Canada Starts the NORCECA U19 Girls’ Championship with a Victory Over Puerto Rico

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras, July 14, 2024. - Canada started the NORCECA U19 Girls’ Continental Championship with a 3-0 victory (25-22, 25-15, 25-21) over Puerto Rico in pool A at Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

Canada controlled every skill of the game,  attacks (34-26), blocks (7-3), and service points (8-3). Both teams gave away 26 points on unforced errors.

Two Canadian players scored double digits, opposite hitter Sydney Bell with 13 points on 8 attacks, 3 blocks, and 2 service points, and outside hitter Sol Henson with 11 points on 10 attacks and on service point.

Outside hitters Cherisse Atilano and Pamela Agosto led Puerto Rico with 9 and 8 points, respectively.

On Monday, Puerto Rico will face Cuba at 4:00 PM, and Canada will play against the United States at 6:00 PM.

The first set was very close, with both teams sharing the lead until they were tied at 22 points. Canada managed to pull ahead thanks to two errors by Puerto Rico and an attack point by opposite hitter Sydney Bell. Canada looked more comfortable in the second set, benefiting from 9 errors by Puerto Rico, in addition to the offense from Bell and Sol Henson. Canada lost four set points before celebrating the straight-set victory when Puerto Rico's setter Daniella González came to the service line.

Avaya Maga, captain of Canada: “For a lot of us it’s our first international tournament, so getting into the competition and our style of plan took some time in the first set. In the second and third sets we capitalized on our game plan. We stayed aggressive the whole match. Credit to Puerto Rico for serving tough in the last points and got us stuck in that rotation”.

Alana Guibert, captain of Puerto Rico: “I think we lacked defense and communication. There are several players on the team who lack experience, and there was a bit of desperation. We put up a good fight at the end. We will do better in the next match.”