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SAN JUAN DEL SUR, Nicaragua, May 17, 2026.-
Mexico’s Susana Torres and Abril Flores defeated María Belén
Castillo and Kahlee York of the United States in three sets, 2-1
(19-21, 21-14, 16-14), to claim the title at the third stop of the
2026 NORCECA Tour, earning their first gold medal as a team.
After winning two bronze medals in the opening stops of the circuit,
Torres and Flores found their rhythm and climbed to the top of the
podium, coming from behind against a strong U.S. pair that took the
first set.
“The
key was teamwork. I feel that the previous NORCECA events helped us
adjust, since we are a new team. I even had a different role
before—I was a blocker and now I play defense—so we’ve been making
adjustments, along with following our coach’s instructions. The goal
is to keep working because our focus is the Central American and
Caribbean Games,” said Flores.
Torres added: “I’m very happy. My partner is new and had a different
role before, so being on the podium—and now at the top—is very
important for us looking ahead to the Central American and Caribbean
Games. We are preparing hard.”
In
the bronze medal match, Canada’s Darby Dunn and Alison McKay
defeated Julibeth Payano and Bethania Almanzar of the Dominican
Republic 2-0 (21-19, 21-16), to earn their first bronze medal of the
season after previously winning two silvers.
In
the semifinals, Torres/Flores defeated Dunn/McKay 2-1 (21-15, 15-21,
15-11), while Castillo/York beat Payano/Almanzar 2-0 (21-18, 21-11).
The
awards ceremony was led by Bertha Cuadra, president of the
Nicaraguan Volleyball Federation; Heydi Valverde, NORCECA
Competition Director; and local authorities, who aim to establish
San Juan del Sur as a permanent stop on the Tour each year.
Sunday’s Results
Gold
Medal: Torres/Flores MEX def Castillo/York USA 2-1 (19-21, 21-14,
16-14).
Bronze Medal: Dunn/McKay CAN def Payano/Almanzar DOM 2-0 (21-19,
21-16)
Positions 5/6: Paniagua/Infante DOM def Aguilar/Molina CRC 2-1
(19-21, 25-23, 15-7)
Positions 7/8: López/Lolette NCA def Monney/Alvarado GUA 2-1 (21-14,
17-21, 15-10).
Classification Postions 5-8: Paniagua/Infante DOM def Lopez/Lolette
NCA 2-0 (21-18, 21-11) Aguilar/Molina CRC def Monney/Alvarado GUA
2-1 (21-16, 18-21, 15-13)
Positions 9/10: Johnson/Bremel USA def Tovar/Vigil ESA 2-0 (21-17,
21-10)
Positions 11/12: N. Brenes/Chavéz NCA def Rivera/Bruhier HON 2-0
(21-14, 21-11)
Positions 13/14: A. Robinson/Robinson CAY def Juárez/Cepek MEX 2-0
(22-20, 21-18)
Positions 15/16: Rios/Fuentes PAN def Jordan/Donovan ISV forfeit | 
