WOMEN’S PODIUM

GOLD: NICARAGUA

SILVER: EL SALVADOR

BRONZE: COSTA RICA

MEN’S PODIUM

GOLD: COSTA RICA

SILVER: GUATEMALA

BRONZE: PANAMA

WOMEN RESULTS

Resau/AlvaradoNCAVasquez/OsorioGUA2–021–1521–10
Fuentes/RiosPANJimenez/FallasCRC0–217–2114–21
Vigil/MedinaESAResau/AlvaradoNCA0–211–2121–189–15

MEN RESULTS

Gantes/RodriguezPANOporta/GrantCRC0–213–219–21
Castro/CardozaNCAMenendez/SosaGUA0–215–2114–21
Menendez/SosaGUAGantes/RodriguezPAN2–024–2221–18
Oporta/GrantCRCCastro/CardozaNCA2–021–1021–13

Costa Rica U19 Beach Volleyball Central American Champions

Posted on

SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica, November 25, 2023.- Julián Araya and Yulius Brown and Valentina Molina and Aliza Aguilar of the Costa Rica were crowned Champions of the second edition of the Under-19 Central American Beach Volleyball Champions that concluded on Sunday at La Sabana Metropolitan Park, in San José Costa Rica.

With perfect pace, Araya/Brown gave Costa Rica the Championship after defeating Rafael Vargas and Levi Rauda, from El Salvador, 2-0 (21-11, 21-14), on day three of the tournament, ending the contest with 10 points, undefeated in five appearances and without losing a single set, after defeating Guatemala 2-0 on Friday, Panama and Nicaragua on Saturday, and today against Panama.

The silver medal went to Roberto Recinos / José Daniel Guevara from Guatemala and the bronze medal went to Panama’s duo of Víctor Araúz / Adamit del Cid Moreno.

PAN vs CRC

In women, Valentina Molina and Aliza Aguilar from Costa Rica defeated Panamanians Krisleen González and Elleny Espinoza in two sets on Sunday, 22-20, 21-5, to close with a perfect record and becoming Central American champions.

Molina and Aguilar added four victories in a row, after their victories over Nicaragua (2-0) on Friday, Guatemala (2-1) and El Salvador (2-0) on Saturday, and today against Panama (2- 0).

The silver medal went to Maritza Zúñiga/ Danna Aguilar from Guatemala and the Bronze medal went to Yuliana Chávez/ Kadderly Rosales from Nicaragua.

ALBUM FLICKR SUB19 MASCULINO

ALBUM FLICKR SUB19 FEMENINO

AFECAVOL II SUB19 DE VOLEIBOL DE PLAYA

WOMEN PODIUM

ORO: COSTA RICA

PLATA: GUATEMALA

BRONCE: NICARAGUA

MEN PODIUM

ORO: COSTA RICA

PLATA: GUATEMALA

BRONCE: PANAMÁ

RESULTS DAY 3

MEN

Rauda/VargasESARecinos/GuevaraGUA0–210–2115–21
Arauz/Del CidPANSolís/GuadamuzNCA1–216–2121–1710–15
Araya/BrownCRCRauda/VargasESA2–021–1121–14

WOMEN

Chaves/RosalesNCAZúñiga/AguilarGUA0–215–2119–21
González/EspinozaPANMolina/AguilarCRC0–220–225–21
Reyes/RendonESAChaves/RosalesNCA0–29–2118–21

Costa Rica Leads U19 Central American Championship in Both Genders

Posted on

SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica, November 25, 2023. – The host teams won all their matches on the second day of the II Under-19 Central American Beach Volleyball Championship, leading the standings in the quest for a medal in Costa Rica.

The sand courts in La Sabana, the Costa Rican capital, enjoyed six exciting matches, three in each gender, with the support of the crowd.

In women, the Costa Rican duo of Valentina Molina and Aliza Aguilar first defeated Danna Aguilar and Maritza Zúñiga from Guatemala in three sets, 2-1 (19-21, 23-21/17-15), in the most thrilling match so far.

In their second match, they dominated Alexandra Reyes and Fátima Rendón from El Salvador 2-0 (21-6/21-10).

Panama’s Krisleen González/Elleny Solís also defeated El Salvador 2-0 (21-11/21-16).

Costa Rica will enter the last day leading the event, followed by 2-Guatemala, 3-Panama, 4-Nicaragua, and 5-El Salvador.

Meanwhile, in men, Julián Araya and Yulius Brown of Costa Rica also won over their two opponents of the day.

In their first match of the day, they won 2-0 (21-18/21-12) after the withdrawal of Angelo Guadamuz and Evans Solís from Nicaragua when the second set was in progress due to an injury of Guadamuz.

Araya/Brown also defeated Víctor Arauz and Adamit del Cid from Panama 2-0 (21-14/21-15).

The day was completed with the victory of the Guatemalan pair José Guevara and Roberto Recinos against Nicaragua 2-0 (21-10/21-17).

On Sunday, starting at 9:00 am, Costa Rica will seek a medal, leading the standings, followed by 2-Panama, 3-Guatemala, 4-Nicaragua, and 5-El Salvador.

ALBUM FLICKR SUB19 MASCULINO

ALBUM FLICKR SUB19 FEMENINO

AFECAVOL I CENTROAMERICANO SUB17 DE PLAYA

Women Results U19

– Zúñiga/Aguilar GUA 1-2 CRC Molina/Aguilar (21-19/21-23/15-17)

– Gonzales/Espinoza PAN 2-0 ESA Reyes/Rendón (21-11/21-16)

– Molina/Aguilar CRC 2-0 ESA Reyes/Rendón (21-6/21-10)

Men Results U19

– Recinos/Guevara GUA 2-0 NCA Solís/Guadamuz (21-10/21-17)

– Araya/Brown CRC 2-0 PAN Arauz/Del Cid (21-14/21-15)

– Solís/Guadamuz NCA 0-2 CRC Araya/Brown (18-21/12-21)

El Salvador Women and Costa Rica Men top U17

Posted on

SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica, November 25, 2023. – Dévora Medina and Daniela Vigil from El Salvador, and Stanley Grant and Cristian Oporta from Costa Rica, top the first Under-17 Central American Championship after three games in women and four in men on the day two of action in La Sabana.

Dévora Medina and Daniela Vigil defeated Keysi Fuentes and Dayanis Ríos from Panama 2-0 (21-16/21-15) and Costa Ricans Sury Jimenez/Mariana Fallas in three sets 2-1 (17-21/21-10/15-13), to be top the standings.

Valeria Vásquez alongside Angie Osorio from Guatemala defeated Costa Rica’s Jiménez/Fallas 2-0, 21-17 in both sets.

El Salvador women will enter Sunday leading  the Under-17 category, followed by 2-Nicaragua, 3-Panama, 4-Guatemala, and 5-Costa Rica.

In the men, Costa Rica with Stanley Grant and Cristian Oporta won their two matches of the day. First against Fernando Castro and Diego Cardoza from Nicaragua 2-0 (21-10/21-15), and then they earned a dramatic 2-1 (21-19/14-21/14-16) victory against Juan Carlos Menéndez and Daniel Sosa from Guatemala.

Menendez/Sosa from Guatemala came from behind to win in three sets against Yustin Gantes and Einar Rodríguez from Panama (18-21/21-19/15-13). Meanwhile, the Panamanians defeated Nicaragua in an exciting finish 2-0 (21-16/23-21).

Costa Rica men lead the Under-17 standings and will seek a medal on Sunday, followed by 2-Panama, 3-Nicaragua, and 4-Guatemala.

The last day of competition will begin at 9:00 am in the capital of Costa Rica.

ALBUM FLICKR SUB17 MASCULINO

ALBUM FLICKR SUB17 FEMENINO

AFECAVOL I CENTROAMERICANO SUB17 DE PLAYA

Women Results U17

– Vásquez/Osorio GUA 2-0 CRC Jimenez/Fallas (21-17/21-17)

– Vigil/Medina ESA 2-0 PAN Fuentes/Rios (21-16/21-15)

– Jiménez/Fallas CRC 1-2 ESA Vigil/Medina (21-17/10-21/13-15)

Men Results U17

– Menéndez/Sosa GUA 2-1 PAN Gantes/Rodríguez (18-21/21-19/15-13)

– Oporta/ Grant CRC 2-0 NCA Castro/Cardoza (21-10/21-15)

– Castro/Cardoza NCA 0-2 PAN Gantes/Rodríguez (16-21/21-23)

– Oporta/ Grant CRC 2-1 GUA Menéndez/Sosa (21-19/14-21/14-16)

Panama Men and Guatemala Women lead day one at U19 Central American Championship in Costa Rica

Posted on

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica, November 24, 2023. – Victor Arauz/Adamit del Cid Moreno from Panama in men and Maritza Zúñiga/Danna Aguilar from Guatemala in women lead the standings after the first day of the Under-19 Central American Championship being held at the sand courts in Sabana.

In men, Arauz/Del Cid from Panama defeated Levi Radua/Rafael Vargas from El Salvador 2-0 (21-19/21-13). Nicaragua’s Ángelo Solís/Evans Guadamuz also won 2-0 against El Salvador 21-19/21-16.

The hosts, Julian Araya/Yulius Brown, defeated Guatemala’s Roberto Recinos/José Daniel Guevara 2-0 (21-10/21-14). Ending the men’s session, Nicaragua won 2-0 against El Salvador Rauda/Vargas 21-19/21-16.

After the results of the day, Panama leads in the men, followed by Costa Rica, 3-Nicaragua, 4-El Salvador, and 5-Guatemala.

Meanwhile, in women, Maritza Zúñiga/Danna Aguilar from Guatemala won 2-0 against El Salvador’s Alexandra Reyes/Fátima Rendón 21-9/21-10. In their second game, Guatemala triumphed against Panama 21-13/21-13.

Yuliana Chávez/Kadderly Rosales from Nicaragua won in the third set against Panama’s Krisleen González/Elleny Espinoza, ending with scores of 21-18/16-21/15-6.

To close the day, Costa Rica’s Valentina Molina/Aliza Aguilar defeated Nicaragua’s Chaves/Rosales 2-0 with scores of 21-15/21-12.

Guatemala tops the standings, followed by 2-Nicaragua, 3-Costa Rica, 4-Panama, and 5-El Salvador.

ALBUM FLICKR U19 FEMENINO

ALBUM FLICKR U19 MASCULINO

U19 RESULTS DAY 1

MEN

Radua/Vargas ESA 0-2 PAN Arauz/Del Cid (19-21/13-21)

Recinos/Guevara GUA 0-2 CRC Araya/Brown (10-21/14-21)

Arauz/Del Cid PAN 2-1 GUA Recinos/Guevara (14-21/21-18/15-9)

Solís / Guadamuz NCA 2-0 ESA Rauda/Vargas (21-19/21-16)

WOMEN

Zúñiga/ Aguilar GUA 2-0 ESA Reyes / Rendón (21-9/21-10)

Chávez/ Rosales NCA 2-1 PAN González / Espinoza (21-18/16-21/15-6)

González/Espinoza PAN 0-2 GUA Zúñiga/Aguilar (13-21/13-21)

Molina/Aguilar CRC 2-0 NCA Chaves/Rosales (21-15/21-12)

Nicaragua women and Costa Rica men lead on day one at U17 Central American Championship in Costa Rica

Posted on

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica, November 24, 2023. – The sand courts of La Sabana welcomed the Central American pairs who, under the capital sun, played their first day in the inaugural U17 Beach Volleyball Central American Championship.

The competition of the first edition of the Under-17 Beach Central American Championship started on Friday morning, November 24, with the victory of Ella Resau/Yulimar Alvarado from Nicaragua, who defeated Keysi Fuentes/Dayanis Ríos from Panama 2-0 (21-11/21-11). Nicaragua also won against the hosts Sury Jiménez/Mariana Fallas in their second game 21-16/21-11.

Daniela Vigil/Devora Medina from El Salvador won 2-0 against Valeria Vásquez/Angie Osorio from Guatemala with scores of 21-16/21-06. Meanwhile, Panama won their second match against Guatemala 2-0 (21-16/21-11).

With these results, Nicaragua tops the standins, followed by 2-Panama, 3-El Salvador, 4-Guatemala, and 5-Costa Rica.

Meanwhile, in men, Panama with Yustin Gantes/Einar Rodríguez defeated Nicaragua’s Fernando Castro/Diego Cardoza 2-0 (21-15/21-10).

The local duo, Cristian Oporta/Stanley Grant, won in three sets against Guatemala’s  Juan Carlos Méndez/Daniel Sosa 21-14/18-21/15-06. In their second game, Costa Rica  defeated Panama in three sets 21-19/17-21/12-15.

The day concluded with the game between Guatemala 2-0 Nicaragua, ending with scores 21-17/21-14 for Guatemala.

Costa Rica leads the standings, followed by 2-Panama, 3-Guatemala, and 4-Nicaragua.

ALBUM FLICKR U17 FEMENINO

ALBUM FLICKR U17 MASCULINO

U17 RESULTS DAY 1

WOMEN

Resau/Alvarado NCA 2-0 PAN Fuentes/Ríos (21-11/21-11) Vásquez/Osorio GUA 0-2 ESA Vigil/Medina (16-21/6-21) Fuentes/Ríos PAN 2-0 GUA Vásquez/Osorio (21-16/21-11) Jimenez/Fallas CRC 0-2 NCA Resau/Alvarado (16-21/11-21)

MEN

Castro/Cardoza NCA 0-2 PAN Gantes /Rodríguez (15-21/10-21) Méndez/Sosa GUA 1-2 CRC Oporta/Grant (14-21/21-18/6-15) Gantes /Rodríguez PAN 1-2 CRC Oporta/Grant (21-19/17-21/12-15) Castro/Cardoza NCA 0-2 GUA Méndez/Sosa (17-21/14-21)

Teams ready for the U17 and U19 Beach Central American Championship

Posted on

COSTA RICA, San José, November 23, 2023.- Five countries in both male and female will strive to become champions in the first edition of the Central American U17 Beach Volleyball Championship and the second edition of the Central American U19 Beach Volleyball Championship, organized by AFECAVOL.

The national teams of El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama, and Costa Rica presented together in the U17 and U19 categories, and successfully passed the preliminary interview on Thursday, where they presented their uniforms to the Control Committee, as well as the official documents accrediting them to be part of the two Central American beach volleyball events.

Four male teams and five female teams will vie for the Central American championship for the first time in the U17 category. Meanwhile, in the U19 category, five teams will compete in both genders, with current champions Guatemala in women and Costa Rica in men.

The first U19 Central American Championship was held in 2018 in Puntarenas, Costa Rica, an event that also served as a qualifier for the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina, later that year.

The competition will start on Friday 24 at the sand courts of La Sabana, in the capital of Costa Rica, San José. It will be played in a round-robin format, with the pairs in both genders who gain the most points will become champions on the last day of the event on Sunday 26.

AFECAVOL I CENTROAMERICANO SUB17 DE PLAYA

AFECAVOL II CENTROAMERICANO SUB19 DE PLAYA

Participating teams: I Central American U17 Beach Volleyball Championship and II Central American U19 Beach Volleyball Championship

-Costa Rica

FEMALE

U17: Sury Jiménez / Mariana Fallas

U19: Aliza Aguilar / Valentina Molina

MALE

U17: Cristian Oporta / Stanley Grant

U19: Julián Araya / Yulius Brown

-El Salvador

FEMALE

U17: Devora Medina / Daniela Vigil

U19: Alexandra Reyes / Fátima Rendón

MALE

U19: Rafael Vargas / Levi Rauda

-Guatemala

FEMALE

U17: Valeria Vásquez/ Angie Osorio

U19: Danna Aguilar / Maritza Zúñiga

MALE

U17: Juan Carlos Méndez / Daniel Sosa

U19: José Daniel Guevara / Roberto Recinos

-Nicaragua

FEMALE U17: Ella Resau /Yulimar Alvarado U19: Yuliana Cháves / Kadderly Rosales

MALE

U17: José Fernando Castro / Diego Cardoza

U19: Ángelo Guadamuz / Evans Solís

-Panama

FEMALE

U17: Keysi Fuentes / Dayanis Ríos

U19: Krisleen González / Elleny Espinoza

MALE

U17: Yustin Gantes /Einar Rodríguez

U19: Victor Araúz / Adamit del Cid Moreno

Costa Rica to Host U17 and U19 Central American Beach Volleyball Championships

Posted on

San José, Costa Rica, November 21, 2023.- Six countries will gather on Costa Rican soil at La Sabana sand courts to compete from November 24-26 in the first edition of the Central American Beach Volleyball Under-17 Championship and, for the second time, in Costa Rica, in the Under-19 Central American Championship, both double-gender events.

