USA and Canadian Women Start Strong in Punta Cana

PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic, October 2, 2024.- The U.S. women teams of Mariah Whalen/Molly Phillips and Xolani Hodel/Alexis Durish, along with the Canadian pairs of Amy Ozee/Kaylee Glagau and Sophia Hladyniuk/Abbey Thorup, won their respective matches on the first day of competition to kick off the Fifth Stop of the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour 2024 on the right foot. The event is being held on the sands of Los Corales Beach in Punta Cana.

Whalen/Phillips (USA) defeated Cuba’s Maykelin Drik/Mileidy Paret 2-0 (21-11, 21-16) in their first match, with their second win coming via BYE. Meanwhile, the other U.S. duo, Hodel/Durish, overcame Guatemala’s Ana Arévalo/Danna Aguilar 2-0 (21-7, 21-11) and Nicaragua’s Nahima Silva/Lolette Rodríguez 2-0 (21-13, 21-4).

Canada’s Ozee/Glagau beat Dominicans Nallelin Taveras/Karla Díaz 2-0 (21-8, 21-15) and Jamaica’s Kristina Lumsden/Petal Smith 2-0 (21-4, 21-8), while the team of Hladyniuk/Thorup defeated Silva/Rodríguez (NCA) 2-0 (21-16, 21-11) and Guatemala’s Arévalo/Aguilar 2-0 (21-7, 21-9).

The preliminary round will conclude on Thursday morning, followed by the quarterfinals and the losers' bracket in the afternoon.

The other results of the day were:

Daniela Vigil/Karla Tovar (ESA) d Amanda Robinson/Joanna Robinson (CAY) 2-0 (21-13, 21-13); T´ara Austin/Taylor Buckner (ISV) d Maykelin Drik/Mileidy Paret (CUB) 2-0 21-12, 21-11); Laura Molina/Aliza Aguilar (CRC) d Kristina Lumsden/Petal Smith (JAM) 2-0 (21-8, 21-9); Darlenys Olivo/Crismil Hinojosa (DOM) d Vigil/Tovar (ESA) 2-1 (13-21, 21-10, 15-13); Molina/Aguilar (CRC) d Nallelin Taveras/Karla Díaz (DOM) 2-0 (21-18, 21-15).