Big Day for United States

TOLUCA, Mexico, June 9, 2013- Emily Day and Whitney Pavlik of United States, claimed the women’s gold medal at the Toluca Tournament, the fourth stop of the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Circuit Beach, overcoming  Martha Revuelta and Bibiana Candelas of Mexico-A in three sets (15-21, 21-15, 17-15) on Sunday.

The Beach Volleyball Stadium at the Autonomous University of the State of Mexico, was sold out and the crowd cheered for Revuelta and Candelas, who took the first set only to see Day and Pavlik to best them in blocking and good defense to win the next two.

For Mexico, Revuelta made good defensive plays that ended in powerful spikes by Candelas.

In the semifinals, Revuelta/Candelas won 21-15, 21-16 over compatriots Vanessa Virgen/Stephanie Burnside. Day/Pavlik outdueled fellow Americans Heather Hughes/Summer Ross of USA-A in three sets (21-16, 18-21, 15-9).

In the match for third place, Hughes/Ross won 21-7, 21-13 over Virgen/Burnside.

Day and Pavlik played with different partners at the third stop of the tour in Guatemala when Day took the bronze and Pavlik lost in the final against Canada.

"Mexico has a very good team and we had to plan well our game because it was a very difficult match," Day said.

"It's wonderful to play in Mexico, as they are developing and promoting volleyball, and have great teams," Pavlik said.

It’s the second time the United States, as a country, wins a stage of the 2013 edition of tour, as they won in Dominican Republic.

Sunday’s women results:

Semifinals: MEX-A d MEX-B (21-15, 21-16). USA-B d USA-A (21-16, 18-21, 15-9. Bronze Medal: USA-A d MEX-B (21-7, 21-13). Gold Medal: USA-B d MEX-A (15-21, 21-15, 17-15).

Final Positions: 1. USA-B, 2. MEX-A, 3.- USA-A, 4.- MEX-B, 5.- CAN-A, 6. MEX-C, 7. DOM, 8. CUR, 9. CAY, 10. CAN-B, 11. NCA, 12. HON, 13. CRC, 14. ESA, 15. TRI, 16. FSM.