The national teams of El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama, and Costa Rica will hit La Sabana sand courts in San José, aiming to become Central American champions in the inaugural Under-17 category. Meanwhile, Guatemala women and Costa Rica men will defend their titles in the second edition of the Under-19 category.

The first Under-19 Central American Championship took place in 2018 in Puntarenas, Costa Rica, and was also a qualifying event for the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in the same year.

During a press conference held on Tuesday, at the National Stadium facilities, the Organizing Committee, led by Carlos Echandi, president of the Costa Rican Volleyball Federation (FECOVOL), along with the Costa Rican Sports Institute (ICODER) and the Costa Rican Ministry of Sports, provided details about this significant event for the country.

“We are very proud to organize this important event, hosting the Under-19 Championship for the second time and the Under-17 Championship for the first time. This is a joint effort with ICODER, from whom we have received support, as well as the support of the Minister of Sports, Mr. Royner Mora”, said Carlos Echandi, president of FECOVOL and a member of the Organizing Committee.

AFECAVOL I CENTROAMERICANO SUB17 DE PLAYA

AFECAVOL II CENTROAMERICANO SUB19 DE PLAYA

The round-robin competition will start on Friday. The pairs in both categories that earn the most ranking points will be crowned champions at the conclusion of the event on Sunday.

 1st Central American Under-19 Beach Volleyball Championship:

-Champions

Women: GUATEMALA – Paola Alvarado and María Juárez

Men:COSTA RICA – Alexandre Lezcano and Criforth Fallas

-Final Standings

Women: 1. Guatemala, 2. Nicaragua, 3. Costa Rica, 4. Honduras, 5. El Salvador, 6. Belize, 7. Panama

Men: 1. Costa Rica, 2. Nicaragua, 3. El Salvador, 4. Guatemala, 5. Belize, 6. Honduras, 7. Panama

Brazilians Ana Patricia and Duda Brazil Champions of Women’s Beach Volleyball at Santiago 2023

Posted on

SANTIAGO, Chile, October 26, 2023 – Brazilians Ana Patricia and Duda secured a 2-0 victory (22-20, 21-18) over Canadians Brandie Wilkerson and Melissa Humana-Paredes in the Women’s Beach Volleyball tournament at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago.

The bronze medal went to Corine Quiggle and Sarah Lewis of the United States, who defeated Argentina’s Ana Gallay and Fernanda Pereyra 2-0 (21-18, 21-10).

In a closely contested match, the Brazilians showcased their experience, with Duda’s strong serving and Ana Patricia’s well-timed blocks to stop the efforts of Brandie and Melissa.

This marked Brazil’s the fourth gold medal in the history of the Pan American Games, with their first win dating back to 2011. For Canada, this was their first medal ever at these Games.

Mexico’s Atenas Gutiérrez and Abril Flores finished in fifth place after a 2-0 victory (21-9, 12-18) over Peru’s Claudia Gaona and Lisbeth Allcca.

Puerto Rico’s María González and Allanis Navas secured seventh place with a 2-1 victory (21-19, 18-21, 15-9) over Chile’s María Rivas Zapata and Chris Vorpahl in Women’s Beach Volleyball at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago.

George and André secure Gold for Brazil in Men’s Beach Volleyball at Santiago 2023

Posted on

SANTIAGO, Chile, October 27, 2023 – George and André of Brazil clinched the gold medal by defeating Cubans Noslen Díaz and Jorge Alayo 2-1 (21-12, 19-21, 15-13) in the Men’s Beach Volleyball Tournament at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago.

Chile’s Marco Grimalt and Esteban Grimalt won the bronze medal with a 2-1 (21-14, 18-21, 15-12) victory over Hagen Smith and Logan Webber of the USA.

After a slow start, with nerves affecting the young Cuban pair (22 and 21 years old), they gradually gained confidence, thanks to Alayo’s blocking skills, which improved Noslen’s position in defense.  

In the second set, Cuba came out strong, displaying solid defense and strong blocking, while Brazil struggled to overcome the net defense. This pushed the match to the third set, where George once again showcased his impressive defense, and André contributed with defensive plays and strong blocks that limited their opponents’ actions.

Brazil is the most successful team in the history of the Pan American Games, with three gold medals, while Cuba now has one gold and one silver.

Canada’s Jake MacNeil and William Russell secured fifth place with a 2-0 victory over Mexico’s Miguel Sarabia and Juan Virgen, and Argentina’s Nicolás and Tomás Capogrosso won 2-0 against Ecuador’s Dany León and Marcos Tenorio for seventh place.

Cuba and Brazil return to Men’s Beach Volleyball Pan American Games finals

Posted on

SANTIAGO, Chile, October 26, 2023. Cuba and Brazil will feature in a dream final with a taste of revenge in the Men’s Beach Volleyball Tournament of the Pan American Games Santiago 2023, to be held on Friday at Parque Peñalolén.

Noslen Díaz/Jorge Alayo from Cuba and George/André from Brazil will face each other again here in Santiago. Cuba defeated Brazil in three sets in pool-play.

To reach the final, Díaz/Alayo defeated Logan Webber/Hagen Smith from the United States 2-0 (21-15, 21-13). Alayo’s net reach and Diaz’s defense made the difference against the Americans who progressed to semifinals undefeated.

Meanwhile, George/André won 2-0 (21-13, 21-17) against cousins Marcos and Esteban Grimalt from Chile, the current champions. A great defense from George and André’s blocking kept the Grimalts under control, and they won’t be able to defend the title they earned four years ago in Lima, Peru.

George/André BRA

Cuba will seek its second gold medal in the history of the Pan American Games, while Brazil is the most successful with two gold medals, the last one in 2011.

In matches for positions 5-8, Miguel Sarabia/Juan Virgen from Mexico battled to win 2-1 (21-14, 16-21, 16-14) against Dany León and Marcos Tenorio from Ecuador. Meanwhile, Jake MacNeil/William Russell from Canada won 2-0 (21-15, 21-17) against the Capogrosso brothers, Nicolás and Tomás (ARG). Mexico and Canada will play for fifth place.

Matches Friday October 27

For 7th place: Capogrosso N./Capogrosso T. (ARG) vs. Leon/Marcos (ECU)

For 5th place: Sarabia/Virgen (MEX) vs. MacNeil/Russell (CAN)

For the bronze medal: Grimalt M./Grimalt E. (CHI) vs. Smith/Webber (USA)

For the gold medal: Diaz/Alayo (CUB) vs. George/Andre (BRA)

Results Thursday, October 26

Classification 5-8

Leon/Marcos (ECU) 1-2 (14-21, 21-16, 14-16) Sarabia/Virgen (MEX)

MacNeil/Russell (CAN) 2-0 (21-15, 21-17) Capogrosso N./Capogrosso T (ARG)

For 11th place: Giuliano/Gonzalo (PAR) 2-0 (21-14, 22-20) Salvatierra/Calvo (BOL).

For 9th place: Hannibal/Llambías (URU) 2-1 (15-21, 25-23, 15-12) Noriega/Murray (COL).

Canada and Brazil reach Santiago 2023 Women’s Beach Volleyball Finals

Posted on

SANTIAGO, Chile, October 26, 2023 – Brandie Wilkerson/Melissa Humana-Paredes from Canada and the 2023 world runners-up Ana Patricia/Duda from Brazil will face off in the Women’s Beach Volleyball final of the nineteenth Pan American Games Santiago 2023 at Parque Peñalolén on Friday.

Both pairs looked unstoppable from in pool-play and in the semifinals, securing their spot in the finals undefeated, without obstacles.

Canadians Brandie Wilkerson/Melissa Humana-Paredes defeated Ana Gallay/Fernanda Pereyra from Argentina 2-0 (21-15, 21-15). For Canada, this is their first medal in the Pan American Games since beach volleyball was introduced in the event in 1999.

Ana Patricia/Duda BRA

Meanwhile, Brazil, returning to a final since 2011, will seek its fourth gold medal (they also have three bronze medals). Ana Patricia/Duda won 2-0 (21-11, 21-18) against Corine Quiggle/Sarah Lewis from the United States.

Ana Gallay and Fernanda Pereyra who silver medal in Lima 2019, four years ago. In addition, Gallay won gold in Toronto 2015. The Argentinians will compete for the bronze medal against the American pair Quiggle/Lewis.

The United States won the gold medal in the Lima 2019 edition.

In other matches, Atenas Gutiérrez/Abril Flores from Mexico won 2-1 (17-21, 21-12, 15-11) against María González/Allanis Navas from Puerto Rico, and they will face Lisbeth Allcca/Claudia Gaona from Peru for the fifth place. Allcca/Gaona won 2-0 (21-18, 22-20) against María Rivas Zapata/Chris Vorpahl from Chile.

Matches for Friday, October 27:

For 7th place: González/Navas (PUR) vs. Rivas Zapata/Chris (CHI)

For 5th place: Gutiérrez/Flores (MEX) vs. Allcca/Gaona (PER)

For the bronze medal: Gallay/Pereyra (ARG) vs. Quiggle/Murphy

For the gold medal: Brandie/Melissa (CAN) vs. Ana Patricia/Duda (BRA)

Results from Thursday, October 26:

Classification 5/8

Allcca/Gaona (PER) 2-0 (21-18, 22-20) Rivas Zapata/Chris (CHI)

Gutierrez/Flores (MEX) 2-1 (17-21, 21-12, 15-11) González/Navas (PUR)

11th place: Karelys/Ariana (ECU) 0-2 (17-21, 20-22) Erika/Michelle (PAR)

For 9th place: Payano/Almanzar (DOM) 2-0 (21-13, 21-13) Diana/Margarita G. (COL)

USA against Brazil and Canada face Argentina in Women’s Beach Volleyball Semifinals

Posted on

SANTIAGO, Chile, October 25, 2023.- In women’s Beach Volleyball semifinals at Santiago 2023, Corinne Quiggle/Sarah Murphy from the United States will face Ana Patricia/Duda from Brazil, while Brandie Wilkerson/Melissa Humana-Paredes from Canada will play Ana Gallay/Fernanda Pereyra from Argentina.

Quiggle/Murphy (USA) won 2-0 (21-18, 21-16) against María Rivas/Chris Vorpahl from Chile, who had the support of hundreds of fans at the Parque Peñalolén Beach Volleyball Center.

Melissa/Brandie (CAN) had no trouble defeating María González/Allanis Navas from Puerto Rico, winning 2-0 (21-11, 21-14).

On the other hand, the world runners-up Duda/Ana Patricia (BRA) won 2-0 (21-12, 21-9) against Lisbeth Allcca/Claudia Gaona from Peru.

Gallay/Pereyra (ARG), silver medalists in the previous edition of the Games in Lima, advanced to the semifinals after winning 2-0 (21-16, 21-17) against Abril Flores/Atenas Gutierrez from Mexico. The Mexican team put up a strong fight until point 15, but from there, the Argentine pair Gallay/Pereyra managed to pull away.

Sarah Murphy y Corinne Quiggle USA

Games on Thursday, October 26:

Classification 5/8

Allcca/Gaona (PER) vs Rivas Zapata/Chris (CHI)

Gutierrez/Flores (MEX) vs González/Navas (PUR)

Position 11: Karelys/Ariana (ECU) vs Erika/Michelle (PAR)

Position 9: Payano/Almanzar (DOM) vs Diana/Margarita G. (COL)

Semifinals

Ana Patricia/Duda (BRA) vs Quiggle/Murphy (USA)

Gallay/Pereyra (ARG) vs Brandie/Melissa (CAN)

Wednesday’s results, October 26:

Position 13

Williams/Quesada (CRC) 2-1 (21-18, 15-21, 15-8) N. Girón/Alvarado (GUA)

Position 15

Bianchi/Acuña (URU) 2-0 (21-19, 21-14) Soler/Molina (ESA)

Classification 9/12

Erika/Michelle (PAR) 1-2 (21-16, 19-21, 12-15) Diana/Margarita G. (COL)

Payano/Almanzar (DOM) 2-0 (21-17, 21-14) Karelys/Ariana (ECU)

Quarterfinals

Quiggle/Murphy USA 2-0 (21-18, 21-16) Rivas Zapata/Chris CHI     

Ana Patrícia/Duda BRA 2-0 (21-12, 21-9) Allcca/Gaona PER             

Brandie/Melissa CAN 2-0 (21-11, 21-14) Gonzalez/Navas PUR                    

Gallay/Pereyra ARG 2-0 (21-16, 21-17) Gutierrez/Flores MEX

Cuba against USA and Chile versus Brazil in Men’s Beach Volleyball Semifinals

Posted on

SANTIAGO, Chile, October 24, 2023. – Hagen Smith/Logan Webber of the United States and JorgeAlayo/Noslen Díaz of Cuba, the current champions Marco Grimalt/Esteban Grimalt of Chile, and George/Andre of Brazil, will feature in the  Men’s Beach Volleyball semifinals oat the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago.

Hagen Smith and Logan Webber of the United States won 2-0 (21-18, 21-15) against Juan Virgen and Miguel Sarabia of Mexico. Juan Virgen won’t be able to repeat the silver medal he earned four years ago in Lima, Peru.

Meanwhile, Jorge Alayo/Noslen Diaz of Cuba performed at a high level, prevailing 2-0 (21-19, 21-16) against Dany León/Marcos Tenorio of Ecuador.

George/Andre of Brazil won an exciting 2-1 (21-17, 15-21, 17-15) match against Nicolás and Tomás Capogrosso of Argentina. It was an intense game, with the Capogrosso brothers making things difficult for George/Andre in a battle of strong offense and good defense from Tomás and solid blocking by Nicolás.

The current champions, cousins Marco and Esteban Grimalt of Chile, won 2-0 (23-21, 21-18) against Jake MacNeil and Williams Russell of Canada, after a highly contested match,

especially in the first set, with Russell’s blocks on one side and Marco on the other.

Esteban Grimalt y Marco Grimalt CHI

Games on Wednesday, October 26:

Classification 5/8:

Leon/Marcos (ECU) vs Sarabia/Virgen (MEX)

MacNeil/Russell (CAN) vs Capogross N./Capogrosso T (ARG)

For 11th place: Giuliano/Gonzalo (PAR) vs Salvatierra/Calvo (BOL).

For 9th place: Hannibal/Llambías (URU) vs Noriega/Murray (COL);

Semifinals

Diaz/Alayo (CUB) vs Smith/Webber (USA)

Grimalt M./Grimalt E. (CHI) vs George/Andre (BRA)

Wednesday’s results

Position 13/14

Mora/López (NCA) 2-1 (24-26, 21-14, 15-7) Guatemala/Flores (ESA)

Position 15/16

D. Dyner/Varela (CRC) 0-2 (15-21, 12-21) Blanco/García GUA

Classification 9-12

Salvatierra/Calvo (BOL) 1-2 (21-19, 15-21, 10-15) Noriega/Murray (COL)

Hannibal/Llambías (URU) 2-1 (21-13, 18-21, 15-10) Giuliano/Gonzalo (PAR)

Quarterfinals

Smith/Webber (USA) 2-0 (21-18, 21-15) Sarabia/Virgen (MEX)

Díaz/Alayo (CUB) 2-0 (21-19, 21-16) León/Marcos (ECU)

Capogrosso N./Capogrosso T (ARG) 1-2 (17-21, 21-15, 15-17) George/André (BRA)

Grimalt M./Grimalt E. (CHI) 2-0 (23-21, 21-18) MacNeil/Russell (CAN)

Exciting Quarterfinals in Women’s Beach Volleyball

Posted on

SANTIAGO, Chile, October 23, 2023 – With the qualification of Puerto Rico, Argentina, Peru, and Chile, an exciting quarterfinal round of the Women’s Beach Volleyball tournament at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago are expected on Wednesday.

