Mexican men's and women's beach volleyball triumph in Mazatlan

Mexican teams dominated at the Mazatlan Beach Volleyball Tournament, the sixth stop of the NORCECA Circuit (photo courtesy FIVB).

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FIVB: Mazatlan, Mexico, September 16, 2013 – Mexicans Juan Virgen and Lombardo Ontiveros and Bibi Candelas and Martha Revuelta won the men’s and women’s gold medals, respectively, at the Mazatlan Beach Volleyball Tournament, the sixth stage of the 2013 NORCECA Circuit on Sunday.

Virgen and Ontiveros recorded their fourth gold medal of the year while Revuelta and Candelas won for the first time in 2013.

Playing as Mexico-A team, Virgen and Ontiveros scored a 2-1 (21-18, 15-21, 15-13) victory over Grant O’Gorman and Sam Pedlow of Canada-A.

It was the 20th gold medal and 26th overall for Virgen, the highest total in both categories in the history of the NORCECA Circuit.

Virgen, who owns the record for most victories in a season with five in 2010 playing with Aldo Miramontes as a partner, hopes to break his own mark this year when the pair also succeeded in Dominican Republic, Guatemala and Cuba.

Revuelta and Candelas of Mexico-A defeated Melissa Humana and Taylor Pishcke of Canada-A, 2-0 (23-21, 21-18).

It was the 10th career victory for Candelas, breaking a tie with the now retired Yarleen Santiago of Puerto Rico at the top of the all-time list. Revuelta increased her own record of more career medals now with 25.

“I always dreamed about winning a gold medal at home and we were able to play high quality beach volleyball during the weekend,” Virgen said after the award ceremony. “I want to dedicate this victory to my family who made the trip to be here in Mazatlan.”

“We have five more tournaments this year, so a new record is within our reach,” Virgen added. “We go to Puerto Rico on Wednesday looking forward to add another victory.”

“It is a great feeling to win at home in front of our fans,” Candelas said. “Canada is a young team but of high quality level. Next week we go to Puerto Rico and our goal is to win over there also.”

“Is a personal victory since it is our first title together,” Revuelta said. “Our goal is to win the gold medal at the Central American Games next year in Veracruz but we need to continue working hard.”

In the men’s semifinals, Virgen and Ontiveros benefitted of a default (21-0, 21-0) against Victor Rivera and Erik Haddock of Puerto Rico-B due to illness of Rivera. O’Gorman and Pedlow defeated Roberto Rodriguez and Hector Soto of Puerto Rico-A 2-0 (22-20, 21-19).

Rodriguez and Soto won the bronze medal when their compatriot Rivera was unable to play and didn’t show up.

In the women’s semifinals, the team of Revuelta-Candelas defeated Heather Hughes and Lane Carico of United States-A 2-0 (21-15, 21-19) while Humana-Pishcke scored a 2-1 (21-16, 17-21, 15-9) victory over Traci Weamer and Allison Fleming of United States-B.

Hughes and Carico won 2-0 (24-22, 21-19) over Weamer-Fleming in the match for the bronze medal.

Men’s Sunday Results
Positions 9-16: USA-A d NCA 2-0 (21-14, 21-16), ISV d CRC 2-0 (21-16, 21-19), USA-A d ISV 2-0 (21-14, 21-12). Semifinals: MEX-A d PUR-B 2-0 (21-0, 21-0), CAN-A d PUR-A 2-0 (22-20, 21-19). Bronze Medal Match: PUR-A d PUR-B 2-0 (21-0, 21-0). Gold Medal Match: MEX-A d CAN-A 2-1 (21-18, 15-21, 15-13).

Final Positions: 1. Mexico-A, 2. Canada-A, 3. Puerto Rico-A, 4. Puerto Rico-B, 5. Canada-B, 6. United States-B, 7. México-B, 8. México-C, 9. United States-A, 10. U.S. Virgin Islands, 11. Costa Rica, 12. Nicaragua, 13. El Salvador, 14. Guatemala, 15. Trinidad & Tobago, 16. St Lucia.

Women’s Sunday Results
Positions 9-13: GUA d MEX-B 2-1 (21-13, 18-21, 15-5). Semifinals: MEX-A d USA-A 2-0 (21-15, 21-19), CAN-A d USA-B 2-1 (21-16, 17-21, 15-9). Bronze Medal Match: USA-A d USA-B 2-0 (24-22, 21-19). Gold Medal Match: MEX-A d CAN-A 2-0 (23-21, 21-18).

Final positions: 1. Mexico-A, 2.Canada-A, 3. United States-A, 4. United States-B, 5. México-C, 6.Puerto Rico, 7.Costa Rica-B, 8. Canada-B, 9. Guatemala, 10. México-B, 11. Costa Rica-A, 12. Trinidad & Tobago, 13. Honduras.