Cope/Alfaro start strong

GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala, July 7, 2017 -  Central American Champions, Karen Cope and Natalia Alfaro, started off strong at the XVII Central American AFECAVOL Senior Beach Volleyball Tournament with two victories in straight sets over Nicaragua and Honduras.

 Cope/Alfaro prevailed 21-16, 21-15 over Swan Mendoza/ Lolette Rodríguez of Nicaragua, and 21-12, 21-9 over Jarisa Hynds/Christianne Etches of Honduras, to take control of group A. In the same group, Kathya Vasquez/Marcela Avalos of El Salvador took by surprise host team of Maria Jose Orellana/Blanca Recinos with 2-1 (14-21, 21-16, 15-12) victory.

In group B, Guatemala-1 with Natalia Giron/Estefani Bethancourt, beat 21-13, 21-17 Maria Juliane Ponce/Liy Stephanie Porras of El Salvador-1 and Nicaragua’s Socoroo Lopez/Claudia Machado defeated 21-12, 21-13 Kariana Saenz/Yileen NG of Panama.

Preliminary matches will resume on Saturday with exciting duels between Cope/Alfaro and Orellana/Recinos; and then against Vasquez/Avalos to determine group A winners.

In group B, Giron/Bethancourt meet Lopez/Machado of Nicaragua in the fifth match of day two.

Results Friday

NCA 1 0-2 (14-21, 14-21) GUA 2; HON 1 0-2 (14-21, 15-21) ESA 2;  ESA 1 2-0 (21-14, 21-15) HON 2; PAN 0–2 (12-21, 13-21) NCA 2; GUA 2 2-0 (21-14, 21-14) HON 1; CRC 2-0 (21-16, 21-15) NCA 1; HON 2 1-2 (18-21, 21-18, 16-18) PAN; GUA 1 2-0 21-13, 21-17) ESA 1; HON 1 0-2 (12-21, 9-21) CRC; ESA 2 2–1 (14-21, 21-16, 15-12) GUA 2 

Women’s groups:

A: CRC, NCA 1, HON 1, ESA 2, GUA 2.

B: GUA 1, ESA 1, PAN, NCA 2, HON 2.

Women’s teams:

Karen Cope/Natalia Alfaro (CRC); María Juliane Ponce/Liy Stephanie Porras (ESA-1); Kathya Vásquez/Marcela Avalos (ESA-2); Natalia Girón/Estefanie Bethancourt (GUA-1); María José Orellana/Blanca Recinos (GUA-2); Jarisa Hynds/Christianne Etches (HON-1); Lois Pinnace/Marissa Brady (HON-2); Swan Mendoza/Lolette Rodríguez (NCA-1); Socorro López/Claudia Machado (NCA-2); Yileen NG/ Kariany Saenz (PAN).