Kessy, Ross Finish Second at Mexico Tournament

B.J. Hoeptner Evans
Manager, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: (719) 228-6800
E-Mail: bj.evans@usav.org  

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (March 9, 2010) – U.S. beach volleyball players Jen Kessy and April Ross placed second at a four-team women’s beach volleyball tournament to celebrate the Bicentennial of Mexican Independence on March 5-7 in Puerto Vallarta.

After winning their first two matches, Kessy (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) and Ross (Costa Mesa, Calif.) fell to Mexico’s Bibi Candelas and Mayra Garcia, 17-21, 22-20, 17-19 in Sunday’s final.

“We are so happy with the result,” Candelas said. “We knew it was not an easy match but the motivation of the fans was important. It is a confidence builder now that we are about to start the World Tour.”

“The third set could have gone either way,” Garcia added. “It was so close but the good thing is that at the end the trophy stayed at home.”

In the bronze medal match, Canadians Annie Martin and Marie-Andree Lessard defeated Puerto Ricans Yarleen Santiago and Dariam Acevedo, 18-16, 21-13.

In Saturday’s matches, Candelas-Garcia defeated Martin-Lessard, 18-21, 21-17, 15-12, and Kessy-Ross topped Santiago-Acevedo, 22-24, 21-15, 15-7.

In the first day of the tournament on Friday, Candelas-Garcia defeated Santiago-Acevedo, 21-17, 21-13 and Kessy-Ross prevailed against Martin-Lessard, 21-19, 15-21, 15-11.

Tags: April Ross, Beach Volleyball, Jennifer Kessy