Rogers and Doherty impress with strong show

GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands, March 22, 2013 - Former Olympic and world champion Todd Rogers and new partner Ryan Doherty made an impressive debut in 2013 by winning their two matches in opening day of the Cayman Islands Beach Volleyball Tournament, the first stage of the NORCECA Circuit.

Playing in Pool A, the tandem of USA-A first defeated Richard Campbell and Philippe Deslandes of Cayman Islands-B 21-9, 21-12 and capped their day with a 21-13, 21-14 victory over Aseah Thomas and Anthony Pippen of U.S. Virgin Islands.

On Friday morning, Rogers-Doherty will play against Carlos Talavera and David Vargas for the top place of the pool with both teams qualified to the single-elimination main draw. Talavera/Vargas defeated Thomas/Pippen 21-11, 21-16 and Campbell/Deslandes 21-13, 21-17.

Defending champions Roberto Rodriguez and Eric Haddock of Puerto Rico-A came out victorious from their two outings in Pool C by defeating Canada-B team of Christian Redmann and Maciej Zbyszewski 21-13, 22-20 and breezing past Jamaica’s Donovan Richards and Rojei Hutchinson 21-6, 21-5.

In Pool B, Chaim Schalk y Benjamin Saxton of Canada-A and Mexico’s Lombardo Ontiveros and Juan Virgen won also their two matches to secure spots in the top-eight bracket.

Schalk/Saxton defeated Hector Soto and Victor Rivera of Puerto Rico-B 21-15, 21-15 and crushed Shervin Rankin and Duncan Hamann of Cayman Islands-A 21-9, 21-12. Ontiveros/Virgen defeated Rankin/Hamann 21-9, 21-12 and overcame Soto/Rivera 19-21, 21-6, 16-14.

In Pool D, Stafford Slick and Casey Jennings of USA-B first downed Simon Blake and Daneil Williams of Trinidad & Tobago 21-11, 21-14 and then battled to prevail 21-12, 22-20 against Jospeh Clercent and Julian Bissette of Saint Lucia.

Men’s Results on Friday:

Pool A: ESA d ISV 2-0 (21-11, 21-16), USA-A d CAY-B 2-0 (21-9, 21-12), USA-A d ISV 2-0 (21-13, 21-14), ESA d CAY-B 2-0 (21-13, 21-17)

Pool B: CAN-A d PUR-B 2-0 (21-15, 21-15), MEX d CAY-A 2-0 (21-9, 21-19), CAN-A d CAY-A 2-0 (21-9, 21-12), MEX d PUR-B  2-1 (19-21, 21-6, 16-14).

Pool C: GUA d JAM 2-0 (21-8, 21-19), PUR-A d CAN-B 2-0 (21-13, 22-20), CAN-B d GUA 2-0 (21-1, 21-14), PUR-A d JAM 2-0 (21-6, 21-5)

Pool D: LCA d BAR 2-0 (22-20, 21-10), USA-B d TRI 2-0 (21-11, 21-14), USA-B d LCA 2-0 (21-12, 22-20), TRI d BAR 2-0 (23-21, 21-14)