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HAVANA, Cuba, March 19, 2015 – Cuba easily dominated Costa Rica
25-2, 25-6, 25-11, to win Pool B and claim the last available
ticket to the world championship on the final day of the
preliminary phase of the III U18 Girls’ Pan American Volleyball
Cup.
In 53 minutes, the host team sealed the victory in the unique
match of today’s calendar which ended in three sets where the
outside hitter Dairis Pérez (15) and the middle blocker Aliama
Cese (10) had a double-digit tally. On the visiting team, the
opposite player Allison Font scored 8 of the 19 points tallied
by her side.
Tomás Fernández, local coach, touched, expressed that “we are
already in the world championship. The objective has been
accomplished. Hopefully the girls will continue focused and will
move forward to the podium. Today we tried to get the most from
our rival. We gifted the service to make them do the transition
to our side to train the counterattack as well as educate them
not to make errors.”
The captain, Aidachi Aguero, enjoyed doubly the triumph and the
qualification as it was her 16th birthday. She passed
on the joy of the whole team. “We are pretty happy. It is the
fruit of 15 months making a great effort when training and of
the sacrifice both of the team members and coaches. Now we will
do our best in semi-finals and for the title of the Cup.”
Andrés López, young coach of Costa Rica, recognized that “the
rivals treated us well. The placed the ball to make us play, but
we were not able to. There are girls on their nerves even after
the match. However what matters is that they tried to overcome
the adversity. It was not possible, but it was a teaching. We
congratulate Cuba for the quota to the U18 WCH and the excellent
organization of this event. We all have gotten a nice
impression.”
Mariana Rodríguez, their captain, highlighted the top-level of
the tournament and added that “we came to learn and do our
utmost. However we did not do our best. It was reflected on the
teamwork. Nevertheless the event has been an unbelievable
experience both in sports and in the wealth of history of Cuba
we have had the chance to learn.”
Pool A:
1.-Dominican Republic (3-0)
2.-Argentina (1-2)
3.-Peru (1-2)
4.-Mexico (1-2)
Pool B:
1.-Cuba (3-0)
2.-Puerto Rico (2-1)
3.-Chile (1-2)
4.-Costa Rica (0-3)
Quarter-finals:
Friday, March 20
Puerto Rico vs. Peru (14:30)
Argentina vs. Chile (16:30)
Qualified to Semi-finals:
Dominican Republic and Cuba |
