VARADERO, Cuba, May 4, 2025.- Corinne Quiggle and Megan Rice of the United States earned their first international podium finish by winning the women’s tournament of the opening stage of the 2025 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour, held in this renowned resort destination.
The American duo accomplished the goal they had set for themselves by convincingly defeating Mexico’s Susana Torres and Atenas Gutiérrez in straight sets, 21-12 and 21-18, to return home with the desirable top prize.
“We’re very happy because this is only our second international event. We set this goal, and we achieved it. I first came to Varadero in 2016 with a different partner and we finished fifth. I’m thrilled,” said Corinne.
Her partner, Megan, added, “We’ve felt great here. The beaches are beautiful, and so are the people. There’s a strong culture and Cuban athletes are very professional and full of warmth.”
The bronze medal went to local favorites Kailin Garrido and Maykelin Drik, who battled hard against Mexico’s Yeray Vidaurrazaga and María Ramírez in a match that went to a tie-break, finishing 21-18, 12-21, 15-8.
Earlier on Sunday in the semifinals, Corinne and Megan defeated Kailin and Maykelin 2-0 (21-15, 21-18), showcasing a level of play that confirmed their title chances at a venue where Quiggle placed fifth back in 2016.
In the all-Mexican semifinal, Susana and Atenas beat Yeray and María in straight sets (21-16, 26-24). A foot injury briefly paused the match in the second set, but Atenas recovered and helped seal the win.
Canada’s Amy Ozee and Darby Dunn took fifth place after an injury forced a withdrawal by one of their compatriots, Dana Roskic or Katarina Pantovic, from the opposing team.
Seventh place went to Puerto Rico’s Camila Nazario and Karla Sánchez after a 2-1 victory (18-21, 21-12, 15-12) over Honduras’ Zoe Ebanks and Shanna Rivera, one of only five matches in the tournament to go to three sets.
Cuba’s second team, Amanda Armenteros and Selena Spek, finished ninth after defeating Nicaragua’s Socorro López and Lolette Rodríguez in straight sets (21-12, 21-13).
Rounding out the standings were Suriname’s Chagnaz Frankel and Sharon Balkaran in 11th place after defeating Trinidad and Tobago’s Apphia Glasgow and La Teisha Joseph 2-0 (21-12, 22-20), and Venezuela’s Oriana Bermúdez and Luisiana Linares in 13th, after dominating Dominican Republic’s Crismil Paniagua and Yari Cleto 2-0 (21-16, 21-12).
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