The sand is taken to the Valley of Mexico

HUIXQUILUCAN, Mexico, June 5, 2014 - After the huge success on the fourth stop of the VIII NORCECA Beach Volleyball Circuit in Manzanillo, the action of the tour comes the Valley of Mexico.

Before the start of the fifth stop at the Bosque Real Country Club the preliminary inquiries took place at the Mexico City Santa Fe Hilton Hotel.

New faces, but same desire to win define the expectations of this stop that begins on Friday.

Canada´s team of Kacie Mactavish and Caleigh Withaker arrived in Mexico City after the success of their fellow compatriots Melissa Humana and Taylor Pischke in Manzanillo, who returned to Canada earlier this week.

“NORCECA events are always fun for us. We love coming here. We get a lot of support, so we’re excited to be here. It is our first one of the year, so we are looking for a good start on the NORCECA Tour,” Mactavish said.

“I think Canada in general is always motivated, to go out there and be on top of the podium, so I think, We can play our best,“ she remarked. Josh Binstock and Sam Schachter, winners of Bronze Medal in Manzanillo were also   present as well as Simon Fecteau Boutin and James Battiston and Brandi Wilkerson and Carla Seguin.

Also the Orellana sisters, María José and María Andrea of Guatemala, arrived to the inquiry. The Central American country will have double representation in women with Estefanie Bethancourt and Natalia Giron, who qualified to the Youth Olympic Games of Nanjing, a few months ago.

“We feel more comfortable and happy with our game. It’s our first time in Mexico, it is a nice place and the people have been wonderful,” stated Giron who has also played indoor volleyball representing her country.

“We struggled to play in the beginning, but after all to compete at this kind of tournaments, has been a great chance to improve our level,” Bethancourt said.

Teams had the chance to visit the courts at Bosque Real Country Club, despite rainy weather in the suburbs of Mexico City.

Courts will be ready for the start of the tournament that also had its technical meeting at the Hilton’s Nogal Ball Rom with the presence of municipal authorities as well as the control committee members and local organizing committee task force.