Five Women’s Teams Remain Undefeated

on Day 1 of Juan Dolio Tour 

JUAN DOLIO, Dominican Republic, June 19, 2026. – Teams from Cuba, the United States, Puerto Rico, Guatemala, and Costa Rica completed the opening day of the sixth stop of the 2026 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour in Juan Dolio with unbeaten records. 

In Pool A, Cuba’s Kailín Garrido and Maykelin Drik dominated their two matches, defeating Vernecia Caines and Verneeci Caines of the U.S. Virgin Islands 2-0 (21-4, 21-9), before overcoming host team Bethania Almánzar and Julibeth Payano of the Dominican Republic by the same 2-0 score (21-15, 21-15). 

Americans Michelle Shaffer and Paloma Bowman topped Pool B with a perfect record after defeating Canada’s Katarina Pantovic and Marilou Couture 2-0 (21-10, 21-17), and Cayman Islands’ Joanna Robinson and Luna Ebanks 2-0 (21-4, 21-12). 

Making their first NORCECA Tour appearance of the season, Puerto Rico’s María González and Allanis Navas moved to the top of Pool C. The Puerto Rican pair defeated Nicaragua’s Lolette Rodríguez and Socorro López 2-0 (21-11, 21-8), then rallied to overcome Canada’s Darby Dunn and Alison McKay 2-1 (19-21, 21-12, 15-12). 

Pool D featured two undefeated teams. Guatemala’s Paola Alvarado and Daphne Mendoza defeated Shanella Harrison and Jontelle Hensley of St. Kitts and Nevis 2-0 (21-10, 21-16), and Bermuda’s Megan Hands and Natalie Gazzard 2-0 (21-18, 21-8). Meanwhile, Costa Rica’s Marcela Araya and Eugenia Ramírez also won both of their matches, defeating Hands and Gazzard 2-0 (21-16, 21-10) and Shanella and Hensley 2-0 (21-11, 21-8). 

Competition resumes on Saturday at 8:00 a.m. local time with the final preliminary-round matches, followed by the qualification round and quarterfinals. 

Other results:

(CAY) Robinson/Ebanks d (ESA) Karla Tovar/Sofía Vigil 2-0 (21-12, 21-18); (CAN2) Pantovic/Couture d (ESA) Tovar/Vigil 2-0 (21-9, 21-12); (CAN1) Dunn/McKay d (DOM2) Paniagua/Cleto 2-0 (21-16, 21-14); (DOM2) Paniagua/Cleto d (NCA) Rodríguez/López 2-0 (21-13, 26-24). ) Tovar/Vigil 2-0 (21-9, 21-12);(CAN1) Dunn/McKay d (DOM2)