Tag: 2023 Juan Dolio Norceca Beach Volleyball

JUAN DOLIO, Dominican Republic, December 17, 2023. – Megan Kraft and Terese Cannon from the United States won the 2023 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Continental Tour Finals defeating Canada’s Sarah Pavan and Molly McBain 2-1 (21-16, 14-21, 15-11) in the gold medal match at Juan Dolio, Dominican Republic.

Megan and Terese needed 53 minutes to celebrate their first-ever NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour in great style.

The American duo was aggressive in the first set, taking an early lead of 13-7. Roles switched in the second set, as Pavan and McBain found stability in their serve and rushed to a 10-5 lead, forcing the tie-break. In the tie-break, Cannon avoided Pavan’s block, allowing them to be more tactical.

“It was really windy in the beginning of the game, and we served really well. Also, our side out was cleaner,” said Megan. “Canada served better in the second set. In the third set the wind died, so it was more a classic game, we trusted our side out and we served as tactically as we could” she added.

Terese said “It was a good match, there was a lot of back and forth like Megan said. They are a really good team, they know us well, we play them all the time, so it was exciting volleyball”.

In the semifinals, Kraft and Cannon also went to three sets, earning battled 2-1 (21-19, 18-21, 16-14) victory against María González/Allanis Navas from Puerto Rico. On the other hand, Pavan and McBain easily defeated Valentina López/Kianny Quesada from Costa Rica 2-0 (21-9, 21-13).

González/Navas won the bronze medal easily dominating López/Quesada 2-0 (21-6, 21-10). González and Navas won the silver medal in the 2022 NORCECA Finals, and they are ending this NORCECA 2023 season with a total of four medals, winning two gold medals (Cayman Islands, Punta Cana) and one silver medal in San Salvador.

Women’s Results Sunday:

GOLD MEDAL Megan Kraft/Terese Cannon USA d Sarah Pavan/Molly McBain CAN 2-1

BRONZE MEDAL María González/Allanis Navas PUR d Valentina Molina/Quesada CRC 2-0 (21-6, 21-10)

SEMIFINALS USA d PUR 2-1 (21-19, 18-21, 16-14); CAN d CRC 2-0 (21-9, 21-13)

POSITIONS POS 5 MEX d CUB 2-1 (15-21, 21-12, 16-14); POS 7 DOM d NCA 2-0 (21-14, 21-13); POS 9 GUA d CAY 2-1 (21-13, 19-21, 15-8); POS 11 ISV d ESA 2-1 (21-13, 19-21, 15-8); POS 13 PAN d TTO (forfeit team B); QF LOSERS MEX d DOM 2-0 (21-8, 22-20); CUB d NCA 2-0 (21-9, 21-13)

JUAN DOLIO, Dominican Republic, December 17, 2023. – Cubans Noslen Díaz and Jorge Alayo got  their revenge against Canada’s Samuel Schachter and Daniel Dearing with a 2-0 (24-22, 22-20) victory, claiming the championship title of the 2023 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Continental Tour Finals in Juan Dolio, Dominican Republic.

The duo of Noslen Díaz and Jorge Alayo concluded the NORCECA Tour 2023 with a bronze medal in Varadero and this gold medal.

In the NORCECA 2022 Finals, Díaz and Alayo fell to Schachter and Dearing, but this year, they achieved their anticipated victory, coming from behind in the first set by a four-point deficit (11-16). Díaz serves and Alayo’s block allowed them to level the score at 20 and again at 22.

In the second set, with some raindrops, the Cubans led 20-18, but Daniel, with his attack and block, leveled the score at 20. However, Díaz and Alayo prevailed with a strong serve and a Canadian unforced error.

“It was great that we reached the final again with them; now we are 1-1”, expressed Noslen Díaz. “We started behind, and I think our power in serving made the difference, allowing us to take control of the match” he underlined.

Jorge Alayo said, “I thank Noslen and the entire coaching staff who supported us throughout the year. This was a great match to get revenge from last year. There was a lot of emotion; we fought for every point and gave a good spectacle”.

Alayo and Díaz advanced to the gold medal match by defeating Rubén Mora/Jefferson Cascante of Nicaragua 2-0 (21-9, 21-14) in semifinals, while Schachter/Dearing beat Miles Partain/Andrew Benesh of the United States 2-0 (21-16, 21-19).

