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Mexico, Puerto Rico, Canada and USA advance to women’s semifinals

PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic, December 10, 2022.- Mexico, Puerto Rico, Canada and the United States advanced to the women’s semifinals of the 2022 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour Finals in Punta Cana.

Mexicans Atenas Gutiérrez and Abril Flores were challenged by Dominicans Bethania Almanzar and Crismil Paniagua in a three-set quarterfinal battle 2-1 (21-11, 19-21, 15-10).

Amanda Harnett and Marie-Alex Bélanger of Canada prevailed 2-0 (21-17, 21-11) in quarterfinals against Cubans Nahomi Charlot and Dayani Zerqueira 2-0 (21-17, 21-11), who earlier defeated Petal Smith and Kelly Chauna of Jamaica 2-0 (22-20, 21-13) in their last pool A match.

On their way to semifinals, Allanis Navas and María González of Puerto Rico started the day winning pool C to Bethania Almanzar and Crismil Paniagua of Dominican Republic 2-0 (21-8, 21-8) and then in quarterfinals they beat Angel Williams and Kianny Quesada of Costa Rica 2-0 (21-12, 21-12).

Betsi Flint and Julia Scoles of the United States, who topped pool A on Friday, earned an easy 2-0 (21-8, 21-8) quarterfinal win to Amber Bennett and Taylor Buchner of the U.S. Virgin Islands.

On Sunday’s semifinals, Americans Betsi Flint and Julia Scoles will face Atenas Gutierrez and Abril Flores of Mexico, followed by Allanis Navas and Maria González of Puerto Rico against Canadians Amanda Harnett and Marie-Alex Bélanger.

In other results, Bennett/Buchner (ISV) won to Yvonne Soler/Sofía Velásquez of El Salvador 2-0 (22-20, 21-13) and then played an extra match to advance to the quarterfinals, working hard to defeat Socorro López and Lolette Rodríguez of Nicaragua 2-1 (21-18, 18-21, 15-10) who earlier prevailed 2-0 (21-19, 21-17) against Natalia Girón and Naomi Monney of Guatemala.

In classification matches for position 9/12, Nicaraguans Lopez/Lolette defeated Smith/Chauna of Jamaica 2-1 (22-20, 15-21, 15-13) and Soler/Velásquez of El Salvador beat Girón/Monney of Guatemala 2-0 (21-19, 21-16).