AYANNA DYETTE and Elki Philip advanced to the quarterfinals of the eighth leg of the NORCECA (North, Central America and the Caribbean) Beach Volleyball Circuit, over the weekend, in California, USA.

However the Trinidad and Tobago players then came up against the No. 2 seeds, Canadians Jamie Broder and Kristina Valjas, and were brushed aside 21-8, 21-7, on Saturday.

Playing in their fourth stage of this year's circuit, Philip and Dyette were beaten 21-13, 21-15 by top seeds Martha Revuelta and Bibi Candelas of Mexico in their opening match, the day before.

But this country's girls then trounced St Lucians Dyette Gifta Francois and Dana Hamilton 21-10, 21-10 to finish second in Group B and secure a spot in the last eight of the women's event.

After losing their other matches, Christian Francois and Kevin Rivers of T&T avoided the 16th and final position in the men's competition with a 21-15, 21-6 victory over Arnold Delancy and John Cuero of the Cayman Islands.

Francois and Rivers were beaten in straight sets by the United States No.1 and 2 pairs when the tournament served off on Friday, and also failed to win a set from their other two fixtures to complete Group D action the following day.

Their conquerors, the Canada 1 and 2 pairs, later advanced to the semifinals, and Chaim Schalk and Benjamin Saxton of Canada 1 went on to capture the title with a 21-16, 21-15 victory over the United States 3 combination of Will Montgomery and Tri Bourne.

After losing to their fellow Canadians in the semis, Cameron Whelan and Michael Plantiga edged the United States 5 pair, Avery Drost and Jesse Rambis 31-29, 21-19 for the bronze medal.

In an all-USA affair, No. 1 pair, Emily Day and Heather Hughes were 21-19, 21-17 winners over Summer Ross and Morgan Beck, the No. 3 combination, for the women's gold medal.

The top two ranked pairs clashed for the bronze, and favourites Revuelta and Candelas came from behind to defeat Canadians Broder and Valjas 17-21, 22-20, 15-9.

The T&T leg is next up on the schedule, at Saith Park, Chaguanas, this month, but no date has as yet been finalised.

The tenth stage will take place in Puerto Rico early next month, while the final two legs are scheduled for the last two weekends in November, in Panama and Aruba, respectively.