Puerto Rican beach volleyball duo Allanis Navas and Maria Gonzalez made a significant impact at the 2025 Veracruz Challenge, advancing to the quarterfinals of the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour. Entering the tournament as the 28th seed, the pair defied expectations with back-to-back victories in Friday’s elimination rounds.
Their journey began with a thrilling three-set upset over the Netherlands’ seventh-seeded team, Mila Konink and Floor Hogenhout, with scores of 21-12, 15-21, 15-8. Later that day, they delivered another impressive performance, defeating the sixth-seeded Ukrainian team of Yeva Serdiuk and Daria Romaniuk in straight sets, 21-18, 21-19.
These wins not only showcased their skill but also marked a strong opening to their season, as this was their first appearance on this year’s Beach Pro Tour. So far in 2025, Navas and Gonzalez have already claimed six gold medals on the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour, affirming their dominance in the region.
Their next test will come against the Czech sister duo, Katerina and Anna Pavelkova, in what promises to be a highly competitive quarterfinal match.
Other Quarterfinal Matchups
- Corinne Quiggle and Chloe Loreen (USA) vs. Kylie Kuyava-DeBerg and Xolani Hodel (USA)
- Shaunna Polley and Olivia MacDonald (New Zealand) vs. Hailey Harward and Molly Phillips (USA)
- Katja Stam and Raisa Schoon (Netherlands) vs. Marketa Svozilova and Marie-Sara Stochlova (Czech Republic)
With some of the top international teams still in contention, the weekend’s quarterfinal and semifinal rounds are expected to deliver high-intensity action. Each team is aiming for a coveted place in the final of one of beach volleyball’s global premier events.
For more details, visit the official tournament coverage on Volleyball World.
