Boca Chica, Dominican Republic, April 20, 2011 – Cuba clinched top spot at the NORCECA Women’s Beach Volleyball Continental Cup, a qualifying event to the London 2012 Olympic Games, when Ion Canet and Niriam Sinal scored a 15-11 golden set victory over Heather Bansley and Liz Maloney of Canada on Wednesday.

It was the third win of the day for Canet/Sinal of Cuba-B, who earlier triumphed 21-10, 21-16 against Annie Martin and Mariee Lessard of Canada-A, and then defeated Bansley/Maloney of Canada-B by score of 21-16, 21-18.

Bibi Candelas and Mayra Garcia gave Mexico third place with a 15-9 golden set victory over Yarleen Santiago and Dariam Acevedo of Puerto Rico-A.

In Sunday´s action, Cubans Canet/Sinal outclassed Canadians Martin/Lessard 21-10, 21-16 and sent the series to a golden set decider with a 21-16, 21-18 victory against Bansley/Maloney. Previously, the Canadian duo of Bansley/Maloney and Martin/Lessard recorded 21-19, 24-22 and 21-18, 21-17 wins over Imara Esteves and Kirenia Reyna of Cuba-A respectively.

The top four teams of NORCECA Central Zone now qualify for the final continental competition where one ticket for the Games, which take place in August next year, will be available

Women’s results

Cuba 3, Canada 2
CUB-B d. CAN-A (21-10, 21-16)
CAN-B d. CUB-A (21-19, 24-22)
CAN-A d. CUB-A (21-18, 21-17)
CUB-B d. CAN-B (21-16, 21-18)
Golden set: CUB-B d. CAN-B (15-11)

Mexico 3, United States 2
USA-A d. MEX-B (21-17, 21-10)
MEX-A d. USA-B (22-20, 26-24)
USA-B d. MEX-B (21-13, 21-15)
MEX-A d. USA-A (21-11, 21-18)
Golden set: MEX-A d. USA-A (15-9)

Puerto Rico 3, Dominican Republic 1
PUR-A d. DOM-B (21-7, 21-7)
PUR-B d. DOM-A (21-16, 21-16)
DOM-B d. PUR-B (21-16, 21-18)
PUR-A d. DOM-A (21-16, 21-9)

Third place: MEX d. PUR (15-9)

Final positions: 1. Cuba, 2. Canada, 3. Mexico, 4. Puerto Rico, 5. USA, 6. Dominican Republic.