Category: Beach

PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic, October 2, 2022.- Molly Turner and Madelyne Anderson of the United States were crowned champions of the Punta Cana Beach Volleyball Tournament, the fourth stop of the 2022 NORCECA Tour, over Canadians Lea Monkhouse and Molley McBain 2-0 (21-17, 21-19).  

Turner and Anderson advanced to the title match winning 2-0 (21-11, 21-11) in semifinals to Atenas Gutierrez and Maria Celeste Ibarra of Mexico, while Monkhouse and McBain were one minute short of an hour (59 min) in prevailing to compatriots Amanda Harnett and Marie-Alex Bélanger 2-1 (21-12, 20-22, 15-11). 

Canadians Harnett and Bélanger claimed the bronze medal over Mexican duo Gutierrez/Ibarra 2-0 (21-17, 21-18).  

The local duo of Bethania Almanzar and Esmeralda Ramirez won the match for fifth place to Angel Williams and Kianny Araya Quesada of Costa Rica 2-0 (21-12, 21-19).  

On their way to fight for the fifth place, Almanzar/Ramirez obtained a tough 2-1 (22-20, 10-21, 19-17) victory over Mexico’s Albarran/Flores and Williams/Quesada beat Smith/Kelly of Jamaica 2-0 (21-15, 21-10) who finished in seventh place.  

PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic, October 2, 2022.- Timothy Brewster and Kyle Friend of the United States won the gold medal over Cuban Noslen Diaz and Jorge Luis Alayo 2-0 (21-16, 22-20) of the fourth stop of the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour in Punta Cana.
 
Brewster and Friend reached the gold medal match defeating the local pair of Jose Martinez and Francisco De Jesus 2-0 (21-14, 21-18) in semifinals, while Noslen Diaz and Jorge Luis Alayo struggled in the second set to come on top of Canadians Jake MacNeil and William Russell 2-0 (21-13, 22-20).
 
Jake MacNeil and William Russell fought strongly to come from behind and win the bronze medal to Dominicans Jose Martinez and Francisco De Jesus 2-1 (14-21, 21-14, 15-8).

Mexican Jorge Barajas and Ricardo Galindo finished in fifth place defeating Guatemalan Andy Blanco and Luis García 2-0 (21-12, 21-16). Barajas/Galindo progressed to the fifth-place match beating Franklyn Flores and Armando Guatemala of El Salvador 2-0 (21-10, 21-10) and Blanco/García over Sheldon Descartes and Joseph Clercent of St. Lucia by a score of 2-0 (21-14, 21-15).
 
Salvadorians Flores/Guatemala won the battle for seventh place against Sheldon/Clercent of St. Lucia 2-0 (21-12, 21-12).

PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic, October 1, 2022.- The two Canadian women duos of Amanda Harnett and Marie-Alex Bélanger, and Lea Monkhouse alongside Molley McBain kept their winning streak and will meet in Sunday’s semifinals of the fourth stop of the 2022 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour in Punta Cana.

The first Canadian pair to reach the semifinals was Amanda Harnett and Marie-Alex Bélanger after winning their quarterfinal match to Angel Williams and Kianny Araya Quesada of Costa Rica 2-0 (21-12, 21-17).

While Lea Monkhouse and Molley McBain came out on top of Petal Smith and Chauna Kelly of Jamaica 2-0 (21-12, 21-13).

The other semifinal will see Atenas Gutierrez and Maria Celeste Ibarra of Mexico facing Molly Turner and Madelyne Anderson of the United States.

Atenas Gutierrez and Maria Celeste Ibarra beat the local tandem of Bethania Almanzar and Esmeralda Ramirez 2-1 (21-15, 17-21, 15-8), while Molly Turner and Madelyne Anderson also needed three sets to overcome Mexicans Esperanza Albarran and Abril Flores 2-1 (21-19, 17-21, 15-6).

Earlier on Saturday, Dominicans Almanzar/Ramirez came from behind 2-1 (18-21, 21-14, 15-8) against their compatriots Rosario/Payano; Mexicans Esperanza Albarran and Abril Flores topped Soler/Velasquez of El Salvador 2-0 (21-13, 21-13); Costa Rican Williams/Quesada also came from behind 2-1 (20-22, 21-16, 15-6) to beat Giron/Alvarado of Guatemala; and Petal Smith with Chauna Kelly of Jamaica overpowered Delapenha/Powery of Cayman Islands 2-0 (21-3, 21-8).

PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic, October 1, 2022.- Oscar Jose Martinez and Francisco De Jesus of Dominican Republic advanced to the Men’s semifinals of the fourth stop of the 2022 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour of Punta Cana in a comeback win over Franklyn Flores and Armando Guatemala of El Salvador 2-1 (18-21, 21-10, 15-12).

