The girls from Costa Rica, led by the duo of Ingrid Morales and Natalia Alfaro, showed impressive physical strength and excellent tactics to defeat Panama, who were the surprise of the tournament. Meanwhile, Guatemala captured the third spot after three days of intensive matches that all concluded in Golden Sets with El Salvador finishing as the fourth team advancing to the next phase. The veteran tandem of Morales and Alfaro contributed to Costa Rica success winning both their matches against the Panamanian opponents. They started with a 2-0 (21-12, 21-9) win against Katherine Taju/Hashlyn Cuero and followed with a 2-0 (21-19, 21-13) over Tanya White/Jenny Madrid. Betsy Cruz/Cindy Campos chipped in with a win over Taju/Cuero 2-1 (17-21, 21-16, 15-10) and lost to White/Madrid 2-0 (21-18, 21-13). Guatemala’s Maria Jose Orellana/Lourdes Ramírez had a perfect day winning all four contests they participated but not before going through grueling matches and a lot of pressure. Orellana/Ramirez won two three-setters over Nicaraguans Elia Torres/Jakeline Toruño 2-1 (21-19, 16-21, 15-7) and Amalia Hernandez/Lolette Rodriguez 2-1 (15-21, 21-15, 15-9). The series leveled when Guatemala’s Nadia Galan/Ana Villagrán lost both their matches to Hernandez/Rodriguez 2-1 (17-21, 21-11, 15-8) and 2-0 (21-7, 21-11) to Torres/Toruño. Orellana/Ramirez then downed (15-8) the Nicaragua’s tandem of Toruño/Rodriguez in the decisive golden set and followed with a 15-7 victory over Alejandra Mansur/Marcela Avalos of el Salvador in the battle for third place. El Salvador had defeated Belize in their four contests of Sunday. Mansur/Avalos edged Shantell Arnold/Tisha Solis 2-1 (21-6, 21-23, 15-8) and defeated Barbara Cadle/Esther Middleton 2-0 (21-17, 21-18) while Diana Romero/Laura Molina overcame Cadle/Middleton 2-1 (14-21, 21-14, 15-4) and crushed Arnold/Solis 2-0 (21-10, 21-6). Sunday’s women results: ESA A d. BIZ B 2-1 (14-21, 21-14, 15-4); ESA B d. BIZ A 2-1 (21-6, 23-21, 15-8); CRC A d. PAN B 2-0 (21-12, 21-9); PAN A d. CRC B 2-0 (21-18, 21-13); NCA A d. GUA B 2-1 (17-21, 21-11, 15-8); GUA A d. NCA B 2-1 (21-18, 16-21, 15-7); ESA A d. BIZ A 2-0 (21-17, 21-18); ESA B d. BIZ B 2-0 (21-10, 21-6); NCA B d. GUA B 2-0 (21-7, 21-11); GUA A d. NCA A 2-1 (15-21, 21-15, 15-9); CRC B d. PAN B 2-1 (17-21, 21-16, 15-10); CRC A d. PAN A 2-0 (21-19, 21-13). Golden Set: GUA d. NCA 15-8, Golden Set 3rd and 4th place: GUA d. ESA 15-7 |
