Costa Rica and Nicaragua with strong starts at Olympic Qualifier

PUNTA ARENAS, Costa Rica, March 11, 2018 – The pairs from Costa Rica and Nicaragua showed good level after winning three matches during the first day of the U19 Male’s Beach Volleyball Tournament, a qualifying event to the Youth Olympic Games in Argentina.

The home team of Alexander Lezcano and Criforth Fallas first overwhelmed Honduras’ Kenny Hernandez and Alex Martínez 2-0 (21-10, 21-8), continued with a 2-0 (21-14, 21-7) over El Salvador’s twins Yoel and Christopher Guardado and finished with a 2-0 (21-5, 21-12) over Belize’s Francis Hauze and Michael Jenkins.

Meanwhile, Nicaragua’s Jefferson and Christopher Cascante beat Panama’s Arath Pineda and John Montenegro 2-0 (21-5, 21-10), defeated Honduras 2-0 (21-10, 21-5) and finished with a 2-0 (21-15, 21-11) victory over El Salvador.

El Salvadoran twins Yoel and Christopher produced the biggest upset of the opening day by defeating Guatemala’s Edgar Maldonado and David Ismalej 2-0 (21-15, 21-14) who then had to battle hard to beat Belize 2-1 (21-17, 19-21, 15-13).

Maldonado/Ismalej are in top place with seven points after three victories and one loss as they also won 2-0 (21-10, 21-18) over Panama and 2-0 (21-7, 21-17) over Honduras.

Tied for second place with 6 points are Costa Rica (3-0), Nicaragua (3-0) and Honduras (2-2).

Guatemala and Costa Rica play at 10:30, then Nicaragua plays Costa Rica at 12:00 and Guatemala meets Nicaragua at 3:00 p.m.