January ^6th, 2019

Victoriá selected as MVP of Qualifier

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, January 6, 2019 - Pilar Marie Victoriá was chosen as the Most Valuable Player of the Qualification Tournament for the Pan American Games of Lima after the selection of Puerto Rico won the ticket to the continental event. Victoria was one of the offensive leaders of Puerto Rico during the three days of competition. The outside hitter was also chosen as one of the two Best Attackers. Other Puerto Ricans selected were Neira Ortiz (Best Blocker), Karina Ocasio (Best Receiver), Wilmarie Rivera (Best Server), Natalia Valentín (Best Setter) and Valeria Léon (Best Líbero). The other prizes were won by Trinidad & Tobago with Channon Thompson as Best Scorer and second best attacker, Afiya Alexander, second best blocker; Afeya Orton, best digger  Krystle Esdelle, better opposite. The award ceremony was led by the President of NORCECA, Cristóbal Marte, Dr. César Trabanco, President of the Puerto Rican Volleyball Federation and Carlos J. Beltrán, competition director of the event.  More  Español 

January ^6th, 2019

Puerto Rico claims last ticket to Lima

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico January 6, 2019 - Puerto Rico qualified to the Pan American Games, Lima 2019 after beating Trinidad & Tobago in consecutive sets 3-0 (25-16, 25-13, 25-16) in the final match of the Qualifying Tournament. With the triumph Puerto Rico completes the participant field in the hemispheric competition that will be played next August, joining the United States, the Dominican Republic, Canada, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina and Peru in the women's volleyball tournament of the Lima Games. Once again, Puerto Rico showed its superiority against the tournament rivals by dominating again in attacks 37-25, blocking 8-0 and direct services 5-3. The setters of Puerto Rico, Natalia Valentin and Wilmarie Rivera distributed very effectively the offensive of the local squad. The national team had Ana Sofía Jusino with 11 points (6 in attacks, 3 blocks and 2 aces), Pilar Marie Victoriá scored 10 points, Paulina Prieto and Neira Ortiz contributed nine points each. Kryste Esdelle with 13 points was the best for Trinidad & Tobago. More  Español 

January ^6th, 2019

Nicaragua wins duel against Guatemala

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, January 6, 2019 – Nicaragua defeated Guatemala 3-1 (23-25, 25-17, 25-20, 25-21) in a match between winless teams in the NORCECA Final Four Qualification Tournament to the Pan American Games Lima 2019. Earlier on Sunday, Puerto Rico claimed the last ticket available to the women’s volleyball tournament of Lima Games. Josafat Diaz led Nicaragua with 22 points while Hellen Traña added 15 in the victory. Paola Alvarado and Ada Villalobos had 12 and 10, respectively, for Guatemala. Nicaragua led in all the scoring fundaments 40-30 in attacks, 9-3 in blocks and 15-5 in aces, including five by Diaz. More  Español 

January ^5th, 2019

TTO improves to 2-0 in Pan Am Qualifier

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, January 5, 2019 - Trinidad & Tobago faced some resistance from Nicaragua, but in the end they won 3-0 for their second triumph of the Pan American Games Qualifying Tournament. The scores in the triumph of the Caribbean were 25-16, 25-19, 25-14. For the coach of Trinidad & Tobago, Nicholson Drakes, the inconsistency was present in the second set, "I think we have lowered the intensity a bit and started to have problems in the reception and in our defense. But we managed to stabilize for the third set." Channon Thompson returned to lead the offensive with 22 points, Krystle Esdelle got 20 points. For Nicaragua, Hellen Tranas had 12 points.  More  Español 

January ^5th, 2019

Second victory of Puerto Rico in Qualifier to Lima

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, January 5, 2019 - Puerto Rico needed just 60 minutes to achieve its second triumph in the Pan American Games Qualifying Tournament, after defeating Guatemala 3-0. The second triumph of the host side at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum came up by scores of 25-8, 25-11, 25-6. Puerto Rico, which used all of its personnel on the field, had a solid control against the Central Americans. In attack they dominated 37-7, 11-0 in blocking and 13-1 in direct services. "I am happy because I could rotate different players and see some that are new in the program, worked different areas of the game and prepared for tomorrow's game with the goal of achieving the classification to the Pan American Games," said José Mieles, coach of the national team of Puerto Rico. For the coach of Guatemala, David Aldana the speed and strength demonstrated the superiority of his opponent, "They were faster and stronger. Also their stature makes them superior.  More  Español 

