Thirteen Countries Set for Second Stop of NORCECA

Beach Tour in Güibia, Santo Domingo

GÜIBIA, Dominican Republic, May 7, 2026 – Thirteen countries are set to compete in the second stage of the 2026 NORCECA Continental Beach Volleyball Tour, which gets underway this Friday on the sand courts at Güibia Beach in Santo Domingo.

Teams will battle for one of the seven remaining spots at the Lima 2027 Pan American Games, while also earning valuable ranking points toward qualification for the NORCECA Olympic Qualification Tournament in Puerto Rico, which closes on August 31.

A total of 16 teams per gender completed preliminary inspections on Thursday and will open pool play on Friday at 8:45 a.m. local time, all aiming to advance to the knockout rounds.

The opening day features 32 matches (16 per gender). The preliminary phase will wrap up on Saturday morning, followed by quarterfinals and qualification matches in the afternoon. The tournament concludes on Sunday with semifinals, medal matches, and final placement contests.

In the women’s draw, all three medal-winning teams from the opening stage in Costa Rica return to action: Torrey Van Winden/Lindsay Sparks of the United States, Alison McKay/Darby Dunn of Canada, and Susana Torres/Abril Flores of Mexico.

In the men’s competition, Mexico’s Carlos Andrés Ayala and Inés Vargas Lares, runners-up in Costa Rica, headline the field alongside compatriots Miguel Sarabia/Jorman Osuna, who make their first appearance of the 2026 season. Cuba’s Damián Gómez/Eblis Veranes are also set to debut this year.

MEN'S TEAMS:

(CRC1) Julián Araya/Stanley Grant, (CRC2) Lance Akerson/Cristhian Oporta; (ESA) Rafael Vargas/Gabriel Vargas; (MEX1) Miguel Sarabia/Jorman Osuna, (MEX2) Antonio Lares/Carlos Ayala; (CAY) William Duty/Jesario Ebanks; (USA) Charles Siragusa/Rowdy Lennon; (SKN) Zendai Richards/Codville Rogers; (CUB) Damián Gómez/Eblis Veranes; (GUA) Edgar Maldonado/José Izaguirre; (CAN) David Chaput/Cameron McGregor; (PUR) Cristian Encarnación/José Pacheco; (NCA) Jefferson Cascante/Josué Meneses; (DOM1) Hayerlin De Jesús/Oscar Martínez; (DOM2) Ramón De Jesús/Alexander Wilmore; (HON) Andrés Vigil/Manuel Serrano.

WOMEN'S TEAMS:

(CUB) Kailín Garrido/Maykelin Drik; (GUA) Paola Alvarado/Daphne Mendoza; (ESA) Dana Funes/Adriana Vargas; (MEX1) Susana Torres/Abril Flores; (MEX2) Anna González/Ana Juarez; (USA) Torrey Van Winden/Lindsay Sparks; (HON) Shanna Rivera/Ruth Villegas; (CAN1) Alison McKay/Darby Dunn; (CAN2) Anna Prokofieva/Claire Crossfield; (CAY) Chante Smith-Johnson/Joanna Robinson; (CRC) Marcela Araya/Eugenia Ramírez; (NCA) Socorro López/Lolette Rodríguez; (DOM1) Bethania Almánzar/Julibeth Payano, (DOM2) Crismil Paniagua/Yari Cleto, (DOM3) Zoe Paniagua/Yerelin Reyes; (PUR) Mariana Feliciano/Camila Nazario.