Van Winden/Sparks of the United States claim

gold at the first stop of the 2026 NORCECA Tour

SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica, April 19, 2026.- The American duo of Torrey Van Winden and Lindsey Sparks were crowned champions of the first stop of the 2026 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour, held in Costa Rica, after defeating Canada’s Darby Dunn and Alison McKay 2-1 (18-21, 21-14, 15-10) in a final that built in intensity and finished with clear U.S. dominance.

Van Winden/Sparks, competing together for the first time on the NORCECA circuit, earned their first medal as a team, and did so atop the podium, showing composure and strength in key moments after dropping the opening set.

On the other side, Dunn/McKay arrived backed by recent results on the tour, including gold at the eighth stop of the 2025 NORCECA Tour in El Salvador and a bronze medal in Punta Cana, performances that established them as one of the most consistent duos in the tournament.

In the semifinals, the Americans advanced with a 2-0 (21-18, 21-13) convincing win over Mexico’s Susana Torres and Abril Flores. Meanwhile, Dunn and McKay, needed three sets to defeat Costa Rica’s Marcela Araya and Eugenia Ramírez 2-1 (21-19, 17-21, 15-8) in a tightly contested match that kept the home crowd engaged until the end.

In the bronze medal match, Torres/Flores defeated Araya/Ramírez 2-0 (21-17, 21-16) in a controlled performance by the Mexican pair to secure their place on the podium.

The tournament concluded with a competitive balance, highlighting emerging duos in the region and others reaffirming their consistency, at a stop that marked the start of the 2026 NORCECA season.

WOMEN’S FINAL RANKING

1. Van Winden / Sparks (USA)

2. Dunn / McKay (CAN)

3. Torres / Flores (MEX)

4. Araya / Ramírez (CRC)

5. Paniagua / Almanzar (DOM)

6. Race / Hunt (USA)

7. Molina / Aguilar (CRC)

8. Tovar / Vigil (ESA)

9. Hladyniuk / Robitaille (CAN)

10. Alvarado / Gonzalez (GUA)

11. Núñez / Moreno (CRC)

12. Cepek / Juarez (MEX)

13. Lopez / Lolette (NCA)

14. Gumbs / Hensley Philip (SKN)

15. Vernecia / Jordan (ISV)

16. Smith-Johnson / A. Robinson (CAY)

RESULTAS DAY 3

FINAL: Van Winden/Sparks (USA) 2-1 Dunn/Mckay (CAN) (18-21/21-14/15-10)

THIRD PLACE: Torres/Flores (MEX) 2-0 Araya/Ramirez (CRC) (21-17/21-16)

SEMIFINALS: Van Winden/ Sparks (USA) 2-0 Torres/Flores (MEX) (21-18/21-13); Dunn/McKay (CAN) 2-1 Araya/Ramirez (21-19/17-21/15-8)

F15: Vernecia/Jordan (ISV) 2-1 Smith-Johnson/A Robinson (CAY) (16-21/21-18/15-13)

F5: Paniagua/Almanzar (DOM) 2-1 Race/Hunt (USA) (21-19/17-21/15-12)

F7: Molina/Aguilar (CRC) 2-1 Tovar/Vigil (ESA) (21-13/14-21/15-8)

C5/8: Paniagua/Almanzar (DOM) 2-0Molina/Aguilar (CRC) (21-13/21-17)

C5/8: Race/Hunt (USA) 2-1 Tovar/Vigil (ESA) (22-20/16-21/15-10)

F9: Hladyniuk/Robitaille (CAN) 2-0 Alvarado/Gonzalez (GUA) (21-12/21-10)

F11: Núñez/Moreno (CRC) 2-0 Cepek/Juarez (MEX) (21-10/23-21)

F13: López/Lolette (NCA) 2-0 Gumbs/Hensley Philip (SKN) (21-9/21-11)