Cuban Maylen Deliz and Leila Martinez top podium at Aguascalientes

AGUASCALIENTES, Mexico, April 21, 2019. - Cuban duo Maylen Deliz and Leila Martinez topped the podium of the first NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour stop in Aguascalientes, in thrilling three sets to Amanda Dowdy and Corinne Quiggle of United States.

Deliz and Martinez won the gold medal 2-1 (22-24, 21-16, 15-10) over Dowdy and Quiggle overcoming a dramatic set-back in the first set.

The Cubans managed to put pressure to the US pair in the next two sets, applying their strength and high energy winning the first title of the season and compensating from last year’s loss here in Aguascalientes. 

Leyla Martínez spoke about assing the last point “I was confident in our serves, this is our best weapon; we were up and I wasn’t nervous at all”. About losing the first set, she said

“we loosened up and they play really well, they capitalized over the net”.  

“We are really happy for this victory, we were determined to finish in first place because we lost the gold medal last year here; we reached our goal” said Maylen Deliz.

The Cuban tandem is registered for the next stops in Cayman Islands and Nicaragua, and then they will receive the tour at home (Varadero).

With their usual intensity, Falyn Fonoimoana and Nicolette Martin of United States won the bronze medal beating 2-0 (21-14, 21-9) over young Mexican duo Diana Valdez and María José Quintero.

Final Standings: 1. Maylen Deliz/Leila Martínez (CUB); 2. Amanda Dowdy/Corinne Quiggle

3. Falyn Fonoimoana/Nicolette Martin (USA-B); 4. Diana Valdez/María José Quintero (MEX-B); 5. Julie Gordon/Shanice Marcelle (CAN-A); 6. Valeria Valenciano/Marcela Araya (CRC); 7. Zaira Orellana/Martha Revuelta (MEX-A); 8. Angjeny Tolentino/Chritsine Anthony (CUR); 9. Kathya Vásquez/Ma. Fernanda Vargas (ESA); 10. Paola Alvarado/Estefanie Bethancourth (GUA); 11. Swan Mendoza/Lolette Rodríguez (NCA); 12. Jessica Wolfenden/Marissa Harrison (CAY);  13. Anna Dunn-Suen/Caleigh Cruickshank (CAN-B); 14. Melanie Valenciana/Amber Bennett (ISV); 15. La-Teisha Joseph/ Malika Davidson (TTO); 16. Brenda Allen/Shanicia Dyer (SKN).

Women Results Sunday: Gold Medal: CUB d USA-A 2-1 (22-24, 21-16, 15-10); Bronze Medal: USA-B d MEX-B 2-0 (21-14, 21-9); SF: USA-A d USA-B 2-0 (21-18, 21-15); CUB d MEX-B 2-0 (21-15, 21-16); 5-6: CAN-A d CRC 2-0 (21-19, 21-11); 7-8: MEX-A d CUR 2-0 (24-22, 21-13); 9-10: ESA d GUA 2-0 (21-14, 21-12); 11-12: NCA d CAY 2-0 (21-19, 21-16); Positions 9-12: ESA d CAY 2-0 (21-18, 21-13); GUA d NCA 2-1 (16-21, 21-19, 15-9);   CAN-A d MEX-A 2-0 (21-18, 21-11); CRC d CUR 2-1 (21-17, 18-21, 16-14).