Díaz and Alayo Remain Undefeated in Beach Volleyball World Championship

The Cuban duo of Noslen Díaz and Jorge Luis Alayo secured their second victory in Group F, guaranteeing their advancement to the next round of the Adelaide 2025 Beach Volleyball World Championship.

Dominant Performance Secures Spot in Next Round
The Cuban pair dispatched New Zealand's Brad Fuller and Ben O’Dea with a clean 2-0 sweep (21-16, 21-10). The New Zealanders continue to struggle, having arrived at this match after a 0-2 loss in their opener against the Portuguese team of Joao Pedrosa and Hugo Campos.

Under the guidance of coach Francisco Álvarez Cutiño, Díaz and Alayo maintained their unbeaten record. They began their campaign with a straightforward victory over Benin's Daouda Yacoubou and Mensan Tohouegnon in straight sets (21-11, 21-6). The Cubans now lead their group with a 2-0 record, tied with the Portuguese team.

Statistical Control in Victory
In the match against New Zealand, Alayo was a standout performer, scoring 17 points (12 attacks, 3 blocks, 6 serves), while Díaz contributed 10 points (9 attacks, 1 serve). Despite Ben O’Dea being the match's top scorer with 18 points, the Cuban team demonstrated superior control. They outperformed their opponents in attack (21-20), blocks (3-0), and service aces (3-2), while committing only 4 errors compared to the New Zealanders' 15.

Another Cuban Pair Puts Up a Fight
The other Cuban team of Damián Gómez and Eblis Veranes, despite suffering their second loss, delivered another commendable performance against a quality opponent. They were narrowly defeated 2-1 (19-21, 21-15, 15-9) by the Austrian world number 12 duo of Timo Hammarberg and Tim Berger.

Their efforts were rewarded as they managed to take one set from the highly-ranked Austrians, earning a valuable point in the Group J standings.

Upcoming Matches
Gómez and Veranes are scheduled to play their next match this Sunday at 7:30 p.m. Cuban time against the Swiss pair of Yves Haussener and Julian Friedli, who are ranked 32nd in the world.

Later that evening, around 9:30 p.m., Díaz and Alayo will face their toughest test yet in a clash of undefeated teams in Group F. They will play Portugal's Pedrosa and Campos to determine the top spot in the group, with the head-to-head record currently tied at one win apiece.