TLAXCALA, Mexico, June 20, 2024.– El Salvador pulled off an upset against Guatemala to join Mexico, Canada, and Nicaragua in the semifinals of the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Olympic Qualification Tournament in Tlaxcala, Mexico.
The Guardado twins, Christopher and Yoel, from El Salvador, surprised everyone by defeating Andy Leonardo and Luis García of Guatemala 2-0 (21-16, 26-24) in the quarterfinals. This marks their debut in Olympic qualification, and they are undoubtedly the youngest duo in the tournament.
Meanwhile, hosts Juan Virgen and Ricardo Galindo took a significant step towards their aspirations by overcoming the Dominican pair Hayerling Goris and Oscar Martínez.
The experienced Mexican player Virgen, alongside Galindo, advanced to the semifinals with a hard-fought three-set victory over Goris/Martínez, winning 2-1 (21-11, 18-21, 15-11). Virgen, who holds the record for the most medals in the NORCECA Tour and was an Olympian at Rio 2016, is also the current Central American and Caribbean Games champion.
Virgen and Galindo are set to face the Guardado twins from El Salvador in the semifinals.
Olympian Samuel Schachter and his partner Daniel Dearing from Canada displayed their skills by securing the top spot in their pool and then defeated Costa Rica’s Daniel Dyner and Jhostin Varela 2-0 (21-9, 21-12) in the quarterfinals.
This year, the Canadian duo finished second in the NORCECA Continental Cup final in Juan Dolio and competed in the Beach Pro Tour in Xiamen, Saquarema, Recife, Doha, and Poland earlier this June, where they reached the round of 16 before losing to Cuba’s Noslen Diaz and Jorge Alayo.
Schachter and Dearing will meet Rubén Mora and Dany López of Nicaragua in the semifinals. Mora and López advanced by defeating Bryce Mayer and Tyler Penberthy of the U.S. Virgin Islands with a double 21-15.
Results Pool-Play
Pool A: Galindo/Virgen MEX d ISV Mayer/Penberthy 2-1 (19-21, 21-12, 18-16); Dyner/Varela CRC d Nage/Hodge SKN 2-0 (21-10, 21-14).
Pool B: Guardado Y./Guardado C. ESA d Sporkslede/Pinas SUR 2-0 (21-9, 21-14); Schachter/Dearing CAN d De Jesus/Martinez DOM 2-0 (21-18, 21-16).
Pool C: Blanco/García GUA d Theodore/Enile TTO 2-0 (21-17, 21-14); Mora/Lopez NCA d Torres/Rivera PUR 2-0 (24-22, 24-22).
Results Men’s Quarterfinals
Rubén Mora/Dany López (NCA) d Bryce Mayer/ Tyler Penberthy (ISV) 2-0 (21-15, 21-15); Samuel Schachter/ Daniel Dearing (CAN); Daniel Dyner/Jhostin Varela (CRC) 2-0 (21-9,21-12); Yoel Guardado/Christopher Guardado (ESA) d Andy Leonardo/Luis García (GUA) 2-0 (21-16, 26-24); Ricardo Galindo/Juan Virgen (MEX); Hayerling Goris/Oscar Martínez (DOM); 2-1 (21-11, 18-21, 15-11).
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