Colombia claims last ticket to Lima

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, July 14, 2018 – Colombia outdueled Puerto Rico in a mouth-watering five-setter 3-2 (25-15, 22-25, 21-25, 25-21, 15-12) to claim the last ticket available at the Pan American Cup to next year’s tournament of the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru.

Amanda Coneo and Dayana Segovia scored 24 and 20 points, respectively, as the leaders of Colombia while Melissa Rangel and María Margarita Martínez added 16 and 14.

Daly Santana led all the players in the match with 29 points in the losing effort, followed by Pilar Marie Victoria with 19 and Noami Santos with 13.

Colombia outblocked Puerto Rico 15-8 and held slight advantages in service winners 6-5 and attacks 66-62.

Maria Marin, captain of Colombia: We showed great attitude and it was a battle point after point. Our team stayed united battling for that ticket to the Pan Am Games.

Daly Santana, player of Puerto Rico: That’s volleyball. It was a good fight. Now we need to keep working to raise our level.

Antonio Rizola, coach of Colombia: We have improved our technical quality and now we need to improve in attitude. Today was a good example of progress winning this match after trailing 1-2. Now we need to prepare for Barranquilla.

Javier Gaspar, coach of Puerto Rico: The difference was that in the fourth and fifth set we had to come from behind and that’s very difficult against a team like Colombia who plays the side out so well. At the end Colombia executed and we didn’t.