Cuba blanked Guatemala on day two at U18 Pan Am Cup

Cuba blanked Guatemala on day two at U18 Pan Am Cup

DURANGO, Mexico, May 22, 2109. - Cuba blanked Guatemala 3-0 (25-11, 25-12, 25-19) to improve 2-0 in pool B at the U18 Girls’ Pan American Cup at Auditorio del Pueblo of Durango, Mexico.

Cuba’s physical attributes was responsible in holding off Guatemala’s improvement in set three and keeping their unbeaten record. Cuba is battling for one of the two tickets available to the FIVB World Championship.

Both teams committed the same amount of unforced errors (25), but Cuba finished with huge margins in every category: 31-14 advantage in attacks, 10-2 in blocks and 9-1 in service points.

Cuban Dezirett Madan was the only player with double-figures, scoring 13 points including 10 kills and 2 blocks, middle blocker Dayana Martinez registered 9 points and Claudia Tarin added 7. On Guatemala’s side, Laura Cortéz, Frida Chavarría and Jimena Castellanos tallied 4 points apiece for Guatemala.

Cuba (2-0) resumes pool-play against Puerto Rico (1-0) and Guatemala (0-2) will face Peru (0-1).

Cuba’s captain Thalia Moreno hasn’t seen action due to a shoulder injury and according to profesor Jaime Luis Echevarria, they have been using a different system “we’ve had this in mind as a variation or tactic if required to do so. I am glad for the win but not satisfied, they should play strong always, no matter whom the opponent is; I demand a lot and they must learn to play with energy always. There too many errors, that must be minimized if we want the championship”.

Setter Yaimaris García of Cuba said “I consider myself a leader because of my compatibility and fighting spirit to push my team forward. This was a preparation match because our opponent was inferior, we could have done more”.

Frida Chavarría of Guatemala said their attitude improved “compared to yesterday, we were more cheerful, our serves were more stable and we had better technique. We never put our head down and we were able to get closer at the end. Our short height doesn´t help us, but we defend with everything we have”.