Keeter/Barnes of the United States Win the U23 Tour in Punta Cana 

PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic, October 9, 2024. - Ayden Keeter and Carson Barnes from the United States claimed the top honors by defeating Cuba’s Damián Gómez and Eblis Veranes 2-0 (21-18, 21-18) in the championship match of the NORCECA U23 Beach Volleyball Tour, held on the sand courts of Los Corales Beach in Punta Cana. 

The bronze medal went to El Salvador, with the twin duo Yoel and Christopher Guardado, who defeated the Dominican pair Alexander Wilmore and Rolvin Maldonado 2-0 (21-9, 21-17). 

Americans Keeter and Barnes had no trouble defeating Wilmore/Maldonado from the Dominican Republic 2-0 (21-10, 21-15) in the semifinals, while the Cuban duo Gómez/Veranes fought hard to overcome the Guardado twins from El Salvador 2-1 (21-12, 19-21, 15-10) in the other semifinal. 

Fifth place went to Julián/Stanley Grant from Costa Rica, who defeated Canadians Connor Dorsey/Aiden Hilkowitz 2-1 (18-21, 21-14, 15-10). 

Seventh place went to Josué Meneses/Jesy Umaña from Nicaragua, who beat Ramón De Jesús/Melvin De Jesús from the Dominican Republic 2-0 (21-17, 23-21), while ninth place was claimed by the Guatemalan duo José Izaguirre/Mario Ventura, who defeated Canadians Cole Linskill/Henry Heider 2-0 (21-17, 21-19). 

Eleventh place went to Stephen Watson/Alexander Finnikin from the Cayman Islands, who defeated Julian Bristol/Clerique Ward from Saint Kitts and Nevis 2-0 (21-12, 21-19), while Shadron Delpesche/John Jaimion from Saint Vincent finished in thirteenth after defeating Kymani Greenidge/Cole Sommer from the US Virgin Islands 2-0 (25-23, 21-13). 

In fifteenth place was the duo Luiyi Morales/Emmanuel Montenegro from Bonaire, who defeated Alexander Southern/Braedon Cooke from Bermuda 2-0 (21-14, 21-16). 

Other results:

Gomez/Veranes (CUB) d Y. Guardado/C. Guardado (ESA) 2-1 (21-12, 19-21, 15-10); Keeter/Barnes (USA) d Wilmore/Maldonado (DOM) 2-0 (21-10, 21-15); Dorsey/Hilkowitz (CAN) d R. De Jesus/M. De Jesus (DOM) 2-0 (21-15, 21-17) and Araya/Stanley (CRC) d Meneses/Umaña (NCA) 2-1 (21-17, 16-21, 15-7).

Final Standings:

1-Keeter/Barnes (USA), 2- Gomez/Veranes (CUB), 3- Y. Guardado/C.Guardado (ESA), 4- Wilmore/Maldonado (DOM2), 5- Araya/Stanley (CRC), 6- Dorsey/Hilkowitz (CAN1), 7- Meneses/Umaña (NCA), 8- R. De Jesus/M. De Jesus (DOM1), 9- Izaguirre/Ventura (GUA), 10- Linskill/Heider (CAN2), 11- Watson/Finnikin (CAY), 12- Bristol/Clerique (SKN), 13- Delpesche/Jamie (VIN), Kymani/Sommer (ISV), 15- Morales/Montenegro (BON), 16- Southern/Cooke (BER).