Varadero confirmed as fifth stop of NORCECA Circuit

HAVANA, Cuba, August 6, 2013 – Varadero has been confirmed as the site for the fifth stage of the 2013 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Circuit to take place from August 21-26.

The famous tourist beach area will host the continental competition for third consecutive year, announced Mireya Luis, who is in charge of the beach volleyball division of the Cuban National Federation.

The Blau Privilege Cayo Libertad Hotel, located at Punta Hicacos, has been designated as the official hotel.

Three pairs in both genders are going to represent Cuba while a good number of foreign competitors are expected to take part.

During the first four tournaments of the current season, Cuba has participated only in the men’s division with the duo of Karel Peña and Sergio Gonzalez.

They won a silver medal in Guatemala in April and finished fifth in Toluca, Mexico last June. Cuba did not take part in the two first tournaments of the year at Cayman Islands and Dominican Republic.

Mexico tops the men’s rankings with 720 points thanks to two victories with United States in a close second place with 700 points and Puerto Rico in third with 660.

United States lead the women’s standings with 760 points followed by Canada with 720 and Mexico with 520.

The Mexican men’s pair of Lombardo Ontiveros and Juan Virgen won the gold medals in Boca Chica and Guatemala while Puerto Ricans Roberto Rodriguez and Erik Haddock and Americans Casey Jennings and Stafford Slick triumphed in Cayman Islands and Toluca.

In the women’s division, Canadians Jamie Broder and Kristina Valjas and Kacie MacTavish and Caleigh Whitaker finished atop in Cayman Islands and Guatemala while Americans Jennifer Fopma and Brooke Sweat and Emily Day and Whitney Pavlik won in Boca Chica and Toluca.