In the bronze medal match, Partain/Benesh defeated Mora/Cascante 2-0 (21-16, 21-9), winning their first NORCECA Beach Tour medal.

Men’s Results Sunday:

GOLD MEDAL Noslen Díaz/Jorge Alayo CUB d Samuel Schachter/Daniel Dearing CAN 2-0 (24-22, 22-20)

BRONZE MEDAL Miles Partain/Andrew Benesh USA d Rubén Mora/Jefferson Cascante NCA 2-0 (21-16, 21-9)

SEMIFINALS CAN d USA 2-0 (21-16, 21-19); CUB d NCA 2-0 (21-9, 21-14)

POSITIONS POS 5 MEX d PUR 2-0 (21-17, 29-27); POS 7 DOM d TTO 2-1 (22-20, 18-21, 15-9); POS 11 CRC d GUA 2-0 (21-13, 21-16); POS 9 ESA d ISV 2-0 (21-18, 21-15); POS 13 SKN d PAN (forfeit team B); POS 15 VIN d ARU 2-0 (21-17, 21-17); QF LOSERS MEX d TTO 2-0 (21-10, 21-15); PUR d DOM 2-1 (21-23, 21-18, 15-11)

JUAN DOLIO, Dominican Republic, December 16, 2023. – Costa Rica, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the United States are the four finalists in the women’s tournament of the NORCECA Beach Volleyball  Continental Tour Final in Juan Dolio, Dominican Republic.

The semifinals will take place on Sunday between Maria Navas/Allanis Navas of Puerto Rico and Megan Kraft/Terese Cannon of the United States, and Valentina Molina/Kianny Quesada of Costa Rica against Canadians Sarah Pavan/Molly McBain.

Costa Rica’s duo of Valentina Molina/Kianny Quesada, advanced to semifinals defeating the Nicaragua’s Socorro López and Lolette Rodríguez 2-0 (21-11, 21-17).

Earlier, the “Ticas” had finished the preliminary round as second in pool B behind Americans Megan Kraft and Terese Cannon, while López/Lolette finished at the top of pool A after a 2-0 (21-19, 21-16) victory against Dominicans Paniagua/Tavares.

Sarah Pavan and Molly McBain of Canada dominated their quarterfinal match against Amanda Armenteros/Maykelin Drik of Cuba 2-0 (21-16, 21-16). Pavan/McBain had finished first in pool D with a victory over Atenas Gutiérrez and Abril Flores of Mexico 2-0 (21-3, 21-17).

Puerto Ricans María González and Allanis Navas started the day by winning pool C after defeating Daniela Vigil/Sofía Velásquez of El Salvador 2-0 (21-6, 21-9) and then they clinched their spot in the semifinals with a 2-0 (21-16, 21-11) victory over Gutiérrez/Flores (MEX) after recovering from a four-point deficit (4-8) in the first set.

Americans Megan Kraft and Terese Cannon were the last team to secure their spot in the semifinals after defeating Crismil Paniagua and Nallelin Tavares of the Dominican Republic.

In the classification matches for positions 9/12, Natalia Girón/Paola Alvarado of Guatemala defeated Vigil/Velásquez (ESA) 2-0 (21-18, 21-15), and Heather Thompson/Stefania Gandolfi of the Cayman Islands defeated Almeida-Anz/Buckner (ISV) 2-0 (21-18, 21-19).

Women’s Results Saturday:

QUARTERFINALS Molina/Quesada CRC d López/Lolette NCA 2-0 (21-11, 21-17); Pavan/McBain CAN Amanda/Drik CUB 2-0 (21-16, 21-16); González/Navas PUR d Gutiérrez/Flores MEX 2-0 (21-16, 21-11); Kraft/Cannon USA Paniagua/Taveras DOM 2-0 (21-6, 21-9)

CLASSIF. 9/12 GUA d ESA 2-0 (21-18, 21-15); CAY d ISV 2-0 (21-18, 21-19); CLASSIF. 13/16 PAN d VIN (21-7, 21-15)

POOL A López/Lolette NCA d Paniagua/Taveras DOM 2-0 (21-19, 21-16)

POOL B Kraft/Cannon USA d Molina/Quesada CRC 2-0 (21-17, 21-10); N. Girón/Alvarado GUA d González/Urrunaga PAN 2-1 (18-21, 21-4, 15-9)

