Defending Champions Eric Haddock (digging) and Roberto "Rafu" Rodríguez of Puerto Rico advanced to the men's semifinals at Cayman Islands on Saturday

Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, March 23, 2013 – Defending champions Roberto Rodriguez and Eric Haddock of Puerto Rico are among the men's four semifinalists of the 2013 Cayman Islands Beach Volleyball Tournament, the first stop of the NORCECA Circuit.

Winners of Pool C, Rodríguez/Haddock advanced with an easy 21-16, 21-14 victory over the promising pair of Joseph Clercent and Julian Bissette of St Lucia.

They will be joined by Chaim Schalk and Benjamin Saxton of Canada-A,  Christian Redman and Maciej Zbyszewski of Canada-B and Americans Todd Rogers and Ryan Doherty.

Rogers/Doherty will meet Redman/Zbyszewski while Rodríguez/Haddock will battle with Schalk/Saxton on Sunday morning at Seven Mile Beach.

Schalk/Saxton eliminated Carlos Talavera and David Vargas of El Salvador by score of 21-12, 21-13, Redman/Zbyszewski won 21-19, 26-24 over Casey Jennings and Stafford Slick of USA-B, and Rogers/Doherty survived a three-setter against Mexicans Juan Virgen and Lombardo Ontiveros 19-21, 24-22, 15-10.

In the women’s field, Mexico’s Bibi Candelas and Martha Revuelta defeated Heather Bansley and Elizabeth Maloney of Canada-B by scores of 22-20, 21-13 to claim a spot in the semifinals. Candelas won here last year with her partner Mayra García, who retired at the end of 2012 following a long career.

The two teams representing USA as also the Canada-A reached the round of the final four. The USA-A team of Jennifer Kropp and Whitney Pavlik scored a 24-22, 21-19 victory over Vanessa Virgen and Diana Estrada of Mexico-B, while Jennifer Fopma and Brooke Sweat of USA-B won 21-14, 21-12 against María Orellana and Lourdes Ramírez of Guatemala.

Jamie Broder and Kristina Valjas, earned their ticket to the semifinal phase of the inaugural event of the season following a 21-13, 21-11 win against Jessica Wolfenden and Stefania Gandolfi of Cayman Islands-B.

In semifinals, Kropp/Pavlik goes against Candelas/Revueltas while Broder/Valjas meets Fopma/Sweat

Results of Saturday

Men
Pool A: CAY-B d ISV 2-0 (21-18, 21-13), USA-A d ESA 2-0 (21-11, 21-18). Pool B: CAN-A d MEX 2-0 (21-16, 21-14), PUR-B d CAY-A 2-0 (21-15, 21-15). Pool C: CAN-B d JAM 2-0 (21-7, 21-9), PUR-A d GUA 2-0 (21-11, 21-14). Pool D: LCA d TRI 2-0 (21-9, 21-17), USA-B d BAR 2-0 (21-11, 21-10). Quarterfinals: CAN-B d USA-B 2-0 (21-19, 26-24), PUR-A d LCA 2-0 (21-16, 21-14), USA-A d MEX 2-1 (19-21, 24-22, 15-19), CAN-A d ESA 2-0 (21-12, 21-13). Positions 9-16: CAY-A d CAY-B 2-0 (21-19, 21-12), TRI d JAM 2-0 (21-16, 21-13), GUA d BAR 2-0 (21-18, 21-19), PUR-B d ISV 2-0 (21-9, 21-10).

Women
Pool A: CAY-B d VIN 2-0 (21-0, 21-0), USA-A d LCA 2-0 (21-9, 21-11). Pool B: CAN-A d ESA-A 2-0 (21-18, 21-15), MEX-B d BAR 2-0 (21-8, 21-10). Pool C: USA-B d HON 2-0 (21-7, 21-5), MEX-A d CAY-A 2-0 (21-9, 21-12). Pool D: CAN-B d ESA-B 2-0 (21-10, 21-17), GUA d CRC 2-1 (23-21, 13-21, 15-9). Quarterfinals: USA-B d GUA 2-0 (21-14, 21-12), MEX-A d CAN-B 2-0 (22-20, 21-13), USA-A d MEX-B 2-0 (24-22, 21-19), CAN-A d CAY-B 2-0 (21-13, 21-11). Positions 9-16: BAR d LCA 2-0 (21-14, 21-13), ESA-B d CAY-A 2-0 (26-24, 21-12), ESA-A d VIN 2-0 (21-0, 21-0), CRC d HON 2-0 (21-6, 21-11).