Old Belize Museum, October 12, 2009
Team Creative Marketing: Thara Blanco and Barbara Cadle won the Tropigas women’s Beach Volleyball Invitational tournament organized by the Belize Volleyball Association at the Old Belize Museum over the Columbus Day weekend, while Emma Hoare and Gabriela Jennifer Perez placed 2nd and Tanisha Encalada and Bobbie Lee Usher won 3rd prize.
Five teams registered for the tournament and Game 1 got underway on Sunday afternoon, with Jasmine Anderson and Diana Carillo beginning brightly enough with a 21-15 and 21-13 win over Cricel Castillo and Jenny Smedrat.
In Game 2, Blanco and Cadle began their path to victory with a 21-13 and 21-8 blowout win over Tanisha Encalada and Bobbie Lee Usher.
In Game 3, Emma Hoare and Gabriela Jennifer Perez also tasted victory as they handed Anderson and Carillo their first defeat. Anderson and Carillo won the 1st set 22-20, before Hoare and Perez won the next 2 sets 21-15 and 15-6.
In Game 4, Tanisha Encalada and Bobbie Lee Usher bounced back from their first defeat by Blanco and Cadle to give Cricel Castillo and Jenny Smedrat their ticket home: 21-14 and 21-16.
In Game 5 on Monday morning, Blanco and Cadle continued with their winning ways as they handed Hoare and Perez their first defeat: 21-19 and 21-8.
In Game 6 on Monday afternoon, Tanisha Encalada and Bobbie Lee Usher eliminated Anderson and Carillo, winning the first set 21-19. Jasmine and Diana won the 2nd set 21-16, but Tanisha and Bobbie Lee won the 3rd set: 15-13.
In Game 7 of the semifinal, Emma Hoare and Gabriela Jennifer Perez eliminated Tanisha Encalada and Bobbie Lee Usher 22-20 and 21-13 to advance to Monday’s final.
In Game 8, Blanco and Cadle won over Emma Hoare and Gabriela Jennifer Perez: 21-19 and 21-16 to take home the $300 1st prize. Hoare and Perez claimed the $200 2nd prize and Encalada and Usher took home the $100 3rd prize.
The top teams sharpened up their skills in preparation for international events such as the NORCECA Central American championships next year.