Revuelta and Candelas survive scary opening match

VARADERO, Cuba, August 23, 2013 – Favorites Martha Revuelta and Bibi Candelas opened with two victories in Pool C of the Varadero Beach Volleyball Tournament, the fifth stop of the 2013 NORCECA Circuit.

The skilled Mexicans had to work to the limits to win their first match of Friday in a thrilling three-setter (22-20, 19-21, 15-13) over the resilient local pair of Lianma Flores and Leila Martinez of Cuba-A.

Revuelta and Candelas then cruised to a comfortable 21-12, 21-12 victory against Puerto Ricans Eva Toruellas and Lina Bernier.

The Canada-B team of Kacie MacTavish and Caleigh Whitaker, winners in Guatemala this year, won their two matches in Pool A over Leah Hinkey and Emily Stockman of United States (21-18, 21-9) and Nicaragua’s Elia Torres and Swan Mendoza (21-11, 21-6).

The local tandem of Maylen Delis and Yanisleidis Tamayo, of Cuba-B, also won two matches on Friday. They started the day with a 21-7, 21-10 victory over Dominican Republic’s Diana Peguero and Nairobi Agramonte and closed with a 21-16, 21-12 victory off Guatemala’s Nadia Galan and Maria Orellana.

Friday’s Women Results

MEX-A d CUB-A 2-1 (22-20, 19-21, 15-13), PUR d HON 2-0 (21-13, 21-10), CAN-A d MEX-B (21-11, 21-13), SKN d GUA 2-1 (21-14, 11-21, 15-12), MEX-A d PUR 2-0 (21-12, 21-12), CAN-B  d USA 2-0 (21-18, 21-9), CUB-B d DOM 2-0 (21-7, 21-10), CUB-A d HON 2-0 (21-6, 21-10), CAN-B d NCA 2-0 (21-11, 21-6),  MEX-B  d CRC (21-13, 21-18), DOM d SKN 2-0 (21-0, 16-21, 15-12), CUB-B d GUA 21-16, 21-12).