POOL C González/Navas PUR d Vigil/Velásquez ESA 2-0 (21-6, 21-9); Amanda/Drik CUB d Sylvester/Duncan VIN 2-1 (21-4, 21-4)

POOL D Pavan/McBain CAN d Gutiérrez/Abril MEX 2-0 (21-3, 21-17)

JUAN DOLIO, Dominican Republic, December 16, 2023. – Nicaragua, Cuba, United States, and Canada advanced to the men’s semifinals of the NORCECA Continental Tour Beach volleyball Tour Finals in Juan Dolio, Dominican Republic.

Rubén Mora, alongside Jefferson Cascante of Nicaragua, will face Cuban tandem of Noslen Díaz and Jorge Alayo in Sunday’s semifinals. In the other semifinal, Miles Partain and Andrew Benesh of the United States will compete against the 2022 Tour Final champions, Samuel Schachter and Daniel Dearing of Canada.

Mora and Cascante booked their ticket to semifinals defeating the Dominican duo of Hayerling De Jesús/Oscar Martínez 2-0 (22-20, 21-13). In the morning, Mora/Cascante finished second in pool B with a 2-0 (21-5, 21-11) victory over Jamaar Cropper/Shadron Delpesche from St. Vincent.

Cuba’s Noslen Díaz and Jorge Alay started the day by finishing first in pool D with a comfortable 2-0 (21-9, 21-6) win against Cruz/Coutinho from Aruba. They then closed the day with a 2-0 (21-13, 21-15) quarterfinal victory against the Puerto Rican duo of Arnaldo Torres/William Rivera.

Meanwhile, Americans Miles Partain and Andrew Benesh won their quarterfinals against Miguel Sarabia and Juan Virgen of Mexico 2-0 (21-18, 21-13). They had previously topped pool C with a 2-0 (21-17, 21-11) victory over the Guardado brothers from El Salvador.

Sarabia/Virgen (MEX) advanced to the quarterfinals as the second-place team in pool D after defeating Bucklin/Mayer from the U.S. Virgin Islands 2-0 (21-15, 21-16).

Canadians Samuel Schachter and Daniel Dearing faced a challenging match against Julian Araya/Stanley Grant of Costa Rica on Saturday, recovering from losing the first set 2-1 (19-21, 21-13, 15-13). However, they advanced to the semifinals with a 2-0 (21-15, 21-9) win against Enile/Theodore from Trinidad and Tobago.

In other results, the Guardado brothers (ESA) defeated Araya/Stanley (CRC) 2-0 (24-22, 22-20), and Bucklin/Bryce Mayer (ISV) won 2-0 (21-7, 21-12) against Izaguirre/García (GUA) in the classification matches for positions 9 to 12.

In the classification matches for positions 13 to 16, Clerique/Hodge (SKN) dominated 2-0 (21-15, 21-14) against Cropper/Delpesche (VIN), and Araúz/Del Cid (PAN) defeated De La Cruz/Jahim Coutinho (ARU) 2-0 (21-12, 21-16).

Men’s Results Saturday:

QUARTERFINALS Mora/Cascante NCA d De Jesús/Martínez DOM 2-0 (22-20, 21-13); Diaz/Alayo CUB d Torres/Rivera PUR 2-0 (21-13, 21-15); Partain/Benesh USA d Sarabia/Virgen MEX 2-0 (21-18, 21-13); Schacter/Deargin CAN d Enile/Theodore TTO 2-0 (21-15, 21-9)

CLASSIF. 9/12 ESA d CRC 2-0 (24-22, 22-20); ISV d GUA 2-0 (21-7, 21-12); CLASSIF. 13/16 SKN d VIN 2-0 (21-15, 21-14); PAN d ARU 2-0 (21-12, 21-16)

POOL A De Jesús/Martínez DOM Izaquirre/García L. GUA 2-0 (31-29, 21-11); Enile/Theodore TTO d Del Cid/Araúz PAN 2-0 (23-21, 21-18)

POOL B Schacter/Dearing CAN d Araya/Stanley CRC 2-1 (19-21, 21-13, 15-13); Mora/Cascante NCA d Cropper/Delpesche VIN 2-0 (21-5, 21-11).

