Canadians Gordon & Wilkerson get two wins in day one in Varadero

VARADERO, Cuba, July 15, 2016 – The “A” women’s teams of Canada, the United States and Cuba played up to expectations in day one of the Varadero Beach Tournament, the eighth stop of the 2016 NORCECA Circuit at Barcelo Solymar Arenas Blancas on Friday.

Canadians Brandie Wilkerson and Julie Gordon, who have won one gold medal and three silvers this year, recovered from a bad start to defeat Skylar Caputo and Corinne Quiggle of USA-B 2-1 (20-22, 21-16, 15-6) and swept Melanie Valenciana and Amber Bennett of U.S. Virgin Islands 2-0 (21-7, 21-6) to lead Pool B.

Americans Betsi Flint and Kelley Larsen had an easy day by cruising to victories over Guatemala’s Natalia Girón and Estefanie Bethancourt 2-0 (21-9, 21-8) and Guadeloupe’s Euriel Kiffer and Abigael Benros 2-0 (21-4, 21-6) in Pool C.

Also in Pool C, the Cuba-B team of Yanisleidis Sanchez and Lidiannis Echeverría also claimed wins over the same teams. Sanchez/Echeverría dispatched the Guatemalans 21-12, 21-13 after an earlier win 21-3, 21-8 over the Guadeloupeans.

In Pool A of three teams, Cubans Lianma Flores and Leila Martinez won their only match of Friday 21-12, 21-7 over Kathya Vasquez and María Vargas of El Salvador, and also received a bye.

Women’s Friday Results

Pool A: CAN-B  d ESA 2-0 (21-15, 21-14); CUB-A d ESA 2-0 (21-12, 21-7)

Pool B: MEX d ISV 2-0 (21-17, 21-10); CAN-A d USA-B  2-1 (20-22, 21-16, 15-6); CAN-A d ISV 2-0 (21-7, 21-6); USA-B d MEX 2-1(25-23, 19-21-15-9).

Pool C: USA-A d GUA 2-0 (21-9, 21-8); CUB-B d GDP 2-0 (21-3, 21-8); CUB-B d GUA 2-0 (21-12, 21-13), USA-A d GDP (2-0 (21-4, 21-6).