Two U.S. Teams and Two Mexican Teams Advance to Semifinals in Costa Rica

SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica, November 7, 2024.- United States and Mexico have established themselves as the top contenders in the women’s tournament of the ninth stop of the NORCECA Continental Tour in Costa Rica, each securing two teams in the semifinals.

The American duo of Peri Brennan and Molly Phillips advanced to the semifinals with a 2-0 (21-18, 21-13) victory over Costa Rica’s Aliza Aguilar and Kianny Quesada. Similarly, their compatriots Taylor Wilson and Myszkowski dominated Guatemala’s Natalia Girón and Paola Alvarado, winning 2-0 (21-15, 21-10), demonstrating their strength and strategy in every set.

Mexico kept pace by also advancing both of their teams to the semifinals. Atenas Gutiérrez and Susana Torres defeated the U.S. Virgin Islands pair T’ara Austin and Taylor Buckner in a tight match, finishing 2-0 (21-19, 21-12). Meanwhile, Yeray Vidaurrazaga and Jimena Ramírez overcame Canada’s Sophia Hladyniuk and Myriam Robitaille in a hard-fought battle, sealing a 2-0 (21-18, 21-14) win.

These victories set the stage for thrilling semifinal clashes between Mexico and the United States. Brennan/Phillips will face their fellow Americans Wilson/Myszkowski, while the Mexican semifinal features Vidaurrazaga/Ramírez against Gutiérrez/Torres.

In pool-play, in Pool A, Brennan and Phillips (USA) finished undefeated after beating Paniagua and Cleto (DOM) 21-09, 21-16, leaving Mexico in second place and the Dominican Republic in third.

Austin and Buckner (ISV) claimed the top spot in Pool B after edging Costa Rica’s Aguilar and Quesada 22-20, 21-19, with Costa Rica taking second place.

In Pool C, Wilson and Myszkowski (USA) defeated Costa Rica’s Quesada and Ramírez 2-0 (21-16, 21-14). Hladyniuk/Robitaille (CAN) secured second place with a 2-0 (21-11, 21-18) victory over Tovar/Vigil (ESA).

Pool D was led by Vidaurrazaga and Ramírez (MEX), who triumphed over Costa Rica’s Molina and Sofía Vega 21-14, 21-06. Guatemala’s Girón and Alvarado secured second place after defeating Brenes/Lolette (NCA) 2-0 (22-20, 21-14).

In placement matches, Paniagua and Cleto (DOM) beat Brenes and Lolette (NCA) 2-1 (21-15, 17-21, 15-9), while Quesada and Ramírez (CRC) outperformed Guzmán and Rendón (ESA) with a clear 2-0 (21-10, 21-08). For the 13th to 16th positions, Tovar and Vigil (ESA) defeated Layne and Edwards (BAR) 2-0 (21-18, 22-20), and Molina and Sofía Vega (CRC) advanced automatically with a bye.

WOMEN’S RESULTS

POOL-PLAY POOL A Gutiérrez / Torres (MEX) BYE; Brennan / Phillips (USA) – Paniagua/Cleto (DOM) 2-0 (21-09/21-16); POOL B Austin/Buckner (ISV) -Aguilar/Quesada (CRC) 2-0 (22-20/21-19); Guzmán/Rendon (ESA)- Layne/Edwards (BAR) 2-1 (21-17/18-21/15-3); POOL C Hladyniuk/Robitaille (CAN)-Tovar/Vigil (ESA) 2-0 (21-11/21-18); Wilson/Myszkowski (USA)-Quesada/Ramírez (CRC) 2-0 (21-16/21-14); POOL D Vidaurruzaga/Ramírez (MEX) -Molina/Sofi V (CRC) 2-0 (21-14/21-06); N.Giron/Alvarado (GUA) -N.Brenes/Lolette (NCA) 2-0 (21-16/22-20)

Classif. 9/12 Paniagua/Cleto (DOM)- N. BRENES/Lolette (NCA) 2-1 (21-15/17-21/15-9); Quesada/Ramírez (CRC)- Guzmán/Rendon (ESA) 2-0 (21-10/21-08); Classif. 13/16 Tovar/Vigil (ESA)- Layne/Edwards (BAR) 2-0 (21-18, 22-20); Molina/Sofi V (CRC) Bye

QUARTERFINALS: Brennan/Phillips (USA)- Aguilar/Quesada (CRC) 2-0 (21-18/21-13); Wilson/Myszkowski (USA)- N. Giron/Alvarado (GUA) 2-0 (21-15/21-10); Gutiérrez/Torres (MEX) -Austin/Buckner (ISV) 2-0 (21-19/21-12); Vidaurrazaga/Ramirez (MEX)- Hladyniuk/Robitaille (CAN) 2-0 (21-18, 21-14)