Canada Sends Two Teams to Women’s Semifinals in Juan Dolio, Joined by USA and Puerto Rico

JUAN DOLIO, Dominican Republic, June 20, 2026. – Canada emerged as the standout nation in the women’s competition at the sixth stage of the 2026 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour, advancing both of its teams to the semifinals on Saturday at Juan Dolio Beach. The semifinal lineup is completed by teams from the United States and Puerto Rico.

An all-Canadian semifinal is guaranteed after Darby Dunn and Alison McKay defeated Cuba’s Kailin Garrido and Maykelin Drik 2-0 (21-18, 21-17), while compatriots Katarina Pantovic and Marilou Couture advanced with a 2-0 (21-15, 21-16) victory over Costa Rica’s Marcela Araya and Eugenia Ramírez.

The second semifinal will feature the United States against Puerto Rico. Americans Michelle Shaffer and Paloma Bowman secured their place with a commanding 2-0 (21-7, 21-10) win over Guatemala’s Paola Alvarado and Daphne Mendoza. Puerto Rico’s María González and Allanis Navas, making their first NORCECA Tour appearance of the season, earned a semifinal berth by defeating Dominican Republic’s Bethania Almánzar and Julibeth Payano 2-0 (21-16, 21-15).

In the classification matches for positions 9–12, Dominican Republic’s Crismil Paniagua and Yari Cleto defeated Vernecia Caines and Vernecci Caines of the U.S. Virgin Islands 2-0 (21-12, 21-9), while Cayman Islands’ Joanna Robinson and Luna Ebanks overcame Bermuda’s Megan Hands and Natalie Gazzard 2-0 (21-16, 21-12).

For positions 13–16, El Salvador’s Karla Tovar and Sofía Vigil defeated St. Kitts and Nevis’ Shanella Harris and Jontelle Hensley 2-0 (21-12, 21-11), while Nicaragua’s Lolette Rodríguez and Socorro López advanced by bye.

Competition resumes Sunday at 8:45 a.m. local time with the remaining classification matches and the semifinal round, before concluding later in the day with the bronze medal match and championship final.

Other results:

(DOM1) Almanzar/Payano d (ISV) Vernecia Caines/Vernecci Caines 2-0 (21-10, 21-11); (USA) Shaffer/Bowman d (ESA) Tovar/Vigil 2-0 (21-9, 21-12); (CAN2) Pantovic/Couture d (CAY) Robinson/Ebanks 2-0 (21-9, 21-2); (CAN1) Dunn/McKay d (NCA) Rodríguez/López 2-0 (21-14, 21-10); (PUR) González/Navas d (DOM2) Paniagua/Cleto 2-0 (21-6, 21-11); (CRC) Araya/Ramírez d (GUA) Alvarado/Mendoza 2-0 (21-10, 21-16); (BER) Hands/Gazzard d (SKN) Harris/Hensley 2-0 (21-14, 21-16).