Americans Shaffer and Bowman Strike Gold in Juan Dolio

 

JUAN DOLIO, Dominican Republic, June 21, 2026. – The United States duo of Michelle Shaffer and Paloma Bowman captured the women’s gold medal at the sixth stop of the 2026 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour, defeating Canada’s Katarina Pantovic and Marilou Couture in straight sets 2-0 (21-14, 21-8) on Sunday at Juan Dolio Beach.

 

The title marks the second medal of the season for Shaffer and Bowman, who previously earned silver at the Tour stop in Mexico. The Americans dominated the championship match, controlling play from start to finish to secure their first gold medal of 2026.

 

In semifinals, Shaffer and Bowman advanced with a 2-0 (22-20, 21-13) victory over Puerto Rico’s María González and Allanis Navas. Pantovic and Couture reached the final after winning an all-Canadian semifinal against Darby Dunn and Alison McKay in three sets, 2-1 (9-21, 22-20, 15-13).

 

Puerto Rico’s González and Navas claimed the bronze medal with a 2-0 (21-14, 21-14) victory over Dunn and McKay.

 

Cuba’s Kailin Garrido and Maykelin Drik finished fifth after defeating Dominican Republic’s Bethania Almánzar and Julibeth Payano 2-0 (21-18, 21-14). Costa Rica’s Marcela Araya and Eugenia Ramírez secured seventh place with a 2-0 (21-8, 21-7) win over Guatemala’s Paola Alvarado and Daphne Mendoza. Another Dominican pair, Crismil Paniagua and Yari Cleto, placed ninth after defeating Cayman Islands’ Joanna Robinson and Luna Ebanks 2-0 (21-9, 21-12).

 

Vernecia Caines and Vernecci Caines of the U.S. Virgin Islands claimed eleventh place with a 2-0 (27-25, 21-16) victory over Bermuda’s Megan Hands and Natalie Gazzard. Nicaragua’s Lolette Rodríguez and Socorro López finished thirteenth after defeating El Salvador’s Karla Tovar and María Fernanda Vargas 2-0 (21-17, 21-10).

 

Shanella Harris and Jontelle Hensley of St. Kitts and Nevis concluded the tournament in fifteenth place.

 

Other results:

(CUB) Garrido/Drik d (CRC) Araya/Ramírez 2-0 (21-17, 21-11); (DOM1) Almánzar/Payano d (GUA) Alvarado/Mendoza 2-0 (21-16, 21-15).