VEGA BAJA, Puerto Rico, November 7, 2026. – Puerto Rico, Canada, the United States and Mexico finished undefeated in their respective pools and advanced directly to the men’s quarterfinals of the NORCECA Continental Beach Volleyball Olympic Qualifier, taking place at the Areia Sports Complex in Vega Baja, where one direct berth to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games is at stake.
Costa Rica, Guatemala, the U.S. Virgin Islands and El Salvador completed the eight-team quarterfinal field after advancing through Saturday’s knockout round, setting up the four quarterfinal matchups scheduled for Sunday, November 8.
The quarterfinal matchups are as follows:
Carlos Andres/Lares (Mexico) vs. Rafa/Gabo (El Salvador)
Schachter/Pickett (Canada) vs. Araya/Brown (Costa Rica)
Crabb Tr. /Budinger (USA) vs. Maldonado/Izaguirre (Guatemala)
Rosich/Rivera (Puerto Rico) vs. Mayer/Penberthy (U.S. Virgin Islands)
In Pool A, Mexico’s Carlos Andrés Ayala and Inés Vargas Lares secured first place after defeating Bryce Mayer and Tyler Penberthy of the U.S. Virgin Islands in straight sets, 21-12, 21-15.
Canada’s Samuel Schachter and Jonathan Pickett finished undefeated in Pool B after defeating Guatemala’s Edgar Maldonado and José Izaguirre, 21-9, 21-11.
In Pool C, Americans Trevor Crabb and Chase Budinger secured the top spot with a 21-15, 21-13 victory over Costa Rica’s Julián Araya and Yulius Brown.
Meanwhile, home favorites Diego Rosich and William Rivera completed an undefeated run in Pool D by defeating El Salvador’s Rafael and Gabriel Vargas, 21-14, 21-9, also securing a direct berth in the quarterfinals.
In the knockout round, Costa Rica secured its quarterfinal spot as Araya and Brown defeated Trinidad and Tobago’s Daniel Williams and Joel Theodore, 21-18, 21-19.
Guatemala also advanced after Maldonado and Izaguirre defeated Aaron Taylor and Joshua Ashby of Barbados 21-14, 21-16.
Mayer and Penberthy of the U.S. Virgin Islands defeated Bermuda’s Kyle Hamilton and Sean Tucker, 21-6, 21-9, to secure their place among the final eight teams.
The last quarterfinal berth went to El Salvador’s Rafael and Gabriel Vargas, who staged a thrilling comeback against Belize’s Francis Hauze and Ernest Broaster. After dropping the opening set, the Salvadoran duo rallied to claim a 2-1 (16-21, 21-18, 16-14) victory and remain in contention for Olympic qualification.
Competition continues Sunday, November 8, with the quarterfinals, semifinals and final, when the champion duo will secure NORCECA’s men’s berth to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.