Dominicans move into Barranquilla Semifinals beating Mexico

BARRANQUILLA, Colombia, July 22, 2018.- Dominican Republic moved into semifinals of the women’s volleyball tournament of the 2018 XXIII Central American and Caribbean Games, after beating Mexico 3-1 (22-25, 25-16, 25-19, 25-17) at Humberto Perea Colliseum.

Defending champion Dominican Republic secured their ticket to the semifinals as top place in pool A and 3-0 win-loss record. Mexico, second placed, will play against Trinidad and Tobago in quarterfinals.

Mexico won the first set recovering from a seven point deficit (3-10) with dominant serves and solid blocks. Dominican Republic won set two easily and thereon controlled the actions better.

Dominicans prevailed in spikes with 48-39 margin and Mexicans held advantage in serves by 4-2. Both scored 11 points on blocking and Dominican Republic benefited from 36 opponent errors, committing 23 of their own.

Wing spiker Yonkaira Peña of Dominican Republic scored 15 points, on 12 kills, 2 blocks and one ace, and Brayelin Martinez also chipped in with 12 points in her team’s victory. Samantha Bricio of Mexico scored a match-high of 17 points, Andrea Rangel contributed with 14 points and 14 points y Melanie Parra added 10 points.

Yonkaira Peña said “Mexico began playing very well and we lacked concentration. We were able to focus and with team effort the next sets. We were patient, so we developed our game plan, controlling Mexico’s strongest performers. We are ready for the next match and we hope to defend our title”.

Brazilian Marcos Kwiek, head coach of Dominican Republic said his team lost its usual calmness in set one “I don’t call it lack of concentration, they weren’t calm at the beginning and we lost a comfortable margin one intense rotation and our reception was off balance. We did the necessary adjustments and we performed more appeased. It is always nice to win, even if it’s not at our accustomed level; winning the ticket to semifinals is important”.

Mexico’s captain Andrea Rangel said “we began very well, but Dominican Republic’s experience and international level was a lot for us. It was a good match, we are in the next round and we continue to battle to reach the semifinal and our objective of winning a medal; we are in good shape”.

Head coach of Mexico, Cuban Ricardo Naranjo indicated that against highly competitive teams like this you need to be flawless “our margin in errors has to be less; we missed many serves and they strategically blocked our strongest players. We couldn’t score in the middle and that way open our side out. We fought strong up to point 16 in every set and that means we can execute. For tomorrow we need to put pressure with our serves, Trinidad is very tall and strong, so we need to weaken them with offense serves”.