Canada beats Costa Rica to advance to the quarterfinals

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras. August 28, 2018 - Canada claimed its first triumph at the Norceca Under-18 Women's Volleyball Championship by winning 3-0 (25-17, 25-14, 25-13) over Costa Rica, placing it in third place in group A.

With this result Canada advanced to the quarterfinals, where they will face the second place of group B, which will be defined between the United States and Honduras.

The Canadian Katarina Pantovic scored 15 points, her best production in three games, while Ana Cortes scored 7 for the Costa Ricans. Canada was superior in attack 42-13, as well as blocking 6-2 and in serves 8-2, in addition of taking advantage of the 27 points by errors of their opponents, to only 19 committed.

Hannah Duchesneau, captain of Canada said that "it was something very good that all the girls could play, we are in an international tournament, in an international venue and that is very motivating for all. I'm very happy that we all had a chance", referring to the fact that all the players on his team were in the court.

Dale Melnick: coach of Canada: "We had enough confidence that will strengthen us for tomorrow's game. We improved a lot in the k-1, the first balls we managed to finish in attack moves. Costa Rica was a great team, played very well, but we improved the serve and that helped us."

On the rotation of players, Melnick said that "all our players are very strong, powerful, and ready to enter as the starters .... These games help us determine the best ones for the next games. At the beginning we did not have much confidence, we were afraid, we did not play our game, we shared that trust between them".

Pamela Padilla, captain of Costa Rica: "We are not very convinced of having played a good game because we believe we could give more to Canada. Other games are coming in which we are going to show that we can play better”.

"Our group was very strong, they are the strongest NORCECA teams, but tomorrow in the new phase we hope to show more".

Sandra Umaña: "The truth I expected a little more of our players, but we fall into many errors of  lack of concentration, that goes hand in hand with the inexperience of many of the girls that is the first time. It is part of the growth of each of them. It is the strongest group, but we come to win, maybe not on the scoreboard, but in experience that each one of them takes".