USA men prevail over Canadians to claim gold

PIGEON POINT, St Lucia, October, 13, 2013 –  The USA- B team of David Mc Kensie and Austin Rester starved off a spirited Canada – A outfit of Andrew Hinchey and Ryan Vanden burg  2-1 ( 21-23, 25-23, 15-8), to claim the first place   in the men’s segment of the ninth leg of the 2013 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Circuit closed off here on Sunday.

Both teams  which featured six footers , gave the involved crowd at the venue much to shout about as it edge of then seat stuff, trading points in the three setter championship match.

And, it was a revenge for the Americans who suffered at the hands of Hinchey and Vandenburg in their opening match on Friday, 2-0.

 In reflecting on their journey in the tournament , Mc Kensie said :  “  For us it was a little bit challenging because we did not train much together before the tournament … Our first match was really bat, but we started to put it together  as the tournament progressed.”

Mc Kensie said they also had to battle with the sporadic weather as at times it was very hot and at other times there was rain.

His partner Rester thought it was a proud achievement for them since they were able to beat teams who possess better rankings than they on the circuit.

“ The level of play was good and the overall tournament was great”, Rester stated in review.

En route to the title match  Mc Kensie and Rester  outplayed the  Guatemalan combination of  Andy Blanco and Erick Garrido 2-0 ( 21-13, 22-20), while Hinchey and Vandenburg off loaded the number seed-  Mexico’s Ulises Ontiveros and Tomas Aguilera also 2-0 ( 21-16, 21-16).

In the third place play off Ontiveros and Aguilera outpointed  Blanco and Garrido 2-1( 21-15, 22-20, 15-9), to grasp the bronze medal.

The ninth leg is set for Costa Rica from  November 20 to 25, with the tenth and final leg  scheduled for  Trinidad and Tobago , November 27 to December 2.

Match Results

Semifinals- USA d GUA 2-0 ( 21-13, 22-20), CAN-A d MEX 2-0 ( 21-16, 21-16). Third Place Play Off- MEX d GUA 2-1 ( 21-15, 22-20, 15-9). FINAL :USA-B d CAN-A 2-1( 21-23, 25-23, 15-8). Consolation play – SLU d DOM 2-1 ( 17-21, 21-19, 15-7)