Mexico, Brazil, Cuba and Canada Advance Undefeated

 

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, July 18, 2007 – Pool play for the women’s beach volleyball competition wrapped up today in Rio with the teams from Mexico, Brazil, Cuba and Canada advancing undefeated.  

 

The Mexican team of Candelas/Garcia took the lead in pool H by defeating Uruguay’s Cardozo/Guerrero 2-0 (21-14, 21-11), relegating Uruguay to a second place finish in the pool.

In pool E, the hometown team of Silva/Franca from Brazil easily defeated Soler/Molina from ESA 2-0 (21-11, 21-12) while the USA team of Akers/Niles clinched second place in the pool by defeating Puerto Rico 2-0 (21-15, 21-17).

 

In pool F, Cuba took first place by defeating Ecuador 2-0 (21-12, 21-12) who consequently finished second going into the playoff round.

 

Ecuador’s Mercedes Gomes, already looking ahead to the quarter-finals and the next opponent, noted “Among Canada, Costa Rica and Colombia, we’d rather face the Canadian duo.  We already know their game and we can plan ahead our tactical strategy.” Canada’s team of Lessard/Maxwell took first place in pool G by defeating Argentina (Evangelista/Ortiz) in straight sets (21-8, 21-17).  Colombia finished second in pool G with a record of 2 wins and 1 loss after defeating Costa Rica 21-12, 24-22.

 

Quarter-finals begin tomorrow with the top two teams from each pool advancing to the single elimination phase.

In men’s action today, the teams of Brazil, Cuba, Uruguay, USA and Canada remain undefeated in their respective pools with two wins and no losses.  Brazil’s Ricardo/Emmanuel started the day with a win against Perez/Suarez of Argentina 2-0 (21-16, 21-16).

 

“The most important thing is that we pass through the first phase with three victories,” commented Ricardo Santos on today’s victory.  In other action, USA defeated Venezuela 2-0 (21-17, 21-18) in pool C, and both Cuba and Uruguay defeated El Salvador and Nicaragua respectively to maintain perfect records in pool B.  Men’s pool play action continues tomorrow, with these final matches determining the top two teams to advance to the Quarter-finals slated for July 20.

 

Results Summary – July 18, 2007

Women’s Beach Volleyball Competition

Pool H 39                 Orellana/Ramirez GUA Vera/Munoz VEN                    2-1 (12:21,21:18,15:12)  55 min

Pool H 37                 Candelas/Garcia MEX Cardozo/Guerrero URU             2-0 (21:14,21:11)            35 min

Pool E 36                 Akers/Niles USA Yantin/Ruiz PUR                               2-0 (21:15,21:17)            33 min

Pool E 35                 Silva/Franca BRA Soler/Molina ESA                            2-0 (21:11,21:12)            30 min

Pool G 32                 Morales/Alfaro CRC Galindo/Galindo COL                  0-2 (12:21,22:24)            38 min

Pool G 31                 Lessard/Maxwell CAN Evangelista/Ortiz ARG             2-0 (21:8,21:17)              35 min

Pool F 28                 Fernandez/Larrea CUB Mena/Hernandez ECU             2-0 (21:12,21:12)            32 min

Pool F 27                 Guandique/Rostran NCA Joseph/Phillp TRI                 2-1 (16:21,21:17,15:9)    40 min

 

 

Results Summary – July 18, 2007

Men’s Beach Volleyball Competition

Pool D 40                 Ontiveros/Ontiveros MEX Recabarren/Chamy CHI     2-0 (21:11,21:11)            36 min

Pool D 38                 Kruger/Montgomery CAN Bolanos/Gonzalez GUA      2-0 (21:13,21:4)              27 min

Pool C 34                 Bardales/Maldonado ECU Gil/Acosta PUR                  0-2 (19:21,15:21)            35 min

Pool C 33                 Henrique/Hernandez VEN Stolfus/Loomis USA          0-2 (17:21,18:21)            45 min

Pool B 30                 Alvarez/Munder CUB Medrano/Vargas ESA               2-0 (21:14,21:16)            37 min

Pool B 29                 Dalmas/Zanotta URU Calderon/Castro NCA               2-0 (21:12,21:8)              30 min

Pool A 26                 Guevara/Araya CRC Cabrales/Naranjo COL              2-0 (21:16,21:15)            33 min

Pool A 25                 Ricardo/Emanuel BRA Perez/Suarez ARG                 2-0 (21:16,21:16)            39 min