Mexico, Cuba, Canada and USA show strength at Cayman Islands

Mexico, Cuba, Canada and USA show strength at Cayman Islands

GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands, April 26, 2019. – Mexicans, Cubans, Canadians and United States showed strength in the first day of the preliminary round at the second stop of the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour in Cayman Islands.

Top seeded Juan Virgen and Lombardo Ontiveros of Mexico kicked off with two victories in pool A; they started with a 2-0 (21-7, 21-15) victory over Jamaica’s Markiel Simpson and Christopher Walters, followed by a 2-0 (21-9, 21-11) win to Richard Campbell and Nathan Dack of Cayman Islands.

Cubans Sergio González and Luis Enrique Reyes edged in straight sets both U.S Virgin Islands’ pairs in pool B. Gonzalez/Reyes first took care of Brian Kwasny/Gabriel Ospina (ISV-B) by 2-0 (21-17, 23-21) and then of Marc Lomeli/Austin Pippen (ISV-A) 2-0 (21-12, 21-9).

Sharing the same pool with the Cubans, Canada’s Jake MacNeil and William Hoey worked hard to dominate Marc Lomeli/Austin Pippen (ISV-A) 2-0 (22-20, 23-21) and they also prevailed 2-0 (21-14, 21-10) to St. Clair Hodge/Shawn Seabrookes (SKN).

Benjamin Vaught and Spencer Sauter, the only US team in the event, overcame the two Central American pairs in pool C. Vaught and Spencer beat Nicaragua’s Ruben Mora and Dany López 2-0 (21-19, 21-19) and El Salvador’s’ Carlos Escobar and David Vargas (Tato/Pepe) 2-0 (21-8, 21-10).

The preliminary round will resume on Saturday, with the top two teams in each pool moving into quarterfinals.

Men’s results Friday:

Pool A: MEX d JAM 2-0 (21-7, 21-15); TTO d CAY-B 2-0 (21-12, 21-9); CAN-B d TTO 2-0 (21-10, 21-15); JAM d CAY-B 2-0 (21-10, 22-20); MEX d CAY-B 2-0 (21-9, 21-11); CAN-B d JAM 2-0 (21-14, 21-14). Pool B: CAN-A d ISV-A 2-0 (22-20, 23-21); CUB d ISV-B 2-0 (21-17, 23-21); CAN-A d SKN 2-0 (21-14, 21-16); ISV-B d ISV-A 2-0 (21-8, 21-10); CUB d ISV-A 2-0 (21-12, 21-9); ISV-B d SKN 2-0 (21-12, 21-18). Pool C: USA d NCA 2-0 (21-19, 21-19); ESA d BAH 2-0 (21-15, 21-11); USA d ESA 2-0 (21-8, 21-10); NCA d BAH 2-0 (21-3, 21-6). Pool D: DOM d GUA 2-0 (21-16, 21-10).