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LA PAZ, Baja California, June 12, 2022.-
Cuba finished the Women’s U21 Pan American Cup
in fifth place beating Puerto Rico 3-2 (17-25,
25-15, 25-13, 18-25, 15-11) on Sunday at La Paz
Arena in Baja California Sur.
Cuba concluded the event with a 3-1 record and
Puerto Rico with 1-3 for fifth and sixth
position. Cuba also beat Puerto Rico in
pool-play but in four sets.
The Cuban team prevailed 60-56 in attacks, 8-7
in blocks and 6-4 in serves. Cuba committed 22
unforced errors and Puerto Rico 26.
Cuban Outside hitter Hhitney James scored a
match-high of 26 points on 22 kills, 2 blocks
and 2 aces, followed by outside hitter Claudia
Tarin and middle blocker Lisania Grafort with 15
and 14 points respectively.
Outside hitter and team captain Valeria Flores
led Puerto Rico with 21 points on 20 kills and
one block, joined by middle blocker Mileidy
Paret with 20 points on 16 kills, one block and
3 aces; and middle blocker Marcelle Baez added
10 points.
Rogelio Goytizolo, Head Coach of Cuba:
“After losing the opportunity to qualify to
finals, our athletes weren’t in their best shape;
they went on improving during the match. Puerto
Rico was highly motivated; we had some
deficiencies in blocking and defense despite
winning”.
José Rivera, Head Coach of Puerto Rico:
“We are glad, we gave our all. After winning the
first set we were expecting their reaction, it
was the same as in the past match. We told the
players not to settle for only one set and keep
pressing. We must continue working in the
fundamentals of the game, we did well in
blocking and offensively we were present”. |
