U.S. Beach Players Strong in NORCECA Event

Bill Kauffman
Associate Director, Communications
Phone: 719-228-6800
E-Mail: bill.kauffman@usav.org

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (May 13, 2011) – Three U.S. beach pairs are undefeated after the first day in the fourth stage of the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Circuit being held at Puerto Arista, Chiapas, Mexico.

Jennifer Snyder (Huntington Beach, Calif.) and Erin Gray (Orland Park, Ill.), playing as USA-2, captured the three-team Pool D on the women’s side of the event. The tandem opened with a 21-11, 21-15 victory over Costa Rica, followed by a 21-19, 21-12 win over Puerto Rico.

Brooke Sweat (Estero, Fla.) and Kristen Batt (Venice, Calif.), competing as USA-1, overpowered their Nicaraguan opponents 21-10, 21-11 to start Friday. However, the Americans’ second match of the day was postponed until Saturday morning due to darkness.

On the men’s side, Americans Eyal Zimet (Hawthorne, Calif.) and Russ Marchewka (Santa Ana, Calif.) won both their Pool D matches held on Friday. USA opened the day with a 21-17, 21-10 victory over Canada-2, followed by a 21-14, 21-12 victory over Honduras. Zimet-Marchewka will face Cubans Yadrian Escobar and Karel Piña, who also defeated the same two pool teams on the opening day, on Saturday morning to decide who wins Pool D.

The pool matches held on Friday and early Saturday produce the pool positions and the seeds into the single elimination main bracket to be played on Saturday and Sunday.

The Chiapas event is the fourth stop of the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Circuit. This event is the last tournament that grants ranking points towards the Pan American Games, which are scheduled for next October 2011 in Guadalajara, Mexico.

The current stage of the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Circuit includes players from Canada, Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, Trinidad & Tobago and the U.S.

Friday women’s results

Pool A
USA-1 d. NCA (21-10, 21-11)
NCA d. TRI (21-17, 19-21, 15-12)

Pool B
MEX-1 d. CAN-2 (21-16, 21-14)
GUA d. CAN-2 (24-22, 21-14)

Pool C
MEX-2 d. CAN-1 (22-20, 12-21, 16-14)
CUB d. MEX-2 (21-13, 21-13)
CUB d. CAN-1 (21-18, 21-12)

Pool D
USA-2 d. CRC (21-11, 21-15)
USA-2 d. PUR (21-19, 21-12)
CRC d. PUR (21-15, 21-18)

Friday men’s results

Pool A
GUA d. TRI (21-11, 21-17)
MEX-1 d. TRI (21-12, 21-16)

Pool B
PUR d. NCA (21-12, 21-16)
CRC d. NCA (22-20, 21-16)

Pool C
DOM d. CAY (21-12, 21-13)
CAN-1 d. MEX-2 (21-19, 21-19)
MEX-2 d. DOM (21-18, 21-16)
CAN-1 d. CAY (21-12, 16-21, 18-16)

Pool D
CUB d. HON (21-14, 21-11)
USA d. CAN-2 (21-17, 21-10)
CUB d. CAN-2 (21-12, 21-16)
USA d. HON (21-14, 21-12)

Tags: Beach, NORCECA, NORCECA Beach Circuit