Strong Teams registered to play in Punta Cana

PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic, September 13 2017 – USA’s Jace Pardon and Lara Dykstra, and Canada’s Jamie Broder and Sophie Bukovec are among the strongest female teams registered to participate in Punta Cana Beach Volleyball Tournament from September 15 to 17.

The Sunscape Bavaro Beach Punta Cana Resort and Spa is the official hotel for players and officials.

Pardon/Dykstra won this year in Varadero, Cuba while Broder/Bukovec were crowned in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Pardon/Dykstra also were runner-ups in Cayman Islands where Broder finished third with Caleigh Whitaker.

In Varadero, Pardon/Dykstra defeated Cubans Leila Martínez and Lidianny Echeverría 2-0 (21-19, 21-16) to win the first place prize money.

In Ocho Rios, Broder/Bukovec dominated Cubans Lianma Flores and Yanisleidis Sanchez 2-0 (21-18, 21-7) to claim the title.

USA’s William Kolinske and Miles Evans, who lost to Cubans Daisel Quesada and Karell Peña 2-0 (21-13, 222-20) in the finals in Ocho Rios are among the men’s teams.

USA’s Stafford Slick and William Allen are also strong candidates in the men’s field. They had a strong start in 2016 finishing third in Guatemala and second in both Guaymas and La Paz, Mexico. Slick won in St Lucia playing with Mark Burik.

Punta Cana, in the eastern part of the Dominican Republic will host a NORCECA event for third consecutive year. Players hailing from Canada, Guadeloupe, Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, St Kitts & Nevis, Trinidad & Tobago, United States and U.S. Virgin Islands are registered to participate.

Indhira Ramírez will preside the control committee while Ed Drakich will be the technical director of the competition.

Women’s Teams

Canada-A (Jamie Broder/Sophie Bukovec), Canada-B (Megan Nagy/Marie Lapointe), Dominican Republic-A (Antonia Jáquez/Alondra Berroa), Dominican Republic-B (Julibeth Payano/Camila Moneró), Dominican Republic-C (Deanny De la Cruz/Yaniris Miller Green), Guadeloupe (Fanny Katarzynsky/Caroline Caro), Mexico(Stephanie Burnside/Paulette Cruz), Puerto Rico (Aurea Cruz/Ashley Vásquez), Trinidad & Tobago (Rheeza Grant/Abby Blackman), United States-A (Jace Pardon/Lara Dykstra), United States-B (Delaney Knudsen/Corinne Quiggle), U.S. Virgin Islands (Melanie Valenciana/Katherine Wanket).

Men’s Teams

Canada-A (Simon Fecteau/Hugo Bonneau), Canada-B (Sergey Grabovsky/Fiodar Kazhamiaka), Dominican Republic-A (William Sánchez/Víctor Castillo), Dominican Republic-B (Alex Medina/Jamel J. Alexandre), Dominican Republic-C (Deivy Ramírez/Raymer Sarmiento), Guadeloupe (Arnouts Baptiste/Cederic Lavoye), Nicaragua (Gerald Umaña/Dany López), St Kitts & Nevis (Kemoroy Percival/Rohan Jeffers), Trinidad & Tobago(Abraham Eccles/Tevin Joseph),  United States-A (William Kolinske/Miles Evans), United States-B (Stafford Slick/William Allen).