Mexico, with valuable backing from the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment initiative, delivered an outstanding performance at the recent NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour event held in Paramaribo. The nation proudly secured a gold medal in the women`s competition and a silver medal in the men`s.
In the women`s category, Atenas Gutierrez and Susana Torres of Mexico celebrated their championship title in the Surinamese capital. They were joined on the podium by Piper Ferch and Erin Inskeep from the USA, who earned silver, and Kaylee Glagau and Emma Glagau of Canada, who claimed the bronze.
For the men`s tournament, Mexico`s duo of Antonio Lares and Carlos Andres Ayala concluded the event as runners-up. The gold medal was clinched by the American pair Taylor Crabb and Trevor Crabb, while Derek Bradford and Zephyr Dew, also representing the USA, secured the bronze.
FIVB Empowerment`s Contribution
Mexican national teams in both beach volleyball and indoor volleyball have significantly benefited from the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment program. To date, this support amounts to a substantial USD 1,328,000 allocated for coach development. Furthermore, the Mexican federation received a grant of USD 23,000 specifically for beach volleyball equipment. The men`s national beach volleyball duos are currently under the guidance of Argentinean coach Ruben Barrera, while their female counterparts are coached by Brazilian instructor Reis Castro.
Women`s Tournament Highlights
The top-seeded pair of Atenas Gutierrez and Susana Torres showcased dominant form in Paramaribo, completing the tournament undefeated across five matches. They conceded only a single set throughout their victorious campaign, which occurred during a hard-fought 2-1 (8-21, 21-16, 18-16) comeback triumph against USA’s Piper Ferch and Erin Inskeep in the captivating gold medal showdown. This remarkable achievement marks the Mexican duo`s inaugural NORCECA Tour gold, adding to their impressive record of eight silvers and one bronze from previous events.
The sixth-seeded American team also reached the final without a single loss. In the semifinals, Gutierrez and Torres confidently defeated Kaylee Glagau and Emma Glagau with a 2-0 (21-16, 21-19) score. Simultaneously, Ferch and Inskeep secured a decisive 2-0 (21-10, 21-13) sweep against Surinam’s third-seeded local favorites, Janneke Tammenga and Chagnaz Frankel.
In the battle for the bronze medal, the second-seeded Canadian team achieved a clean 2-0 (21-9, 21-14) victory over Tammenga and Frankel.
Men`s Tournament Highlights
The third-seeded Mexican pair, Antonio Lares and Carlos Andres Ayala, made a strong impression in the men’s tournament, building a four-game winning streak. Their path to the podium was secured with a 2-0 (21-19, 21-15) semifinal victory over Canada’s fifth-seeded Cameron Chadwick and Robert Kemp. This silver medal finish represents their best performance on the continental tour this season, complementing a gold and a bronze achieved earlier.
Seventh-seeded American brothers Taylor Crabb and Trevor Crabb maintained an impeccable record throughout their five matches in Suriname, dropping only one set. This occurred during their challenging 2-1 (15-21, 21-18, 15-12) semifinal win against their compatriots, second-seeded Derek Bradford and Zephyr Dew. The Crabb brothers then proceeded to clinch the gold medal with a thrilling 2-0 (21-18, 36-34) win over Lares and Carlos Andres in the final, marking a triumphant return and their first NORCECA Tour trophy together since 2016.
Bradford and Dew effectively bounced back from their semifinal defeat, securing the bronze medal with a decisive 2-0 (21-18, 21-17) victory over Chadwick and Kemp.
Tournament Overview and Upcoming Events
The Paramaribo event featured a diverse lineup of teams, with a total of seven women’s and nine men’s teams representing six different national federations, all competing for top honors.
Looking ahead, the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour is set to continue with its sixth stop of the 2025 season. This upcoming event will be held in Manzanillo, Mexico, from August 29 to 31.
Jasper Thornfield 
Finley Blackwood