Varadero ready for the third phase of NORCECA Beach

VARADERO, Cuba, April 26, 2018 – The majestic Barcelo Solymar Arenas Blancas Hotel will host the Varadero Beach Volleyball Tournament for a fourth consecutive year starting on Friday.

Three playing courts plus two warm-up courts are ready to welcome the players who are scheduled to arrive on Thursday.

Among the locals are men’s defending champions Sergio Gonzalez and Nivaldo Díaz as well as 2017 women’s runner-up Leila Martinez accompanied now by Maylen Deliz due to an injury of Lidianny Echeverría.

This time the event is taking place earlier than the seven previous editions due to the Central American and Caribbean Games in Barranquilla between July and August and medal winners from the past two events in Mexico are expected to play here.

In the men’s field USA’s William Reid Priddy and Troy Field won the silver medal in Aguascalientes and La Paz, Mexico, and Chase Frishman and James Avery Drost got the bronze in La Paz.

Also their female compatriots Mackenzie Ponnet and Kimberly Smith, who beat Cubans Leila and Maylen for the gold in Aguascalientes in a close match 21-19, 17-21, 15-10.

The Americans were upset one week later when they fell in La Paz to Mexicans Martha Revuelta and Zaira Orellana, fourth in Aguascalientes, 8-21, 23-21, 15-12.

Indeed, Leila and Lianma Flores took the highest step of the podium in the Central American and Caribbean Games in Veracruz 2014 when they overcame Martha and her then partner Bibiana Candelas.

Also Leila, now with Maylen, defeated Martha and Zaira in the pool play of Aguascalientes in straight sets 21-10, 21-15.

On the other hand, the expectation are high with the announcement of the participation of Canadians Sergey Grabovsky and Fiodar Kazhamiaka who will be looking for a revenge after losing last year to debutants youngsters Luis Reyes and Jose Luis Aguilera of Cuba in a close battle 21-17, 19-21, 16-14).