FIVB Volleyball Empowerment supported teams shine at NORCECA Güibia Tour

• Canada’s Jake MacNeil and William Russell claimed victory in the men’s final, rallying from a set down to defeat USA’s Robert Harrison and Evan Cory, 2-1

  
  

• The duo from Canada came back fighting, having lost by a similar margin to the same opponents in a pool match

  
  

• Puerto Rico’s Allanis Navas and María González recovered from a 2-0 loss in the opening match to reach the final and secure silver

  
  

FIVB Volleyball Empowerment supported teams shone on the 2024 NORCECA beach volleyball Tour, as Canada emerged men’s champions at the first stop held at the Güibia beach at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Another Volleyball Empowerment supported team from Puerto Rico claimed the silver medal in the women’s competition, behind champions USA.

The FIVB has invested CHF 72,000 into beach volleyball coach support in Canada with Josh Nichol taking charge of the men’s national team. Meanwhile, the FIVB has invested CHF 72,000 into coach support in Puerto Rico, with Angel Pena taking charge of women’s national team.

In the men’s competition, after beating home team Hayerling De Jesús and Oscar Martínez 2-0 (21-18, 21-17) in the semi-finals, Canada’s Jake MacNeil and William Russell claimed victory in the final, rallying from a set down to defeat USA’s Robert Harrison and Evan Cory 2-1 (16-21, 21-17, 15-11).

The duo from Canada came back fighting, having lost by a similar margin (21-14, 16-21, 12-15) to the same opponents in a Pool D match, their only loss out of six matches played throughout the tournament.

USA’s Timothy Brewster and Kyle Friend picked themselves up from their 2-1 semi-final loss to compatriots Harrison and Cory to defeat Dominican Republic’s De Jesús and Martínez 2-1 (20-22, 21-13, 15-08) in the bronze medal match.

The men’s podium at the NORCECA Güibia Tour. (Photo credits: NORCECA)

In the women’s competition, Puerto Rico’s Allanis Navas and María González recovered from a 2-0 loss to USA’s Savannah Simo and Abby Van Winkle in the opening match to go on a four-match winning streak. This featured a 2-0 (21-05, 21-17) semi-final win over Amanda Armenteros and Maykelin Drik of Cuba, that booked them a place in the final.

Puerto Rico’s Allanis Navas and María González won silver medal at the NORCECA Güibia Tour. (Photo credits: NORCECA)

However, it was the USA pair of Hailey Harward and Kylie DeBerg who won the gold medal match 2-1 (18-21, 23-21, 15-13) despite Navas and González clinching the first set.

In the third-place play-off, Simo and Van Winkle of the USA defeated Cuba’s Armenteros and Drik in straight sets (21-15, 21-15) to claim bronze.

A total of 32 teams, 16 men and 16 women, drawn from 16 countries took part in the NORCECA Güibia Tour.