POOL C Partain/Benesh USA d Guardado C./Guardado Y. ESA 2-0 (21-17, 21-11); Torres/Rivera PUR d Hodge/Clerique SKN 2-0 (21-11, 21-15)

POOL D Sarabia/Virgen MEX d Bucklin/Mayer ISV 2-0 (21-15, 21-16); Díaz/Alayo CUB d De La Cruz/Coutinho ARU 2-0 (21-9, 21-6)

JUAN DOLIO, Dominican Republic, December 15, 2023. – María González/Allanis Navas from Puerto Rico and Megan Kraft/Terese Cannon from the United States had a successful start in the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Continental Tour Finals that kicked off in Juan Dolio, Dominican Republic on Friday.

González/Navas, as well as Kraft/Cannon earned two victories in as many matches in pool C of the event, that grants ranking points for the NORCECA Olympic qualification for Paris 2024.

María and Allanis were decisive against Shanadia Sylvester and Saquanna Duncan from St. Vincent 2-0 (21-6, 21-6), and then defeated Cuba’s duo of Amanda Armenteros/Maykelin Drik 2-0 (21-16, 21-15).

In pool B, the United States duo of Megan Kraft and Terese Cannon, notched up two wins against Central American teams. First, they defeated Krisleen González and Iris Urrunaga from Panama 2-0 (21-11, 21-8), and then, with an emphatic 2-0 (21-3, 21-7), they outperformed Natalia Girón and Paola Alvarado from Guatemala.

Kraft/Cannon will decide the top spot in their pool against Valentina Molina and Kianny Quesada from Costa Rica, who also started with two victories; 2-0 (21-15, 21-16) against Girón/Alvarado (GUA) and 2-0 (21-10, 21-4) against González/Urrunaga.

First place in pool A will be contested between Socorro López and Lolette Rodriguez from Nicaragua and Crismil Paniagua and Nallelin Tavares from the Dominican Republic.

López/Lolette dominated 2-0 (21-16, 21-13) against Cristina Almeida-Anz/Taylor Buckner from the U.S. Virgin Islands. Paniagua/Tavares also defeated the team of Almeida-Anz/Buckner, but in a challenging match of long rallies (24-22, 27-25).

Meanwhile, Atenas Gutiérrez and Abril Flores from Mexico opened with a convincing 2-0 (21-5, 21-9) against Heather Thompson/Stefania Gandolfi from Cayman Islands. Sarah Pavan and Molly McBain from Canada also defeated Thompson/Gandolfi 2-0 (21-4, 21-6).

Gutiérrez/Abril (MEX) and Pavan/McBain (CAN) will face each other on Saturday for the top spot in pool D.

The group stage will conclude on Saturday morning, followed by the quarterfinals and classification matches for positions 9 to 12.

Women’s Results Friday

POOL A: López/Lolette NCA d Almeida-Anz/Buckner ISV 2-0 (21-16, 21-13); Paniagua/Tavares DOM d Almeida-Anz/Buckner ISV 2-0 (24-22, 27-25)

POOL B: Molina/Quesada CRC d N. Girón/Alvarado GUA 2-0 (21-15, 21-16); Kraft/Cannon USA d González/Urrunaga PAN 2-0 (21-11, 21-8); Kraft/Cannon USA d N. Girón/Alvarado GUA 2-0 (21-3, 21-7); Molina/Quesada CRC d González/Urrunaga PAN 2-0 (21-10, 21-4)

POOL C: Amanda/Drik CUB d Vigil/Velásquez ESA 2-0 (21-14, 21-11); González/Navas PUR d Shanadia/Duncan VIN 2-0 (21-6, 21-6); González/Navas PUR d Amanda/Drik CUB 2-0 (21-16, 21-15); Vigil/Velásquez ESA d Shanadia/Duncan VIN 2-0 (21-15, 21-9)

POOL D: Gutiérrez/Flores MEX d Thompson/Gandolfi CAY 2-0 (21-5, 21-9); Pavan/McBain CAN d Thompson/Gandolfi CAY 2-0 (21-4, 21-6).

JUAN DOLIO, Dominican Republic, December 15, 2023.- The tandems of Canada, Cuba, the United States and Dominican Republic started strong the 2023 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Continental Tour Finals at Juan Dolio, Dominican Republic.

