Mexico and Puerto Rico Win Gold at the Norceca Beach Volleyball Circuit in Baja California

BAJA CALIFORNIA, Mexico, September 18 2011.— The Mexican Olympic duo of Mayra Garcia and Bibiana Candelas, as well as Puerto Rico’s Christopher Underwood and Roberto Rodriguez won the gold medal in Women and Men at the Norceca International Beach Volleyball Circuit.

Garcia and Candelas defeated the Mexico’s number 2 couple, conformed by Martha Revuelta and Vanessa Virgen in straight sets (25-23, 21-17) while Underwood and Rodriguez won against Mexico’s Aldo Miramontes and Juan Virgen 2-1 (21-15, 18-21, 15-11).

The United States teams finished with bronze medals after winning Men’s and Women’s third place matches. Andrew Mcguire and Avery Drost defeated Guatemala’s Andy Blanco and Erick Garrido 2-0 (21-13, 21-14) while Kelly Schumacher and Angela Bryan defeated Susana Alvarado and Lourdes Ramirez of Guatemala 2-0 (21-17, 21-16).

For the Puerto Rican duo, winning a gold medal in Baja had a special feeling, because Underwood and Rodriguez had struggled a lot in previous matches against Miramontes and Virgen.

“We have worked hard and waited so long for this moment, and fortunatelly we made just a few mistakes”, said both players after the final match. In the case of Mayra García, she won her third crown at home along with Bibiana Candelas.

“We are very happy for this result, now we have to keep working hard for our the near future”, said Garcia who is preparing with her teammate for the Pan American Games.

Men’s Semifinals

Virgen/Miramontes (MEX1) def Mcguire/Drost (USA) 2-0 (21-18, 21-13)

Underwood/Rodriguez (PUR) def Blanco/Garrido (GUA) 2-0 (21-19, 21-15)

Women’s Semifinals

Garcia/Candelas (MEX1) def Alvarado/Ramírez (GUA) 2-0 (21-13, 21-10)

 Virgen/Revuelta (MEX2) def  Schumacher/Bryan(USA) 2-1 (19-21, 21-15, 15-9)

Men’s Third Place

Mcguire/Drost (USA) def Blanco/Garrido (GUA) 2-0 (21-13, 21-14)

Women’s Third Place

Schumacher/Bryan (USA) def Alvarado/Ramírez (GUA) 2-0 (21-17, 21-16)

Men’s finals

Underwood/Rodriguez (PUR) def Virgen/Miramontes (MEX1) 2-1 (21-15, 18-21, 15-11).

Women finals

Garcia/Candelas (MEX1) def Virgen/Revuelta (MEX2) 2-0 (25-23, 21-17)

Women’s Final 4

1 García/Candelas (MEX1)

2 Virgen/Revuelta (MEX2)

3 Schumacher/Bryan (USA)

4 Ramirez/Alvarado (GUA)

Men’s Final 4

1 Underwood/Rodriguez (PUR)

2 Virgen/Miramontes (MEX1)

3 Mcguire/Drost (USA)

4 Blanco/Garrido (GUA)