Puerto Rico starts with the right foot

MAYAGUEZ, Puerto Rico, July 18, 2010 – Hosts Puerto Rico downed Nicaragua in straight sets (25-14, 25-16, 25-11) in the last match of day one at the women’s volleyball tournament of the XXI Central American and Caribbean Games.

Aury Cruz led Puerto Rico with 12 points including three aces and two blocks, and Sarai Alvarez, Stephanie Enright and Alexandra Oquendo each recorded 8 points as the winners overcame 30 unforced errors.

“We need to minimize the errors especially in our serves but today our reception was consistent and our offense was good,” Puerto Rican Coach Yarelis Rodriguez said. “Personally I am excited about my first win as coach of our national team and this is the first time I coach before so many people in the stands.”

“Puerto Rico is a team with a lot of experience and also is the host side,” Nicaraguan Coach Rene Quintana said. “I feel content with our performance and our real tournament starts in a couple of days as Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic are supposed to play for the gold medal unless Mexico says something different.”