Women’s teams arrive into Beach Volleyball Final Four

PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico, October 19, 2011 – The duos of Brazil, Puerto Rico, United States and Mexico earned their place in the semifinals of the women’s beach volleyball tournament at the Pan American Games to be played on Thursday.

In the semifinals, world and defending champions Juliana Silva and Larissa Franca of Brazil will play against Puerto Rico’s Yarleen Santiago and Yamileska Yantín while United States’ Emily Day and Heather Hughes will clash with Mexico’s Bibi Candelas and Mayra García.

The United States duo of Day and Hughes were the first semifinalists by defeating Uruguay’s Lucia Guigou and Fabiana Gómez 2-0 (21-12, 21-12) in their quarterfinal contest that lasted 34 minutes on Wednesday.

The next team to qualify to the final-four round was the Brazilian world champion pair of Juliana and Larissa who finished Canada’s Heather Bansley and Elizabeth Maloney 2-0 (21-15, 21-16).

Puerto Ricans Santiago and Yantin advanced after their 2-0 (21-16, 21-18) victory against Cuba’s Niriam Sinal and Osnayamis Sinal.

In the last quarterfinal match, Mexico’s Candelas and García defeated Carolina and Claudia Galindo of Colombia 2-0 (21-16, 21-13).

Women’s quarterfinals results:

Day-Hughes (USA) d. Guigou-Gómez (URU) 2-0 (21-12, 21-12).

Silva-Franca (BRA) d. Bansley-Maloney (CAN) 2-0 (21-15, 21-16)

Santiago-Yantin (PUR) d. Sinal-Sinal (CUB) 2-0 (21-16, 21-18)

Candelas-García (MEX) d. Galindo-Galindo (COL) 2-0 (21-16, 21-13)