Cayman Islands duo produces big surprise in Carolina

CAROLINA, Puerto Rico, April 12, 2014 – The Final Round of the NORCECA Olympic Qualifier for the 2014 Nanjing Youth Olympic Games went throughout the first day without surprises in three of four pools in Carolina on Saturday.

Hosts Puerto Rico, along with the teams of Canada, Cayman Islands and Costa Rica concluded the opening day of competition winning their respective pools.

The Cayman Islands’ duo of Chantel Smith-Johnson and Ileann Powery produced the biggest upset of Saturday winning a battle over Mexico’s Diana Valdez and Stephanie Burnside 23-21, 19-21, 15-10 to claim the top place of Pool C. They had defeated Natasha Best and Jenna Greer of Antigua 21-11, 21-12.

The home duo of Lina Bernier and Valeria Cajigas began the day winning a convincing 21-9 and 21-1 against Grenada’s Jomelar Billy and Carsei Paul.  Their strong serves led the local pair to top Pool A by winning their second match against Nicaragua’s Katerine Montealto and Camila Romero by score of 21-7, 21-3.

Canada’s twins Nicole and Megan McNamara took control of the Pool B since early in the morning grabbing a straight 2-0 (21-7, 21-10) victory over Panama’s  Adjanis Arosemena and Keisy Caballero and then repeating the same formula to rout El Salvador’s Roxana Avalos and Alexandra Calderon by 21-5, 21-7.

Costa Ricans Pamela Zumbado and Alisson Font took care of Pool D with victories over Suriname’s Sigourney Kame and Gabrielle Bouterse (21-12, 21-18) and Honduras’ Miriam Lobo and Sidney Moncada (21-16, 21-11).

Results of Saturday: Pool A: PUR d GRN 2-0 (21-9 21-1), GRN d NCA 2-1 (21-17, 13-21, 15-8), PUR d NCA 2-0 (21-7, 21-3). Pool B: CAN d PAN 0-2 (21-7, 21-10), PAN d ESA 2-0 (21-15, 21-14), CAN d ESA 2-0 (21-5, 21-7). Pool C: MEX d ANT 2-0 (21-4, 21-13), CAY d ANT 2-0 (21-11, 21-12), CAY d MEX 2-1 (23-21, 19-21, 15-10). Pool D: CRC d. SUR 2-0 (21-12, 21-18), SUR d. HON 2-0 (21-13, 21-19), CRC d. HON 2-0 (21-16, 21-11)

Standings: Pool A: PUR 2-0, GRN 1-1, NCA 0-2; Pool B: CAN 2-0, PAN 1-1, ESA 0-2; Pool C: CAY 2-0, MEX 1-1, ANT 0-2; Pool D: CRC 2-0, SUR 1-1, HON 0-2.

Quarter Finals: PUR v PAN (Match 1), CRC v MEX (Match 2), CAN v GRN (Match 3), CAY v SUR (Match 4). Semifinals: Winner Match 1 v Winner Match 2, Winner Match 3 v Winner Match 4.