The NORCECA Tour Final awards ranking points as part of the NORCECA qualification system for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Canadians Samuel Schachter and Daniel Dearing, champions of the 2022 NORCECA Finals, started their campaign with a comfortable 2-0 victory (21-11, 21-9) against Jamaar Cropper and Shadron Delpesche from Saint Vincent in pool B. But then, they faced a tough battle against Nicaragua’s duo of Rubén Mora and Jefferson Cascante, winning 2-0 (23-21, 21-15).

Mora/Cascante (NCA) had previously celebrated a victory over Julian Araya and Stanley Grant from Costa Rica 2-0 (21-15, 21-19), who later defeated Cropper/Delpesche (VIN) 2-0 (21-15, 21-15).

Noslen Díaz and Jorge Alayo from Cuba had a productive day in pool D, earning two hard-fought victories. Diaz and Alayo opened with a demanding match, winning 2-0 (21-19, 22-20) against Garrett Bucklin/Bryce Mayer from the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Cuban duo then closed the first day of competition with a 2-0 (21-16, 21-16) victory over Miguel Sarabia and Juan Virgen.

Sarabia/Virgen had previously defeated Gregory De La Cruz/Jahim Coutinho from Aruba 2-0 (21-8, 21-8). Bucklin/Mayer (ISV) also defeated De La Cruz/Coutinho (ARU) 2-0 (21-9, 21-12).

USA’s Miles Partain and Andrew Benesh had no setbacks in pool C, with a 2-0 (21-14, 21-11) victory against Arnaldo Torres/William Rivera from Puerto Rico and a 2-0 (21-7, 21-9) win over Clerique Ward/St Clair Hodge from Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Puerto Rico earned a 2-0 (21-17, 21-18) victory against twin brothers Yoel and Christopher Guardado from El Salvador, who later defeated Clerique/Hodge (SKN) 2-0 (21-17, 21-18).

In pool A, Dominicans Hayerling De Jesús and Oscar Martínez secured their first victory in the tournament with a 2-0 (21-10, 21-15) win against Victor Araúz/Adamit Del Cid from Panama. They then took on Joel Theodore/Stephen Enile from Trinidad and Tobago, winning 2-0 (21-8, 21-9), who had earlier defeated José Miguel Izaguirre and Luis García from Guatemala in overtime 2-1 (21-18, 16-21, 15-11).

Izaguirre/García (GUA) claimed a 2-0 (21-16, 21-15) over Araúz/Del Cid (PAN).

The preliminary stage ends on Saturday morning, and the quarterfinal round will be held in the afternoon, as well as classification matches for positions 9 to 16.

Men’s Results Friday:

POOL A: Theodore/Enile TTO d Izaguirre/Luis García GUA 2-1 (21-18, 16-21, 15-11); De Jesús/Martínez DOM d Araúz/Del Cid PAN 2-0 (21-10, 21-15); De Jesús/Martínez DOM d Theodore/Enile TTO 2-0 (21-8, 21-9); Izaguirre/Luis García GUA d Araúz/Del Cid PAN 2-0 (21-16, 21-15)

POOL B: Mora/Cascante NCA d Araya/Stanley CRC 2-0 (21-15, 21-19); Schacter/Dearing CAN d Cropper/Delpesche VIN 2-0 (21-11, 21-9); Schacter/Dearing CAN d Mora/Cascante NCA 2-0 (23-21, 21-15); Araya/Stanley CRC d Cropper/Delpesche VIN 2-0 (21-15, 21-15)

POOL C: Guardado C./Guardado Y. ESA d Hodge/Clerique SKN 2-0 (21-17, 21-19); Partain/Benesh USA d Torres/Rivera PUR 2-0 (21-14, 21-11); Partain/Benesh USA d Hodge/Clerique SKN 2-0 (21-7, 21-9); Torres/Rivera PUR d Guardado C./Guardado Y. ESA 2-0 (21-17, 21-18)

POOL D: Diaz/Alayo CUB d Bucklin/Mayer ISV 2-0 (21-19, 22-20); Sarabia/Virgen MEX d De La Cruz/Coutinho ARU 2-0 (21-8, 21-8); Bucklin/Mayer ISV d De La Cruz/Coutinho ARU 2-0 (21-9, 21-12); Diaz/Alayo CUB d Sarabia/Virgen MEX 2-0 (21-16, 21-16)