VEGA BAJA, Puerto Rico, November 6, 2026. – Puerto Rico and El Salvador each recorded two straight-set victories to lead Pool D after the opening day of the men’s NORCECA Continental Beach Volleyball Olympic Qualifier, taking place November 6–8 at the Areia Sports Complex in Vega Baja.
Rosich/Rivera of Puerto Rico and Rafa/Gabo of El Salvador will face each other Saturday to decide first place in Pool D. The tournament champions will secure a direct berth to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Puerto Rico’s Diego Rosich and William Rivera opened with a convincing 2-0 (21-9, 21-7) victory over Christopher Oxford and Jarron Phillip of Grenada, holding their opponents to single digits in both sets. The hosts then secured their second win against Aaron Taylor and Joshua Ashby of Barbados, 2-0 (21-9, 21-14), completing the day without conceding more than 14 points in a set.
El Salvador’s cousins Rafael and Gabriel Vargas matched the hosts’ perfect record. They began by defeating Taylor/Ashby 2-0 (21-11, 21-16), then added a 2-0 (21-15, 21-14) victory over Oxford/Phillip to remain level with Puerto Rico ahead of their Pool D showdown.
In Pool A, Mexico’s Carlos Andrés Ayala and Inés Vargas Lares faced a close opening set against Daniel Williams and Joel Theodore of Trinidad and Tobago. After taking it 22-20, the Mexicans won the second by a much wider margin to seal a 2-0 (22-20, 21-9) victory.
Bryce Mayer and Tyler Penberthy of the U.S. Virgin Islands also opened with a win over Williams/Theodore, 2-0 (21-16, 21-14). The result left Mexico and the U.S. Virgin Islands ready to meet for first place in Pool A on Saturday.
Sí, la segunda oración repite lo que ya muestra el marcador. Queda más natural así:
In Pool B, Canada’s Samuel Schachter and Jonathan Pickett opened with a convincing 2-0 (21-14, 21-7) victory over Kyle Hamilton and Sean Tucker of Bermuda. They will face Maldonado/Izaguirre of Guatemala on Saturday for first place in the pool.
Costa Rica and the United States each earned straight-set victories over Belize in Pool C. Julián Araya and Yulius Brown defeated Francis Hauze and Ernest Broaster 2-0 (21-15, 21-13), while Trevor Crabb and Chase Budinger won 2-0 (21-13, 21-16), setting up a direct contest for the pool lead.
The second day of competition on Saturday will feature the final pool-play matches, followed by the quarterfinals to determine the semifinalists.
At 9:00 a.m., Carlos Andrés/Lares (MEX) will face Mayer/Penberthy (ISV), while Schachter/Pickett (CAN) will meet Maldonado/Izaguirre (GUA). Crabb/Budinger (USA) will face Araya/Brown (CRC) at 10:00 a.m., followed by Rosich/Rivera (PUR) against Rafa/Gabo (ESA) at noon. These four matches will determine the pool winners, who will advance directly to the quarterfinals.
Taylor/Ashby (BAR) and Oxford/Phillip (GRN) will complete Pool D action at 1:00 p.m. All times are local.