Americans Roca and Polzin triumphed in Boca Chica 

SANTO DOMINGO , Dominican Republic , April 8, 2007.- Americans Paula Roca and Alicia Polzin won the women’s gold medal of the Boca Chica Beach Tournament after a tough battle with Canadians Annie Martin and Dana Cooke.

Roca and Polzin prevailed 21-16, 20-22, 15-8, while Cubans Ion Canet and Kirenia Ballar also needed three sets to win the bronze medal with a 19-21, 21-16, 15-8 victory over Ingrid Morales and Natalia Alfaro of Costa Rica.

The event sponsored by Presidente Light beer is the first of five legs of the 2007 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Circuit.

“It is the first tournament we play as a team so it was very good to start with a title,” said Roca . “The organization was excellent and the crowd was very nice with the players.”

“ Canada was a tough rival,” added Polzin. “But we watched them playing the first two days and our tactics worked well.”

Roca-Polzin reached the match for the gold medal with a 21-12, 21-19 win over the Costa Rican pair while Martin-Cooke defeated Cuba 21-16, 21-16 in the semi finals.

Women’s results on Sunday:

Semi finals: USA d. CRC (21-12, 21-19); CAN d. CUB (21-16, 21-16); Bronze: CUB d. CRC (19-21, 21-16, 15-8); Gold: USA d. CAN  (21-16, 20-22, 15-8).