Puerto Rico and Cuba crowned in Guatemala Beach Volleyball

 

GUATEMALA, April 22, 2007.- The pairs of Puerto Rico and Cuba, in women and men respectively, won the second leg of the 2007 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Circuit held here during the weekend.

 

Maritere Ramos and Ania Ruiz prevailed against Dominicans Margarita Suero and Bethania Almanzar after three sensational sets.

 

The Puerto Ricans lost the opening set 24-26, but came back to win the second 21-14 and then triumphed 20-18 in the tiebreaker. In semifinals, Ramos-Ruiz defeated Canadians Sarah Pothhaar and Isabell Czerveniak by score of 21-18, 21-17, while Suero-Almanzar defeated Costa Ricans Ingrid Morales-Natalia Alfaro 21-13, 13-21, 15-13.

 

Pothhaar-Czerveniak recovered to win the bronze medal with a 21-15, 22-20 victory over Morales-Alfaro.

Yoendris Alvarez and Yunieski Ramirez of Cuba won the men’s gold medal with a 21-18, 21-17 victory over Juan Carlos Rivera and Abdel Otero of Puerto Rico. The Cuban pair won 21-6, 21-9 in semis over Puerto Ricans Joseph Gil-Ryan Underwood and Rivera-Otero defeated Americans Brad Torsone-Jon Thompson by 24-22, 21-15.

 

Torsone and Thompson finished in third position with an easy victory 21-11, 21-13 over Gil-Underwood of Puerto Rico-1.

 

Women’s Results on Sunday 

Semi finals: DOM d. CRC (21-13, 13-21, 15-13); PUR d. CAN (21-17, 21-19). Bronze Medal: CAN d. CRC (21-15, 22-20). Gold Medal: PUR d. DOM (24-26, 21-14, 20-18).

 

Men’s Results on Sunday 

Quarterfinals: PUR-2 d. ESA (21-18, 21-13); USA d. DOM (17-21, 21-13, 15-12); CUB d. CRC (21-14, 21-14); PUR-1 d. NIC (21-19, 21-16). Semi Finals: PUR-2 d. USA (24-22, 21-15); CUB d. PUR-1 (21-6, 21-9). Bronze Medal: USA d. PUR-1 (21-11, 21-13). Gold Medal: CUB d. PUR-2 (21-18, 21-17).