Beach day in the middle of the forest

HUIXQUILUCAN, Mexico, June 6, 2014 - The first day of the VIII NORCECA Beach Volleyball Circuit officially began at the Bosque Real Country Club.

Despite the rainy weather, the ball was set to play and fortunately at least on the first matches, the sun shone over the sandy courts installed in the Metropolitan area of the Mexican capital city.

Bibiana Candelas and Martha Revuelta of Mexico 1, opened with a 21-7, 21-16 victory over Brandie Wilkerson and Claudia Seguin of Canada 2,  while in a battle between Guatemalan teams, the Orellana sisters, María José and María Andrea of Guatemala 1, beat the young duo composed by Estephanie Bethancourt and Natalia Girón, of Guatemala 2.

The scores were 21-12, 16-21 and 15-13, for the Orellana sisters. However, Bethancourt and Giron, who are qualified to the Youth Olympic Games of Nanjing 2014 forced the match to three sets in a tournament considered as preparation for them.

Bethancourt and Giron also had another test when they faced Candelas and Revuelta, who won 21-8 and 21-5 to close the first day with a 2-0 record.

Actions on day one began with the match between USA1 and Mexico3 as well as Nicaragua and Trinidad and Tobago.

The USA No. 1 team of Tealle Hunkus and Kimberly MacGiven won by score of 21-15 and 21-15 over Haydee López and Mayra Santacruz of Mexico 3.

Meanwhile, Nicaraguans Elia Torres and Jacqueline Torruño beat Nancy Joseph and Ayana Dyette in three sets (19-21, 21-15, 15-12).

Kathia Vásquez and María Vargas, of El Salvador defeated Christianne Etches and Marissa Brady 21-13 and 21-14.

Mexico 2, with Stephanie Burnside and Yessenia Castro, also opened with a win in sudden death against Katherinne Quezada and Eugenia Ramírez, of Costa Rica (15-21, 23-21 and 16-14).

Cuba beat Curazao with Lianma Flores and Mallen Delis against Samira Luis and Christine Anthony by scores of 21-14, 21-17.

The first special guests that arrived in to the stadium installed in Bosque Real were elementary school studies of the “Rosario Castellanos School”, who follow the matches as well as the Junior High students of the School #130 as well as high school students of Conalep College from Huixquilucan.

Teachers and pupils had their school day on court, that despite the distancie between the sea and the Valley of Mexico, could feel the experience of the sand game and the special atmosphere, along with the “selfies” pictures with the players of both genders.

Women’s Friday Results: W USA1 d MEX3 (21-15, 21-15), W NCA d TTO (19-21, 21-15, 15-12), W CAN1 d USA2 (21-18, 17-21, 16-14), W ESA d HON (21-13, 21-14), W CUB d CUR (21-14, 21-17), W MEX2 d CRC (15-21, 23-21, 16-14), W MEX1 d CAN2 (21-7, 21-16), W GUA1 d GUA2 (21-12, 16-21, 15-13), W MEX3 d TRI (21-14, 21-10), W USA1 d NCA (21-8, 21-12), W USA2 d ESA (21-10, 21-13), W CUR d CRC (21-17, 16-21, 15-13), W MEX1 d GUA2 (21-8, 21,5), W CUB d MEX2 (21-14 ,21-8), W CAN2 d GUA (21-15, 21-17), W CAN1 d HON (21-9, 21-4).