Puerto Rico and Canada to defend titles at Grand Cayman

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, March 16, 2011 – Puerto Ricans Yarleen Santiago and Dariam Acevedo and Canadian Martin Reader with a new partner will be defending their titles at the Cayman Islands Beach Volleyball Tournament, the first stop of the NORECA Circuit to be played from March 23-28.

Santiago and Acevedo, winners of five of 10 tournaments held last year, claimed their first gold medal of the year by defeating Americans Brooke Langston and Heather Lowe by score of 21-14, 21-18.

Reader, who this year will combine with Chaim Schalk, took the title last year partnering with Raymond Sewell when the North Americans defeated Puerto Ricans Orlando Irizarry and Joseph Gil in three sets by score of 21-17, 18-21, 15-8.

Eighteen pairs in both genders have been registered thus far for the first of fourteen tournaments that comprise the 2011 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Circuit.

“Our Circuit continues growing,” said Puerto Rican Arnaldo Sanchez, the director of the tour. “Last year we had 12 pairs for the opening leg and no we have 18 and counting.”

Canada, United States and Puerto Rico will be represented by two teams in each gender for the event to be held at Grand Cayman, the biggest of the islands.