Rodriguez, Haddock two wins away from three-peat

GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands, April 26, 2014 - Two-time defending champions, Roberto Rodriguez and Erik Haddock moved to within two wins of completing the hat-trick at the Cayman Islands opening leg of the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Circuit after advancing to the semifinals on Saturday afternoon.

After starting off their campaign in Pool C with wins over Arubans, Eargenel De Cuba/Alexander Mitchel 21-17, 21-15 and Cayman Islands-A duo Olney Thompson/Phillippe Deslandes 21-11, 21-9 on Friday, the Puerto Rican pair returned to the Seven Miles Beach venue a day later and eased past the Trinidad and Tobago duo of Tevin Joseph and Taranadath Deonath 21-6, 21-10, and Canada-B pair, Andrew Hinchey/Ryan Vanderbug 21-14, 21-10 in their pool decider before scolding Canada-A pairing Cameron Wheelan/Michael Plantinga, the runners-up in Pool A, 21-12, 24-22 in their quarterfinal.

They were joined in the last-four by USA-A's William Montgomery/Stafford Slick, USA-B (Todd Rogers/Theodore Brunner) and Hinchey/Vanderbug of Canada-B.

Montgomery and Slick topped Pool B with a 4-0 record as well after spanking St Clair Hodge/Kevin Percival (St Kitts/Nevis) 21-8, 21-7 and Salvadorans, Julio Alvarez/Rooper Espinoza 21-10, 21-17 in their remaining pool matches before battling past Arubans, Eargenel De Cuba/Alexander Mitchell, one of the two best third placed teams, 21-11, 21-17 in their quarterfinal.

USA-B's Todd Rogers and Theodore Brunner rallied past the athletic St Lucian pair of Julian Bissete/Joseph Clercent in their quarterfinal, 21-16, 21-17.

This after USA-B won Pool A, 4-0 following its 21-15, 21-15 defeat of Guatemala's Erick Garrido/Andy Blanco.

in their final round-robin match on Saturday after starting 3-0 on Friday by outclassing Duncan Hamann/Ethan Manderson (Cayman Islands-C) 21-10, 21-14; Cameron Wheelan/Michael Plantinga (Canada-A) 21-14, 22-20 and St Lucians, Julian Bissette/Joseph Clercent 21-9, 21-11.

Hinchey/Vanderbug (Canada-B) overcame their disappointment of losing to Rodriguez/Haddock in their Pool C round-robin encounter with a straight forward 21-11, 21-9 quarterfinal victory over Costa Ricans, Julio Alvarez/Rooper Espinoza.

In the semifinals on Saturday, Rodriguez/Haddock faces Montgomery/Slick while Rogers/Brunner comes up against Hinchey/Vanderbug.

Men’s Saturday results: Pool A: LCA d CAY-C 21-13, 21-7; USA-B d GUA 21-15, 21-15; CAN-A d 21-18, 26-24; CAN-A d CAY-C 21-9, 21-13. Pool B: USA-A d SKN 21-8, 21-7; ESA d CAY-B 21-12, 22-20; CRC d SKN 21-9, 21-19; USA-A d ESA 21-10, 21-17; CRC d CAY-B 21-19, 21-17. Pool C: PUR d TTO 21-6, 21-10; CAN-B d ARU 21-14, 21-14; CAY-A d TTO 16-21, 21-19, 15-12; PUR d CAN-B 21-14, 21-10. Quarterfinals: PUR d CAN-A 21-12, 24-22; USA-A d ARU 21-11, 21-17; CAN-B d CRC 21-11, 21-9; USA-B d LCA 21-16, 21-17.