USA’s Connor and Inskeep Dominate Women’s Final

to Claim Punta Cana Gold

 

PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic, October 25, 2026. – Ella Connor and Erin Inskeep of the United States delivered a commanding performance in the women’s gold medal match at the eighth stop of the 2026 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Continental Tour, defeating Puerto Rico’s Allanis Navas and Keishlyann Sánchez 2-0 (21-12, 21-12) to take the top spot on the podium in Punta Cana.

 

The American pair controlled the championship match from start to finish, posting identical 21-12 scores in both sets to secure the gold medal. Navas and Sánchez, meanwhile, finished with silver after reaching the final following a thrilling three-set 2-1 (19-21, 22-20, 15-12) semifinal victory over Cuba.

 

Mexico’s Susana Torres and Abril Flores completed the podium with a hard-earned bronze medal, defeating Cuba’s Kailin Garrido and Maykelin Drik 2-1 (21-17, 18-21, 15-12). After taking the opening set, the Mexicans faced a strong Cuban response before prevailing in the deciding set to secure third place.

 

Host representatives Julibeth Payano and Crismil Paniagua finished fifth after overcoming Canada’s Darby Dunn and Alison McKay 2-0 (21-15, 30-28). The Dominican duo prevailed in an extended second set, holding off a determined Canadian challenge to close out the match.

 

The U.S. Virgin Islands’ T’ara Austin and Amber Bennett rallied from a set down to claim seventh place with a 2-1 (17-21, 21-18, 15-9) victory over El Salvador’s Karla Tovar and Dana Funes.

 

Nicaragua’s Socorro López and Lolette Rodríguez secured ninth place with a 2-0 (21-9, 21-15) win against the Dominican Republic’s Yerelin Reyes and Zoe Paniagua.

 

In the remaining classification matches, Guatemala’s Paola Alvarado and Daphne Mendoza battled past Honduras’ Shanna Rivera and Daphnie Smith 2-1 (21-17, 12-21, 15-7) to finish eleventh, while Canada’s Kristen Almhjell and Christina Smith took thirteenth place after defeating the Cayman Islands’ Julissa Kelly and Elise Swaby 2-0 (21-5, 21-7).

 

Other results:

(PUR) Sánchez/Navas def. (CUB) Kailin/Drik 2-1 (19-21, 22-20, 15-12); (USA) Connor/Inskeep def. (MEX) Torres/Flores 2-0 (21-12, 21-14); (CAN1) Dunn/McKay def. (ISV) Austin/Benneth 2-0 (21-10, 21-14); (DOM1) Payano/Paniagua def. (ESA) Tovar/Funes 2-0 (21-13, 21-13).