Double triumphs for Guatemala and Costa Rica

PANAMÁ, November 9, 2018 - Costa Rica and Guatemala started with two wins in Group A of the women's tournament of the XVIII Central American Major Beach Volleyball Championship.

Marcela Araya and Eugenia Ramírez, from Costa Rica 1, won in two sets (21-14, 21-13) to El Salvador with María Fernanda Vargas / Kathya Vásquez, and then beat2-0 (21-8, 21-6 ) to Iris Urrunaga / Yamileth Montenegro (Panama 1).

Meanwhile, Blanca Recinos / Susana Alvarado (GUA 2) won 2-0 (21-10, 21-14) against Urrunaga / Montenegro, and closed with a 2-0 win (21-14, 21-7) over Osiris Juarez / Scarleth Cortez, from Nicaragua 2.

Vargas / Vásquez (ESA) won 21-13, 21-14 versus Juarez / Cortez to finish the day with 1-1 in wins and losses.

In Group B, Costa Rica 2 with Katerine Quesada / Melisa Armijo won 2-0 (21-14, 21-18) over Belize with Kelsey Balderramos / Nelissa Ramírez.

Guatemala 1, with Natalia Girón / Estefanie Bethancourt, won 2-0 (21-19, 21-11) against Swan Mendoza / Socorro López (Nicaragua 1). Before, Mendoza / Lopez had won 2-0 (21-8, 21-13) to Hashlyn Cuero / Kilary Pérez, of Panama 2.

The two best pairs of each group advance to the semifinal where they will play the first place of the group A with the second of the B, and the first of the B against the second of the A.