NORCECA Women's Olympic Qualifier Set to Begin

TLAXCALA, Mexico, June 20, 2024. - The NORCECA Beach Volleyball Olympic Qualifying Women’s Tournament is set for a thrilling competition, promising a competition full of excitement.

With only one ticket to Paris available for the NORCECA Confederation, the participating countries have come a long way over three years to reach this Olympic qualifier stage and have no intention of falling short now.

The Canadian pair Heather Bansley/Sophie Bukovec are eager to join their compatriots Melissa Humana-Paredes/Brandie Wilkerson, who secured their spot in Paris vie the world rankings.

Bansley competed in the 2016 London Olympics, winning all pool-play matches with her former teammate Sarah Pavan.

The United States has already qualified their maximum of two pairs (Taryn Kloth/Kristen Nuss and Kelly Cheng/Sara Hughes).

Among Bansley and Bukovec’s strong competitors are the Mexican duo of Atenas Gutiérrez/Susana Torres and the Puerto Rican duo Allanis Navas/María González, who are gold medalists from the Central American and Caribbean Games and have multiple medals in the NORCECA Tour.

The teams are divided into three pools.

Pool A consists of Atenas Gutiérrez/Susana Torres (MEX), Socorro López/Lolette Rodríguez (NCA), Amber Bennett/Taylor Buchner (ISV), and Balkaran/Tammenga (SUR).

Pool B includes Núñez/Quesada (CRC), Paola Alvarado/María Andrea Orellana (GUA), Bansley/Bukovec (CAN), and Thornia Mitchell/Renisha Stafford (GRN).

Pool C features the teams of Payano/Paniagua (DOM), Daniela Vigil/Karla Tovar (ESA), Navas/González (PUR), and Anija Delapenha/Brianna Delapenha (CAY).

The top two teams from each pool, along with the two best third-placed teams, will advance to the quarterfinals.

The women’s matches will start at 9:00 a.m. at the Jorge “El Ranchero” Aguilar Bullring and the MAT court, continuing until 11:00 a.m., and will resume action at 3:00 p.m. at both venues.