Cubans Sergio and Nivaldo undefeated in Varadero
 

VARADERO, Cuba, August 22, 2014 – The top Cuban duo of Nivaldo Díaz and Sergio Gonzalez won their two matches of Friday against the second teams of Canada and United States in the opening day of the seventh leg of the 2014 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Circuit.
 

The winners of the three stops in which they have participated, two in Guatemala and the other in Huixquilucan, Mexico, are playing in Pool D. They began their day with a victory over Canadians Cameron Wheelan and Michael Plantinga 2-0 (24-22, 21-16).
 

In their second outing at the stage of Puntarena hotel, the host team subdued the second team of United States consisting of the former Olympic champion in Beijing Todd Rogers and Theo Brunner also in two sets (21-19, 21-14) to confirm their condition as pre-tournament favorites to step at the highest place of the podium.
 

In order to win one of the four pools and advance the round of the last 16, Nivaldo and Sergio only need a victory on Saturday over the duo of El Salvador of Carlos Escobar and David Vargas who lost to United States-2 (21-16, 21-10) and Canada-2 (21-19, 21-14).
 

Other undefeated teams in the opening session were Mexicans Lombardo Ontiveros and Juan Virgen in Pool A, Canadians Grant O’Gorman and Sam Pedlow in Pool B and William Allen and Trevor Crabb of United States-1 in Pool C.
 

In the women’s field, the champions of three tournaments this year, Tealle Hunkus and Kimberly MacGiven of United Srates-1 came out winners of their two matches in Pool A, as also did Cubans Leila Martinez and Lianma Flores in Pool B and the Canadians Kacie MacTavish and Caleigh Whitaker in Pool C.
 

Saturday’s schedule start at 9:00 in three courts to define the top two teams from each men’s pools advancing to the next round while the top two teams and the best two third places will advance among the women’s teams.

Friday’s results

Men

Pool A: PUR d BIZ (21-7, 21-5), MEX d ARU (21-19, 21-15), MEX d PUR (21-14, 21-19), ARU d BIZ (21-12, 21-7).

Pool B: CAN-A d CUB-B (21-14, 19-21, 15-12), GUA d NCA (21-17, 14-21, 15-10), CAN-A d NCA (21-12, 21-13), CUB-B d GUA (21-16, 21-8).

Pool C: USA-A d DOM (21-12, 21-15), CUB-C d CRC (21-14, 21-8), USA-A d CUB-C (21-15, 21-10), CRC d DOM (21-15, 21-12).

Pool D: CUB-A d CAN-B (24-22, 21-16), USA-B d ESA (21-16, 21-10), CAN-B d ESA (21-16, 21-8), CUB-A d USA-B (21-19, 21-14).

Women

Pool A: USA-A d CRC-B (21-8, 21-15), HON d BAR (21-8, 21-10), CRC-B d BAR (21-12, 21-12), USA-A d HON (21-11, 21-8).

Pool B: CAN-A d ISV (21-7, 21-11), CUB d MEX-B (21-11, 19-21, 15-11), MEX-B d CAN-A (21-17, 22-20), CUB d ISV (21-7, 21-4).

Pool C: CAN-B d CRC-A (21-16, 18-21, 15-7), MEX-A d DOM (21-14, 21-13), USA-B d CAN-B (21-19, 22-20), CRC-A d DOM (21-16, 21-16), USA-B d MEX-A (21-17,18-21, 15-13), CAN-B d DOM (21-15, 21-10).