Canada, Venezuela and USA Go Undefeated

on Opening Day in Zapopan

ZAPOPAN, Jalisco, September 5, 2025.– Canadians Darby Dunn/Mikayla Law-Heese, Venezuela’s Aidana Mejías/Varlria Moreno  and Americans Michelle Shaffer/Rachael Kramer each celebrated two victories on Friday’s opening day of the women’s competition at the seventh stop of the 2025 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour, held in Zapopan, Jalisco.

Dunn and Law-Heese dominated Pool D, going undefeated with back-to-back wins. They opened with a 2-0 (21-13, 21-13) victory over Guatemala’s Paola Alvarado/Estefanie Bethancourt and followed with another straight-set triumph, 21-10, 21-13, against Costa Rica’s Katherine Quesada/Aliza Aguilar. Venezuela’s Aidana Mejías/Valeria Moreno also finished the day with a 2-0 record in Pool D, defeating Quesada/Aguilar 2-0 (21-19, 21-18) before rallying from a set down to beat Alvarado/Bethancourt 2-1 (19-21, 21-17, 15-10).

Dunn/Law-Heese and Ramirez/Valeria will clash on Saturday to decide Pool D top finisher.  

In Pool C, USA’s Shaffer and Kramer earned their two wins, starting with a 2-0 (21-10, 21-16) victory over Mexico’s Naomi Cruz/Angélica Torres. They were then tested by Venezuela’s Oriana Granadillo/Yonnielis Camacho but prevailed in straight sets, 21-19, 24-22. Cruz/Torres managed to split their matches, edging Canada’s Akash Grewal/Katarina Pantovic 2-1 (12-21, 21-19, 15-9) earlier in the day. Grewal/Pantovic closed with a 2-0 (21-16, 21-12) win against Granadillo/Camacho.

Pools A and B featured three-team groups, with each pair playing one match and receiving a bye.

In Pool A, host duo Susana Torres/Atenas Gutiérrez thrilled the home crowd with a 2-0 (21-13, 21-10) win over Nicaragua’s Socorro López/Lolette Rodríguez. The Nicaraguans had earlier defeated Melanie Valenciana/Amber Bennett of the U.S. Virgin Islands 2-0 (21-6, 21-13).

Tournament favorites, María González/Allanis Navas of Puerto Rico, endured a hard-fought Pool B opener, taking down Cuba’s Kailin Garrido/Maykelin Drik 2-0 (21-17, 21-19). Garrido/Drik had previously posted a 2-0 (21-15, 21-15) victory against El Salvador’s Karla Tovar/Daniela Vigil.

Pool play will conclude on Saturday, followed by the quarterfinals and classification matches.