Men of Costa Rica, Guatemala and Puerto Rico made successful starts in Boca Chica Beach 

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, April 6, 2007.- The men’s teams of Costa Rica, Guatemala and Puerto Rico II secured places in the second round of the Boca Chica  Beach Volleyball Tournament, the first leg of the 2007 NORCECA Circuit, an inaugural five-stop tour in both genders.

These pairs won both of their matches today before good crowds and excellent weather at Boca Chica beach, 20 miles to the east of the Dominican capital. The event is sponsored by Presidente Light beer and qualifies four teams to the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro next July.

The Opening Ceremony was attended by Mr. Felipe Payano, Minister of Sports of Dominican Republic, the Major of Boca Chica Mrs. Joselyn Pena and Mr. Cristobal Marte, president of NORCECA. Mr. Payano made the ceremonial first serve.

In Pool B, Costa Ricans Marcelo Araya and Jonathan Guevara first defeated Dominican Republic III (Rojas-Flores) 21-19, 21-18 and then beat Cubans Yunieski Ramirez-Yoendris Kindelan 21-17, 14-21, 15-12.

In Pool C, Guatemalans Jorge Bolanos-Jose Gonzalez beat Cayman Islands (Rankin-Thompson) 21-10, 21-16 before downing Puerto Rico I (Underwood-Erazo) 21-16, 21-17.

In Pool D, Puerto Ricans Abdel Otero-Juan Carlos Rivera defeated Trinidad & Tobago (Morrison-Francois) 21-15, 21-16 and needed three sets to prevail 17-21, 21-19, 15-10 over El Salvador (Medrano-Vargas).

In Pool A, the USA team of Hans Stolfus-Scott Wong crushed St. Kitts & Nevis (Seabrookes-Hodge) 21-5, 21-10 and on Saturday will meet Dominican Republic I who lost to the St. Kitts pair in three sets.

Results of the first day:

Women; (Pool E) Dominican Republic I def. El Salvador 21-18, 21-16; USA def. El Salvador 21-13, 21-10. (Pool F) Cuba def. Costa Rica 21-15, 21-19; Costa Rica def. Dominican Republic IV 21-16, 21-14. (Pool G) Canada def. Guatemala 21-12, 21-14; Guatemala def. Dominican Republic III 21-14, 23-21. (Pool H) Puerto Rico def. Dominican Republic II 21-23, 21-12, 15-11; Dominican Republic II def. Trinidad & Tobago 21-19, 19-21, 15-12.

Men: (Pool A) USA def. St. Kitts & Nevis 21-5, 21-10; St. Kitts & Nevis def. Dominican Republic I 21-18, 13-21, 15-11. (Pool B) Costa Rica def. Dominican Republic III 21-19, 21-18; Costa Rica def. Cuba 21-17, 14-21, 15-12. (Pool C) Guatemala def. Cayman Islands 21-10, 21-16; Guatemala def. Puerto Rico I 21-16, 21-17; (Pool D) Puerto Rico II def. Trinidad & Tobago 21-15, 21-16; Puerto Rico II def. El Salvador 17-21, 21-19, 15-10; Dominican Republic II def. Trinidad & Tobago 21-11, 21-19; El Salvador def. Dominican Republic II 21-18, 21-15.