Puerto Rico opens with win over St. Lucia

GATINEAU, Canada, August 17, 2010 – Jorge Antonio Lopes and Ricardo Archilla scored 11 points each to lead Puerto Rico to a 25-10, 25-13, 25-10 victory over St. Lucia to open the NORCECA men’s junior volleyball tournament. Julian Bissette led the St.Lucia offence with six points.

“We played good but still we need to work on technical aspects of the game,” said Puerto Rico’s coach Ramon Lawrence.  “But generally we played well.”

“It was good first match for us, many of us are inexperienced internationally,” said Puerto Rico team captain Ramon Burgos.  “They can see what we are going to face in the next games and we have to continue improving.  We want to win this tournament.”

For St.Lucia it was their first ever match at this tournament and head coach Elvin Ryan Germain was proud of his team.

“I’m happy with how we played,” said Germain.  “There are some elements we need to work on but we played with a lot of positive energy and we look at this as a great experience because this is another level for us and we hope we can get to that level soon.”

“It was just great to go up against a team that plays at that level and intensity” said St.Lucia team captain Gillan Octave. “Win or lose there is no disappointment, I’m very proud how our team played.  We gave everything we had.”