Colombia claim first ticket ever to Grand Prix

PACHUCA, Mexico, June 17, 2014 – Colombia stunned Peru 3-0 (25-21, 25-23, 25-20) to secure a spot in next year’s FIVB World Grand Prix for the first time ever and will play for the seventh position at the XIII Women’s Volleyball Pan American Cup at Carlos Martinez Balmori Multisport Hall of Autonomous State University of Hidalgo.

In a contest that opens the history of head to head  matches between the two South Americans, the Colombians were more effective in attacks and serves with a good offense by Yeisy Soto, who had a match/high 14 points, followed by Amanda Coneo (13) and María Margarita Martínez (12).

For the defeated side, Angela Leyva (12) and Clarivett Yllescas (11) finished with double figures in the scores.

In the two participations of Colombia in the cup, they had finished eleventh (2012) and ninth (2013, while Peru had eight tournaments with a silver medal in 2010 but an eighth place in 2013.

Brazilian Mauro Marasciulo, coach of Colombia, expressed his satisfaction after the first ever victory of Colombia over Peru in an international senior tournament.

“The Federation is making a sacrifice and a great work to develop the girls who last year qualified to the U-20 world championship and now to the Grand Prix. The future is in their hands.”

An elated Maria Alejandra Marin, captain of Colombia, said: “We are happy because to win the right to go to the Grand Prix is something unprecedented for us. We know Peru is a tough rival and we were studying them and got the win.”’

Natalia Malaga, coach of Peru: “The satisfaction is for the team with the best result and Peru didn’t play in spite of being the team with the higher level. But unfortunately, putting aside the technical part, my players didn’t show the personal part and their attitude was bad, something that disappointed me.”

Karla Ortiz, the captain, lamented the poor showing of their team today. “We didn’t do anything of the field and the results are there.”