Newberry/Sparks remain in contention at YOG

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, October 15, 2018 - A three-set quarter-final win by Devon Newberry/Lindsey Sparks over Spain’s Daniela Alvarez/Tania Moreno left the USA pair as the only team from NORCECA Confederation still competing in the beach volleyball tournament at the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games.

Seeded 16th in the women's 32-team field, Newberry and Sparks won their fifth-straight match as they defeated Alvarez and Moreno 2-1 (21-19, 17-21, 15-9) in 39 minutes advancing to a semifinal clash against Italians Claudia Scampoli and Nicol Bertozzi.

The USA- Italy match will be the second this season between the two teams as Newberry and Sparks posted a 2-1 (23-21, 15-21, 15-11) victory in a 48-minute elimination match July 13 at the Nanjing U19 world championships.

In July, Newberry and Sparks finished fourth at the FIVB under-19 World Championships where the American pair were defeated by Alvarez and Moreno 2-1 (10-21, 21-18, 15-12) in the 41- minute bronze medal match in Nanjing, China.

Russia’s Maria Voronina/Mariia Bocharova eliminated Puerto Rico’s Allanis Navas and María González 2-0 (21-12, 21-10).

In the boys’ division Attila Streli/Artur Hajos of Hungary defeated Cubans Miguel Ayon/Jorge Alayo 2-0 (21-14, 21-18) while de Yori de Groot/Mathew Immers of The Netherlands downed Timothy Brewster and John Schwengel of United States 2-0 (21-18, 21-12).

Following Tuesday’s semi-final matches for men and women at Green Park in the Palermo district in the Argentinean capital, the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games concludes with the medal matches on Wednesday.