Canada downs Costa Rica in second win at NORCECA

 

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, October 9, 2019.- Canada downed Costa Rica 3-0 (25-20, 25-8, 25-13) in their second win in pool A at the NORCECA Women’s Continental Championship at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

 

Canada with 2-0 win-loss record resumes the preliminary round against host Puerto Rico; the winner advances directly to semifinals and automatically wins a ticket to the NORCECA final four Olympic qualifier in January.  Costa Rica finishes pool A facing Cuba.

 

Despite Costa Rica’s good efforts in defense, Canada won on a sizeable 38-16 advantage in attacks, 6-2 in blocks and with strength in serve with 13-4 margin. Canada committed on more error than Costa Rica (19-18).

 

Outside hitter Kyla Richey led Canada scoring 7 aces from her 15 points, middle blocker Alicia Perrin and outside hitter Hilary Howe contributed with 11 and 10 points accordingly. Outside hitter Tamara Espinoza scored 12 points for Costa Rica.

 

Kyla Richey, captain of Canada: “Today’s performance had a little bit of ups and downs, using a new line-up and trying to get our rhythm. Costa Rica battled and had a good defense but we were able to win on the serving line. We are really excited to play Puerto Rico tomorrow because the winner for sure is going to the Olympic qualifier; so it’s going to be a big match and we hope pick up our game. Canada is looking to expose their different strength using several variations, that’s why I didn’t play yesterday”.

 

Benjamin Josephson, Head Coach of Canada: “Mission accomplished today, we got a lot of good work done and improved ourselves; play some players that didn’t perform yesterday. Tomorrow is going to be a tough match, Puerto Rico is a great team, they are a passionate team, with great energy and I hope that brings out the best in us”.

 

Eugenia Ramirez, captain of Costa Rica: “We are satisfied with the first set because yesterday against Puerto Rico we struggled in reception with their serves and today we were better. In the second set again we had deficiencies in our reception but we adjusted well in the end. Today we did better than yesterday and our objective is to go on growing during the tournament. Tomorrow we hope our offense in serves is stronger against Cuba to try to compensate our height and have more opportunities”.