Dominicans overcame shaky start to get second win

COLORADO SPRINGS, USA, August 23, 2019 – The Dominican Republic’s women quickly got over a first-set loss to beat Canada, 24-26, 25-23, 25-13, 25-20 on Friday at the NORCECA Champions Cup at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center.

Dominican Republic had four players score in double figures led by Yonkaira Pena Isabel with 18 points on 16 kills, one block and one ace. Erasma Moreno added 15 points.

Canada had three players in double figures led by Kiera Van Ryk, who led all scorers with 25 points on 23 kills, two blocks and one ace.

Dominican Republic led in kills (65-55) and aces (5-4) and scored 25 points on Canada errors while committing 15. Canada led in blocks (8-4).

Dominican captain Niverka Marte: “I feel great. We started a little bit low but I’m happy our team is growing, step by step, it’s important for us. Everybody played their part.”

Dominican coach Marcos Kwiek: “We started a little slow because we needed to study our opponent more. Once we got used to them, and power served, we were doing good serves, then we were able to set up our attack.”

On tomorrow’s matchup with the U.S.

“Right now, we’re still focusing on Canada, even though we won. Now we’re going to start breathing and thinking about USA. We need to study.”

Canada coach Shannon Winzer: “The first set was pretty good, and to be honest, the second set where we lost narrowly was pretty good volleyball as well. It was much better than last night. Then we sort of hit a road block and we stopped playing. We got a little bit flat, lost some momentum and that was it.

“I think Dominican stepped it up. I think when they sub on number 23 (Gaila González)…they did that last night as well [against Puerto Rico], she’s kind of a gamechanger for them. She uses the block really well, and it’s so hard to play against a hitter who challenges the block that well and scores consistently against the block. Having said that, we just kind of stopped having that fight. I don’t think it was because of the second set. I’m not sure why. I’m interested to have a debrief with the team to see how they felt going into that third and then fourth set.”