Americans Complete
Double Sweep at NORCECA
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (April 8, 2007) — Both American teams entered in the first stop on the 2007 North, Central America and Caribbean (NORCECA) Beach Volleyball Circuit don’t figure to make the Olympics in Beijing next year, but both had previous international experience that came in handy over the weekend.
Paula Roca and Alicia Polzin outlasted the tough Canadian team of Annie Martin and Dana Cooke to capture the women’s gold medal at Boca Chica Beach Tournament. Not to be outdone, Hans Stolfus and Scott Wong followed with a 21-19, 21-10 victory over Marcelo Araya and Jonathan Guevara of Costa Rica.
“The first set shows how good the Costa Ricans are,” said Stolfus after the men’s match. “It was a tough battle, but we were able to put together a good streak in the second set.”
It was Roca’s and Polzin’s first tournament together, and it was not an easy coming out party. They hung on for a 21-16, 20-22, 15-8 win.
“Canada was a tough rival,” said Polzin, after the 21-16, 20-22, 15-8 finals nail-biter. “But we watched them playing the first two days and our tactics worked well.”
Roca is originally from Recife, Brazil, and also is a citizen of the United States.
Back on the men’s side, Wong admitted that he and Stolfus came out of the gate in their final lacking consistency, especially in the first set.
“But the we were able to focus and that was the difference,” he added.
Cuban Yunieski Ramirez and Yoendris Kindelán won the men’s bronze medal by dropping Jorge Bolanos and Jose Gonzalez of Guatemala 21-9 and 21-14. Cuban women Ion Canet and Kirenia Ballar needed three sets to win their bronze medal. They beat Ingrid Morales and Natalia Alfaro of Costa Rica, 19-21, 21-16 and 15-8.
The event was sponsored by Presidente Light beer, and was the first of five legs of the 2007 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Circuit.
The next scheduled NORCECA stop was April 20 through 22 in Guatemala City. USA Volleyball said Jenny Kropp of Santa Monica, Calif., and Renee Cleary of Manhattan Beach, Calif., are slated to represent the United States women. Brad Torsone of Hermosa Beach, Calif., and Jon Thompson of Manhattan Beach will represent the men.
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Scott Wong gets down for the dig as Stolfus looks on.
Photos courtesy of NORCECA
A little bit of sand didn't get in the way of a congratulatory hug between Alicia Polzin, back turned, and Paula Roca.
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