USA-A, Canada-A women on course for showdown

GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands, April 25, 2014 - North American rivals, USA-A and Canada-A looked set for a showdown for the gold medals in the Women's Division of the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Circuit 2014 opening tournament on Sunday after winning head-to-head battles with their second ranked teams.

This was at the scenic Seven Miles Beach, under blistering sunshine when the 17-team women's double-elimination competition served off.

First USA-A duo, Christal Engle and two-time tour winner last year with Lane Carico, Heather Hughes overcame a first-set deficit to beat USA-B, Tealle Hunkus/Kimberly Mc Given 19-21, 21-16, 15-11 to set up a main draw quarterfinal against Trinidad and Tobago's Ayana Dyette and Nancy Joseph who ousted Hondurans Gina Flores/Martha Euceda 21-10, 21-8 in their first round match.

At the other half of the main draw first round matches, another winner on the tour in 2013, Melissa Humana of Canada-A combined with Taylor Pidchke for a 22-20, 21-12 victory over Canada-B's Claudia Seguin/Brandie Wilkerson for a meeting with El Salvador's Diana Romero/Marcela Avalos who dumped Cayman Islands-A, Cristin Alexander/Jessica Wolfenden 21-13, 21-19.

Prior to their meeting, Canada-B swept past 16-year-old Cayman Islands debutants, Chante Smith/Ileann Powery, 21-13, 21-11 in round-of-32 qualifier.

In the other main draw first round matches, Nanjing, China, Youth Olympic Games-bound duo, Lina Bernier and Valeria Cajigas of Puerto Rico showed they were ready to step up to the highest level by overwhelming St Lucians, Dania Hamilton/Jamilla Lansiquot 21-10, 21-18 and will now face Costa Ricans, Karen Cope/Natalia Alfaro, 21-8, 21-11 winners over Brenda Allen/Shanicia Dyer (St Kitts/Nevis) in the main draw quarterfinals.

And in the final winners' draw last-eight series, Central American rivals, Mexico-A (Stephanie Burnside/Gloria Santoyo) comes up against Elia Machado/Jackeline Toruno (Nicaragua).

Burnside and Santoyo defeated countrywomen Vanessa Virgen and Paulette Cruz (Mexico-B) 21-18, 21-16 while Machado/Toruno stopped Nadia Galan/Anna Ramirez (Guatemala), 21-16, 21-18.

The teams of Mexico-B, Cayman Islands-A, USA-B and Canada-B were all still in contention for a medal after securing wins in their first round losers draw matches against St Kitts/Nevis, Guatemala, St Lucia and Honduras respectively.

In order to get to the losers draw quarterfinals, the Canada-B team defeated Cayman Islands-B for a second time on the day in a playoff.

Day One Women Results:

Main Draw: CAN-B d CAY-B 21-13, 21-11; CRC d SKN 21-8, 21-11; MEX-A d MEX-B 21-18, 21-16; TTO d HON 21-10, 21-8; PUR d LCA 21-11, 21-8; USA-A d USA-B 19-21, 21-16, 15-11; NIC d GUA 21-16, 21-18; CAN-A d CAN-B 22-20, 21-12; ESA d CAY-A 21-13, 21-19; Losers Draw: CAN-B d CAY-B 21-7, 21-17; USA-B d LCA 21-11, 21-14; MEX-B d SKN 21-17, 21-3; CAY-A d GUA 21-17, 21-16; CAN-B d HON 21-7, 21-8.