Mexico and Brazil open with victories in Pan Am BVB

PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico, October 16, 2011 – The Mexican duo of Mayra Garcia and Bibi Candelas claimed their first victory after defeating Nicaragua’s Valeska Hernández-Lollete Rodríguez 2-0 (21-5, 21-12) in the opening day of the women’s beach volleyball tournament of the Pan Am Games Guadalajara 2011.

The Brazilian duo of Juliana Silva-Larissa Franca, reigning world champions, defeated Trinidad and Tobago’s Ayana Dyette- Elki Phillip 2-0 (21-5, 21-16) in 30 minutes. Franca-Silva are also defending champions of the Pan American Games after winning in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2007 against Cuba’s Dalixia Fernández -Tamara Larrea.

Meanwhile, Cubans Niriam Sinal-Onayamis Sinal battled hard to defeat Ecuador’s Ariana Stefania Vilela- Ketty Katherine Chila 2-1 (18-21, 21-15 y 15-13) in 53 minutes.

Also, Colombia’s Andrea Galindo-Carolina- Claudia Galindo defeated Guatemala’s María José Orellana- Anna Lourdes Ramírez 2-1 (21-19, 18-21, 15-10) in 55 minutes.

In the second match of the day, Uruguay’s Lucia Guigon-Fabiana Gómez downed Costa Rica’s Natalia Alfaro e Ingrid Morales 2-1 (16-21, 21-14, 15-13) in 52 minutes.

In another clahs that went to the limit, Canada’s Heather Bansley-Elizabeth Maloney edged Argentina’s Ana María Gallay-Maria Virginia Zonta 18-21, 22-20, 15-6 in 53 minutes.

Puerto Rico’s Yarleen Santiago-Yamileska Yantin defeated El Salvador’s Diana Romero-Marcela Avalos 2-0 (21-4 y 21-7) in just 23 minutes.

After the big debut in the beach volleyball tournament of the Pan American Games, Candelas commented: “I am very happy with the result we go, we knew we were going to have the support of our people which is important for us and for that reason we wanted to do well and got the victory. Now that we took the first one out of our way we need to think about our next opponent which is Costa Rica.”

About being considered along with the Brazilians one of the favorite pairs of the tournament, she stated: “Mayra and I are conscious that we have the right preparation for this Games, but we have to take the tournament match by match, and not go too far in advance. We have to respect all the opponents. We are going to give our best to make the people happy after watching us playing.”

Women’s results: 1.- Galindo-Galindo (COL) d. Orellana-Ramírez (GUA) 2-1 (21-19, 18-21, 15-10). 2.- Guigou- Gómez (URU) d. Natalia Alfaro (CRC) 2-1 (16-21, 21-14, 15-13). 3.-  Sinal N.-Sinal O. (CUB) d. Chila-VIlela (ECU) 2-1 (18-21, 21-15, 15-13). 4.- Franca-Silva (BRA) d. Dyette-Phillip (TRI) 2-1 (21-5, 21-16). 5.- Santiago-Yantin (PUR) d. Avalos-Romero (ESA)  (21-4, 21-7). 6.- Bansley-Maloney (CAN) d. Gallay-Zonta (ARG) 2-1 (18-21, 22-20, 15-6) 7.- Candelas-García (MEX) Vs. Hernández-Rodríguez (NCA) 2-0 (21-5, 21-12) 8.- Day- Hughes (USA) d. Rivas-Pazliveck (CHI) 2-0 (21-10, 21-7).

Monday’s October 17 schedule

Women

09:00 Santiago-Yantin (PUR) v Bansley-Maloney (CAN)

10:00 Gallay-Zonta (CHI) v Romero-Avalos (ESA)

11:00 Sinal-Sinal (CUB) v Dyette-Phillip (TRI)

14:00 Silva- Franca (BRA) v Vilela-Chila (ECU)

15:00 Guigou- Gómez (URU) v Hernández-Rodríguez (NCA)

16:00 García-Candelas (MEX) v Morales-Alfaro (CRC)

16:00 Galindo-Galindo (COL) v Rivas-Pazlivek (CHI)

17:00 Day Hughes (USA) v Orellana-Ramírez (GUA)

Men

09:00 Grimalt- Grimalt (CHI) v Medrano-Vargas (ESA)

10:00 Van Zwieten-Fuller (USA) v Hernández- Mussa (VEN)

11:00 Rodríguez- Underwood (PUR) v Brown- Gordon (JAM)

13:00 Echegaray-Suárez (ARG) v Leonardo-Garrido (GUA)

13:00 Cerutti-Rego (BRA) v Escobar- Monge (CRC)

14:00 González-Piña (CUB) v Pérez-Recio (DOM)

15:00 Miramontes-Virgen (MEX) v Umaña-López (NCA)

17:00 William-Zanotta (URU) v Redmann-Saxton (CAN)