Americans Mortensen/Phillips Claim Boy’s Gold

at NORCECA U18 Qualifier

JUAN DOLIO, Dominican Republic, April 26, 2026.- The American pair of Gavin Mortensen and Caden Phillips captured the boy’s gold medal at the NORCECA U18 Beach Volleyball World Championship Qualifying Tournament, defeating home favorites Francisco De Jesús and Franklin Segura in straight sets, 2-0 (21-18, 21-8), on the sands of Juan Dolio.

On their way to the final, Mortensen and Phillips overcame Nicaragua’s Justin Dinarte Barrios and Matthew Kempf in a hard-fought semifinal, winning 2-0 (21-18, 21-18). Meanwhile, De Jesús and Segura secured their place in the gold medal match with a 2-0 (21-19, 21-17) victory over Puerto Rico’s Adrián Carrillo and Rocco Figueroa.

The bronze medal went to Nicaragua’s Barrios and Kempf, who defeated Carrillo and Figueroa 2-0 (21-12, 23-21).

Barbados’ Cael Greenidge and Joshua Ashby claimed the final qualifying spot for the 2026 Beach Volleyball World Championship, rallying to beat Canada’s Bruno Azevedo and Cameron Gibson 2-1 (18-21, 21-19, 15-13).

The five teams qualified for the 2026 Beach Volleyball World Championship are the United States, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, and Canada.

In other action, Guatemala’s Joseph Godoy and Josué Rodríguez battled their way to a seventh-place finish, edging Costa Rica’s David Johnson and Jeremy Guido in a thrilling three-set clash, 2-1 (22-20, 17-21, 15-12).

Trinidad and Tobago’s Darion Sparks and Josie Cedeño finished ninth with a 2-0 (21-19, 21-11) win over the U.S. Virgin Islands’ Zayden Turner and Chikai Pogson. The Cayman Islands’ Daniel Ducent and Rares Pomian placed eleventh after defeating St. Kitts and Nevis’ Troy Shiwamber and Hazaiah Bramble 2-0 (21-19, 21-17).

Other results from the day:

(BAR) Cael Greenidge/Joshua Ashby d (CRC) David Johnson/Jeremy Guido 2-1 (19-21, 21-18, 15-8); (CAN) Bruno Azevedo/Cameron Gibson d (GUA) Joseph Godoy/Josué Rodríguez 2-0 (21-19, 21-14); (DOM) Francisco De Jesús/Franklin Segura d (PUR) Adrian Carrillo/Rocco Figueroa 2-0 (21-19, 21-17). (USA) Gavin Mortensen/Caden Phillips d (NCA) Justin Barrios/Matthew Kempf 2-0 (21-18, 21-18); (ISV) Chikai Pogson/Zayden Turner d (SKN) Troy Shiwamber/Hazaiah Bramble 2-0 (21-7, 21-8); (TTO) Darion Sparks/Josie Cedeño d Daniel Ducent/Rares Pomian 2-0 (21-3, 21-4).