Martinez and De Jesus will go up against Timothy Brewster and Kyle Friend of the United States in Sunday’s semifinals, who downed Mexicans Jorge Barajas and Ricardo Galindo 2-0 (21-13, 21-14) in the quarterfinal round.  

In the other semifinal, Cuban duo of Noslen Díaz and Jorge Luis Alayo will meet Canadians Jake MacNeil and William Russell.

Díaz and Alayo advanced without difficulties defeating Sheldon Descartes and Joseph Clercent of St. Lucia 2-0 (21-11, 21-5), while MacNeil and Russell prevailed 2-0 (21-12, 21-11) against Guatemalan duo Andy Leonardo Blanco and Luis García.

The final four pairs had reached the quarterfinals winning their pools on the first day of the event.

Earlier on Saturday, to advance into quarterfinals, Sheldon Descartes and Joseph Clercent of St. Lucia beat Adrian/Josiah of Antigua and Barbuda 2-0 (21-11, 21-19) and Guatemalan Andy Blanco alongside Luis García took a 2-0 (21-0, 21-1) win against Hawkins/Simmons of Turks and Caicos.

While Jorge Barajas and Galindo of Mexico defeated Daniel Dyner and Bryan Monge of Costa Rica 2-0 (21-17, 21-13); and Franklyn Flores with Armando Guatemala of El Salvador overpowered Morales Monsalve/Tubben of Bonaire 2-0 (21-6, 21-6).

PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic, September 30, 2022.- Canadian women duos of Lea Monkhouse and Molley McBain in pool A and Amanda Harnett with Marie-Alex Bélanger in pool D opened strong the fourth stage of the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour in Punta Cana, winning their two matches.

Monhouse and McBain won pool A defeating Angel Williams and Kianny Araya of Costa Rica 2-0 (21-6, 21-13) as well as Dominican duo of Jeneiry Rosario and Julibeth Payano 2-0 (21-13, 21-13).

On the other hand, Harnett/Bélanger controlled pool D beating Kwansia Carr/Tyke Hawkins of Antigua and Barbuda 2-0 (21-9, 21-10) but then worked hard recovering from losing the first set against Mexicans Esperanza Albarran and Abril Flores 2-1 (26-28, 21-19, 15-8).

Earlier on Friday, Albarran/Flores (MEX) downed Anjia Delapenha/Ileann Powery of Cayman Islands 2-0 (21-3, 21-14).

The other Mexican duo, Atenas Gutierrez alongside Maria Celeste Ibarra dominated pool B over Dominicans Paniagua/Martinez 2-0 (21-12, 21-14) and Jamaicans Petal Smith/ Chauna Kelly 2-0 (21-11, 21-19); with Smith/Kelly coming from a tough win against Yvonne Soler and Sofía Velasquez of El Salvador 2-1 (11-21, 21-13, 15-13).

Also, with two solid victories and winning pool C were team USA of Molly Turner and Madelyne Anderson. The Americans first won to Dominicans Almanzar/Ramirez 2-0 (21-15, 21-18) and then to Natalia Giron and Paola Alvarado of Guatemala 2-0 (21-12, 21-15).

Giron and Alvarado earlier beat Melanie Valenciana/Andrea Csaszi of U.S. Virgin Islands 2-0 (21-15, 21-18).

Pool-play resumes on Saturday morning, with pool winners and second places advancing into the knock-out round to take place later in the day.

PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic, September 30, 2022.- Duos of Canada, Cuba, United States, and the Dominican Republic advance to play-offs winning their pools at the Punta Cana Beach Volleyball Tournament, the 4th stage of the 2022 NORCECA Beach Tour.

Dominicans Oscar Martinez and Francisco De Jesus Goris took pool A dominating Daryl Franklyn/Asmond Franklyn of St. Vincent and the Grenadines 2-0 (21-16, 21-6) and Adrian Constant/Jahsun Josin of Antigua and Barbuda 2-0 (21-6, 21-15).

Tournament favorites Noslen Diaz and Jorge Luis Alayo from Cuba had no difficulties overpowering pool B beating Scott Hawkins/Sebastian Simmons of Turks and Caicos 2-0 (21-0, 21-3) followed by a 2-0 (21-3, 21-5) victory against Luiyi E. Morales/Koen Tubben of Bonaire.

Finishing first place in pool C, the Canadian duo of Jake MacNeil and William Russell who first downed Sheldon Descartes and Joseph Clercent of St. Lucia 2-0 (21-9, 21-10) and then triumphed over Jorge Barajas and Ricardo Galindo of Mexico 2-0 (21-19, 21-12), who earlier had beaten Jesario Ebanks/Jesper Barrozo of Cayman Islands by 2-0 (21-6, 21-7).

