Tag: 2022 U23 NORCECA Beach Tour

SEVEN MILE BEACH, Grand Cayman, October 30, 2022.cwere crowned Champions of the first edition of the NORCECA U23 Beach Volleyball Tour defeating Trent Ketrzynski/Rouzbeh Rahnavard of Canada by exciting 2-1 (23-21, 17-21, 15-11) in Cayman Islands.

On their way into the gold medal match, Hurst and Basey defeated the other U.S. pair of Dylan McClung and Caleb Blanchette 2-0 (21-11, 21-11) in semifinals and earlier easily won their quarterfinal match to Declan Van Dam/Jabari Powery of Cayman Islands 2-0 (21-4, 21-5).

On the other hand, Canadians Ketrzynski/Rahnavard battled hard to overcome Eddy Toro and Joshua Winklaar of Aruba in semifinals 2-0 (24-22, 22-21).

McClung and Blanchette (USA) did not go home empty handed, they won the bronze medal 2-0 (21-16, 21-18) over Toro/Winklaar (ARU).

In quarterfinals, the Canadian duo had beaten 2-0 (21-10, 21-15) Joshua Persaud and Nicholas Williams of Trinidad and Tobago, while Toro/Winklaar managed a comfortable 2-0 (21-11, 21-9) victory to Andrew Blake and Andrae Robb of Jamaica.

Joshua Persaud and Nicholas Williams of Trinidad and Tobago finished fifth place beating Blake/Robb of Jamaica 2-0 (25-23, 21-16).

SEVEN MILE BEACH, Grand Cayman, October 30, 2022.- Ella Connor and Piper Ferch of the United States recovered from losing the first set to Canadians Ruby Sorra and Kaylee Glagau 2-1 (18-21, 21-11, 22-20) to win the first ever NORCECA U23 Beach Volleyball Tour in Cayman Islands.

Connor and Ferch had earned a bye to move into the tournament semifinals where they downed compatriots Alexis Durish and Hailey Hamlett 2-0 (21-17, 21-13).

While Ruby Sorra and Kaylee Glagau reached the gold medal match winning their semifinal to Britney Choon and Tsyan Selvon of Trinidad and Tobago 2-0 (21-9, 21-11).

Alexis Durish and Hailey Hamlett went on to win the bronze medal match 2-0 (21-12, 21-14) over Choon/Selvon (TTO).

Earlier in quarterfinals, Durish/Hamlett (USA) overpowered the local team of Brianna Delapenha/Joanna Robinson 2-0 (21-2, 21-4) and Choon/Tyson (TTO) beat Deajra Tulloch/Chlouie Gaetos of Cayman Islands 2-0 (21-13, 21-13).

In the match for fifth place, Deajra Tulloch and Chlouie Gaetos earned the victory to Anjia Delapenha and Lucie Finlason 2-0 (21-12, 21-14); both teams from the host Cayman Islands.

SEVEN MILE BEACH, Grand Cayman, October 29, 2022.- Alexis Durish/Hailey Hamlett and Ella Connor/Piper Ferch of United States dominated their pools to advance in the women’s field of the first stage of the NORCECA U23 Beach Volleyball Tour.

Alexis Durish and Hailey Hamlett won pool A easily defeating Deajra Tulloch and Chlouie Gaetos of Cayman Islands 2-0 (21-7, 21-8) but then battled strong to beat the Canadian duo of Ruby Sorra and Kaylee Glagau 2-1 (21-17, 20-22, 15-9).

In pool B, Ella Connor and Piper Ferch got three wins starting with a 2-0 (21-5, 21-12) victory over Anjia Delapenha/Lucie Finlason and a 2-0 (21-8, 21-11) against Brianna Delapenha/Joanna Robinson, both teams of Cayman Islands; followed by a 2-0 (21-12, 21-11) win to Britney Choon and Tsyan Selvon of Trinidad and Tobago.

Ella Connor and Piper Ferch earned a bye into semifinals, while Alexis Durish and Hailey Hamlett will face the local team of Brianna Delapenha/Joanna Robinson in quarterfinals.

Canadians Ruby Sorra and Kaylee Glagau beat Deajra Tulloch/Chlouie Gaetos (CAY) 2-0 (21-9, 21-11) in pool A, while Britney Choon/Tsyan Selvon of Trinidad and Tobago, who lost to Connor/Ferch (USA) in pool B, beat Delapenha/Robinson (CAY) 2-0 (21-18, 21-8) and recovered from falling in the first set to Delapenha/Finlason 2-1 (13-21, 21-13, 15-10). All advancing to quarters.

Sunday’s program starts with quarterfinals between Durish/Hamlett (USA) vs B. Delapenha/J. Robinson (CAY); followed by Choon Selvon (TTO) vs D. Tulloch/C. Gaetos (CAY) and Sorra/Glagau (CAN) vs A. Delapenha/L. Finalson (CAY).

SEVEN MILE BEACH, Grand Cayman, October 29, 2022.- Thomas Hurst/Gage Basey and Dylan McClung/Caleb Blanchette of United States took over pool-play at the first stage of the NORCECA U23 Beach Volleyball Tour in Cayman Islands.

Thomas Hurst and Gage Basey topped pool A winning over Trent Ketrzynski and Rouzbeh Rahnavard of Canada 2-0 (21-15, 21-17) and to Eddy Toro Maldonado alongside Joshua Johanne Winklaar of Aruba 2-0 (21-14, 21-10).

