Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico win at FIVB Grand Prix

GDYNIA, Poland, August 8, 2010 – Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico recorded their first victories in this year’s FIVB World Grand Prix by defeating Germany and Thailand respectively during Sunday’s action. USA, the other NORCECA team taking part in the competition, lost to Poland.

In Gdynia, the Dominicans out dueled Germany in an exhausting five-set battle of 2 hours and 27 minutes by score of 25-19, 22-25, 31-29, 16-25, 19-17 and Poland overcame USA 16-25, 26-24, 25-19, 25-23. Puerto Rico swept Thailand 25-22, 25-23, 25-21 in Chengdu, China. 

Prisilla Rivera, who scored the last two points of Dominican Republic with block and attack, finished the match with 24 points. Gina Mambru and Lisvel Eve contributed with 22 and 14 respectively. German Margarita Kozuch had a match-high 33 points, Maren Brinker charted 19 and Corina Ssuschke and Nadja Schaus each registered 12.

Sarai Alvarez topped Puerto Rico with 16 points and Aury Cruz and Karina Ocasio added 11 and 9 respectively. Amporn Hyapha had 12 for Thailand.

Destiny Hooker led USA with 19 points and Megan Hodge (14), Heather Bown (12), Jordan Larson (12) and Foluke Akiradewo (11) also had double figures. Katarzyna Skowrenko-Dolata led the winners with 21 points.

Dominican Republic travels now to Macau, China to face Brazil, Netherlands and hosts China while Puerto Rico and USA go now to Bangkok, Thailand to play Italy and hosts Thailand.