Costa Rican women qualify to Rio 2016

SAN CARLOS, Nuevo Guaymas, Mexico, June 26, 2016 – Costa Rica qualified to the Olympic Games in Women’s Beach Volleyball after a solid performance at the Norceca Continental Cup celebrated at the Algodones Beach.

The Costa Rican team defeated Mexico 3-1 with victories by Karen Charles and Natalia Alfaro over Diana Estrada and Zaira Orellana in three sets (21-12, 11-21, 15-5) as well as in straight sets over Cecilia Rios and Itzel Santoyo (21-12, 21-18).

Marcela Araya and Valeria Valenciano defeated Diana Estrada and Zaira Orellana also in two by scores of 23-21 and 21-18. Mexico won only one match with Rios and Santoyo who defeated Araya and Valenciano in the first one of the series.

“It is a dream that comes true. We have been working hard for this. Today we feel so proud. We are already in Rio”, said Alfaro minutes after winning the series over the host team.

For Costa Rica this was a special celebration. Even after the awards ceremony, they ran around the court with their country’s flag symbolizing an Olympic march.

Mexico finished second and still has one chance to contend for an Olympic ticket at the qualifier that will be celebrated in Sochi, Russia, as well as Cuba, that claimed the bronze medal after winning against Guatemala 3-0.

Yanisleidis Sanchez and Lidiannis Echeverria opened the bronze medal series with a triumph over Maria Jose and Andrea Orellana in two sets (21-13, 21-13).  Lianma Flores and Leila Martinez won also 2-0 (21-11, 21-13) against Nathalia Giron and Estefanie Bethancourt and repeated the dose against the Orellana sisters with a 21-15, 21-13 win.

Final 1st Place

Costa Rica 3, Mexico 1

Rios/Santoyo MEX1 d Araya/Valenciano CRC2 2-0 (21-10, 21-12), Charles/Alfaro CRC1 d Estrada/Orellana MEX2 2-1(21-12, 11-21, 15-5), Charles/Alfaro CRC1 d Rios/Santoyo MEX1 2-0 (21-12, 21-18), Araya/Valenciano CRC2 d Estrada/Orellana MEX2 2-0 (23-21, 21-18).

Final 3^rd Place

Cuba 3, Guatemala 0

Sánchez/Echeverria CUB2 d OrellanaJ/Orellana GUA1 2-0 (21-13, 21-13), Lianma/Leila CUB1 d Giron/Bethancourt GUA2 2-0 (21-11, 21-13), Lianma/Leila CUB1 d Orellana J/Orellana A 2-0 (21-15, 21-13)

Final 5^th Place

Nicaragua 2, Trinidad and Tobago 1

Dyette/Davidson TRI1 d Machado/Rodriguez NCA1 2-0 (21-16, 21-18), Mendoza/López NCA2 d Rheeza/Abby TRI2 2-0 (21-17, 21-15). Golden set: Mendoza/Lopez NCA2 d Dyette, Davidson TRI1 17-15

Final 7th Place

Jamaica 2, Barbados 0

Perry/Wright JAM1 d Matthews/Wood BAR1 2-0 (21-14, 21-15), Temple/Wallen JAM2 d Bovell/Mason BAR2 2-0 (21-17, 21-16)

Best Eight Teams

1-Costa Rica

2-Mexico

3-Cuba

4-Guatemala

5-Nicaragua

6-Trinidad and Tobago

7-Jamaica

8-Barbados