Quiggle and Rice from the USA Crowned Champions of the NORCECA Beach
Volleyball Tour in Varadero
VARADERO, Cuba, May 4, 2025.- Corinne Quiggle and Megan Rice of the
United States earned their first international podium finish by
winning the women’s tournament of the opening stage of the 2025
NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour, held in this renowned resort
destination.
The American duo accomplished the goal they had set for themselves
by convincingly defeating Mexico’s Susana Torres and Atenas
Gutiérrez in straight sets, 21-12 and 21-18, to return home with the
desirable top prize.
“We’re very happy because this is only our second international
event. We set this goal, and we achieved it. I first came to
Varadero in 2016 with a different partner and we finished fifth. I’m
thrilled,” said Corinne.
Her partner, Megan, added, “We’ve felt great here. The beaches are
beautiful, and so are the people. There’s a strong culture and Cuban
athletes are very professional and full of warmth.”
The bronze medal went to local favorites Kailin Garrido and Maykelin
Drik, who battled hard against Mexico’s Yeray Vidaurrazaga and María
Ramírez in a match that went to a tie-break, finishing 21-18, 12-21,
15-8.
Earlier on Sunday in the semifinals, Corinne and Megan defeated
Kailin and Maykelin 2-0 (21-15, 21-18), showcasing a level of play
that confirmed their title chances at a venue where Quiggle placed
fifth back in 2016.
In the all-Mexican semifinal, Susana and Atenas beat Yeray and María
in straight sets (21-16, 26-24). A foot injury briefly paused the
match in the second set, but Atenas recovered and helped seal the
win.
Canada’s Amy Ozee and Darby Dunn took fifth place after an injury
forced a withdrawal by one of their compatriots, Dana Roskic or
Katarina Pantovic, from the opposing team.
Seventh place went to Puerto Rico’s Camila Nazario and Karla Sánchez
after a 2-1 victory (18-21, 21-12, 15-12) over Honduras’ Zoe Ebanks
and Shanna Rivera, one of only five matches in the tournament to go
to three sets.
Cuba’s second team, Amanda Armenteros and Selena Spek, finished
ninth after defeating Nicaragua’s Socorro López and Lolette
Rodríguez in straight sets (21-12, 21-13).
Rounding out the standings were Suriname’s Chagnaz Frankel and
Sharon Balkaran in 11th place after defeating Trinidad and Tobago’s
Apphia Glasgow and La Teisha Joseph 2-0 (21-12, 22-20), and
Venezuela’s Oriana Bermúdez and Luisiana Linares in 13th, after
dominating Dominican Republic’s Crismil Paniagua and Yari Cleto 2-0
(21-16, 21-12). |