Antonio Lares and Carlos Andres Ayala, both just 19 years old, have made a significant mark on the 2025 Beach Pro Tour by reaching the eighthfinals at the Veracruz Challenge. Competing in front of a home crowd, the young Mexican duo has turned in a series of impressive performances, signaling a bright future in beach volleyball.
Lares and Ayala began the tournament as the 29th seed in the main draw. Defying expectations, they secured three consecutive victories. The most notable was a thrilling 2-1 win (21-17, 17-21, 15-13) against Spain’s 20th-seeded team of Adrian Gavira and Alejandro Huerta. This victory granted the Mexican pair the top placement in Pool D and awarded them a direct spot in the second round of the knockout stage.
This achievement marks their most significant progress in a Beach Pro Tour event to date. Prior to this tournament, they had not moved past the qualification rounds. Their only major accomplishment until now was a semifinals berth at the FIVB U19 World Championships.
In their next matchup, Lares and Ayala will take on Adrian Heidrich and Jonathan Jordan of Switzerland, the 14th seed. The Swiss advanced by defeating Italy’s Enrico Rossi and Marco Viscovich in straight sets.
Other Highlights from the Tournament
- American team Miles Evans and Chase Budinger remain undefeated after dominating Pool A.
- Brazil’s George Wanderley and Saymon Barbosa are set to challenge Norwegian underdogs Nils Gunnar Ringoen and Even Stray Aas, who achieved a surprise victory over Italy’s Manuel Alfieri and Alex Ranghieri.
- Saturday’s schedule features both the eighthfinals and quarterfinals in what's expected to be an action-packed day.
The Veracruz Challenge, part of the 2025 Beach Pro Tour, continues to attract top-tier talent and thrilling competition to Mexico’s Gulf Coast. For full tournament details and live updates, visit the official Volleyball World article here.
