Puerto Rico wins battle against Colombia

CHICLAYO, Peru, July 07 2019 - The Puerto Rico National Team battled hard to prevail 3-1 (25-21, 26-24, 23-25, 25-20) against Colombia in its debut in the XVIII Pan American Cup, while Colombia lost for the second time.

Stephanie Enright, of Puerto Rico was the best scorer with 22 points, Paulina Prieto with 21 and Ana Sofía Jusino with 15; for Colombia, Amanda Coneo and Dayana Segovia scored 16 points.

Puerto Rico was better in attack 61-51, blocking 10-6 and service 3-2, but the match was very balanced, with Colombia committing 25 errors to 31 of their opponents.

Natalia Valentín, captain of Puerto Rico: "I think the team is gearing up, it's the first game we have all together since the summer, we went from less to more to get the victory, we are super excited and focused on what our goals are in this tournament and in the next two years, both the Olympic Qualifier and the Olympics in Tokyo."

María Alejandra Marín, captain of Colombia: "It was difficult for us to read the game, because Puerto Rico did not play on the first day and we did allowing them to study us. Beyond that we made mistakes that we were not committing, but we must think about what is coming, correct what we have done wrong, because this tournament is very long and there is revenge".

José Mieles, coach of Puerto Rico, I'm happy, start a tournament with a victory and more when we had not been able to win in Colombia in the last two years. I think the girls needed this victory, so it's a good start. Sometimes they were desperate to close the set, not go in the point to point, but I think we did very well in the key moments of the game."

Antonio Rizola, coach of Colombia: "In the first two sets we were ahead 2-3 points and in the details we were wrong in the final moments of the set. This is because of the inexperience of the team. We are suffering the injury of two players, we have two players of 19 years and one of 17".

Puerto Rico will face Trinidad and Tobago at 4:00 p.m. this Monday, while Colombia has rest day.