At the recent NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour event held in Madero, Mexico, Puerto Rican teams, benefiting from FIVB Volleyball Empowerment support, achieved a remarkable double gold victory. Maria Gonzalez and Allanis Navas claimed victory in the women`s division, while William Rivera and Diego Rosich earned the men`s title. The women`s podium was completed by Mexico`s Susana Torres & Atenas Gutierrez (silver) and Canada`s Devin Corah & Alicia Thibodeau (bronze). For the men, Christopher Shaffer & Skyler Kaufman of the USA took silver, and Mexico`s Miguel Sarabia & Jorman Osuna secured bronze.
The success of Puerto Rico`s beach volleyball program is significantly bolstered by FIVB Volleyball Empowerment. The Federacion Puertorriquena de Voleibol`s beach volleyball division has received a substantial USD 168,000 for coaching support for their national pairs, alongside an additional USD 17,500 for essential beach volleyball equipment. The Puerto Rican teams are currently led by Coach Angel Pena.
Women`s Tournament Highlights
Maria Gonzalez and Allanis Navas of Puerto Rico maintained their outstanding form on the NORCECA Tour, securing their third continental gold medal in as many appearances this season. Entering the Madero women`s main draw as the second seed, they dominated the competition, completing five matches without losing a single set. Their flawless performance culminated in a 2-0 (21-18, 21-19) triumph over top-seeded Mexican duo Susana Torres & Atenas Gutierrez in the final. This victory enhances the Puerto Rican pair`s impressive NORCECA Tour medal tally to seven gold, six silver, and three bronze.
In the semifinals, Gonzalez & Navas effortlessly defeated Canada`s third-seeded Devin Corah & Alicia Thibodeau with a 2-0 (21-11, 21-9) sweep. Meanwhile, Torres & Gutierrez secured their spot in the final by beating fellow Mexican pair Yeray Vidaurrazaga & Maria Ramirez 2-0 (21-19, 21-16). Corah & Thibodeau later recovered to win the bronze medal, overcoming Vidaurrazaga & Ramirez in a close 2-1 (21-18, 17-21, 15-13) match.
Men`s Tournament Highlights
In the men`s division, William Rivera and Diego Rosich brought home Puerto Rico`s inaugural NORCECA Tour medal. Despite being seeded sixth, they impressively navigated through five matches without a single defeat to claim the top spot. The final saw the Puerto Rican pair upset the second-seeded US team of Christopher Shaffer & Skyler Kaufman with a decisive 2-0 (21-12, 24-22) victory. Earlier, in their semifinal match against Nicaragua`s fourth-seeded Ruben Mora & Denis Lopez, Rivera & Rosich dropped their only set of the entire tournament before securing a 2-1 (21-17, 20-22, 15-7) win.
The other men`s semifinal saw Shaffer & Kaufman dominate top-seeded Mexicans Miguel Sarabia & Jorman Osuna with a 2-0 (21-14, 21-19) sweep. Sarabia & Osuna later secured the bronze medal, winning a tough 2-0 (21-19, 22-20) match against Mora & Lopez.
The Madero event featured a total of nine women`s teams and ten men`s teams, representing nine distinct national federations.
The NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour is set to continue with its fifth stop for 2025 in Paramaribo, Suriname, scheduled from July 25 to 27.
Jasper Thornfield 
Finley Blackwood