USA earns two medals at NORCECA Ochos Rios

MEN’S RESULTS | WOMEN’S RESULTS

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – In the third tournament of the 2017 NORCECA Continental Tour, the United States earned a silver and bronze medal from the beaches in Ochos Rios, Jamaica.

Bill Kolinske and Miles Evans earned a silver medal after going 4-2 during the week. Karissa Cook and Katie Spieler earned bronze in their first international tournament together. The two other U.S. teams at the event tied for fifth, respectively: Jace Pardon/Lara Dykstra and Jon Mesko/Skylar Del Sol.

Bill Kolinske returned to the podium for the second time in 2017, this time improving to a second-place finish with partner Miles Evans. The pair were 2-1 after pool play and earned a victory in the quarterfinals 2-1 against Guatemala. In the semis, the two beat Canada’s Aaron Nusbaum/Josh Binstock, 14-21, 22-20, 21-12. They were halted from their run during the gold medal match, by Cuba’s Karell Pina/Daisel Quesada, who won 21-13, 22-20, the third gold for the Cubans this year.

USA’s top women’s finishers, Cook/Spieler, won their pool 3-0 before winning their quarterfinal against Guatemala and falling to Cuba in two during the semifinals. In the bronze medal match, USA topped Canada’s Helene Rancourt/Sarah Meunier-Bedard, 21-18, 21-13. It was the Cook’s international debut and second career NORCECA medal for Spieler.

All four of the United States’ teams earned a spot in the winner’s bracket quarterfinals, but Mesko/Del Sol and Pardon/Dykstra both suffered defeats during the round. In the consolation semifinals, Mesko/Del Sol used a victory to Mexico due to injury and then beat Canada to finish fifth. Pardon and Dykstra defeated Puerto Rico and Mexico for fifth place.

The U.S. has five medals on the NORCECA Tour this season, three women’s and two men’s.

Winner of the women’s gold was 2017 USC graduate Sophie Bukovec of Canada, with her partner Jamie Broder.

RESULTS
Women | Ochos Rios | June 23-25
1. Jamie Broder/Sophie Bukovec, CAN
2. Lianma Flores/Yanisleidis Sanchez, CUB
3. Karissa Cook/Katie Spieler
5. Jace Pardon/Lara Dykstra

Men | Ochos Rios | June 23-25
1. Karell Pina/Daisel Quesada, CUB
2. Miles Evans/Bill Kolinske
3. Aaron Nusbaum/Josh Binstock, CAN
5. Jon Mesko/Skylar Del Sol

Women | Playoff #2, May 16
1. Betsi Flint/Kelley Larsen
2. Katie Spieler/Karissa Cook
3. Lara Dykstra/Jace Pardon

Men | Playoff #2, May 16
1. Billy Allen/Stafford Slick
2. Bill Kolinske/Miles Evans
3. Mark Burik/Avery Drost

Women | Cayman Islands | April 21-23
1. Lidiannis Echeverria/Leila Martinez, CUB
2. Jace Pardon/Lara Dykstra
3. Jamie Broder/Caleigh Whitaker, CAN
4. Betsi Flint/Kelley Larsen

Men | Cayman Islands | April 21-23
1. Karell Pina/Daisel Quesada, CUB
2. Maverick Hatch/Garrett May, CAN
3. Mark Burik/Bill Kolinske
9. Jon Mesko/Skylar Del Sol

Women | La Paz | April 7-9
1. Lidiannis Echeverria/Leila Martinez, CUB
2. Heather Bansley/Brandie Wilkerson, CAN
3. Betsi Flint/Kelley Larsen
6. Brittany Hochevar/Emily Day

Men | La Paz | April 7-9
1. Karell Pina/Daisel Quesada, CUB
2. Juan Virgen/Lombardo Ontiveros, MEX
3. Josue Gaxiola/Jose Rubio, MEX
4. Jon Mesko/Skylar Del Sol
9. Stafford Slick/Reid Priddy

Women | Playoff #1 | March 22
1. Betsi Flint/Kelley Larsen
2. Brittany Hochevar/Emily Day
3. Lara Dykstra/Jace Pardon

Men | Playoff #1 | March 22
1. Casey Patterson/Theo Brunner
2. Jon Mesko/Skylar Del Sol
3. Stafford Slick/Reid Priddy