United States, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Canada Advance to U18 Women’s Semifinals and Qualify for Worlds

JUAN DOLIO, Dominican Republic, April 25, 2026 – The teams from the United States, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Canada advanced to the women’s semifinals of the NORCECA U18 Beach Volleyball Qualifying Tournament in Juan Dolio,  securing their places at the U18 Beach Volleyball World Championship.

The American duo of Lauren Leach and Janie McCanna advanced in dominant fashion, defeating Bermuda’s Olivia Gazzard and Sophie Weikl 2-0 (21-8, 21-9). Leach and McCanna will face Costa Rica’s Keila Moreno and Ingrid Núñez in Sunday’s semifinals. The Costa Rican pair reached the round after upsetting the home team of Zoe Paniagua and Yerelin Reyes in straight sets, 2-0 (22-20, 21-19).

Meanwhile, El Salvador’s Fátima Rendón and Débora Medina overpowered Puerto Rico’s Ana Barcías and Coralys Pérez 2-0 (24-22, 21-15). They will take on Canada’s Julia McDougall and Natalia Casas in the semifinals, following the Canadians’ convincing 2-0 (21-3, 21-9) victory over Guatemala’s Daniela Campos and Fátima Reina.

One remaining berth to the World Championship will be decided on Sunday.

The U18 Beach Volleyball World Championship will be held from July 8–12 in The Hague, Netherlands.

Other results:

(USA) Lauren Leach/Janie McCanna d (ESA) FatimaRendon/Devora Medina 2-0 (21-11, 21-9); (GUA) Daniela Campos/Fatima Reina d (ISV) Rzyra Denbow/Anna-Marie Figueroa 2-0 (21-13, 21-18); (CAN) Julia McDougall/Natalia Casas d (NCA) Kimberly Silva/Abdi Narvaez 2-0 (21-5, 21-9); (CRC) Keila Moreno/Ingrid Núñez d (BAR) DestinyLayne/Gabrielle Sandiford 2-1 (18-21, 21-17, 17-15); (PUR) Ana Barcias/Coralys Pérez d (DOM) Zoe Paniagua/YerelinReyes 2-0 (21-11, 21-16); (BER) Olivia Gazzard/Sophie Weikl d (CAY) Julissa Kelly/Safirah Barbosa 2-0 (21-12, 21-7).