Maria Gonzalez and Allanis Navas from Puerto Rico defeated Karelys Simisterra and Ariana Vilela from Ecuador 2-0 (21-17, 21-14) and will face Brandie Wilkerson and Melissa Humana-Paredes from Canada in the quarterfinals.

Ana Gallay and Fernanda Pereyra from Argentina also secured their spot in the quarterfinals by defeating Julibeth Payano and Bethania Almanzar from the Dominican Republic 2-0 (21-18, 21-15). They will now face Atenas Gutiérrez and Abril Flores from Mexico.

Lisbeth Allcca and Claudia Gaona from Peru won 2-0 (21-19, 21-19) against Erika Mongelos and Michelle Valiente from Paraguay, setting up a quarterfinal match against Ana Patricia and Duda from Brazil.

Maria Rivas Zapata and Chris Vorpahl from Chile won 2-0 (21-18, 21-16) against Diana Rios and Margarita Guzman from Colombia. The Chilean team will compete in quarterfinals against USA’s duo of Corinne Quiggle and Sarah Murphy.

Erika Mongelos PAR

Results Classification 13-16 round:

Bianchi and Acuña (URU) 1-2 (21-17, 16-21, 8-15) Williams and Quesada (CRC)

N. Girón and Alvarado (GUA) 2-1 (21-16, 11-21, 15-12) Soler and Molina (ESA)

Matches on Wednesday, October 25:

Position 13

N. Girón and Alvarado (GUA) vs. Williams and Quesada (CRC)

Position 15

Bianchi and Acuña (URU) vs. Soler and Molina (ESA)

Quarterfinals:

Quiggle and Murphy (USA) vs. Rivas Zapata and Chris (CHI)

Ana Patrícia and Duda (BRA) vs. Allcca and Gaona (PER)

Brandie and Melissa (CAN) vs. Gonzalez and Navas (PUR)

Gutierrez and Flores (MEX) vs. Gallay and Pereyra (ARG)

Men’s Beach Volleyball Quarterfinal Round is set

Posted on

SANTIAGO, Chile, October 24, 2023 – Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and Ecuador advanced to the Men’s Beach Volleyball quarterfinals at the 2023 Santiago Pan American Games after winning their respective qualifying matches.

Canada’s Jake MacNeil and William Russell defeated Uruguay’s Hans Hannibal and Llambías 2-0 (21-14, 21-16) to qualify for the quarterfinals, where they will face Chile’s cousins Marcos and Esteban Grimalt.

The Mexican duo of Miguel Sarabia and Juan Virgen had to battle hard and push themselves to the limit to win 2-0 (23-21, 21-19) against Colombians Juan Noriega and Johan Murray, setting up a quarterfinal clash with Hagen Smith and Logan Webber of the United States.

Meanwhile, Brazil’s George and André won 2-0 (21-14, 21-14) against Paraguay’s Giuliano Massare and Gonzalo Melgarejo and will now face Nicolás and Tomás Capogrosso from Argentina.

Ecuador’s Dany León and Marcos Tenorio won 2-0 (23-21, 21-10) against Bolivia’s Ruddy Salvatierra and Luis Calvo and will have Cubans Noslen Díaz and Jorge Alayo as their quarterfinal opponents.

Williams Russell CAN

Results Tuesday, October 24:

MacNeil/Russell (CAN) 2-0 (21-14, 21-16) Hannibal/Llambías (URU)

George/André (BRA) 2-0 (21-14, 21-14) Giuliano/Gonzalo (PAR)

León/Tenorio (ECU) 2-0 (23-21, 21-19) Salvatierra/Calvo (BOL)

Sarabia/Virgen (MEX) 2-0 (21-19, 21- ) against Noriega/Murray (COL)

Classification 13-16

Mora/López (NCA) 2-0 (21-12, 21-17) D. Dyner/Varela (CRC)

Guatemala/Flores (ESA) 2-0 (21-18, 21-18) Blanco/García GUA

Matches on Wednesday, October 25:

For 13th place

Mora/López (NCA) vs. Guatemala/Flores (ESA)

For 15th place

D. Dyner/Varela (CRC) vs. Blanco/García GUA

Classification 9-12

Salvatierra/Calvo (BOL) vs. Noriega/Murray (COL)

Hannibal/Llambías (URU) vs. Giuliano/Gonzalo (PAR)

Quarterfinals

Smith/Webber (USA) vs. Sarabia/Virgen (MEX)

Díaz/Alayo (CUB) vs. León/Marcos (ECU)

Capogrosso N./Capogrosso T (ARG) vs. George/André (BRA)

Grimalt M./Grimalt E. (CHI) vs. MacNeil/Russell (CAN)

Canada, USA, Mexico, and Brazil await in Women’s Beach Volleyball Quarterfinals

Posted on

SANTIAGO, Chile, October 23, 2023 – Brandie Wilkerson/Melissa Humana-Paredes of Canada, Corinne Quiggle/Sarah Murphy of the United States, Atenas Gutiérrez/Abril Flores of Mexico, and Ana Patricia/Duda of Brazil advanced directly to the quarterfinals of the Women’s Beach Volleyball tournament at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games.

Brandie/Melissa finished undefeated in Group D, after beating Erika Mongelos/Michelle Valiente of Paraguay 2-0 (21-13, 21-8) on day three of competition.

In the other group match, Julibeth Payano/Bethania Almanzar (DOM) prevailed 2-0 (32-30, 21-19) against María Bianchi/Sol Acuña (URU) after a long battle in which both teams saved five set points in the first set.

In Group B, Corinne Quiggle/Sarah Murphy of the United States won 2-0 (24-22, 21-17) against Ana Gallay/Fernanda Pereyra of Argentina, securing the top spot and advancing to the quarterfinals. Lisbeth Allcca/Claudia Gaona (PER) defeated Natalia Girón/Paola Alvarado (GUA) 2-0 (22-20, 21-10).

In Group A, Atenas Gutiérrez and Abril Flores of Mexico defeated Chilean pair Chris Vorpahl/María Rivas 2-0 (21-14, 21-15), securing their ticket to the quarterfinals. The local team will play an elimination match against Diana Ríos/Margarita Guzmán of Colombia, who finished third in Group C.

Karelys Simisterra/Ariana Vilela of Ecuador won 2-0 (21-15, 21-18) against Angel Williams/Kianny Quesada of Costa Rica, taking third place in the group.

In Group C, Ana Patricia and Duda of Brazil claimed the top spot after a 2-0 (21-15, 21-11) victory over María González/Allanis Navas (PUR), while the Colombian pair Diana/Margarita defeated Yvone Soler/Laura Molina (ESA) 2-0 (21-13, 21-10).

Brandie Wilkerson y Mellisa Humana-Paredes CAN

These are the Round of 12 matches scheduled for Tuesday; the winners will advance to Wednesday’s quarterfinals:

Gallay/Pereyra (ARG) vs. Payano/Almanzar (DOM); the winners will face Mexico.

González/Navas (PUR) vs. Karelys/Ariana (ECU); the winners will go against Canada.

Erika/Michelle (PAR) vs. Peru (Allcca/Gaona); the winners will face Brazil.

Rivas Zapata/Chris (CHI) will compete against Diana/Margarita G (COL); the winners will take on the United States.

Classification for 13th-16th place:

Bianchi/Acuña (URU) vs. Williams/Quesada (CRC)

N. Girón/Alvarado (GUA) against Soler/Molina (ESA)

USA, Cuba, Argentina, and Chile advance in Men’s Beach Volleyball

Posted on

SANTIAGO, Chile, October 23, 2023. – Logan Webber/Hagen Smith of the United States, Noslen Díaz/Jorge Alayo of Cuba, Argentina’s pair Nicolás and Tomás Capogrosso, and cousins Marcos and Esteban Grimalt of Chile advanced to the quarterfinals of the Men’s Beach Volleyball tournament at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games.

In Group B, Smith/Webber of the United States defeated Hans Hannibal/Nicolás Llambías of Uruguay 2-1 (21-16, 19-21, 15-12) to secure the top spot in the group. Ruddy Salvatierra/Luis Calvo of Bolivia won 2-0 (21-15, 21-14) against Andy Leonardo/Luis García from Guatemala.

In Group C, Diaz/Alayo (CUB) triumphed 2-1 (21-16, 18-21, 15-8) against George/André of Brazil to advance to the quarterfinals. Ruddy Salvatierra/Luis Calvo (BOL) won 2-0 (21-16, 21-18) against the duo of Armando Guatemala/Frankñin Flores from ESA.

In Group D, Nicolás and Tomás Capogrosso (ARG) defeated Jake MacNeil/William Russell of Canada 2-0 (21-14, 21-12) and secured the first place in the group and their ticket to the quarterfinals. Dany León/Marcos Tenorio of Ecuador won 2-0 (21-19, 21-14) against Daniel Dyner/Jhostin Varela (CRC) and finished second in the group.

In Group A, M.Grimalt/E. Grimalt (CHI) won 2-0 (21-17, 21-16) against Mexico’s tandem  Miguel Sarabia/Juan Virgen. Giuliano Massare/Gonzalo Melgarejo (PAR) won 2-0 (21-13, 21-17) against Rubén Mora/Dany Lopez (NCA).

Esteban Grimalt y Marco Grimalt CHI

These are the Round of 12 matches scheduled for Tuesday, with the winners advancing to the quarterfinals on Wednesday:

MacNeil/Russell (CAN) vs. Hannibal/Llambías (URU); the winner will face Grimalt M./Grimalt E. (CHI)

George/André (BRA) vs. Giuliano/Gonzalo (PAR), and the winner will go against Capagroso N/Capagrosso T (ARG)

León/Tenorio (ECU) will face Salvatierra/Calvo (BOL), and the winner will face Diaz/Alayo (CUB)

Sarabia/Virgen (MEX) vs. Noriega/Murray (COL), with the winner going against Smith/Webber USA.

Classification for 13th-16th place:

Dyner/Varela CRC – Mora/López (NCA)

Guatemala/Flores ESA- Blanco/García GUA

United States and Argentina advance to the Men’s Quarterfinals

Posted on

SANTIAGO, Chile, October 23, 2023 – Argentinians Nicolás and Tomás Capogrosso and the United States duo of Logan Webber and Hagen Smith have advanced to the quarterfinals of the Men’s Beach Volleyball tournament at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago.

Nicolás and Tomás Capogrosso defeated Canadians Jake MacNeil/William Russell 2-0 (21-14, 21-12), finishing first-place in Group D and their ticket to the quarterfinals scheduled for Wednesday.

In Group B, Smith/Webber from the United States won 2-1 (21-16, 19-21, 15-12) against Hans Hannibal/Nicolás Llambías from Uruguay, securing the top spot in the group.

In the other match in Group D, Dany León/Marcos Tenorio of Ecuador won 2-0 (21-19, 21-14) against Daniel Dyner/Jhostin Varela of Costa Rica, earning the second-place in the group.

Meanwhile, Ruddy Salvatierra/Luis Calvo of Bolivia won 2-0 (21-15, 21-14) against Andy Leonardo/Luis García of Guatemala in Group B.

In the elimination matches scheduled for Tuesday, León/Tenorio (ECU) will face Salvatierra/Calvo (BOL), who finished third in Group B, and MacNeil/Russell (CAN) will face Hannibal/Llambías (URU), the second-place team from Group B.

Canada and the United States secure direct tickets in the Women’s Quarterfinals

Posted on

SANTIAGO, Chile, October 23, 2023 – Brandie Wilkerson/Melissa Humana-Paredes from Canada and Corinne Quiggle/Sarah Murphy from the United States advanced directly to the quarterfinals of the Women’s Beach Volleyball tournament at the 2023 Santiago Pan American Games.

Brandie and Melissa finished undefeated in Group D, beating Paraguay’s dúo of Erika Mongelos/Michelle Valiente, 2-0 (21-13, 21-8) on day three of competition.

In Group B, Corinne Quiggle/Sarah Murphy from the United States defeated Ana Gallay/Fernanda Pereyra from Argentina, 2-0 (24-22, 21-17), for first-place and advancing to the quarterfinals.

Meanwhile, Lisbeth Allcca/Claudia Gaona from Peru prevailed over Guatemala’s Natalia Girón/Paola Alvarado, 2-0 (22-20, 21-10) in Group D.

In the elimination matches scheduled for Tuesday to determine the teams advancing to the quarterfinals, Gallay/Pereyra (ARG) will face Payano/Almanzar (DOM), and Erika/Michelle (PAR) will compete against Allcca/Gaona (PER).

The quarterfinal round will take place on Wednesday at the Beach Volleyball Center in Parque Peñalolén.

Qualification at stake in the Men’s Beach Volleyball at Santiago 2023

Posted on

SANTIAGO, Chile, October 21, 2023 – The Men’s Beach Volleyball Tournament at the 2023 Santiago Pan American Games has reached a point of maximum anticipation where the top positions in each group will be decided on Monday will determine the top positions in each group.

In Group A, Mexicans Miguel Sarabia/Juan Virgen prevailed 2-0 (21-15, 21-17) against Rubén Mora/Dany Lopez (NCA), while Chile’s Marco Grimalt/Esteban Grimalt defeated Giuliano Massare/Gonzalo Melgarejo (PAR) 2-0 (21-18, 21-13).

On Monday, Sarabia/Virgen will clash against the Grimalt cousins, champions of the last edition of the Pan American Games held in Lima in 2019, for first place of group A,

In Group B, Hagen Smith/Logan Webber (USA) had to dig deep to win 2-1 (21-15, 18-21, 15-10) against Andy Leonardo/Luis García (PANAM), while Hans Hannibal/Nicolás Llambías (URU) won 2-0 (21-16, 23-21) against Ruddy Salvatierra/Luis Calvo (BOL).

In Group C, George/Andre (BRA) continued without complications and prevailed 2-0 (21-15, 21-10) against Juan Noriega/Johan Murray (COL). Meanwhile, Noslen Diaz/Jorge Alayo (CUB) comfortably won 2-0 (21-13, 21-12) against Armando Guatemala/Franklin Flores (ESA), setting the stage for Brazil and Cuba to decide the group’s top spot.

In Group D, Canadians Jake MacNeil/William Russell achieved a 2-0 victory (21-11, 21-14) against Daniel Dyner/Jhostin Varela of Costa Rica. Argentinians Nicolás Capogrosso/Tomás Capogrosso won 2-0 (21-17, 21-13) against Dany León/Marcos Tenorio of Ecuador.

This is the most challenging group, as Ecuadorians León/Tenorio’s victory over Canada on the first day of competition, has left Argentina, Canada, and Ecuador with chances of qualification.

George of Brasil

Monday’s Matches:

MacNeil/Russell (CAN) vs Capogrosso N./Capogrosso T. (ARG) 12:30

Smith/Webber (USA) Hannibal/Llambías (URU) 13:00

D. Dyner/Varela (CRC) Leon/Marcos (ECU) 13:30

Blanco/Garcia (GUA) Salvatierra/Calvo (BOL) 14:00

Giuliano/Gonzalo (PAR) Mora/Lopez (NCA) 18:00

George/Andre (BRA) Diaz/Alayo (CUB) 18:30

Noriega/Murray (COL) Guatemala/Flores (ESA) 19:30

Grimalt M./Grimalt E. (CHI) Sarabia/Virgen (MEX) 20:00

Eight pairs secured their second consecutive victory in Women’s Beach Volleyball at Santiago 2023

Posted on

SANTIAGO, Chile, October 22, 2023 – Eight pairs secured their second consecutive victory in the Women’s Beach Volleyball tournament at the 2023 Santiago Pan American Games, and on Monday they will compete for a spot in the quarterfinals.

The leaders of each group will advance directly to the quarterfinals, while the second-place teams will face the third-place teams for the remaining quarterfinal spots.

In Group A, Chile’s María Rivas/Chris Vorpahl defeated Karelys Simisterra/Ariana Vilela (ECU) 2-1 (21-17, 16-21, 18-16), snatching three match points for the Ecuadorian team. On Monday, they will face the Mexican pair of Abril Flores/Atenas Gutierrez, who also won their Sunday match against Angel Williams/Kianny Quesada (CRC) by a 2-0 (21-12, 21-9) score.

In Group B, Corinne Quiggle/Sarah Murphy of the United States obtained their second victory by defeating Natalia Girón/Paola Alvarado (PANAM) 2-0 (21-13, 21-11); while Ana Gallay/Fernanda Pereyra (ARG) defeated Lisbeth Allcca/Claudia Gaona of Peru 2-0 (21-16, 21-15).

