Beach Update: U.S. Earns Four Medals at NORCECA Playa de Güibia

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (April 8, 2024) – In the latest beach update, we recap the events of last week highlighted by the U.S. earning four medals at NORCECA Playa de Guibia. Pairs are now set to compete at the continental final in May, and we also take a look at three more beach events set to take place this week.

NORCECA Santo Domingo (Playa de Güibia) Results

All four competing U.S. teams stood on the podium at the conclusion of NORCECA Playa de Güibia this past weekend. Results were highlighted by the team of Kylie Deberg/Hailey Harward, who won gold after defeating Navas/Gonzalez (PUR) 2-1 (18-21, 23-21, 15-13).

“We were glad to get an international tournament under our belts together,” Harward said. “Definitely learned a lot about team and things to work on before the next event. It was really fun to battle together and get back into that competitive mode!”

Harward/Deberg beat Savvy Simo/Abby Van Winkle 2-1 (17-21, 21-19, 15-11) in the all-U.S. semifinal. Simo/Van Winkle rebounded in the third place match, defeating Amanda/Drik (CUB) 2-0 (21-15, 21-15) to claim the bronze medal.

In the men’s bracket, Evan Cory/Wyatt Harrison took the silver medal. The duo advanced past teammates Tim Brewster/Kyle friend in the semifinal round, winning 2-1 (21-18, 18-21, 23-21).

Cory/Harrison pushed the final to three sets but fell to MacNeil/Russell (CAN) 2-1 (16-21, 21-17, 15-11).

Brewster/Friend defeated De Jesus/Martinez (DOM) 2-1 (20-22, 21-13, 15-8) in the third-place match to take bronze.

Full Results

NORCECA Playoff Results

The stage for the NORCECA Continental Final is set after teams competed for the right to represent the U.S. at NORCECA Playoff 2 at Manhattan Beach Pier last week.

Miles Evans/Chase Budinger defeated Trevor Crabb/Theo Brunner in the men’s final 2-1 to claim the top spot.

Chloe Loreen/Molly Shaw defeated Kim Hildreth/Teegan Van Gunst in the women’s final also by a 2-1 score to earn their place representing the U.S.

The NORCECA Continental Final will be held in Juan Dolio, Dominican Republic from May 11-15.

The next NORCECA Playoff will be held on April 23 in Manhattan Beach for the right to represent the U.S. at NORCECA Tour events in San Salvador and Nicaragua.

Futures Pirae

Futures Pirae, Tahiti wrapped up the men’s event over the weekend. Cody Caldwell/Avery Drost were the highest placing men’s pair, finishing tied for fifth. The duo fell to Takahashi/Ikeda (JPN) in the quarterfinals 2-1 (19-21, 21-17, 18-16).

Mark Bucknam/Alex Ukkelberg and Charlie Siragusa/Derek Bradford each fell in the round of 12 and finished tied for ninth.

Full Results

This week, Futures Pirae, Tahiti, for the women will run from April 9-13 with four U.S. teams competing.

Chloe Loreen/Molly Shaw, Jessica McGuire/Logan Beitler, Kelly Kool/Tiffany Creamer, and Melissa Powell/Kaley Melville are all set to take part in the event.

Futures Nuvali

Alaina Chacon and Mariah Whalen are the lone U.S. pair competing in BPT Futures Nuvali, which takes place April 11-14.

The duo will be seeking their third consecutive medal finish at a BPT Challenge event. They previously took silver at BPT Coolangatta Beach and bronze prior to that in Mount Maunganui.

Challenge Mexico Preview

The next BPT Challenge – BPT Guadalajara, Mexico – will run April 10-14.

The U.S. will have six women’s teams and five men’s teams set to compete.

The women’s pairs are Kim Hildreth/Teegan Van Gunst, Savvy Simo/Abby Van Winkle, Hailey Harward/Kylie Deberg, Kennedy Coakley/Brooke Sweat, Carly Kan/Deahna Kraft, and Katie Lindstrom/Samantha Parrish.

The men’s pairs are Chaim Schalk/Tri Bourne, Miles Evans/Chase Budinger, Trevor Crabb/Theo Brunner, Logan Webber/Hagen Smith, and Tim Brewster/Kyle Friend.

Olympic Rankings

BPT Challenge Guadalajara will add to the potential shift in the Olympic race after this weekend for the U.S. men. For now, the results from BPT Brazil events still hold true in the latest check on the Olympic rankings.

In the men’s provisional Olympic rankings, Miles Partain and Andy Benesh share the No. 8 spot with with Herrera/Gavira (ESP). Partain/Benesh have 7,620 points on 10 tournaments played.

Trevor Crabb and Theo Brunner are currently No. 10 in the provisional Olympic rankings with 7,320 points and 15 tournaments now played after Challenge Saquarmea.

Miles Evans and Chase Budinger move up to No. 12 in the provisional Olympic rankings after Challenge Saquarema with 7,240 points on 16 tournaments played.

Tri Bourne and Chaim Schalk are now tied for No. 17 in the provisional Olympic rankings with 6,460 points on 17 tournaments played.

For the women, Taryn Kloth and Kristen Nuss are No. 2 in the provisional Olympic rankings behind only Ana Patricia/Duda (BRA). Nuss/Kloth have 10,860 points on 14 tournaments played.

Kelly Cheng and Sara Hughes are still tied for No. 4 in the provisional Olympic rankings with 10,040 points on 13 tournaments played. Hughes/Cheng have the W designation for a quota place obtained for winning the 2023 Beach World Championships. They share No. 4 with Melissa/Brandie (CAN) who have the T designation for not enough tournaments played.

Both U.S. pairs are next set to compete at Elite16 Tepic April 17-21.

Julia Scoles and Betsi Flint are tied for No. 14 in the provisional Olympic rankings with 6,740 points on 11 tournaments played.

Current World Rankings – Men

Current World Rankings – Women

Provisional Olympic Ranking – Men 

Provisional Olympic Ranking – Women