OVA News

Canadians Ahren Cadieux and Rich Van Huizen edged Orlando Irizarry-Roberto Rodriguez of Puerto Rico by a score of 16-21, 21-15, 15-12 to claim the bronze medal late March at the first event of the season of the NORCECA Continental Beach Volleyball Circuit held in Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands.

The USA-1 Team of Jason Wight and Michael Bruning came out victorious in the match for the gold medal by defeating the Cuban team of Sergio Gonzalez and Karell Peña in consecutive sets by scores 22-20 and 21-17. Cadieux and Van Huizen were defeated in a close semi-final by the USA team by scores of 25-23 and 21-19, while the Cubans reached the final by defeating the Puerto Ricans by scores of 33-31, 21-16.

“The event provided us with an ideal opportunity to evaluate where we are at in our preparation for the FIVB World Tour,” stated Van Huizen. “We played some meaningful games and we’ll resume training at Beach Blast with a stronger focus on what we’ve learned. There were also high winds and hot temperatures in Grand Cayman which just can’t be replicated in Canada in the winter time,”he continued. “We feel good about the trip and the direction we are headed.”

The Third Norceca Continental Beach Volleyball Circuit awards points for the XXI Central American and Caribbean Games 2010 in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. This year¹s events include Cayman Islands (March 25-30), Guatemala (April 1-6), Dominican Republic (8-13), Manzanillo, Mexico (May 13-18), Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (May 20-25), Pachuca, Mexico (May 27-June 1), Jamaica (June 24-29), Trinidad Tobago (July 18-20),
Nicaragua (August 26-31) and Barbados (November 6-8)

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