In Group C, the Brazilian pair Ana Patrícia/Duda won 2-0 (21-13, 21-10) against Diana Ríos/Margarita Guzmán (COL). Meanwhile, María Gonzalez/Alanis Navas of Puerto Rico triumphed 2-0 (21-16, 21-11) against Yvonne Soler/Laura Molina (ESA).

In Group D, Brandie Wilkerson/Melissa Humana-Paredes (CAN) won their second match  defeating Julibeth Payano/Bethania Almanzar (DOM) 2-0 (22-20, 21-16). Erika Mongelos/Michelle Valiente (PAR) won 2-0 (21-8, 21-15) against Isabel Bianchi/Sol Acuña of Uruguay.

Angela Williams y Kianny Araya of Costa Rica

Monday’s Schedule:

Brandie/Melissa (CAN) vs Erika/Michelle (PAR) 10:30

Quiggle/Murphy (USA) vs Gallay/Pereyra (ARG) 11:00

Payano/Almanzar (DOM) vs Bianchi/Acuña (URU) 11:30

N. Giron/Alvarado (GUA) vs Allcca/Gaona (PER) 12:00

Ana Patrícia/Duda (BRA) vs Gonzalez/Navas (PUR) 16:30

Karelys/Ariana (ECU) vs Williams/Quesada (CRC) 17:00

Diana/Margarita G (COL) vs Soler/Molina (ESA) 17:30

Rivas Zapata/Chris (CHI) vs Gutierrez/Flores (MEX) 19:00

Women make a strong start in Beach Volleyball at Santiago 2023

Posted on

SANTIAGO, Chile, October 21, 2023.- The women’s beach volleyball tournament of the Pan American Games Santiago 2023 kicked off on Saturday, October 21, with the top-ranked pairs securing their victories without much trouble.

In Group A, the local duo Maria Rivas/Chris Vorpahl defeated Angel Williams/Kianny Quesada (CRC) with a 2-0 (21-12, 21-17) victory. After a closely contested start, Rivas/Vorpahl capitalized on their strong service to pull ahead, supported by a crowd of fans who filled the Beach Volleyball Center at Peñalolén Park.

Meanwhile, Atenas Gutierrez/Abril Flores (MEX) had to step up the pace against their opponents, ending with a 2-0 (21-19, 21-17) win over Karelys Simisterra/Ariana Vilela (ECU).

In Group B, Corinne Quiggle/Sarah Murphy from the United States overcame Lisbeth Allcca/Claudia Gaona from Peru with a 2-0 (21-13, 21-18) victory. Ana Gallay/Fernanda Pereyra (ARG) won 2-0 (21-11, 21-16) against Natalia Girón/Paola Alvarado (PANAM).

In Group C, Ana Patricia/Duda (BRA) had no difficulties as they easily defeated Yvonne Soler/Laura Molina (ESA) with a 2-0 (21-9, 21-6) win. The Central American and Caribbean champions, María Gonzalez/Alanis Navas from Puerto Rico, secured a 2-0 (21-15, 21-10) victory over Diana Ríos/Margarita Guzmán (COL).

In Group D, Brandie Wilkerson/Melissa Humana-Paredes (CAN) won 2-0 (21-11, 21-6) against Isabel Bianchi/Sol Acuña from Uruguay. In an intense match, especially in the first set, Erika Mongelos/Michelle Valiente (PAR) emerged victorious with a 2-0 (22-20, 21-16) result against Julibeth Payano/Bethania Almanzar (DOM).

Alanis Navas PUR

The group stage matches will continue on Sunday:

Brandie/Melissa (CAN) vs Payano/Almanzar (DOM) at 10:30

Erika/Michelle (PAR) vs Bianchi/Acuña (URU) at 11:30

Quiggle/Murphy (USA) vs N. Giron/Alvarado (GUA) at 11:00

Gallay/Pereyra (ARG) vs Allcca/Gaona (PER) at 12:00

Ana Patrícia/Duda (BRA) vs Diana/Margarita G (COL) at 16:30

Gutierrez/Flores (MEX) vs Williams/Quesada (CRC) at 17:00

Gonzalez/Navas (PUR) vs Soler/Molina (ESA) at 17:30

Rivas Zapata/Chris (CHI) vs Karelys/Ariana (ECU) at 19:00

Exciting matchups in the men’s Beach Volleyball at Santiago 2023

Posted on

SANTIAGO, Chile, October 21, 2023.- The men’s Beach Volleyball tournament of the Pan American Games Santiago 2023 kicked off on Saturday, October 21, with some tightly contested matches and others that ended quickly.

In Group A, the pair Miguel Sarabia/Juan Virgen (MEX) staged a comeback after losing the first set to win 2-1 (19-21, 21-14, 15-13) against Giuliano Massare/Gonzalo Melgarejo (PAR). The Mexians were trailing 10-12 in the third set but managed to tie it up and secure the set and the victory.

Meanwhile, the hosts Marco Grimalt/Esteban Grimalt (CHI) closed the day with a 2-0 (21-13, 21-17) victory over Rubén Mora/Dany Lopez (NCA).

In Group B, Hagen Smith/Logan Webber (USA) overcame Ruddy Salvatierra/Luis Calvo (BOL) with a 2-0 (21-15, 21-15) win. Hans Hannibal/Nicolás Llambías (URU) defeated Andy Blanco/Luis García (GUA) with a 2-0 (21-14, 21-13) result.

In Group C, George/Andre (BRA) had no trouble securing a 2-0 (21-7, 21-13) victory over Armando Guatemala/Franklin Flores (ESA). Noslen Diaz/Jorge Alayo (CUB) also won without difficulties, 2-0 (21-8, 21-14), against Juan Noriega/Johan Murray (COL).

In Group D, the Ecuadorian pair, Dany León/Marcos Tenorio, delivered the first surprise of the tournament by defeating the Canadian team of Jake MacNeil/William Russell with a 2-0 (21-18, 22-20) score.

Meanwhile, Argentineans Nicolás Capogrosso/Tomás Capogrosso won 2-0 (21-12, 21-11) against Daniel Dyner/Jhostin Varela from Costa Rica.

Hagen Smith celebrate

Sunday’s matches for the second day:

MacNeil/Russell (CAN) vs D. Dyner/Varela (CRC) at 12:30

Capogrosso N./Capogrosso T. (ARG) vs Leon/Marcos (ECU) at 13:30

Smith/Webber (USA) vs Blanco/Garcia (GUA) at 13:00

Hannibal/Llambías (URU) vs Salvatierra/Calvo (BOL) at 14:00

Sarabia /Virgen (MEX) vs Mora/Lopez (NCA) at 18:00

George/Andre (BRA) vs Noriega/Murray (COL) at 18:30

Diaz/Alayo (CUB) vs Guatemala/Flores (ESA) at 19:30

Grimalt M./Grimalt E. (CHI) vs Giuliano/Gonzalo (PAR) at 20:00

A great atmosphere in Santiago 2023 beach volleyball

Posted on

SANTIAGO, Chile, October 21, 2023. Beach volleyball at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games began this Saturday, October 21, with a large number of fans who filled the Beach Volleyball Center in Peñalolén Park.

On the first day of the day, with four women’s matches and four men’s matches, in women, in group D, Brandie Wilkerson/Melissa Humana-Paredes (CAN) defeated Isabel Bianchi/Sol Acuña, from Uruguay, 2-0 (21-11, 21-6). Erika Mongelos/Michelle Valiente (PAR) won 2-0 (22-20, 21-16) over Julibeth Payano/Bethania Almanzar (DOM).

In group B, Corinne Quiggle/Sarah Murphy, from the USA, beat Lisbeth Allcca/Claudia Gaona, from Peru, 2-0 (21-13, 21-18). Ana Gallay/Fernanda Pereyra (ARG) defeated Natalia Girón/Paola Alvarado (PANAM) 2-0 (21-11, 21-16).

Men’s matches

In group D, the Ecuatorian couple, Dany León/Marcos Tenorio, gave the first surprise of the tournament by beating the Canadians Jake MacNeil/William Russell 2-0 (21-18, 22-20).

Meanwhile, the Argentines Nicolás Capogrosso/Tomás Capogrosso beat Daniel Dyner/Jhostin Varela, from Costa Rica, 2-0 (21-12, 21-11).

In group B, Hagen Smith/Logan Webber (USA) beat Ruddy Salvatierra/Luis Calvo (BOL) 2-0 (21-15, 21-15). Hans Hannibal/Nicolás Llambías (URU) defeated Andy Blanco/Luis García (PANAM) 2-0 (21-14, 21-13).

Spectacular high-level expected at Pan American Beach Volleyball

Posted on

SANTIAGO, Chile, October 20, 2023.- The Beach Volleyball Tournament at the Pan American Games Santiago 2023 will kick off on Saturday at the Beach Volleyball Center in Parque Peñalolén that features two spectacular courts ready for a high-level competition.

The best pairs from the continent come together in pursuit of coveted medals at the Games.

The schedule and competition system were announced to the 32 pairs representing 16 countries in both men’s and women’s, by Ed Drakich, the International Technical Delegate, along with Mushtaque Mohammed and Glenn Quinlan, and Referee Delegate André Trotier.

In the men’s tournament, the local pair Marco and Esteban Grimalt, gold medalists in the last edition of the Games in Lima, will once again face Mexican Juan Virgen, the silver medalist, and Nicolás Capogrosso of Argentina, the bronze medalist.

In women, the golden duo from Lima 2019, Pardon/Cook of the USA, won’t be defending their title, but Corinne Quiggle and Sarah Murphy will represent the United States. Ana Gallay/Fernanda Pereira from Argentina are the only medalists from the 2019 Pan American Games (silver) aiming for a podium finish again.

Brazilian powerhouse Ana Patrícia/Duda Brazil, 2022 World Champions and silver medalists at the recent 2023 World Championship in Tlaxcala, are determined to carry Brazil back to the top of the podium, a feat the South American country hasn’t achieved since 2011 (Brazil finished third in 2015 and 2019).

The Canadian duo of Brandie Wilkerson and Melissa Humana Paredes appears to be strong contenders. Both competed in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics with different partners. Melissa made her Pan American Games debut in Toronto 2015. Melissa and Brandie are bringing experience and will push win a medal for Canada after many years.

Schedule for Saturday, October 21

Women’s Matches

Brandie/Melissa (CAN) will face Bianchi/Acuña from Uruguay at 10:30 a.m. on Court 1.

Followed by, Quiggle/Murphy (USA) against Allcca/Gaona from Peru on Court 2. Erika/Michelle (PAR) will play against Payano/Almanzar (DOM) on Court 2 at 11:30 a.m.

Gallay/Pereira (ARG) will face N. Girón/Alvarado (PANAM) on Court 1 at 12:00 p.m.

In the second block of women’s matches:

Ana Patrícia/Duda (BRA) will face Soler/Molina (ESA) at 4:30 p.m. on Court 2. Gutierrez/Flores (MEX) will compete against Karelys/Ariana (ECU) on Court 1 at 5:00 p.m.

Gonzalez/Navas (PUR) will face Diana/Margarita G (COL) on Court 2 at 5:30 p.m. The local pair, Rivas Zapata/Chris (CHI), will compete against Williams/Quesada (CRC) on Court 1 at 7:00 p.m.

Men’s Matches

MacNeil/Russell (CAN) will face León/Marcos (ECU) on Court 2 at 12:30 p.m. Smith/Webber (USA) will play against Salvatierra/Calvo (BOL) on Court 1 at 1:00 p.m.

Capogrosso N/Capogrosso T (ARG) will compete against D. Dyner/Varela (CRC) on Court 2 at 1:30 p.m. Hannibal/Llambías (URU) will face Blanco/García (PANAM) on Court 1 at 2:00 p.m.

Later in the day:

Sarabia/Virgen (MEX) will compete against Giuliano/Gonzalo (PAR) on Court 1 at 6:00 p.m.

George/Andre (BRA) will face Guatemala/Flores (ESA) on Court 2 at 6:30 p.m. Diaz/Alayo (CUB) will compete against Noriega/Murray (COL) on Court 2 at 7:30 p.m. Grimalt M./Grimalt E. (CHI) will face Mora/Lopez (NCA) on Court 1 at 8:00 p.m.

Pool Distribution

Women

Pool A: Chile, Mexico, Ecuador, Costa Rica

Pool B: United States, Argentina, PANAM SPORT (Guatemala), Peru

Pool C: Brazil, Puerto Rico, Colombia, El Salvador

Pool D: Canada, Paraguay, Dominican Republic, Uruguay

Men

Pool A: Chile, Mexico, Paraguay, Nicaragua

Pool B: United States, Uruguay, PANAM SPORT (Guatemala), Bolivia

Pool C: Brazil, Cuba, Colombia, El Salvador

Pool D: Canada, Argentina, Costa Rica, Ecuador

Melissa and Brandie Canada’s Santiago 2023 Opening Ceremony flag bearers

Posted on

SANTIAGO, Chile, October 20, 2023.- The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) announced that beach volleyball partners Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson will be Team Canada’s flag bearers for the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games Opening Ceremony. 

In the first year of their partnership, Humana-Paredes and Wilkerson are one of the top women’s beach volleyball teams in the world – currently fifth in the FIVB World Rankings. The duo, who were former indoor volleyball teammates at York University, began competing together professionally on the Beach Pro Tour in February. While Humana-Paredes is making her return to the Pan Am Games after debuting in her hometown at Toronto 2015, Wilkerson will be competing at her first Pan Ams in Santiago.

These will be a special Games for Humana-Paredes, whose parents are Chilean. Both women aim to be a positive force on and  off the court. Humana-Paredes has been a member of the Panam Sports Athlete Commission since 2019 and Wilkerson is the co-founder of Project Worthy, a scholarship program aimed at increasing BIPOC representation in volleyball. 

Humana-Paredes and Wilkerson both made their Olympic debuts at Tokyo 2020 with their former partners. Both pairs finished fifth, matching Canada’s best-ever Olympic result in women’s beach volleyball.

Canada has not won a Pan Am Games medal in beach volleyball since 1999. In the sport’s debut at the Pan Ams, Jody Holden and Conrad Leinemann won gold in the men’s event on home sand in Winnipeg. 

The beach volleyball tournaments at Santiago 2023 take place October 21 to 27 (Days 1 to 7) at the Parque Peñalolen. Humana-Paredes and Wilkerson will open play October 21 against Uruguay. 

QUOTES:

“I’m extremely excited and honoured to have this role, to share my story as well as the story of my sport and federation. Honestly I’m just overjoyed. I’ve never experienced an Opening Ceremony before so to be able to do this, and with the person I’d want to do it with the most, is exciting. I’m so extremely proud to be Canadian!”

– Brandie Wilkerson, Team Canada Santiago 2023 Opening Ceremony flag bearer

“This is something that as an athlete you want to do one day and you hope you have the privilege of doing. The fact that I can do it in Chile, which is where my family is from, and that my family will be able to witness it, is extremely meaningful. At multi-sport events like this, I think it’s so important to share stories and to be models of different representations and different body types and different sports and different backgrounds and how we all come together and are united here as one. It gives you a lot of perspective and reminds you of why you’re doing this, and the power of sport. We’ve been part of Team Canada a couple of times, and every time it’s extra special to feel like you’re part of something bigger than yourself.”

– Melissa Humana-Paredes, Team Canada Santiago 2023 Opening Ceremony flag bearer

“When we decide who will carry the Canadian flag at the Pan American Games, we look not only to athletes’ sporting achievements, but the values they demonstrate and their impact on others. Brandie and Melissa are both incredible athletes and inspirational role models. The way they carry themselves both on and off the field of play makes them the perfect choice for this role. I can’t wait to follow them into the Estadio Nacional as they proudly lead the way for Team Canada in the Opening Ceremony.”

– Christine Girard, Team Canada’s Santiago 2023 Chef de Mission 

“These incredible athletes are leaders in all that they do. From their great synergy on the court to their devotion off the field of play as leaders in their community, Brandie and Melissa truly reflect what our delegation stands for. To see them now get to share this experience as teammates will make it all the more special.”