Dylan McClung and Caleb Blanchette won pool B beating Jamaica’s team of Andrew Blake and Andrae Robb 2-0 (21-8, 21-19), then defeating Joshua Persaud Joshua/Nicholas Williams of Trinidad and Tobago 2-0 (21-13, 21-13) and ended the day overpowering Declan Van Dam/Jabari Powery of Cayman Islands 2-0 (21-7, 21-6).

McClung/Blanchette move directly into semifinals and Hurst/Basey will battle in quarterfinals against D. Van Dam/J. Powery (CAY) for their semifinal spot.

In other results, Blake/Robb of Jamaica registered a 2-0 (21-6, 21-13) win to D. Van Dam/J. Powery (CAY) and earned an exciting victory over Persaud/Williams of Trinidad and Tobago 2-0 (22-20, 21-16) who earlier dominated D. Van Dam/J. Powery (CAY) 2-0 (21-10, 21-7).

Ketrzynski/Rahnavard of Canada beat Toro/Winklaar of Aruba 2-0 (21-18, 21-13) in pool A.

Sunday’s schedule starts with the quarterfinal match between Hurst/Basey (USA) vs. D. Van Dam/J. Powery (CAY), followed by Blake/Robb (JAM) against Toro/Winklaar of Aruba, and Ketrzynski/Rahnavard (CAN) facing Persaud/Williams (TTO).

GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands, Saturday, 29 October 2022.- The Cayman Islands leg of the NORCECA Under 23 Beach Volleyball Tour was officially opened today by Honorable Bernie Bush, Minister for Youth, Sports, Culture & Heritage, of the Cayman Islands Government and Mushtaque Mohammed, Vice President of the NORCECA Volleyball Confederation.

The Under 23 Tournament is being hosted by the Cayman Islands for the first time with 14 teams competing (7 male, 7 female) from Cayman, Aruba, Canada, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago and the USA.

Before doing a ceremonial serve, Minister Bush made brief remarks. 

“The Ministry of Sports is committed to developing our young athletes and seeing them succeed at the national and international level.  We are proud to support the Cayman Islands Volleyball Federation as they offer programs and organize tournaments such as this one which give our young volleyballers international exposure and valuable experience,” said Minister Bush.

NORCECA VP and CAZOVA President brought greetings on behalf of the NORCECA President Cristóbal Marte Hoffiz and extended best wishes for the success of the event.  He complimented CIVF for being the host of the first Continental underage tournament and indicated that the venue is of a world class and has the potential to host an FIVB tournament.

The minister proceeded to make the first serve at the men’s game CAY vs USA to officially open the tournament.

SEVEN MILE BEACH, Cayman Islands, October 28, 2022.- The first edition of the NORCECA Under-23 Beach Volleyball Tour will get underway at Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman on October 29 and 30.

The two-day competition features team representing seven countries from the North, Central American and Caribbean region who arrived in Grand Cayman for the preliminary inquiries and general technical meeting that took place on Thursday.

Mushtaque Mohammed, NORCECA Supervisor for the event addressed the players during the general technical meeting with a message about the importance of developing this category in our Confederation, in accordance with the NORCECA and FIVB focus on beach volleyball for the next two Olympic cycles “these youth athletes are the future of beach volleyball in our region and we are five years ahead of their preparation not only for the Olympic Games but for other major events such as the Central American and Caribbean Games, Pan American Games, Caribbean Beach Games, Commonwealth Games as well as the Youth Olympic Games”.

Mohammed also added that as President of the Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA), “I am very proud that Cayman Islands, part of the CAZOVA Association is the first host of Underage beach volleyball NORCECA Tour”.

Canada, Trinidad and Tobago, United States and hosts Cayman Islands registered teams in both genders, while Aruba and Jamaica will only compete in the men´s field.

Teams have been divided into two pools, with pool-play taking place on Saturday and the finals on Sunday.

Women’s Teams

CANADA Ruby Sorra/Kaylee Glagau; CAYMAN ISLANDS Anjia Delapenha/Lucie Finlason; Brianna Delapenha/Joanna Robinson; Deajra Tulloch/Chlouie Gaetos; TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO Britney Choon/Tsyan Selvon; UNITED STATES Alexis Durish/Hailey Hamlett; Ella Connor/Piper Ferch.

Men’s Teams

ARUBA Eddy Toro Maldonado/Joshua Johanne Winklaar; Trent Ketrzynski/Rouzbeh Rahnavard; CAYMAN ISLANDS Declan Van Dam/Jabari Powery; JAMAICA Andrew Blake/Andrae Robb; TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO Joshua Persaud Joshua/Nicholas Williams; UNITED STATES Thomas Jurst/Gage Basey; Dylan McClung/Caleb Blanchette.

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, September 30, 2022.- The NORCECA Confederation, especially our Beach Volleyball Department is pleased to announce the first edition of the U23 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Continental Tour to start in Cayman Islands from October 27-31.

All National Federations members of the NORCECA Confederation have been invited to participate in this first edition of the event, which will consist of a maximum of sixteen teams per gender.

National teams and players registered for the competition will accumulate FIVB ranking points, accountable for other international events, as well as seedings for the following stages of the U23 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Continental Tour.

Since 2009 Cayman Islands has joined efforts with NORCECA organizing the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Continental Tour and on this occasion becoming the first hosting country of the inaugural U23 Beach Continental event.

Download Invitation letter here:

Indhira Ramírez, NORCECA Beach Volleyball Department Director explained that with the creation of the NORCECA U23 Beach Volleyball Tour we will be establishing the under-age ranking for the qualification to FIVB world competitions as well as multisport events “this was necessary to increase the under-age group competition at a continental level and to create our regional ranking, in addition to contribute to beach volleyball development”.