Timothy Brewster and Kyle Friend of the United States topped pool D defeating two Central American teams; first Adrian Guatemala and Franklyn Flores of El Salvador 2-0 (21-8, 21-11) and Guatemala’s Andy Leonardo Blanco with Luis García 2-0 (21-16, 21-15). Blanco and Garcia prevailed over Andrzej Ozarski/Cullen Diehl of U.S. Virgin Islands 2-0 (21-12, 21-12).

Second places of each group will advance into the elimination round when pool-play resumes on Saturday morning.

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, September 30, 2022.- The fourth stop of the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour kicked off with resounding success at Punta Cana Beach in the eastern part of the Dominican Republic.

In the women’s branch, Canada was 4-0, Dominican Republic 1-2, Costa Rica 0-1, Mexico 3-1, Jamaica 1-1, El Salvador 0-1, Virgin Islands 0-1, Grand Cayman 0-1, Guatemala 0-1 and United States 2-0.

In the men’s division, the Dominican Republic won its two matches 2-0, Costa Rica 0-1, Antigua 0-1, Nicaragua 0-3, Cuba 2-0, Bonaire 1-1, Mexico 1-1, Canada 2-0, Grand Cayman 0-1, Guatemala 1-2, United States 2-0, Virgin Islands 1-1, El Salvador 0-1.

The NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour awards points to participating teams to qualify for the Central American and Caribbean Games in El Salvador and the Pan American Games in Chile, both events to be held in 2023.

PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic, September 29, 2022.- The fourth stop of the 2022 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour kicks off on Friday in Punta Cana with 32 participating teams from 17 countries.  

A total of sixteen teams per gender, divided into pools of four, confirmed their registration during the general technical meeting chaired by NORCECA President Cristóbal Marte Hoffiz, divided in four pools. 

In the men’s division Cubans Noslen Diaz and Jorge Luis Alayo won the season’s first event in Aguascalientes and finished third at the second stop held in Varadero.  

Friday’s pool-play action starts at 8:00 (local time), with 24 matches scheduled throughout the day.  

The NORCECA Tour grants important ranking points as part of the qualification for the multisport events of 2023, the Central American and Caribbean Games in El Salvador and the Pan American Games in Chile. 

Women’s Teams

ANT Kwansia Carr/Tyke Hawkins; CAN Amanda Harnett/Marie-Alex Bélanger; Lea Monkhouse/Molley McBain; CAY Anjia Delapenha/Ileann Powery; CRC Angel Williams/Kianny Araya; DOM Jeneiry Rosario/Julibeth Payano; Bethania Almanzar/Esmeralda Ramirez; Crismil Paniagua/Ruth Martinez; ESA Yvonne Soler/Sofia Velasquez; GUA Natalia Giron/Paola Alvarado; JAM Petal Smith/Chauna Kelly; MEX Atenas Gutierrez/Maria Celeste Ibarra; Esperanza Albarran/Abril Flores; NCA Socorro Lopez/Lolette Rodriguez; USA Molly Turner/Madelyne Anderson; ISV Melanie Valenciana/Andrea Csaszi. 

Men’s Teams

ANT Adrian Constant/Jahsun Josin; BON Luiyi E. Morales/Koen Tubben; CAN Jake MacNeil/William Russell; CAY Jesario Ebanks/Jesper Barrozo; CRC Daniel Dyner/Bryan Monge; CUB Noslen Diaz/Jorge Luis Alayo; DOM Oscar Jose Martinez/Francisco De Jesus Goris; ESA Franklin Flores/Armando Guatemala; GUA Andy Leonardo/Luis Garcia; MEX Jorge Barajas/Ricardo Galindo; NCA Ruben Mora/Dany Lopez; LCA Sheldon Descartes/Joseph Clercent; VIN Daryl Franklyn/Asmond Franklyn; TCI Scott Hawkins/Sebastian Simmons; USA Timothy Brewster/Kyle Friend; ISV Andrzej Ozarski/Cullen Diehl.

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, September 26, 2022.- The VI version of the Continental Beach Volleyball Circuit will be held in Los Corales, Punta Cana from September 30 to October 2 of this year with the participation of 32 teams from 18 countries.

The director of the National Beach Volleyball Program, who is also technical vice president of the Dominican Volleyball Federation (FEDOVOLI), Amós Anglade, stressed that after Hurricane Fiona passed through the eastern part of the Dominican Republic, everything will be ready to host the participating teams and guaranteed the success of the event.

Among the countries that will see action at the event are Mexico, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Cuba, Canada, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Guatemala and Suriname, among others.

The event that has been held since 2015 in the east of the Dominican Republic (Punta Cana) has the endorsement of the Dominican Volleyball Federation and the North Central American and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation (NORCECA) awards points to the participating teams for qualify for the XXIV Central American and Caribbean Games to be held in El Salvador and the XIX Pan American Games in Chile 2023.