United States to the final and the U18 World Cup to beat Dominican Republic

Tegucigalpa, Honduras. August 31, 2018. The United States took the second ticket to the U18 world championship in Egypt by winning 3-0 (25-12, 20-17, 25-17) to the Dominican Republic, and advanced to the NORCECA Continental Championship final. U18 female where she will face Canada.

The United States team did not allow the Dominican to show the best of their game, taking advantage from the first set, which could not overcome the Caribbean team that was overcome in attack 38-16, block 16-5 and 4- service 0, and committed 21 unforced errors, for 25.

The United States has been in the previous 10 finals, winning seven titles since 1998, six consecutive between 2002 and 2012, while Dominican won the last two finals played against USA.

Jessica Mruzik with 14 points and 13 from Emily Londot were the best in the United States, while the Dominican Republic had only six points from Flormarie Heredia.

Allison Jacobs, captain of the United States: "I can not say how I feel, it's something from another world. Ww were not intimidated by the Dominican Republic, we knew it was a good team, but we were more focused on what we would do as a team, play our game, without thinking about the opposite ".

"The pass was very good, the reception also, that improved a lot since the start of the tournament. Although we had not trained much time together, now we see ourselves as a team that has been known for a long time and that is important ".

James Stone, coach of the United States: "It was not an easy match. The Dominican Republic is a very good one, but also the girls held the blockade well, we served well and got the ball as we wanted, but it was not an easy game; I have a good team and I am proud of them. "

"The plan was to qualify for the World Cup, it will not be easy tomorrow against Canada, but we will play to win, that is what we have to do, we will look for how to finish the tournament well".

Geraldine González, captain of the Dominican Republic: "I feel very bad, because even though the United States is a potency, we had to be in the final. We have always given everything, we risk a lot, I thought we would be in the final, but these are lessons that God gives. I am very proud of my team, we reached the semifinals and I feel happy about that".

Alexandre Ceccato, coach of Dominican: "First I have to congratulate the United States, they played a great game. His serve and his blocking is very difficult, they marked our team better, now we have to go to fight for the bronze medal in another match that will not be easy against Cuba. "

"The United States was better in the basics, a team that had not played a difficult game, today it prepared better and won."

The United States will face Canada for the NORCECA U18 gold medal at 8:00 p.m. in Gym # 2 Jorge Galeano, of the Olympic Village of Tegucigalpa.