By Edgard Solano
Punta Cana. American duo, Isabella Martínez and Ella Connor claimed gold in the NORCECA U-23 Beach Volleyball Continental Tour. They beat Dominicans Crismil Paniagua and Darlenys Olivo 2-0 (21-8, 21-15) on Los Corales beach.
The American pair made it to the title game by overpowering Cubans Amanda Drik and Mileidy Paret 2-0 (21-17, 21-11). Paniagua and Olivo secured their spot by ousting Costa Ricans Laura Molina and Aliza Aguilar, also 2-0 (21-19, 21-19).
Bronze was snagged by Drik and Paret who overcame Molina and Aguilar 2-1 (19-21, 24-22, 16-14). Canada’s Emma Cudmore and Sophie Hancock took fifth place, defeating Ana Arévalo and Danna Aguilar from Guatemala 2-0 (21-9, 22-20). Daniela Vigil and Karla Tovar from El Salvador clinched seventh place. They beat Trinidad and Tobago pair Adalia Badroe and Shanice Cottoy 2-0 (21-17, 21-2).
In the men’s category, gold went to Americans Ayden Keeter and Carson Barnes. They overcame Cubans Damián Gómez and Eblis Veranes in the final, 2-0 (21-18, 21-18).
Bronze was won by Salvadoran twins Yoel and Christopher Guardado. They defeated Dominicans Alexander Wilmore and Rolvin Maldonado 2-0 (21-9, 21-17).
Keeter and Barnes easily outperformed Wilmore and Maldonado in the semis, 2-0 (21-10, 21-15). Gómez and Veranes barely passed Guardado 2-1 (21-12, 19-21, 15-10).
Fifth place was secured by Costa Ricans Julián and Stanley Grant, outpacing Connor Dorsey and Aiden Hilkowitz from Canada in a 2-1 (18-21, 21-14, 15-10) contest.