Beach Volleyball brings together 32 teams at Santiago 2023

Posted on

SANTIAGO, Chile, October 17, 2023 – The Beach Volleyball tournament at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games to be held at the Beach Volleyball Center at Peñalolén Park from October 21 to 27 will bring together 32 teams, with 16 pairs per gender.

Teams will compete in a preliminary pool stage, with four groups of four teams in each gender.

The top teams in each pool will advance to the quarterfinals, while the second and third-placed teams will play in the round of 16 to determine the eight best teams in the tournament. From there on, semifinals and medal matches will be played.

Additionally, the teams that finish last in their group will compete for the 13th place, just as the losers in the round of 16 will vie for the 9th place, and those defeated in the quarterfinals will play for the fifth position.

Pool Distribution

Women

Pool A: Chile, Mexico, Ecuador, Costa Rica

Pool B: United States, Argentina, Independent Athletes (Guatemala), Peru

Pool C: Brazil, Puerto Rico, Colombia, El Salvador

Pool D: Canada, Paraguay, Dominican Republic, Uruguay

Men

Pool A: Chile, Mexico, Paraguay, Nicaragua

Pool B: United States, Uruguay, Independent Athletes (Guatemala), Bolivia

Pool C: Brazil, Cuba, Colombia, El Salvador

Pool D: Canada, Argentina, Costa Rica, Ecuador

Pool Stage Schedule

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21

Session 1

Women’s Tournament

10:30. Group D: Canada vs. Uruguay

11:00. Pool B: United States vs. Peru

11:30. Pool D: Paraguay vs. Dominican Republic

12:00. Pool B: Argentina vs. Independent Athletes Team

Men’s Tournament

12:30. Pool D: Canada vs. Ecuador

13:00. Pool B: United States vs. Bolivia

13:30. Pool D: Argentina vs. Costa Rica

14:00. Pool B: Uruguay vs. Independent Athletes Team

Session 2

Women’s Tournament

16:30. Pool C: Brazil vs. El Salvador

17:00. Pool A: Mexico vs. Ecuador

17:30. Pool C: Puerto Rico vs. Colombia

Men’s Tournament

18:00. Pool A: Mexico vs. Paraguay

18:30. Pool C: Brazil vs. El Salvador

Women’s Tournament

19:00. Pool A: Chile vs. Costa Rica

Men’s Tournament

19:30. Pool C: Cuba vs. Colombia

20:00. Pool A: Chile vs. Nicaragua

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 22

Session 1

Women’s Tournament

10:30. Pool D: Canada vs. Dominican Republic

11:00. Pool B: United States vs. Independent Athletes Team

11:30. Pool D: Paraguay vs. Uruguay

12:00. Pool B: Argentina vs. Peru

Men’s Tournament

12:30. Pool D: Canada vs. Costa Rica

13:00. Pool B: United States vs. Independent Athletes Team

13:30. Pool D: Argentina vs. Ecuador

14:00. Pool B: Uruguay vs. Bolivia

Session 2

Women’s Tournament

16:30. Pool C: Brazil vs. Colombia

17:00. Pool A: Mexico vs. Costa Rica

17:30. Pool p C: Puerto Rico vs. El Salvador

Men’s Tournament

18:00. Pool A: Mexico vs. Nicaragua

18:30. Pool C: Brazil vs. Colombia

Women’s Tournament

19:00. Pool A: Chile vs. Ecuador

Men’s Tournament

19:30. Pool C: Cuba vs. El Salvador

20:00. Pool A: Chile vs. Paraguay

MONDAY, OCTOBER 23

Session 1

Women’s Tournament

10:30. Pool D: Canada vs. Paraguay

11:00. Pool B: United States vs. Argentina

11:30. Pool D: Dominican Republic vs. Uruguay

12:00. Pool B: Independent Athletes Team vs. Peru

Men’s Tournament

12:30. Pool D: Canada vs. Argentina

13:00. Pool B: United States vs. Uruguay

13:30. Pool D: Costa Rica vs. Ecuador

14:00. Pool B: Independent Athletes Team vs. Bolivia

Session 2

Women’s Tournament

16:30. Pool C: Brazil vs. Puerto Rico

17:00. Pool A: Ecuador vs. Costa Rica

17:30. Pool C: Colombia vs. El Salvador

Men’s Tournament

18:00. Pool A: Paraguay vs. Nicaragua

18:30. Pool C: Brazil vs. Cuba

Women’s Tournament

19:00. Pool A: Chile vs. Mexico

Men’s Tournament

19:30. Pool C: Colombia vs. El Salvador

20:00. Pool A: Chile vs. Mexico

Dr. Ary Graça praises the World Championship in Tlaxcala and the Mexican Volleyball Federation

Posted on

TLAXCALA, Mexico, October 15, 2023 – FIVB President, Dr. Ary Graça, commended the organization of the 2023 Beach Volleyball World Championship in Tlaxcala, Mexico, during a meeting with the President of the Mexican Volleyball Federation, Jesús Perales Navarro.

The highest volleyball world executive made an assessment of what Mexico represents as a Federation which has been highly positive for the FIVB, as it has demonstrated the capacity to successfully host international events, such as the World Junior Championships, stages of the Beach Volleyball World Tour, and, of course, the current World Championship in Tlaxcala, which is the first to be organized outside of the European continent in the past 20 years.

Dr. Graça emphasized the importance of Mexico as one of the six countries that participated in all the World Junior Volleyball Championships this year, highlighting the future and potential of its teams.

Therefore, for Dr. Graça, future events in Mexico are of great interest, with a focus on supporting the Mexican national teams with world-class coaching staff, as well as future international events to be held in Mexico and its Professional Volleyball League, all fueled by Mexico’s passionate fan base.

“Mexico is on the right path”, Dr. Graça commented. “It’s a work that requires a lot of patience, laying the foundation with the youth categories, and it’s of great interest to continue supporting Mexico’s volleyball” he added.

A look ahead of Beach Volleyball at the Pan American Games

Posted on

SANTIAGO, Chile, October 16, 2023.- The Beach Volleyball double gender tournament at the 2023 Pan American Sports Games will take place at Peñalolén Park in the City of Santiago, Chile, from October 21 to 27.

The Beach Volleyball Center in Peñalolén Park will gather 19 countries competing for seven days.

Beach Volleyball was first introduced to the Pan American Games at the Winnipeg 1999 edition and has been dominated by Brazil in both men and women.

Brazil has won the men’s tournament in two occasions, in Rio De Janeiro 2007 and Guadalajara 2011, of the five times they’ve reached the gold medal match. Emanuel Fernando Scheffler Rego, three-time Olympic medalist, won them both, in 2007 with Ricardo Santos and in 2011 with Alison, both also Olympic medalists.

In the past edition of Lima 2019, Brazil didn’t reach the podium. Canada, Chile, Cuba and Mexico have one gold medal each.

Chilean cousins Marco and Esteban Grimalt won the previous edition, the only medal for Chile and as hosts are targeting to repeat their feat in front of the home crowd.

In women, Brazil won in Winninpeg 1999, Rio De Janeiro 2007 and Guadalajara 2011. Juliana Silva and Larissa França won back-to-back the 2007 and 2011 editions, the duo was world champions in 2011. Argentina, Cuba and the United States have one gold medal each.

USA’s Jace Pardon and Karissa Cook won the previous edition of the Games in Lima 2019.

Men’s Podiums

YEARGOLDSILVERBRONZE
1999Holden/Leinemann CANLula Barbosa/Garrido BRALopes/Neto BRA
2003Alvarez/Rossell CUBLuizão/Paulo Emilio BRAHernández/Papaleo PUR
2007Emanuel/Ricardo BRALoomis/Stolfus USAAlvarez/Munder CUB
2011Alison/Emanuel BRAHernández/Mussa VENEtchegaray/Suárez ARG
2015Ontiveros/Virgen MEXAlvaro/Vitor BRADíaz/Gonzalez CUB
2019Grimalt/Grimalt CHIOntiveros/Virgen MEXCapogrosso/Azaad ARG

Men’s Composite Medals

CountryGoldSilverBronzeTotal
BRA2316
MEX1102
CUB1023
CAN1002
CHI1001
USA0101
VEN0101
ARG0022
PUR0011

Women’s Podiums

YEARGOLDSILVERBRONZE
1999Behar/Bedê BRAPavley/Miller USAAmaral/Huerta MEX
2003Fernández/Larrea CUBGarcía/Gaxiola MEXAna/Larissa BRA
2007Juliana/Larissa BRAFernández/Larrea CUBCandelas/García MEX
2011Juliana/Larissa BRACandelas/García MEXSantiago/Yantín PUR
2015Gallay/Klug ARGFlores/Martínez CUBCarolina/Liliane BRA
2019Pardon/Cook USAGallay/Pereyra ARGAngela/Carolina BRA

Women’s Composite Medals 

CountryGoldSilverBronzeTotal
BRA3036
CUB1203
ARG1102
USA1102
MEX0224
PUR0011

Cheng and Hughes dethrone Duda and Ana Patrícia to become world champions in Mexico

Posted on

TLAXCALA, Mexico, October 15, 2023.- The United States are back at the top of the women’s podium at the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships after 14 years as Kelly Cheng and Sara Hughes triumphed in the 14th edition of the tournament, which came to an end on Sunday in Tlaxcala.

In an exciting gold medal match, Kelly Cheng and Sara Hughes dethroned defending champions Eduarda ‘Duda’ Lisboa and Ana Patrícia Ramos of Brazil, who got to the last day of the event undefeated and with no sets dropped, to secure a two-set (21-16, 24-22) victory. Their compatriots Taryn Kloth and Kristen Nuss took bronze, making the Americans have two teams on the podium for the first time since 1999.

The 2023 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships matches are available on demand on VBTV.

Cheng and Hughes’ world title came in their second stint as partners. The two, who formed the most successful team in the history of American collegiate beach volleyball and took bronze at the 2013 FIVB U21 World Championships, competed together internationally from 2015 to 2018, when they split.

The two reunited at the end of 2022 and have had great success since then, winning four titles in the 12 Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour events before the biggest victory of their careers on Sunday in Tlaxcala.

“I’m just so thankful for Sara,” Cheng reacted. “I’m so proud of her and I just thank God for putting us back together. I’m very thankful to be here.”

The 28-year-old Americans became the third different team from their country to triumph at the World Championships, joining three-time winners Kerri Walsh Jennings and Misty May-Treanor, who won the 2003, 2005 and 2007 editions of the tournament, and April Ross and Jennifer Kessy, who took the title in 2009. The United States have now five golds, trailing Brazil by just one among the women.

Cheng and Hughes’ victory in Tlaxcala also earned the United States a berth at next year’s Paris Olympics. If the two are confirmed to occupy that spot in the Games, it would be the second Olympic appearance for Cheng, who took ninth in Tokyo 2020 with Sarah Sponcil, and the first for Hughes. The new world champions also get to split the 60,000 dollars prize money offered to the winners.

Kelly Cheng and Sara Hughes USA 2023 World Champions

Beach Volleyball World Championships – Results

The bronze medal match at the Tlaxcala Bullring saw a battle between Kloth and Nuss and Australian Olympic medalists Taliqua Clancy and Mariafe Artacho, which was won by the Americans in three sets (15-21, 21-19, 15-8).

The most relevant result of their professional career so far, the bronze medal won in Tlaxcala marked the sixth podium appearance of the Americans in 2023 – they took gold in La Paz and Uberlândia, silver in Hamburg and Paris and bronze in Gstaad on Beach Pro Tour Elite16 tournaments.

Taryn Kloth and Kristen Nuss USA 2023 World Championship Bronze Medalists

“I can’t thank Mexico enough, from the bottom of my heart”, said the 1.73m-tall Nuss, who earned the nickname ‘Chaparrita’ (shorty, in Spanish) from the Mexican fans. “I love my new nickname and we’re definitely going to have a churro and probably a Margherita because it’s Mexico, so why not? We’re also very thankful for all the support we have back home.”

Czechs Ondrej Perusic and David Schweiner won the men’s gold to Sweden’s David Åhman and Jonatan Hellvig in a fantastic three-set (21-15, 17-21, 15-13) battle at the Tlaxcala Bullring. Poland’s Michal Bryl and Bartosz Łosiak took bronze defeating USA’s Theo Brunner and Trevor Crabb in two sets (21-17, 21-18).

USA vs. Brazil rivalry to have another chapter in Tlaxcala final

Posted on

TLAXCALA, Mexico, October 14, 2023.- For the seventh time in 14 editions of the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships and the first since 2011, beach volleyball powerhouses the United States and Brazil will meet in the gold medal match of the event, on Sunday, in Mexico.

Cheng/Hughes and Duda/Ana Patrícia to play for the world title in Mexico on Sunday

Set to start at 16:00 local time (22:00 UTC) at the Tlaxcala Bullring, the decider of the event will reunite Americans Kelly Cheng and Sara Hughes and defending champions Eduarda ‘Duda’ Lisboa and Ana Patrícia Ramos of Brazil. Earlier, at 13:15 local time (19:15 UTC), USA’s Taryn Kloth/Kristen Nuss and Australia’s Taliqua Clancy/Mariafe Artacho will meet for bronze.

Watch the 2023 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships live on VBTV.

The gold medal match in Tlaxcala will be the tie-breaker between the countries when it comes to World Championships finals as each nation has won three of the previous six encounters and also between the two duos, which are even with two triumphs in their four international duels to date. The last final involving South Americans and North Americans was in 2011, when Juliana Felisberta and Larissa França defeated Kerri Walsh Jennings and Misty May-Treanor in Rome.

Brazil, with 17 medals (six golds, five silver and six bronze), and the United States, with 11 (four golds, five silver and two bronze), are the top medal-winners among the women at the World Championships. In each of the 14 editions of the event, there was at least one team from one of the two countries at the podium and only once, in 2013, no Brazilians or Americans played in the final.

The all-American semifinal in Tlaxcala was a match full of ups and downs and turnarounds. Cheng and Hughes, who had lost a match in pool play in Mexico, took down the then-undefeated Kloth and Nuss in the tie-breaker (18-21, 21-12, 15-13) to move forward.

The duel in the semifinals in Tlaxcala marked the sixth time the two teams, who are the heavy favorites to represent the United States at next year’s Paris Olympics, met in 2023. It was the fourth time Cheng and Hughes prevailed over Kloth and Nuss, who had triumphed in the last two encounters.

The 28-year-old Cheng and Hughes, who are in their second stint as partners, continue in great form since they reunited, at the end of 2022. Since they joined forces again, the Americans have won four titles in the 12 Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour events they played, never finishing worse than ninth.

Beach Volleyball World Championships – Match Schedule and Results

In the match that ended the day at the Tlaxcala Bullring, Duda and Ana Patrícia continued their strong run to their second-straight world title, claiming their sixth two-set victory in the tournament, downing Tokyo Olympic silver medalists Clancy and Mariafe 2-0 (21-17, 21-14).

In men, Trevor Crabb and Theo Brunner of the United States will play for the bronze medal against Poland’s Michal Bryl/Bartosz Łosiak at 12:00 local time (18:00 UTC). The gold medal will be at 14:30 local time (20:30 UTC) between Swedisth Åhman/Hellvig and Czechs Perusic/Schweiner.

The Americanas lost in semifinals to Czechia’s Ondrej Perusic/David Schweiner (15-21, 12-21) in semifinals.

Americans Hughes/Cheng and Nuss/Kloth to meet in Semifinals

Posted on

TLAXCALA, Mexico, October 13, 2023.- The women’s semifinals of the 2023 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships will have an All-American duel and a battle between duos from Brazil and Australia on Saturday in Tlaxcala. The matchups were set at the conclusion of the quarterfinal round of the tournament in Mexico, on Friday.

Watch the 2023 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships live on VBTV.

USA’s Kelly Cheng/Sara Hughes and Taryn Kloth/Kristen Nuss will open the semifinals at the Tlaxcala Bullring at 18:00 local time (00:00 UTC, Sunday), with Brazil’s Eduarda ‘Duda’ Lisboa/Ana Patrícia Ramos and Australia’s Taliqua Clancy/Mariafe Artacho meeting two hours later.

The two quarterfinals held in Tlaxcala ended with American duos on top. In the first of them, Cheng and Hughes gave no chance to Brazilians Tainá Bigi and Victoria Lopes, moving forward with a two-set (21-14, 21-16) win.

