by Ian Marshall, Editor

The one group where the concluding fixture determined first position was that involving Canada, the no.4 seeds and the Dominican Republic.

Canada represented by Ivy Liao, Joyce Xu and Isabelle Xiong, had recorded three-one wins against Peru and El Salvador; outcomes that had also been secured by the Dominican Republic’s Dayhana Rojas, Esmerlyn Castro and Estefany Rodriguez. In the final contest in the group with Benita Zhou preferred to Isabelle Xiong and no changes to the Dominican Republic line-up, a three-nil Canadian win was recorded.

El Salvador who fielded Monica Mendoza, Keren Constanza and Lesly Gonzalez throughout, finished in third place ahead of Peru who selected from Alessandra Cisneros, Gianella Huapaya, Claudia Flores Suarez and Lucciana Cisneros.

An impressive performance from Canada; for the United States and Brazil it was very much the same scenario, for Puerto Rico, life was more testing.

Represented by Amy Wang, Crystal Wang and Rachel Sung, the United States recorded a three-nil success against Mexico’s Monica Muñoz, Nathalie Perez and Dulce Izeta Rivera; before with Rachel Yang replacing Rachel Sung in the line-up, the same margin of victory was secured against Ecuador’s Emely Quinllin, Nataly Paredes and Viviam Ruiz.

Similarly Brazil, with Bruna Takahashi, Tamyres Fukase and Fernanda Kodama in action, beat Chile’s Claudia Infante, Macarena Montecino and Natalia Ramos by three matches to nil, prior posting a three-one success in opposition to Guatemala’s Mercedes Mendizabel, Lucia Cordero and Hidalynn Zapata; a contest in which Livia Lima was preferred to Fernanda Kodama.

Life without drama, for Puerto Rico, life was more demanding; in their opening contest they were extended the full five match distance by Argentina.

Backbone of the victory was Adriana Diaz. She accounted for both Camila Kaizoji (11-8, 11-6, 11-7) and in the decisive fifth match of the fixture Isabelle Fragapane (11-5, 11-9, 11-6). The one remaining success for the Caribbean island was secured by Mileysha Sanchez; in the third contest of the engagement, she overcame Muriel Rajmil (11-5, 11-2, 11-3).

A tough test for Puerto Rico; in the concluding engagement, life was less dramatic. Kassandra Maldonado replaced Fabiola Diaz in the line-up, a three-nil win being achieved against Paraguay’s Leyla Gomez, Cielo Mutti and Karimi Apud.

Ecuador, Paraguay and Guatemala duly finished in second positions and thus advanced to the main draw.

The Junior Girls’ Team event concludes on Thursday 12th July.