Volleyball Canada – GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands – Canada picked up a men’s silver and a women’s bronze this weekend at the NORCECA tournament in Cayman Islands.

Maverick Hatch (Comox, BC) and Garrett May (Toronto, ON) came on strong in the final to win the first set, but Cubans Karell Peña and Daisel Quesada recovered to claim the men’s gold medal. The veteran Peña and the up-and-coming Quesada won their second gold medal in a row with a 2-1 (18-21, 21-16, 15-6) victory. They also won the first event of the NORCECA Circuit two weeks ago in La Paz, Mexico.

Hatch and May earlier beat fellow Canadians Aaron Nusbaum (Aurora, ON) and Ryan Vandenburg (Cambridge, ON) 2-1 (17-21, 21-17, 18-16).

Americans Burik/Kolinske took the bronze medal in another tough match against Nusbaum/Vandenburg 2-1 (18-21, 21-11, 15-13), who finished fourth.

On the women’s side, Jamie Broder of Victoria, BC, and Caleigh Whitaker of Sharon, ON, defeated Flint/Larsen of the U.S. 2-1 (21-16, 22-24, 15-9) in 58 minutes for the bronze. (Sider/Cruickshank of Canada finished ninth).

The women’s gold was also won by Cuba. Lidiannis Echeverria and Leila Martinez captured their second gold medal of the year in as many attempts at Seven Mile Beach on Sunday. Echeverria and Martinez, who had won the opening event of 2017 NORCECA Circuit two weeks ago in La Paz, Mexico, prevailed in a three-setter against Jace Pardon and Lara Dykstra of United States-B 2-1 (21-13, 18-21, 15-9).

For more info, see www.norceca.net

Men’s Results (April 23)
Semifinals: CUB d USA-A 2-0 (21-16, 21-17), CAN-B d CAN-A 2-1 (17-21, 21-17, 18-16). Bronze Medal Match: USA-A d CAN-A 2-1 (18-21, 21-11, 15-13). Gold Medal Match: CUB d CAN-B 2-1 (18-21, 21-16, 15-6). Losers’ Quarterfinals: ESA d CAY 2-0 (21-12, 21-9), USA-B d TTO 2-0 (21-18, 21-17). Loser’s Semifinals: PUR d SKN 2-0 (21-15, 21-12), GUA d NCA 2-0 (21-10, 21-14). Positions 11-12: TTO d CAY 2-0 (21-5, 21-19). Positions 9-10: USA-B d ESA 2-0 (21-15, 21-16). Positions 7-8: NCA d SKN 2-0 (21-8, 21-7). Positions 5-6: PUR d GUA 2-1 (21-18, 20-22, 15-13).

Women’s Results (April 23)
Semifinals: USA-B d USA-A 2-1 (22-20, 18-21, 15-13), CUB d CAN-A 2-1 (21-15, 18-21, 15-10). Bronze Medal Match: CAN-A d USA-A 2-1 (21-16, 22-24, 15-9). Gold Medal Match: CUB d USA-B 2-1 (21-13, 18-21, 15-9). Losers’ Quarterfinals: CAY-A d TTO 2-1 (16-21, 21-18, 15-11), CAN-B d ISV 2-0 (21-9, 21-19). Loser’s Semifinals: GUA d PUR 2-0 (21-18, 21-15), NCA d CAY-B 2-0 (21-6, 21-9). Positions 11-12: ISV d TTO 2-0 (21-12, 21-15). Positions 9-10: CAN-B d CAY-A 2-0 (21-9, 21-13). Positions 7-8: PUR d CAY-B 2-0 (21-17, 21-13). Positions 5-6: NCA d GUA 2-1 (10-21, 21-19, 15-8).
 Volleyball Canada media contact:
Jackie Skender
E-mail: jskender@volleyball.ca
Phone: 613.794.7676