Ecuadorian pair Raphaela Roman Espinoza and Valentina Valenzuela Bravo, along with Chileans José Tomas Zirpel and George Arentsen, secured silver medals at the recent CSV U18 Beach Volleyball South American Championships held in Lima. Both nations received support from the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment program. Brazilian teams claimed both gold medals: Isabela Sallaberry Cavalcanti and Ana Beatriz Sanches Francelino won the women`s title, while Thomas Mathias Endler and Felippe Prudencio Arruda Barbiero clinched the men`s championship. Venezuela also earned bronze medals through Valeria Valentina Moreno Figueredo and Aidana Alejandra Mejias Ramirez in the women`s event, and Gerardo Andres Bordones Hernandez and Sebastian Alfredo Pereira in the men`s.
The FIVB Volleyball Empowerment initiative has provided significant financial backing to Ecuador`s beach volleyball program, allocating USD 294,000 for coaching support, with Yhovanna Guanipa leading their national teams. Raphaela and Valentina of Ecuador overcame an initial loss in Peru by winning four consecutive matches to reach the final. Their semifinal performance saw them dominate Sofia Martinez and Agustina Velazquez of Paraguay with a decisive 2-0 (21-16, 21-13) victory, guaranteeing them at least a silver medal.
During the women`s gold medal match, Raphaela and Valentina managed to take a set from the Brazilian duo, Isabela and Ana Bia, marking the Brazilians` first set loss of the tournament. However, they couldn`t stop the Brazilians from securing the championship with a 2-1 (21-13, 19-21, 15-13) victory, allowing Isabela and Ana Bia to lift the trophy.
In an earlier semifinal match, the Brazilian pair defeated Venezuela`s Valeria and Ramirez in straight sets (21-13, 21-18). Venezuela`s Valeria and Ramirez later rebounded in the bronze medal match, achieving a 2-1 (14-21, 21-11, 15-8) comeback win against Martinez and Velazquez.
Women’s Results Overview
Chile`s beach volleyball efforts have also benefited significantly from FIVB Volleyball Empowerment, receiving USD 294,000 for coaching support and an additional USD 22,000 for beach volleyball equipment. Their men`s national teams are guided by coach Felipe Gomez Badilla. Chilean players José Tomas Zirpel and George Arentsen, known as Brain and Hargreaves, continued their strong performance in Lima, extending their winning streak to four games. They secured a spot on the podium by defeating Venezuela`s Gerardo and Pereira in a thrilling 2-1 (21-12, 13-21, 15-12) semifinal.
In the other men`s semifinal, Brazil`s Thomas and Felippe overcame Paraguay`s Matias Gabriel Yegros Gomez and Hugo Felix Benitez Vazquez in a 2-1 (16-21, 21-13, 15-13) match. The Brazilians then proceeded to win the gold medal, defeating Chile`s Brain and Hargreaves 2-0 (21-18, 21-19) in the final, concluding the tournament with an undefeated record.
The bronze medal in the men`s competition was awarded to Venezuela`s Gerardo and Pereira, who secured a 2-1 (21-17, 13-21, 15-11) victory against Paraguay`s Yegros and Felix in the third-place playoff.
Men’s Results Overview
The CSV U18 Beach Volleyball South American Championships featured participation from 14 women`s and 12 men`s teams, representing Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, and Venezuela.
Oliver Wrenwick 
Finley Blackwood