USA Men take over pool-play in Cayman Islands

SEVEN MILE BEACH, Grand Cayman, October 29, 2022.- Thomas Hurst/Gage Basey and Dylan McClung/Caleb Blanchette of United States took over pool-play at the first stage of the NORCECA U23 Beach Volleyball Tour in Cayman Islands.

Thomas Hurst and Gage Basey topped pool A winning over Trent Ketrzynski and Rouzbeh Rahnavard of Canada 2-0 (21-15, 21-17) and to Eddy Toro Maldonado alongside Joshua Johanne Winklaar of Aruba 2-0 (21-14, 21-10).

Dylan McClung and Caleb Blanchette won pool B beating Jamaica’s team of Andrew Blake and Andrae Robb 2-0 (21-8, 21-19), then defeating Joshua Persaud Joshua/Nicholas Williams of Trinidad and Tobago 2-0 (21-13, 21-13) and ended the day overpowering Declan Van Dam/Jabari Powery of Cayman Islands 2-0 (21-7, 21-6).

McClung/Blanchette move directly into semifinals and Hurst/Basey will battle in quarterfinals against D. Van Dam/J. Powery (CAY) for their semifinal spot.

In other results, Blake/Robb of Jamaica registered a 2-0 (21-6, 21-13) win to D. Van Dam/J. Powery (CAY) and earned an exciting victory over Persaud/Williams of Trinidad and Tobago 2-0 (22-20, 21-16) who earlier dominated D. Van Dam/J. Powery (CAY) 2-0 (21-10, 21-7).

Ketrzynski/Rahnavard of Canada beat Toro/Winklaar of Aruba 2-0 (21-18, 21-13) in pool A.

Sunday’s schedule starts with the quarterfinal match between Hurst/Basey (USA) vs. D. Van Dam/J. Powery (CAY), followed by Blake/Robb (JAM) against Toro/Winklaar of Aruba, and Ketrzynski/Rahnavard (CAN) facing Persaud/Williams (TTO).