Four teams from NORCECA advance into the second round

NAGOYA AND OSAKA, Japan, October 6, 2018 – Defending world champions United States lead four team from NORCECA Confederation going into the second round of the 2018 FIVB Women’s World Championship to be played in the cities of Nagoya and Osaka.

The second round will consist of four legs over the period from October 7 through 11.

Pool E in Nagoya of the next stage will feature the teams of the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Mexico alongside Brazil, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands and Serbia.

The team of United States will play in Pool F in Osaka with Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, China, Italy, Russia, Thailand and Turkey.

The USA team debuts against Bulgaria, the Dominican Republic goes against Japan, Puerto Rico meets The Netherlands while Mexico challenges Serbia.

The United States topped Pool C of the first round with a 5-0 record capped by a five-set victory over Russia. Playing in Kobe, the Americans previously scored victories over Trinidad & Tobago, Korea, Thailand and Azerbaijan. Kelly Murphy and Foluke Akinradewo were their most consistent performers.

The Dominicans lost their first two matches in Hamamatsu against Serbia and Brazil before recovering to score straight-set victories over Kazakhstan, Puerto Rico and Kenya claiming third place in Pool D behind an outstanding performance by Yonkaira Peña.

The Puerto Ricans registered victories over Kazakhstan and Kenya and made it to the second phase with a 2-3 mark thanks to the goof job of a core of players led by Daly Santana.

Mexico qualified despite their 1-4 record in Pool A thanks to a better set-ratio than Argentina and Cameroon. Andrea Rangel and Samantha Bricio stood out for the Mexicans.

The teams from Canada (1-4), Cuba (0-5) and world championship debutants Trinidad & Tobago (0-5) were left out after a valiant participation.