Mexican beach volleyball players Naomi Cruz and Angelica Torres delighted the home crowd at the 2025 FIVB U21 Beach Volleyball World Championships in Puebla with an impressive start, clinching two pivotal victories on Thursday. Their standout performance advanced them into the women’s 24-team knockout stage.
Competing in Pool A, the duo began with a hard-fought three-set win against Germany’s Mareet Maidhof and Sophia Neuss. They followed that with a dramatic comeback against Paraguay’s Mayra Perez and Valentina Schmeda, leaving them one match away from potentially topping their group, pending Friday’s result against the Czech Republic.
The format for the championship is:
- 1st place teams from each pool advance directly to the Round of 16.
- 2nd and 3rd place finishers enter the Round of 24 to vie for a spot in the Round of 16.
With 15 duos already claiming their places in the knockouts, Thursday saw standout performances across all pools. Notable unbeaten teams included national pairs representing:
- Hungary
- France
- Canada
- USA
- Latvia
- Australia
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Switzerland
- Brazil
- Austria
- Japan
Hungary’s Chiara Honti-Majoros and Stefania Kun were particularly dominant in Pool D, building on strong showings in the qualification rounds with two consecutive wins.
Fans can expect a thrilling Friday as pool rankings are finalized and remaining playoff berths confirmed. The tournament continues all week, showcasing some of the world's most promising talent in beach volleyball against the vibrant backdrop of Puebla.
Read more on the official FIVB site: FIVB article.
