Betsi Flint and Julia Scoles 2022 NORCECA Tour Finals champions

PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic, December 11, 2022.- Betsi Flint and Julia Scoles of the United States were crowned champions of the 2022 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour Finals winning the gold medal match to Allanis Navas and María González of Puerto Rico 2-0 (21-16, 21-19) on Sunday in Punta Cana.

Tournament first seeded Betsi Flint and Julia Scoles commanded the actions despite Navas and González efforts of keeping the scores close and missing two match points (20-17) before their gold medal victory.

“It’s exciting winning the gold. It was a battle of who was going to be better in the win and we are excited to get this experience together as a team; and just put the pressure on them” said Betsi.

Julia said that going into the finals you never know how it’s going to fall “both teams have gone through a lot of teams to get to that point, so you are prepared for a battle; Puerto Rico gave us a great fight, I’m thankful we were able to pull it out”.

In their semifinal match, Flint and Scoles defeated the duo of Atenas Gutiérrez and Abril Flores of Mexico 2-0 (21-11, 21-19), while Navas and González came from behind 2-1 (14-21, 21-13, 15-13) against Canadians Amanda Harnett and Marie-Alex Bélanger.

In the bronze medal match, Harnett and Bélanger recovered from falling in the first set to defeat Mexicans Gutiérrez/Flores 2-1 (18-21, 21-10, 17-15) to win their third consecutive bronze medal of the season.

For fifth place, Cubans Nahomi Charlot and Dayani Zerqueira defeated the local team of Bethania Almanzar and Crismil Paniagua recovering from falling in the first set 2-1 (20-22, 21-13, 15-7).

Earlier Charlot/Dayani dominated Angel Williams and Kianny Quesada of Costa Rica 2-0 (21-19, 21-13) and Almanzar/Paniagua beat Amber Bennett and Taylor Buchner of the U.S. Virgin Islands 2-0 (27-25, 21-18).

In other positions, Costa Ricans Williams and Quesada prevailed 2-0 (21-16, 21-18) against Bennett/ Buchner of the U.S. Virgin Islands for seventh place.

While Socorro Lopez and Lolette Rodriguez of Nicaragua took ninth place over Yvonne Soler and Sofía Velásquez of El Salvador 2-0 (21-16, 21-16).

Guatemala’s Girón and Monney finished eleventh place over Smith and Chauna of Jamaica 2-0 (21-19, 21-17).