Prior to the meeting with the Brazilians, Cheng and Hughes had played in tie-breakers in both the Round of 32 and the Round of 16. In the quarterfinals, the two had a stronger start and took control of the match from the beginning.

In the second quarterfinal match of the night in Tlaxcala, Kloth and Nuss dropped their first set in the tournament, but still walked away with a 2-1 (21-17, 19-21, 15-8) over reigning European champions Nina Brunner and Tanja Hüberli of Switzerland.

Taryn Kloth/Kristen Nuss (USA)

Defending champions Duda and Ana Patrícia get to the semifinals as the only team in the entire tournament to have not dropped a single set yet. In their sixth match in Huamantla, the Brazilians topped Dutch Olympians Raisa Schoon and Katja Stam 2-0 (21-16, 21-16) in the quarterfinals.

Their semifinal opponents, Australians Clancy and Mariafe took bronze at the 2019 World Championship. The Tokyo Olympic silver medalists sealed their return to the semifinals with a sweep (22-20, 21-16) of Canadian Olympians Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson in Apizaco.

Beach Volleyball World Championships – Match Schedule and Results

Trevor Crabb and Theo Brunner make it to the semifinals

Posted on

TLAXCALA, Mexico, October 13, 2023.- Trevor Crabb and Theodore Brunner of the United States beat Brazilians Pedro Solberg and Gustavo ‘Guto’ Carvalhaes on Friday to make it into the men’s semifinals of the 2023 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championship.

Watch the 2023 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships live on VBTV.

Besides USA’s Trevor Crabb/Theo Brunner, Poland’s Michal Bryl/Bartosz Łosiak, Sweden’s David Åhman/Jonatan Hellvig and Czechs Ondrej Perusic/David Schweiner also advanced to the semifinals, which will be held on Saturday in Tlaxcala.

The Americans will meet Czechs Ondrej Perusic and David Schweiner who knocked out defending champions Anders Mol and Cristian Sorum of Norway. The other semifinal feature Bryl/Łosiak and Åhman/Hellvig.

Bryl/Łosiak and Åhman/Hellvig will battle in the first semifinal, set to start at 17:00 local time (23:00 UTC), with Perusic/Schweiner meeting Brunner/Crabb two hours later at the Tlaxcala Bullring.

Brunner and Crabb dominated Brazilians Pedro Solberg and Gustavo ‘Guto’ Carvalhaes in two sets (21-17, 21-14) in Huamantla to book their spots in the semifinals.

Trevor Crabb and Theo Brunner (USA) against Brazil

Perusic and Schweiner showed nerves of steel to upset Olympic and world champions Mol and Sørum in the tie-breaker (21-14, 14-21, 15-12) in the quarterfinals.

In the other quarterfinal held in Tlaxcala, Poles Bryl and Łosiak eliminated Americans Miles Partain and Andy Benesh with a straight-set (21-19, 21-16) victory and will both appear in the semifinals of the World Championships for the first time in their careers.

Åhman and Hellvig were pushed to their limits by Dutch Stefan Boermans and Yorick de Groot in Apizaco but managed to secure a three-set (32-30, 22-24, 15-12) win and advance to the semifinals in the first appearance at the World Championship.

Beach Volleyball World Championships – Match Schedule and Results

Canada and two USA teams move into the Women’s quarterfinals

Posted on

TLAXCALA, Mexico, October 12, 2023.- Kloth/Nuss, Hughes/Cheng from the United States and Melissa/Brandie of Canada move into the women’s quarterfinals of the 2023 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championship after the Round of 16 was completed across four Mexican cities on Thursday.

Watch the 2023 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships live on VBTV.

Americans Taryn Kloth and Kristen Nuss continued their march to the medal rounds with a two-set (24-22, 21-14) victory over Brazilians Agatha Bednarczuk and Rebecca Cavalcanti in Tlaxcala.

Competing at the World Championships for the first time, the Americans have eliminated two world champions in the last two days – Canadian Sarah Pavan in the Round of 32 and Agatha in the Round of 16.

In the quarterfinals, Kloth and Nuss will meet reigning European champions Nina Brunner and Tanja Hüberli of Switzerland, who overcame another American duo in the Round of 16, beating Betsi Flint and Julia Scoles in straight sets (21-17, 27-25).

Sara Hughes USA

The second American team in the quarterfinals, Kelly Cheng and Sara Hughes had a tougher path on Thursday, coming from behind to defeat Latvian stars Tina Graudina and Anastasija Samoilova in the tie-breaker (19-21, 21-16, 15-11).

Their quarterfinal opponents, Tainá Bigi and Victoria Lopes also had a dramatic Round of 16 victory in Tlaxcala. The Brazilians got the better of Germans Svenja Müller and Cinja Tillmann, who had defeated them in pool play, winning a tight three-set (21-19, 22-24, 15-13) match and eliminating last year’s bronze medalists.

Canadians Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson also kept their record clean in Mexico, getting their fifth straight-set (21-14, 21-11) victory in the event against Swiss Esmée Böbner and Zoé Vergé-Dépré. They will now face Tokyo Olympic silver medalists Taliqua Clancy and Mariafe Artacho of Australia, who needed the tie-breaker (21-18, 15-21, 15-11) to handle Italians Marta Menegatti and Valentina Gottardi.

Brandie Wilkerson and Melissa Humana-Paredes CAN

Cheng/Hughes and Tainá/Victoria will play in the first quarterfinal, in Tlaxcala, at 17:00 local time (23:00 UTC). One hour later, Clancy/Mariafe and Melissa/Brandie will clash in Apizaco. Tlaxcala will host the third duel of the day, between Kloth/Nuss and Brunner/Hüberli, at 19:00 local time (01:00 UTC, Saturday). The match between Duda/Ana Patrícia and Stam/Schoon will end the day, at 21:00 local time (03:00 UTC).

Beach Volleyball World Championships – Match Schedule and Results

Both USA Men duos make it to Quartefinals

Posted on

TLAXCALA, Mexico, October 12, 2023.- Theo Brunner/Trevor Crabb and Miles Partrain/Andy Benesh of the United States made into the men’s quarterfinals of the 2023 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championship winning thier Round of 16 matches on Thursday.

Watch the 2023 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships live on VBTV.

Theo Brunner and Trevor Crabb topped Australians Thomas Hodges and Zachery Schubert in two sets (21-17, 21-17).

In the quarterfinals, Theo and Trevor will face Brazilians Pedro Solberg/Gustavo ‘Guto’ Carvalhaes who overcame compatriots Evandro Gonçalves/Arthur Lanci in a tie-break (15-21, 24-22, 15-11).

Miles Partain and Andy Benesh beat Italians Alex Ranghieri and Adrian Carambula in straight sets (21-14, 21-17).

Theo Brunner and Trevor Crabb USA

Partrain and Benesh will meet Poles Michal Bryl and Bartosz Łosiak in Friday’s quarterfinals. The Poles eliminated Germans Nils Ehlers and Clemens Wickler in two sets (21-18, 21-16).

Also advancing, reigning Olympic and world champions Anders Mol and Christian Sørum of Norway beat Italians Paolo Nicolai and Samuele Cottafava 2-0 (21-19, 21-17) in the Round of 16 and will now play Czechs Ondrej Perusic and David Schweiner, who prevailed over Italians Daniele Lupo and Enrico Rossi in two sets (21-15, 21-17).

Stefan Boermans/Yorick de Groot of the Netherlands obtained a three-set (21-18, 16-21, 15-13) victory over compatriots Matthew Immers/Steven Van de Velde, and will now face David Åhman and Jonatan Hellvig of Sweden who eliminated Alexander Brouwer and Robert Meeuwsen of the Netherlands with a two-set (21-13, 21-11) victory.

The men’s quarterfinals will start in Tlaxcala, at 16:00 local time (22:00 UTC) and will continue with matches in Tlaxcala at 18:00 local time (00:00 UTC, Saturday) and Apizaco at 19:00 local time (01:00 UTC, Saturday) before concluding with an encounter in Huamantla at 20:00 local time (00:20 UTC, Saturday).

Beach Volleyball World Championships – Match Schedule and Results

Seven NORCECA teams make it to the Round of 16 in Mexico

Posted on

TLAXCALA, Mexico, October 11, 2023.- Seven NORCECA teams remain in competition at the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championship in Tlaxcala, advancing into Thursday’s Round of 16.

Watch the 2023 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships live on VBTV.

USA’s Theo Brunner and Trevor Crabb eliminated an Australian duo and will now face another one from the same country in the Round of 16. They defeated Chris McHugh and Paul Burnett in two sets (21-15, 21-17) on Wednesday and will now meet Thomas Hodges and Zachery Schubert, who overcame Canadians Sam Schachter and Dan Dearing 2-0 (21-16, 24-22).

Another American duo, Andy Benesh and Miles Partain triumphed over Poles Piotr Kantor and Jakub Zdybek in straight sets (21-17, 21-16) and will face Italians Adrian Carambula and Alex Ranghieri in the Round of 16 who beat China’s Ha Likejiang and Wu Jiaxinin 2-0 (21-17, 25-23).

Trevor Crabb USA

In the women’s field, Taryn Kloth and Kristen Nuss of the United States, still undefeated in Mexico, advanced to the next round with a sweep (23-21, 21-12) of Canadians Sarah Pavan and Molly McBain. They will now face Brazilians Agatha and Rebecca.

The United States will have another team in the Round of 16, in Terese Cannon and Megan Kraft, who advanced with a three-set (22-24, 24-22, 15-12) win over Brazilians Andressa Cavalcanti and Vitoria Rodrigues. Their next opponents will be Dutch Raisa Schoon and Katja Stam, who knocked out the European Championship silver medalists, Daniela Álvarez and Tania Moreno of Spain, in straight sets (34-32, 23-21).

Americans Kelly Cheng and Sara Hughes, who overcame the Austrian Klinger sisters Ronja and Dorina in the tie-breaker (27-25, 19-21, 15-9) will face Latvians Tina Graudina and Anastasija Samoilova, who topped China’s Jie Dong/Fan Wang 2-0 (21-14, 21-17).

Kelly Cheng USA attacks against Austria

Another American team, formed by Betsi Flint and Julia Scoles, also made it to the Round of 16 with a two-set (23-21, 21-8) win over Czechs Barbora Hermannová and Marie-Sara Štochlová. Their next opponents will be reigning European champions Nina Brunner and Tanja Hüberli of Switzerland, who topped Poland’s Jagoda Gruszczynska/Aleksandra Wachowicz in two sets (21-16, 21-14).

Brandie Wilkerson/Melissa Humana-Paredes and Esmée Böbner/Zoé-Vergé-Dépré will meet in the last Round of 16 duel. The Canadians advanced with a sweep (21-17, 21-17) of Finland’s Taru Lathi/Niina Ahtiainen while the Swiss knocked out French Lézana Placette and Alexia Richard also in two sets (26-24, 21-16).

The eight Round of 16 duels will be held on Thursday, during the afternoon, in Mexico, with Tlaxcala hosting half of the matches per gender and Huamantla and Apizaco welcoming two encounters each per gender.

Beach Volleyball World Championships – Match Schedule and Results

Pavan/McBain and Evans/Budinger advance to the Round of 32 in Mexico

Posted on

TLAXCALA, Mexico, October 10, 2023.- Canadians Sarah Pavan and Molly McBain and USA’s Miles Evans and Chase Budinger earned a second chance at the 2023 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships on Tuesday by winning their ‘lucky loser’ matches in Mexico and remaining alive in the tournament.

With 32 of the 48 teams that started the tournament in contention, the Round of 32 will be played on Wednesday across the cities of Tlaxcala, Apizaco and Huamantla, opening the elimination rounds of the event, which will continue until Sunday, when the medal matches will be held.

Reuniting the eight lower-ranked third-placed teams from the pool stage, the ‘lucky loser’ round featured four matches per gender on Tuesday.

In the women’s field Olympian Sarah Pavan with partner Molly McBain defeated Ariana/Karelys of Ecuador 2-0 (21-13, 21-10) in Tlaxcala.

Mexicans Atenas Gutiérrez and Abril Flores were eliminated after falling 1-2 (18-21, 21-19, 10-15) against Klinger D./Klinger R. from Austria.

In Apizaco, Americans Miles Evans and Chase Budinger eliminated the last Mexican team in the event, defeating Juan Virgen and Miguel Sarabia 2-0 (24-22, 21-19).

Evans/Budinger (USA) v Sarabia/Virgen (MEX)

NORCECA teams still in competition: WOMEN Kristen Noth/Taryn Kloth USA, Sara Hughes/Kelly Cheng USA, Melissa Humana-Paredes/Brandie Wilkerson CAN, Julia Scoles/Betsi Flint USA, Terese Cannon/Megan Kraft USA, Sarah Pavan/Molly McBain CAN. MEN Miles Partrain/Andrew Benesh USA, Trevor Crabb/Theodore Brunner USA, Jorge Luis Alayo/Noslen Diaz CUB, Samuel Schachter/Daniel Dearing CAN, Miles Evans/Chase Budinger USA.

Cuba’s Alayo/Diaz and Canada’s Schachter/Dearing move forward in Tlaxcala

Posted on

TLAXCALA, Mexico, October 10, 2023.- Cuba’s Jorge Alayo/Noslen Diaz and Canada’s Sam Schachter/Daniel Dearing advanced to the Round of 32 at the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championship in Tlaxcala, Mexico.

Watch the 2023 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships live on VBTV.

Jorge Alayo and Noslen Diaz topped pool I with two victories and one loss, after beating Mexico’s Ricardo Galindo and Oziel Aguirre 2-0 (21-18, 21-11) on Monday.

Sam Schachter/Daniel Dearing beat Abicha/El Azhari of Morocco 2-0 (21-19, 21-10) to claim second place in pool L with a 2-1 record.

Mexico’s Miguel Sarabia and Juan Virgen finished third place in pool L after falling 0-2 (24-26, 17-21) to Vitor Felipe/Renato of Brazil.

Sarabia and Virgen will play the ‘lucky loser’ round on Tuesday against Miles Evans and Chase Budinger of the United States for another chance to make it into the Round of 32, which will be held on Wednesday.

Beach Volleyball World Championships – Match Schedule and Results

In the women’s field, Americans Terese Cannon and Megan Kraft (2-1) also advanced winning pool I after beating Xue/X.Y. Xia of China 2-0 (22-20, 21-14).

Making it into the ‘lucky loser’ round are Canadians Sarah Pavan and Molly McBain, and Mexicans Atenas Gutierrez and Abril Flores. Pavan/McBain beat Allanis Navas and Maria Gutierrez of Puerto Rico 2-0 (21-19, 21-12) to finish third in pool H. Gutierrez/Flores, third in pool L after falling to Swiss Vergé-Depré A./Mäder.

On Tuesday, Pavan and McBain will face Ariana/Karelys of Ecuador, while Gutierrez and Flores play Klinger D./Klinger R. of Austria, for a spot in the Round of 32.  

Three USA Men duos move forward in Tlaxcala

Posted on

TLAXCALA, Mexico, October 9, 2023.- American duos Andy Benesh/Miles Partain, Theo Brunner/Trevor Crabb, and Chase Budinger/Miles Evans, became on Sunday one of the first men’s teams to advance to the elimination rounds in the Tlaxcala 2023 Beach Volleyball World Championship.

Benesh and Partrain, with three wins in their three Pool C matches in Tlaxcala, the winners of this year’s Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Gstaad Elite16 finished in first place in the pool and completed the first round of the tournament undefeated.

Watch the 2023 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships live on VBTV.

On Sunday, at the Tlaxcala Bullring, the 28-year-old Benesh and the 21-yer-old Partain trailed for the first time in the event but raised their game to beat French Youssef Krou and Arnaud Gauthier-Rat 2-1 (16-21, 21-15, 15-10) in a rainy match to keep their clean record.

Ranked fourth in the FIVB Beach Volleyball Men’s World Rankings, the Americans now focus on the Round of 32, which begins on Wednesday.

One of the toughest pools in the event, Pool D had a lot of turnarounds on Sunday before ending with Americans Theo Brunner and Trevor Crabb in first place and Ukrainians Sergiy Popov and Eduard Reznik in second place. Last-minute entrants Chase Budinger and Miles Evans of the United States finished third and continue in the tournament.

