Cuba and United States to semifinals in Varadero

VARADERO, Cuba, July 15, 2017 – The two main teams of Cuba and also United States will face each other in the semifinals of the fourth stop of the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Circuit on Sunday in the courts in front of Barcelo Solymar Arenas Blancas Hotel.

Leila Martinez and Lidianny Echevarria of Cuba-A, winners in La Paz, Mexico and Cayman Islands, will clash with compatriots Lianma Flores and Yanileydis Sanchez of Cuba-C, vice champions of the third stop held in Ocho Rios, Jamaica.

The other duel will feature the Americans Karissa Cook/Katherine Spieler of Team A and Jace Pardon/Lara Dykstra of Team B, following their respective victories in quarterfinals over Stephanie Burnside/Paulette Cruz of Mexico-A 2-0 (21-10, 21-11) and Maylen Deliz/Arlin Hechavarría of Cuba-B 2-1 (21-19, 18-21, 26-24).

This match between Pardon/Dykstra and Deliz/Hechavarría was one fiery battle in which the experienced visitors had to make an extra effort to subdue the Cubans in almost one hour.

Leila, Pan American vice champion in Toronto 2015, and her younger partner Lidianny, kept their undefeated record from the qualification stage by defeating Megan Nagy and Marie Christine Lapointe of Canada-B 2-0 (21-19, 21-8).

The other silver medalist of those Games, Lianma and partner Yanileydis dominated 2-0 (21-17, 21-19) Jamie Broder and Sophie Bukovec of Canada-A to avenge the defeat suffered against the Canadians in the big final at Ocho Rios also in straight sets.

Women’s Results Saturday:

Pool A: CUB-A d USA-B 2-0 (21-19, 21-18); MEX-B d NCA 2-0 (21-12, 21-14). Pool B: CAN-B d ISV-B 2-1 (11-21, 21-15, 15-9); CUB-B d CRC 2-0 (21-14, 21-13). Pool C: CAN-A d GUA 2-0 (21-14, 21-12); MEX-A d SKN 2-0 (21-10, 21-10). Pool D: CUB-C d ISV-A 2-0 (21-11, 21-15); USA-A d GDP 2-0 (21-5, 21-5)

Quarterfinals: CUB-A d CAN-B 2-0 (21-19, 21-8); CUB-C d CAN-A 2-0 (21-17, 21-19); USA-A d MEX-A 2-0 (21-10, 21-11); USA-B d CUB-B 2-1 (21-19, 18-21, 26-24)

Losers Quarterfinals: MEX-B d ISV-B 2-1 (12-21, 21-18, 15-11); SKN d ISV-A 2-1 (21-18, 16-21, 15-12); GUA d GDP 2-0 (21-12, 21-11); NCA d CRC 2-1 (18-21, 23-21, 15-10).