Mexicans Revuelta and Virgen in semis after tough battle

CHIAPAS, Mexico, May 14, 2011 – Mexicans Martha Revuelta and Vanessa Virgen won a sensational three-setter over Americans Jeniffer Snyder and Erin Gray advancing to the semifinals of the Chiapas Beach Volleyball Tournament at Puerto Arista Beach in Chiapas, Mexico.

Around 4,000 spectators watched and cheered for the local girls who battled the Americans for 62 minutes before prevailing by score of 21-15, 18-21, 23-21.

The duo Revuelta and Virgen now have to play Brook Sweat and Kristen Batt of USA-1 who scored an easy 21-11, 21-8 victory over Puerto Rico’s Tatiana Encarnacion and Yamileska Yantin.

Cuba’s Imara Estevez and Onayami Sinal defeated Canada’s Vitoria Cowley and Alexandra Mingay by score of 21-16, 21-16 and will play in semifinals against Costa Rica’s Natalia Alfaro and Ingrid Morales who won 21-16, 21-12 over Susana Alvarado and Lourdes Ramirez of Guatemala.

Saturday’s women results

Pool A: USA d. TRI (21-8, 21-10). Pool B: GUA d. MEX-1 (21-10, 21-16).

Final pool positions: Pool A: USA (2-0), NCA (1-1), TRI (0-2). Pool B: GUA (2-0), MEX-1 (1-1), CAN-2 (0-2). Pool C: CUB (2-0), MEX-2 (1-1), CAN-1 (0-2). Pool D: USA-2 (2-0), CRC (1-1), PUR (0-2). Four pool winners advance directly to quarterfinals.

Round of 16: PUR d. MEX-2 (21-11, 21-18), CAN-2 d. NCA (14-21, 22-20, 16-14), MEX-1 d. TRI (21-13, 21-17), CRC d. CAN-1 (21-16, 21-12). Quarterfinals: USA-1 d. PUR (21-11, 21-8), CUB d. CAN-2 (21-16, 21-16), CRC d. GUA (21-16, 21-12), MEX-1 d. USA-2 (21-15, 18-21, 23-21).