Puerto Rico, backed by the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment program, achieved a remarkable double gold medal victory at the recent NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour event held in Madero, Mexico. The women`s title was clinched by Maria Gonzalez and Allanis Navas, while William Rivera and Diego Rosich secured the men`s trophy.
In the women`s division, Mexico`s Susana Torres & Atenas Gutierrez earned silver, with Canada`s Devin Corah & Alicia Thibodeau taking bronze. For the men, Christopher Shaffer & Skyler Kaufman of the USA claimed silver, and Mexico`s Miguel Sarabia & Jorman Osuna secured the bronze.
The beach volleyball department of the Puerto Rican Volleyball Federation (Federacion Puertorriquena de Voleibol) has significantly benefited from FIVB Volleyball Empowerment. The program provided a total of USD 168,000 for coaching support for their national pairs, plus an additional USD 17,500 for specialized beach volleyball equipment. Coach Angel Pena currently leads the Puerto Rican teams.
Women`s Tournament Highlights
Maria Gonzalez and Allanis Navas of Puerto Rico extended their stellar NORCECA Tour season, securing their third continental gold medal in just three Tour appearances this year. As the second seeds in the women`s main draw in Madero, they dominated the competition, not conceding a single set across five matches. Their flawless performance culminated in a 2-0 (21-18, 21-19) victory over the top-seeded home favorites, Susana Torres & Atenas Gutierrez, in the final match for the gold. This remarkable achievement brings the Puerto Rican duo`s total NORCECA Tour medal count to an impressive seven gold, six silver, and three bronze.
Earlier, Gonzalez and Navas easily defeated third-seeded Devin Corah & Alicia Thibodeau of Canada in their semifinal with a 2-0 (21-11, 21-9) sweep. Meanwhile, Torres & Gutierrez overcame another Mexican pair, Yeray Vidaurrazaga & Maria Ramirez, in straight sets, 2-0 (21-19, 21-16). For the bronze medal, Corah & Thibodeau recovered to win 2-1 (21-18, 17-21, 15-13) against Vidaurrazaga & Ramirez.
Men`s Tournament Highlights
In the men`s competition, William Rivera and Diego Rosich of Puerto Rico earned their inaugural NORCECA Tour medal. Despite being seeded sixth, they ascended to the top of the podium, remaining undefeated across five matches. Their final match saw the Puerto Rican duo execute a 2-0 (21-12, 24-22) upset against the second-seeded American pair, Christopher Shaffer & Skyler Kaufman. In their semifinal, Rivera & Rosich dropped their only set of the tournament but still secured a 2-1 (21-17, 20-22, 15-7) victory over Nicaragua`s fourth-seeded Ruben Mora & Denis Lopez.
In the other men`s semifinal, Shaffer & Kaufman delivered a 2-0 (21-14, 21-19) shutout against the top-seeded Mexicans Miguel Sarabia & Jorman Osuna. Sarabia & Osuna then secured the bronze medal in a tough 2-0 (21-19, 22-20) match against Mora & Lopez.
The Madero event featured a total of nine women`s and ten men`s teams, representing nine distinct national federations.
The next stop on the 2025 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour, the fifth of the season, is scheduled for Paramaribo, Suriname, from July 25 to 27.
Oliver Wrenwick 
Finley Blackwood