Beach Volleyball World Championships – Match Schedule and Results

Pool play will be completed on Monday, when 16 men’s matches will be played and the remaining eight pools will be set. The ‘lucky loser’ round will be played on Tuesday, ahead of the Round of 32, on Wednesday.

Results:

Benesh/Partrain 2-0 (21-9, 21-14) v Peter/Hernan (FIVB); 2-0 (23-21, 21-17) v Mol H./Berntsen (NOR); 2-1 (16-21, 21-15, 15-10) v Krou/Gauthier-Rat (FRA).

Crabb Tr/Brunner 1-2 (20-22, 21-18, 7-15) v Popov/Reznik (UKR); 2-0 (21-18, 21-18) v Evans/Budinger (USA); 2-1 (19-21, 21-19, 15-12) v George/Andre (BRA).

Evans/Budinger (USA) 0-2 (17-21, 22-24) v Geroge/Andre (BRA); 0-2 (18-21, 18-21) v Crabb Tr/Brunner (USA); 2-0 (21-15, 21-11) v Popov/Reznik (UKR).

Four NORCECA Women teams with 2-0 record guaranteed to move on in Tlaxcala

Posted on

TLAXCALA, Mexico, October 9, 2023.- With two wins, Americans Taryn Kloth/Kristen Nuss, Sarah Hughes/Kelly Cheng and Julia Scoles/Betsi Flint, and Canadians Brandie Wilkerson/Melissa Humana-Paredes are guaranteed a spot in the Round of 32 in the 2023 Tlaxcala 2023 Beach Volleyball World Championship.

With two wins in their first matches in Tlaxcala, the four teams are one of the 12 women’s duos that clinched a spot in the elimination rounds of the event one day ahead of time, on Sunday.

Watch the 2023 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships live on VBTV.

With still one match left to complete the preliminary round, Nuss/Kloth and Hughes/Cheng, the numbers 2 and 3 ranked team of the event, lead pool B and Ce respectively. Melissa/Brandie are on top of pool D and Scoles/Flint of pool J.

Pool play concludes on Monday, with the last 24 matches (two in each pool) completing the schedule for the opening round of the tournament. At the end of the day, the 28 teams that will advance directly to the Round of 32 and the eight that will have to play the ‘lucky loser’ round will be known. The ‘lucky loser’ round will be played on Tuesday, ahead of the Round of 32, on Wednesday.

Beach Volleyball World Championships – Match Schedule and Results

Results:

Nuss/Kloth 2-0 (21-15, 21-15) v Akiko/Yurika (JPN); 2-0 (21-19, 21-19) v Paulikiene/Raupelyte (LTU).
Hughes/Cheng 2-0 (21-4, 21-10) v Albarran/Vidaurrazaga (MEX); 2-0 (21-17, 21-12) v Ittlinger/Borger (GER).
Melissa/Brandie 2-0 (21-9, 21-10) v Yakki/Mahassine (MAR); 2-0 (21-14, 21-10) v Erika/Michelle (PAR).
Scoles/Flint 2-0 (21-17, 21-14) v Klinger D./Klinger R. (AUT); 2-0 (21-4, 21-11) v Quesada/Williams (CRC).  

Historic Beach Volleyball World Championship in Tlaxcala starts Friday

Posted on

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, October 3, 2023.- The pool phase of the 2023 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Champions is fully set to start with 96 teams representing 40 different countries to compete in Mexico from October 6-15.

Marking the return of the event to Latin America for the first in two decades, the 14th edition of the World Championship will be played across four venues in the cities of Tlaxcala, Huamantla and Apizaco and will include as many as 216 matches – half in each gender.

Watch the 2023 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championship live on VBTV.

The men’s and women’s winners will each earn a spot at the Paris 2024 Olympics for their countries as well as a share of the $ 1 million prize money.

During the first phase of the tournament, teams in each of the 12 pools will play in a round-robin format. The top two teams in each pool and the best four teams that rank third in their respective pools will move directly to the Round of 32.

The remaining eight third-placed tandems will play a four-match lucky loser round to fill the last four spots in the elimination rounds. From the Round of 32 forward, the tournament continues on a single elimination format, with the Round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals and medal matches.

These are the teams representing NORCECA:

MEN

Miles Partrain/Andrew Benesh (3) USA, Miguel Sarabia/Juan Virgen (12) USA, Chaim Schalk/Tri Bourne (19) USA, Trevor Crabb/Theodore Brunner (21) USA, Jorge Luis Alayo/Noslen Diaz (33) CUB, Samuel Schachter/Daniel Dearing (36) CAN, Ricardo Galindo/Isaias Oziel Aguirre (40) MEX, Jorge Barajas/Gabriel Cruz (41) MEX, Andy Alexis Blanco/Luis Garcia (42) GUA, Ruben Mora/Dany Lopez (44) NCA.

WOMEN

Kristen Noth/Taryn Kloth (2) USA, Sara Hughes/Kelly Cheng (3) USA, Melissa Humana-Paredes/Brandie Wilkerson (4) CAN, Atenas Gutierrez/Abril Castro (12) MEX, Julia Scoles/Betsi Flint (15) USA, Terese Cannon/Megan Kraft (16) USA, Sarah Pavan/Molly McBain (32) CAN, Alexandra Klineman/Hailey Harward (38) USA, Kianny Araya Quesada/Angel Williams (39) CRC, Susan Torres/Ivanna Rivera (40) MEX, Allanis Navas/Maria Gonzalez (41) PUR, Bethania Almanzar/Julibeth Payano (44) DOM, Esperanza Albarran/Yeray Vidaurrazaga (46) MEX.

Follow the tournament here  2023 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championship 

Nuss & Kloth finish second at Paris Elite16

Posted on

PARIS, France, October 2, 2023.- For a second consecutive time, after the Hamburg Elite16 in August, Taryn Kloth & Kristen Nuss of the United States lost to top-seeded Duda/Ana Patricia of Brazil in the women’s final to settle for silver, their second on the Tour.

The second-seeded Americans also have four gold and one bronze medal in their showcase.

The Paris Elite16 Beach Por Tour took place at Roland-Garros Stadium from September 27 to October 1.

The Paris bronze went to last year’s Paris Elite16 winners Katja Stam & Raisa Schoon of the Netherlands, who won 2-0 (21-17, 22-20) over Gottardi & Megegatti of Italy.

Taryn Kloth & Kristen Nuss

In Sunday’s gold medal game, Ana Patricia & Duda and Nuss & Kloth engaged in a three-set battle at the end of which the Brazilians celebrated a 2-1 (21-10, 18-21, 15-13) victory. The South Americans were really convincing during the first set to win it by a wide margin, but the North Americans came back to gain control in the second, level the match and push it to a tie-breaker.

In semifinals, Nuss & Kloth beat Italians Gottardi & Menegatti 2-0 (21-13, 21-17).  

VW Beach Pro Tour Paris Elite16: all results

NORCECA teams final standings

Women: 2. Nuss/Kloth (USA), 5. Melissa/Brandie (CAN), Hughes/Cheng (USA), 9. Scoles/Flint, 13. Cannon/Kraft, 17, Pavan/McBain, 21. Alix/Harward.

Men: 9. Partrain/Benesh (USA), 17. Crabb Tr./Brunner, 21. Evans/Brudinger (USA), Schalk/Bourne.

The United States wins men’s gold in Punta Cana

Posted on

PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic, October 1, 2023.- In a match that went to the maximum of three sets, the United States couple Timothy Brewster/Kyle Friend took top honors in the Punta Cana Volleyball Classic for the second consecutive year, defeating the Canada duo Jake MacNeil/William Russell 2-1 (21-14, 16-21, 15-11).

The bronze also went to the United States with the Hagen Smith/Logan Webber duo that defeated the Mexicans Ricardo Galindo/Isaías Aguirre 2-0 (22-20, 21-13).

Fifth place was occupied by the Canadian pair Arran Chambers/Liam Kopp who beat the Guatemalan duo Andy Blanco/Luis García 2-0 21-15, 21-11).

The Dominicans Hayerling De Jesús/Oscar Martínez finished seventh by dispatching Eddy Toro/Gregory De La Cruz of Aruba in two sets (21-19, 21-19), while Robert Cronshaw/Bryce Mayer of the Virgin Islands finished ninth after winning their match against the Dominicans Jorge Rosario/Rolvin Maldonado 2-0 (21-16, 21-15).

Timothy Brewster/Kyle Friend USA

Eleventh position went to the Costa Ricans Daniel Dyner/Jhostin Varela who defeated Zendai Richards/Shawn Seabrookes from Saint Kitts 2-0 (21-16, 21-16).

The other results of the day were:

Jake MacNeil/William Russell (CAN) d Ricardo Galindo/Isaías Aguirre 2-0 21-16, 21-15), Timothy Brewster/Kyle Friend USA) d Hagen Smith/Logan Webber 2-0 (21-9, 21-16 ), Daneil Williams/Fabien Whitfield (TTO) d Christopher Oxford/Isaac Nelson (GRN) 2-0 (21-6, 21-14), Arran Chambers/Liam Kopp (CAN) d Eddy Toro/Gregory De La Cruz (ARU ) 2-0 (21-16, 21-15), Andy Blanco/Luis García (GUA) d Hayerling De Jesús/Oscar Martínez (DOM) 2-1 (19-21, 21-16, 21-15).

Puerto Rico takes gold in Punta Cana

Posted on

PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic, October 1, 2023.- The Puerto Rican duo Allanis Navas/María González won the gold medal this sunday at the Fourth Stop of the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour 2023 after beating the team of USA Lexy Denaburg/Molly Turner 2-0 (23-21, 21-11).

The bronze was won by the other pair from the United States Corine Quiggle/Sarah Murphy who defeated the Dominican Republic duo Bethania Almanzar/Julibeth Payano 2-0 (21-15, 21-19).

In fifth position were the Canadians Dana Roskic/Calinda Kok who defeated the Mexicans Esperanza Albarrán/Yeray Vidaurrazaga 2-0 (21-17,21-18).

The Costa Ricans Angel Williams/Kianny Quesada finished seventh, defeating Guatemala Natalia Girón/Paola Alvarado 2-1 (18-21, 21-17, 15-12).

Allanis Navas of Puerto Rico digs

The other Canadian duo Lea Monkhouse/Marie-AlexBelanger finished ninth, beating the Virgin Islands Melanie Valenciana/Taylor Buckner 2-0 (21-10, 21-8), while the eleventh position was occupied by the Dominicans Crismil Paniagua/Nallelin Taveras who they beat Suraya Chase/Phylecia Armstrong 2-0 21-17, 21-5).

The other results of the day were:

Kathya Vasquez/Sofía Velasquez (ESA) d Britney Choon/Tsyan Selvon (TTO) 2-0 (21-11, 21-16), Lexy Denaburg/Molly Turner (USA) d Corine Quiggle/Sarah Murphy (USA) 2-0 (21-14, 21-13), Allanis Navas/María González (PUR) d Bethania Almanzar/Julibeth Payano (DOM) 2-0 (21-13, 21-10), Esperanza Albarrán/Yeray Vidaurrazaga (MEX) d Natalia Girón/Paola Alvarado (GUA) 2-0 (21-11, 21-12), Dana Roskic/Calinda Kok (CAN) d Angel Williams/Kianny Quesada (CRC) 2-1 (18-21, 21-13, 15 -9).

Two American duos, Mexico and Canada advance to the Semifinal in Punta Cana

Posted on

PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic, September 30, 2023.- The United States pairs formed by Timothy Brewster/Kyle Friend and Hagen Smith/Logan Webber, the Canadians Jake MacNeil/William Russell and the Mexicans Ricardo Galindo/Isaías Aguirre advanced this Saturday to the Semifinal of the fourth stop of the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour 2023.

Timothy Brewster/Kyle Friend defeated the Canadians Arran Chambers/Liam Kopp 2-0 (21-11, 21-19) in the Quarterfinals, while Hagen Smith/Logan Webber defeated the Dominicans Hayerling De Jesús/Oscar Martínez 2- 0 21-14, 21-16).

The Canadian duo Jake MacNeil/William Russell dispatched Andy Blanco/Luis García of Guatemala in two sets (21-17, 21-15), while the pair of Ricardo Galindo/Isaías Aguirre of Mexico defeated Eddy Toro/Gregory De La Cruz of Aruba 2-0 (21-11, 21-11).

The two United States teams will meet in one of the Semifinals and Mexico and Canada will collide in the other.

The Semifinals will be played this Sunday in the morning.

The other results of the day were:

Ricardo Galindo/Isaías Aguirre (MEX) d Daniel Dyner/Jhostin Varela (CRC) 2-0 (21-17, 22-20), Hagen Smith/Logan Webber (USA) d Zendai Richards/Shawn Seabrookes (SKN) 2-0 (21-6, 21-11), Andy Blanco/Luis García (GUA) d Robert Cronshaw/Bryce Mayer (ISV) 2-0 (21-12, 21-19), Arran Chambers/Liam Kopp (CAN) d Christopher Oxford/Isaac Nelson (GRN) 2-0 (21-14, 21-9), Jake MacNeil/William Russell (CAN) d Daneil Williams/Fabien Whitfield (TTO) 2-0 (21-15, 21-10), Timothy Brewster/Kyle Friend (USA) d Jorge Rosario/Rolvin Maldonado (DOM) 2-0 (21-14, 21-9), Robert Cronshaw/Bryce Mayer (ISV) d Zendai Richards/Shawn Seabrookes (SKN) 2-0 (21-11, 21-18) and Jorge Rosario/Rolvin Maldonado (DOM) d Daniel Dyner/Jhostin Varela 2-0 (24-22, 21-14).

Two couples from the United States, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico are in the Punta Cana Semifinals

Posted on

PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic, September 30, 2023.- Corine Quiggle/Sarah Murphy and Lexy Denaburg/Molly Turner from USA, accompanied by the Dominicans Bethania Almanzar/Julibeth Payano and Allanis Navas/María González from Puerto Rico are in the Semifinals of Women of the fourth stop of the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour 2023 in Punta Cana.

The two couples from USA will face each other this Sunday in the first Semifinal, while in the other Semifinal, the Dominican Republic will clash with Puerto Rico.

Corine Quiggle and Sarah Murphy advanced to the Semifinals by beating Katherine Albarrán and Yerai Vidaurrazaga of Mexico 2-0 (21-13, 21-15), while Lexy Denaburg and Molly Turner dispatched Canadians Dana Roskic and Calinda Kok 2-0 ( 21-15, 21,17).

The Dominicans Bethania Almanzar and Julibeth Payano achieved their place by defeating the Costa Ricans Angel Williams and Kianny Quesada in the Quarterfinals 2-0 (23-21, 21-13), while Allanis Navas and María Gonzalez from Puerto Rico advanced by beating Natalia Girón and Paola Alvarado of Guatemala 2-0 (21-10, 21-15).

The other results of the day were:

Angel Williams/Kianny Quesada (CRC) d Natalia Girón/Paola Alvarado (GUA) 2-1 (16-21, 21-13, 16-14), Suraya Chase/Phylecia Armstrong (TTO) d Keshanice Mitchell/Thornia Mitchell (GRN) ) 2-1 (19-21, 21-14, 15-6), Katherine Albarrán/Yerai Vidaurrazaga (MEX) d Lea Monkhouse/Marie-Alex Belanger (CAN) 2-0 (21-10, 21-15), Allanis Navas/María Gonzalez (PUR) d Bethania Almanzar/Julibeth Payano (DOM) 2-0 (22-20,21-11), Lexy Denaburg/Molly Turner (USA) d Britney Choon/ Tsyan Selvon (TTO) 2-0 (21-5, 21-3), Corine Quiggle/Sarah Murphy (USA) d KathyaVasquez/Sofía Velasquez (ESA) 2-0 (21-8, 21-6), Dana Roskic/Calinda Kok (CAN) d Crismil Paniagua /Nallelin Taveras (DOM) 2-0 (21-19, 21-15), Britney Choon/ Tsyan Selvon (TTO) d Keshanice Mitchell/Thornia Mitchell (GRN) 2-1 (21-11, 20-22, 15- 10), Lea Monkhouse/Marie-Alex Belanger (CAN) d Suraya Chase/Phylecia Armstrong (TTO) 2-0 (21-15, 21-10) and Melanie Valenciana/Taylor Buckner (ISV) d Crismil Paniagua/Nallelin Taveras ( SUN) 2-0 (21-12, 21-15).

