BVB in Antigua Guatemala for the first time

ANTIGUA GUATEMALA, Guatemala, May 7, 2014. -  The historical colonial city of Antigua Guatemala will host for the first time a Beach Volleyball event, the third stage of the 2014 NORCECA Tour from May 7-12.

Last weekend the city of Guatemala hosted a successful tournament and facing another challenge the athletes, organizing committee and NORCECA personnel moved to Antigua Guatemala to start the competition with the support of their main sponsor “Gatorade”.

The city’s council as well as the Guatemalan sports authorities have joined the National Federation of Volleyball to make the contest a first good experience of many more to come, while expressing their support during a press conference held at Antigua Guatemala.

The double-gender competition has a total of twelve countries represented by sixteen teams in the male division and fifteen in the women’s division, including the six medalists during the second stage in Campo Marte at Guatemala City and the locals present three teams in each gender.

Heather Hughes and Christal Engle (USA) will seek to be in the podium once again, they won the bronze at Cayman Islands and took the gold at Guatemala when Karen Cope and Natalia Alfaro (CRC) weren’t able to continue. Cope/Alfaro will fight to be among the finalists in their quest for a first ever gold medal for players from Costa Rica.

Also on the women’s side, Tealle Hunks and Kimberly McGiven-Dicello (USA) along with Cubans Lianma Flores and Leila Martinez will be strong contenders in Antigua Guatemala.

Nivaldo Diaz with Sergio Gonzalez of Cuba are looking to repeat last week’s gold and will have to play at their best against Americans Derek Olson and Kevin McColloch who will looking to avenge the loss suffered last week.

Registered Women’s Teams: Shari Matthews/Anicia Wood (BAR); Victoria Cowley/Kerry Smit (CAN); Julio Gordon/Vicotria Altomare (CAN); Chante Smithe/Jessica Wolfenden (CAY);Karen Cope/Natalia Alfaro (CRC); Leila Martinez/Lianma Flores (CUB); Diana Romero/Marcela Avalos (ESA); Natalia Giron/Estefanie Bethancourth (GUA); Blanca Recinos/Anna Ramirez (GUA); Maria Jose Orellana/Maria Andrea Orellana (GUA); Gina Flores/Martha Euceda (HON); Claudia Machado/Elia Torres (NCA); Ayana Dyette/Nancy Joseph (TTO); Heather Hughes/Christal Engle (USA), Tealle Hunkus/Kimberly McGiven (USA).

Registered Men’s Teams: Richard Campbell/Duncan Hamann (CAY); Simon Fecteau Boutin/James Battiston; Cameron Wheelan/Micheal Plantinga (CAN); Diego Alpizar/Rooper Espinoza (CRC); Sergio Gonzalez/Nivaldo Diaz (CUB); Carlos Escobar/David Vargas (ESA); Franklin Flores/Luis Morales (ESA); Andy Leonardo/Erick Garrido (GUA); Erick Flores/Mark Alvarez (GUA); Julio Recinos/Luis Garcia (GUA); Obed Gamez/Manuel Serrano (HON); Miguel Lopez/Henry Hernandez (NCA); Roberto Rodriguez/Eric Haddock (PUR); Colin Bernard/Fabien Whitfield (TTO); Casey Jennings/Jeremy Casebeer (USA); Derek Olson/Kevin McColloch (USA).