January ^4th, 2019

Trinidad & Tobago defeats Guatemala in four sets

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, January 4, 2019 – Trinidad & Tobago showed consistency in the serve and blocking that was a key in the 3-1 (25-14, 25-14, 22-25, 25-7) over Guatemala in the closing match of the opening day of the Qualification Tournament to the Pan American Games. The strength of the Trinidadians was evident since the start of the match creating difficulties to the Guatemalans. “Our team made many mistakes in the third set as we lowered our level of intensity”, said Nicholas Drake, the coach of Trinidad & Tobago. “They (Guatemalans) took advantage of that moment.” David Aldana, the coach of Guatemala, celebrated winning the third set. “We have our feet on the earth as we were playing against a team that just finished playing in the world championship. Their serves are very strong and in the third set we were able to establish our reception and won the set.” More  Español 

January ^4th, 2019

Quick victory for Puerto Rico over Nicaragua

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, January 4, 2019 – Puerto Rico controlled the first match of the Qualification Tournament to the Pan American Games by defeating Nicaragua in straight sets 3-0 (25-15, 25-12, 25-7) at Roberto Clemente Coliseum on Friday. Puerto Rico dominates the Nicaraguans with a strong and strategic service game that caused problems to the opponents throughout the whole match. The Puerto Ricans scored 16 aces. After the match, Jose Mieles, the coach of Puerto Rico, commented: “I was able rotate the players, the team worked as it was planned and we got the first victory. The goal is to get the ticket to Lima. Now we will check Guatemala to prepare the plan for tomorrow as we don’t know about them.” “We knew it was going to be a tough match because we know the level of Puerto Rico. We tried hard for the first two sets,” said Rene Quintana, the coach of Nicaragua. Paulina Prieto led Puerto Rico with 13 points, Legna Hernández added 10 and Wilmarie Rivera had 8, including five aces. Hellen Trana had 4 points for Nicaragua. More  Español 

January ^4th, 2019

Coaches comment on their goals for the Pan Am Qualifier

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, January 4, 2019 - The four coaches whose teams participating in the Qualifying Tournament for the Pan American Games, Lima 2019 will seek the goal of reaching the last available berth for the event that will take place in Peru next August. After their respective preliminary interviews, the coaches commented: José Mieles (Puerto Rico) - "The objective is one and only, to get the qualification to the Pan American Games. We will enter with focus to each game, without underestimating our opponents." Rene Quintana (Nicaragua) "We want to be ready to face Guatemala on Sunday. In our last match, they beat us 3-2 and we want that victory." Nikolas Drake (Trinidad & Tobago) "We will seek to play the best level against Puerto Rico to have the option of qualifying for the Pan American Games. More  Español 

December ^10th, 2018

Schedule of Qualifier and Caribbean Series 

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, December 10, 2018 – The Puerto Rican Volleyball Federation and the NORCECA Confederation confirmed the schedule for the Final Four Qualification Tournament to the Pan American Games and the first edition of the Caribbean Series. The events will take place from next January 4 to 6 at Roberto Clemente Coliseum of San Juan. The qualifier tournament will grant a berth to the Pan American Games of Lima 2019 and the Caribbean Series is a bonus agreed by the Puerto Rican Federation and NORCECA as Three Kings’ Day gift to the volleyball fans of Puerto Rico. Three daily matches will be played with Puerto Rico opening the early action of the qualifier and closing the day with the match of the Caribbean Series against the Dominican Republic. “The volleyball fans will have the opportunity to watch their national team during the weekend of the Three Days’ Kings and we expect their support,” said Dr. Cesar Trabanco, president of the Puerto Rican Federation. “We have coordinated with the technical staff in order to have 22 players available and then use different combinations every day.”  More  Español 

November ^15th, 2018

Puerto Rico announces women’s team for qualifier

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, November 15, 2018 – The Puerto Rican Volleyball Federation announced the female team that will represent the island in the last qualifier to the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru. There are just a few changes from the team that participated in the FIVB World Championship in Japan. Seven of the players are currently out of the country and will be reporting at the end of December, it was announced. Those players are Natalia Valentín, Raymariely Santos, Daly Santana, Stephanie Enright, Ana Sofía Jusino, Julymar Otero and Pilar Marie Victoriá.“We have made contact with each one of them in order to coordinate their move to the island,” said Dr. Cesar Trabanco, president of the Puerto Rican Federation. More  Español