Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, March 22, 2013 – The 2013 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Circuit got underway on Friday at Seven Miles Beach with the fifth edition of the Cayman Islands Tournament which traditionally opens the season.

Sixteen teams per gender, representing fifteen countries, took part in the competition that ran until Sunday.

Teams are divided in four pools for the preliminary round-robin of Friday and early Saturday with the top two teams from each pool earning the pass to the single elimination main draw. The two teams of the bottom will play in the consolation bracket for the positions 9-16.

The semifinals and the matches for the medals were scheduled on Sunday capped by the awarding ceremony.

Saint Lucia met St Vincent in the first women’s match of Friday while El Salvador played against U.S. Virgin Islands in the opening clash of the men’s field.

The general technical meeting, with all players in attendance, took place on Thursday’s evening at Marriott Hotel of Grand Cayman where Noel Williams, president of the Cayman Islands National Federation welcomed the athletes.

Arnaldo Sanchez, director of competition, informed about the competition format and the rankings of the countries, while Andre Trottier explained the new rules of beach volleyball.

Women’s Pools:

Pool A: USA-A, LCA, VIN, CAY-B. Pool B: CAN-A, ESA-A, BAR, MEX-B. Pool C: MEX-A, CAY-A, HON, USA-B. Pool D: CRC, GUA, ESA-B, CAN-B.

Men’s Pools:

Pool A: USA-A, ESA, ISV, CAY-B. Pool B: CAN-A, MEX, CAY-A, PUR-B. Pool C: GUA, PUR, JAM, CAN-B. Pool D: LCA, TRI, BAR, USA-B.

Women’s Teams: Sharon Bovell-Anthazia Mason (BAR), Jamie Broder-Kristina Valjas (CAN-A), Heather Bansley-Elizabeth Maloney (CAN-B), Jennifer Bily-Cristin Alexander (CAY-A), Jessica Wolfenden-Stefania Gandolfi (CAY-B), Ingrid Morales-Nathalia Alfaro (CRC), Yvonne Soler-Laura Molina (ESA-A), Diana Romero-María Vargas (ESA-B), María José Orellana-Lourdes Ramírez (GUA), Gina Flores-Martha Euceda (HON), Vanessa Virgen-Diana Estrada (MEX-A), Martha Revuelta-Bibi Candelas (MEX-B), Samantha Mann-Jamilla Lansiquot (LCA), Nikita Campbell-Shanique Deshong (VIN), Jenny Kropp-Whitney Pavlik (USA-A), Jennifer Fopma-Brooke Sweat (USA-B).

Men’s Teams: Kyle Browne-Ronald Rice (BAR), Chaim Schalk-Benjamin Saxton (CAN-A), Christian Redmann-Maciej Zbyszewski (CAN-B), Shervin Rankin-Duncan Hamann (CAY-A), Richard Campbell- Philippe Deslandes (CAY-B), Carlos Talavera-David Vargas (ESA), Julio Recinos-Luis García (GUA), Donovan Richards-Rojey Hutchinson (JAM), Lombardo Ontiveros- Juan Virgen (MEX), Roberto Rodriguez-Eric Haddock (PUR-A), Hector Soto-Victor Rivera (PUR-B), Joseph Clercent-Julian Bissette (LCA), Simon Blake-Daneil Williams (TRI), Todd Rogers-Ryan Doherty (USA-A), Stafford Slick-Casey Jennings (USA-B), Marc Lomeli-Anthony Pippen (ISV).

PIC Legendary Todd Rogers (right) leads the contingent of USA players competing at the Cayman Islands Beach Volleyball Tournament, the first stop of 2013 NORCECA Circuit