Day One Action – Saturday, August 8th

Competition got under way today at the TO2015 Parapan Am Sitting Volleyball event with 3 men’s preliminary matches. As part of the Parapan Am Games, the Sitting Volleyball competition is a zonal qualification event for the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games so there is a great deal on the line for teams involved.

The men’s competition comprises 6 teams including the USA, Colombia, Costa Rica, Brazil, Mexico and the host team from Canada. All six teams saw action today. The women’s competition includes 4 teams: Brazil, Cuba, USA and Canada. They will all see action on day two of the competition.

In action today, the USA easily defeated a less experienced team from Colombia in straight sets by scores of 25-17, 25-21 and 25-13. Canada then defeated Costa Rica in straight sets by scores of 25-2, 25-16 and 25-14. In the final match of the day, the Brazilians overpowered their Mexican opponents by scores of 25-9, 25-4 and 25-8. The Brazilians took only 49 minutes to dispose of a scrappy Mexican team.

Crowds for the first day of competition were large and appreciative; especially for the match featuring the Canadian men who dominated a much less experienced team from Costa Rica in front of a supportive home town crowd.

Action continues on Sunday, August 9 with matches as follows:
Men’s – Colombia versus Costa Rica
Women’s – Brazil versus Cuba
Women’s – USA versus Canada
Men’s – Brazil versus Canada
Men’s – USA versus Mexico

Check out some of the photos of the action of the first day at http://flipagram.com/f/aFYQwk3z3i