Costa Ricans Williams/Quezada, Guatemalans Girón/Alvarado and Quiggle/Murphy from the United States with two wins

Posted on

PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic, September 29, 2023.- The Costa Rican couples of Angel Williams/Kianny Araya, Guatemala’s Natalia Girón/Paola Alvarado and the USA couple Corinne Quiggle/Sarah Murphy achieved two wins at the start of the fourth stop of the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour 2023 that is played on the courts located on Los Corales Beach in Punta Cana.

The Costa Rican duo Angel Williams/Kianny Araya achieved their two wins after beating Keshanice Mitchell/Thornia Mitchell of Granada 2-0 (21-10, 21-6) and Suraya Chase/Phylecia Armstrong of Trinidad Tobago 2-0 (21 -8, 21-21-11).

The Guatemalan duo of Natalia Girón/Paola Alvarado defeated Suraya Chase/Phylecia Armstrong of Trinidad Tobago 2-0 (21-15,21-14) and in their second game Keshanice Mitchell/Thornia Mitchell of Granada 2-0 (21- 5, 21-10).

Corinne Quiggle/Sarah Murphy of the United States defeated Crismil Paniagua/Nallelin Taveras of the Dominican Republic 2-0 (21-11, 21-7) and Canada’s Dana Roskic/Calinda Kok 2-0 (23-21, 21-10)

The results of the other matches of the day were:

Bethania Almanzar/Julibeth Payano (DOM) d Melanie Valenciana/Taylor Buckner (ISV) 2-0 (27-25, 21-11), Esperanza Albarrán/Yeray Vidaurrazaga (MEX) d Britney Choon/Tsyan Selvon (TTO) 2-0 (21-6, 21-10), Lexy Denaburg/Molly Turner (USA) d Lea Monkhouse/Marie-Alex Belanger (CAN) 2-1 (21-18, 20-22, 15-9), Dana Roskic/Calinda Kok (CAN) d Kathya Vasquez/Sofía Velásquez (ESA) 2-0 (21-10, 21-15), Allanis Navas/María González (PUR) d Melanie Valenciana/Taylor Buckner (ISV) 2-0 (21-8 , 21-9), Lea Monkhouse/Marie-Alex Belanger (CAN) d Britney Choon/Tsyan Selvon (TTO) 2-0 (21-7, 21-7), Lexy Denaburg/Molly Turner (USA) d Esperanza Albarrán/ Yeray Vidaurrazaga (MEX) 2-0 (21-10, 21-19) and Crismil Paniagua/Nallelin Taveras d Kathya Vasquez/Sofía Velásquez (ESA) 2-0 (22-20, 21-16).

The competition continues this Saturday with the continuation of the Preliminary Round, the Quarterfinals and the losers’ round.

Four undefeated male duos in Punta Cana

Posted on

PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic, September 29, 2023.- The Guatemalan pair of Andy Blanco/Luis García, as well as Timothy Brewster/Kyle Friend and Hagen Smith/Logan Webber from the USA and Ricardo Galindo/Isaías Aguirre from Mexico remained undefeated on the first day of competition of the fourth stop of the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour 2023.

The American duo of Timothy Brewster/Kyle Friend won their two matches of the day, the first against Jake MacNeil/William Russell of Canada by 2-0 (21-13, 21-11) followed by another 2-0 against Daneil Williams/Fabien Whitfield of Trinidad Tobago (21-9, 21-14), while the pairing of Hagen Smith/Logan Webber, also from USA defeated Eddy Toro/Gregory De La Cruz of Aruba 2-0 (21-13, 21-8 ).

The duo of Andy Blanco/Luis García of Guatemala also won their two games, disposing of the Canadians Arran Chambers/Liam Kopp 2-1 (21-11, 19-21, 17-15) followed by a 2-0 victory over Christopher Oxford /Isaac Nelson of Granada (21-6, 21-11).

Hagen Smith/Logan Webber (USA)

The Mexicans Ricardo Galindo/Isaías Aguirre remained undefeated on this first date of the tournament, winning their only match against the Dominican duo of Hayerling De Jesús/Oscar Martínez 2-0 (21-17, 23-21).

The other results from the first day of competition were:

Daniel Dyner/Jhostin Varela (CRC) d Hayerling De Jesús/Oscar Martínez 2-0 (21-17, 21-10), Eddy Toro/Gregory De La Cruz (ARU) d Zendai Richards/Shawn Seabrookes (SKN) 2-0 (21-18, 21-17), Robert Cronshaw/Bryce Mayer (ISV) d Christopher Oxford/Isaac Nelson (GRN) 2-0 (21-13, 21-13), Jorge Rosario/Rolvin Maldonado (DOM) d Daneil Williams/Fabien Whitfield (TTO) 2-0 (21-13, 21-18), Arran Chambers/Liam Kopp (CAN) d Robert Croshaw/Bryce Myers (ISV) 2-1 (13-21, 21-10, 15 -11) and Jake MacNeil/William Russell (CAN) d Jorge Rosario/Rolvin Maldonado (DOM) 2-0 (21-16, 21-11).

This Saturday the Preliminary round will continue and in the afternoon the Quarterfinals and the losers’ round will be played.

The 2023 NORCECA Tour returns with its Fourth Stage in Punta Cana

Posted on

PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic, September 27, 2023 – The action of the 2023 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour is back in action with its fourth stage at Playa Los Corales in Punta Cana from September 29 to October 1.

This is the seventh consecutive year that Punta Cana has hosted the most important Beach Volleyball event in the region, bringing together teams for important ranking points.

Fifteen teams per gender have completed a pre-registration for the event, representing fourteen countries of the NORCECA Volleyball Confederation.

Canada, Costa Rica, Grenada, Guatemala, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Trinidad & Tobago, the United States, and the U.S. Virgin Islands will compete in both genders. Canada, the United States, and the host country Dominican Republic, will each have two teams in each division.

El Salvador and Puerto Rico are fielding in women, Aruba, Dominica, St. Kitts, and Nevis in men. Trinidad & Tobago registered two women’s teams.

Teams will go through the preliminary interview on Thursday, and the competition will start on Friday, with the medal  matches on Sunday.

The first three stages of the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour were held in Aguascalientes (Mexico), Varadero (Cuba), and Grand Cayman (Cayman Islands).

Women’s Teams CAN Dana Roskic/Calinda Kok, Lea Monkhouse/Marie-Alex Bélanger; CRC Angel Williams Paniagua/Kianny María Araya Quesada; DOM Bethania Almanzar/Julibeth Payano Veras, Crismil Paniagua Hinojosa/Yari Manuela Cleto Rosario; ESA Kathya Vásquez/Sofía Velásquez; GRN Keshanice Mitchell/Thornia Mitchell; GUA Natalia María Girón Boesche/Paola Marie Alvarado Franco; MEX Esparanza Albarrán Castro/Yeray Vidaurrazaga Blanco; PUR Allanis Navas Sánchez/María González; TTO Britney Choon/Tsyan Selvon, Danielle Noel/Apphia Glasgow; USA Lexy Denaburg/Molly Turner, Corinne Quiggle/Sarah Murphy; ISV Melanie Valenciana/Taylor Buckner

Men’s Teams ARU Eddy Toro Maldonado/Gregory A.J. De La Cruz Tavera; CAN Arran Chambers/Liam Kopp, Jake MacNeil/Alexander William Russell; CRC Daniel Dyner Villa/DMA Ray Robinson/Yahn Florent; DOM Hayerling Francisco De Jesus Goris/Rolvin Maldonado Sánchez, Jorge Isaac Rosario Cabrera/Oscar Jose Martinez Lopez; GRN Darron Christopher Oxford/Isaac Nelson; GUA Andy Alexis Leonardo Blanco/Luis Augusto Garcia Betancourt; MEX Ricardo Galindo/Isaias Oziel Aguirre Gallegos; SKN Zendai Richards/Shawn Seabrookes; TTO Daneil Williams/Fabien Whitfield; USA Timothy Brewster/Kyle Friend, Hagen Smith/Logan Webber; ISV Robert Cronshaw/Bryce Mayer

Canadians Top Home Futures Podiums In Halifax

Posted on

September 26, 2023.- Canadian duos swept both gold medals at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures event in Halifax last week. They pocketed the men’s bronze as well, while the remaining three podium spots were occupied by pairs from neighboring United States.

On Sunday, coach Josh Nichol’s expertise paid off with a Halifax Futures trophy for Samuel Schachter and Daniel Dearing and bronze for Jacob Van Geel and Zach Van Geel. The USA’s Hagen Smith and Logan Webber also climbed the men’s podium with silver.

In their first match of the tournament, top-seeded Schachter and Dearing suffered an unexpected 2-1 (12-21, 23-21, 16-14) upset from compatriots Zechariah Johnson and Jordan Deshane, who had made the main draw through the qualifiers. After that, however, the 33-year-old Canadians went on a five-match winning streak, losing only a set on the way to their first Beach Pro Tour medal. In the semifinals, Dearing and Rio 2016 Olympian Schachter came back against Johnson and Deshane with a 2-0 (21-10, 22-20) sweep, before producing a hard-fought 2-0 (21-17, 27-25) victory over  second-seeded Smith and Webber in the final.

The silver was also the first Beach Pro Tour medal for the pairing of 28-year-old Smith and 27-year-old Webber. They also took the detour route to the final, after losing the Pool B winners’ match to Canada’s Rouzbeh Rahnavard and Tynan Gannett in three sets. To reach the gold medal match, the Americans mastered a 2-0 (21-17, 21-18) semifinal win over Van Geel and Van Geel.

22-year-old Jacob and 20-year-old Zach marked their Beach Pro Tour debut with a medal. The Canadians started their Halifax campaign from the qualifiers and proceeded undefeated to the semifinals. Seeded 13th in the main draw, the Van Geels managed a 2-1(21-17, 16-21, 15-12) victory over 16th-seeded Johnson and Deshane for the bronze.

Canada’s Heather Bansley and Sophie Bukovec claimed the women’s gold in Halifax. The podium was completed by two American pairs, Kimberly Hildreth and Teegan Van Gunst with silver, and Carli Lloyd and Kylie Kuyava-DeBerg with bronze.

Earlier this year, 36-year-old two-time Olympian Bansley came out of retirement to join forces with 28-year-old FIVB World Championship 2022 silver medalist Bukovec. At their third Beach Pro Tour appearance together, they secured their first medal as a team. The top-seeded Canadians lived up to their status and cruised through their five games of the tournament without dropping a single set. In the semifinals, they delivered a 2-0 (21-15, 23-21) win over 16thth-seeded US qualifiers Kahlee York and Mariah Whalen and followed up with a 2-0 (21-16, 25-23) victory over fifth-seeded Hildreth and Van Gunst in the final.

It was the second consecutive Beach Pro Tour silver for the team of 32-year-old Hildreth and 28-year-old Van Gunst, after their second place finish at their previous appearance at the Brno Futures last month. In between, Van Gunst squeezed in one more silver, with Katie Lindstrom at the Miguel Pereira Futures earlier in September. The Americans also reached the Halifax final undefeated, crowning a four-match winning streak with a 2-0 (21-14, 23-21) victory over 11th-seeded Lloyd and DeBerg in the semifinals.

Former indoor star of the United States national volleyball team Carli Lloyd marked her international debut on the beach with a bronze. The 32-year-old Rio 2016 bronze medalist and her 24-year-old partner DeBerg managed a battled 2-1 (21-15, 19-21, 15-13) win over York and Whalen in the all-American third-place duel. The bronze was also DeBerg’s first medal on the Tour.

A total of 38 teams representing eight different countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America took part in the Halifax Futures.

Official announcement of the seventh edition of the Punta Cana Beach Volleyball Classic

Posted on

SANTO DOMINGO, September 23, 2023 – Once again, Los Corales Beach will host the seventh edition of the Punta Cana Beach Volleyball Classic, which is part of the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour, to take place from September 28th to October 1st.

The event, endorsed by the Dominican Volleyball Federation (Fedovoli), will bring together athletes from 14 countries who are aiming to earn ranking points for the NORCECA Tour 2023.

For the seventh consecutive year, Mr. Ernesto Veloz, president of ASOLESTE, will lead the organizing committee, which includes Félix Martínez, the director of sports from the Municipality of Verón; Domingo Jiménez, director of Televisión del Este, and Henry Puello, technical director of Fedovoli.

“The Punta Cana Beach Volleyball Classic is special because it grants doubles the points awarded in the regular stages of the circuit. Countries will come with their full arsenal, both in the men’s and women’s divisions”, said Anglada, who is the technical vice president of the Dominican Volleyball Federation (Fedovoli).

Among the confirmed countries are the United States, Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Grenada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Dominica, Aruba, St. Kitts and Nevis, Dominican Republic, among others.

The event organized by the Dominican Foundation for Sports Tourism, Marketing Sport Event, has the support of the NORCECA Confederation, the Municipality of Verón, ASOLESTE, among others.

The Punta Cana Beach Volleyball Classic has been held since 2015 in the Punta Cana area, bringing together the most prominent beach volleyball pairs from the North, Central America, and the Caribbean.

FIVB, NORCECA And Olympic Solidarity Join Forces To Develop Youth Beach Volleyball Teams With Pilot Project In The Caribbean  

Posted on

The pilot project saw the FIVB, NORCECA and Olympic Solidarity support the organisation of the ECVA Beach Volleyball Championships . 

The FIVB, NORCECA and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), through Olympic Solidarity, have launched a joint pilot project with the aim of supporting the development of youth beach volleyball teams in the Eastern Caribbean Zone.     

The project is supported through the Olympic Solidarity Youth Athlete Development programme and marks a collaborative effort between the FIVB, NORCECA and the IOC. The objective is to enhance young athletes’ exposure to high level competition and create opportunities for teams to qualify for continental and international age group competitions, such as the FIVB Beach Volleyball U21 World Championships in 2025.  

As part of the pilot project, the FIVB, NORCECA and Olympic Solidarity supported the organisation of the Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association (ECVA) U19 Beach Volleyball Championships held in St. Kitts and Nevis from 2 to 3 September. In particular, the FIVB is providing an annual allocation to the ECVA to organise the championships, while Olympic Solidarity is supporting the players and coaches with transportation and registration fees.  

The inaugural edition of the tournament was a huge success, with youth teams from across the region; namely Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Bermuda and home team St. Kitts & Nevis gathering to compete in a thrilling competition.  

Saint Lucia’s Peter Emmanuel and Rio Jaden Victor took the men’s gold, leaving the silver to the home team of Julian Bristol and Vickash Sundar, while Dominica’s Bill Clarke Frederick and Mervin Mervel Mingo settled for bronze. Meanwhile, in the women’s competition, DMA’s Edmund and Bully took gold, while Carr and Joseph of Antigua and Fleming and Richardson from AGU settled for silver and bronze, respectively.  

Men U19 Beach ECVA winners

Steve Tutton, the FIVB Head of Technical and Development, said:  

“This innovative project demonstrates the FIVB’s commitment to continually improving volleyball across the world. The development of young athletes is vital for the future of the sport, and it is fantastic to be working with Olympic Solidarity to help provide these youth players with opportunities to develop their talent and gain experience in high level competition.”  

Glenn Quinlan, President of the EVCA, said:  

“The U19 Beach Volleyball Championships were a huge success, and we are particularly grateful to the FIVB, NORCECA and Olympic Solidarity for their support in establishing the event. Competitions like these Championships are crucial in helping to develop volleyball in the region and for empowering our young athletes to strive for greatness on the international stage.”  

James Macleod, NOC Relations and Olympic Solidarity Director said:  

“We are very happy to see FIVB take advantage of the Olympic Solidarity Youth Athlete Development IF Opportunity programme. This programme assists smaller National Olympic Committees with sport specific support in order for talented athletes to access pathways that help them reach the next level and build towards the Olympic Games. With this initiative, FIVB demonstrates their commitment to provide young athletes with the opportunity to  train, develop their skills and reach high level competition hence ensuring the promotion of their sport worldwide”. 

Copyright © 2022 Norceca All Rights Reserved

en_USEnglish
es_MXSpanish en_USEnglish