Kropp & Pavlik going after a repeat in Guatemala

GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala, April 11, 2013 – Defending champions Jenny Kropp and Whitney Pavlik of United States will be back at Campo Marte on April 19-21 to compete in the Guatemala Beach Volleyball Tournament, the third stop of the 2013 NORCECA Circuit.

The pre-tournament favorites in the women’s division, Kropp and Pavlik already won a silver medal at the first stage of this year’s competition in Cayman Islands when they lost to Canada’s Jamie Broder and Kristina Valjas.

In last year’s edition of the Guatemala Tournament, the duo Kropp/Pavlik captured the title following a 2-0 (21-15, 21-18) victory over the local pair of Susana Alvarado and Lourdes Ramirez. The tandem also claimed a gold medal in Boca Chica, Dominican Republic in 2011.

A second USA team registered to take part in the tournament is the one of Brittany Hochevar and Emily Day as they both have had plenty success throughout the years in the NORCECA Circuit.

Hochevar combined with Summer Ross to grab the silver medal in Boca Chica this year while Day has won three golds –two of them last year- and one silver medal during her career competing in NORCECA events.

Canada will have a couple of women’s teams competing in Guatemala with Kacey MacTavish and Caleigh Whitaker and Victoria Altamore and Sophie Bukovec.

Hosts Guatemala is the other country to be represented by two pairs with local heroes Maria Orellana and Lourdes Ramírez and the second team of Nadia Galan and Andrea Orellana.