Puerto Rico down Peru, reach FIVB WGP

CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico July 19, 2012 — Puerto Rico defeated Peru 3-1 (24-26, 25-15, 25-18, 25-21) at the XI Women’s Pan American Cup and clinched a berth in the FIVB Grand Prix.

Yarimar Rosa tallied 20 points while Amanda Vazquez and Jetzabel del Valle registered 15 apiece. Stephanie Enright finished with 13 and Daly Santana with 10 for Puerto Rico.

Peru also had more than one double digit scorer with Brenda Daniela Uribe who recorded 13, while Clarivet Yllescas and Carla Rueda converted 12 each.

“It was a good win by Puerto Rico, and we had a low performance in the fundamentals like serve and attack, maybe because of the lack of experience, not in my case, but with the younger players,” said Peruvian captain Elena Keldibekova.

“Peru has a young team but with a good future. We made a lot of mistakes in the first set but tried to adjust them in the next ones. We worked hard and now we are happy for qualifying to the Grand Prix and will be ready to face Argentina,” Jetzabel del Valle stated.

For coach Edwin Jimenez, “Puerto Rico showed a great effort in the front and backcourt. We had some losses with players like Patricia Soto, who stayed in Lima; Karla Ortiz, who was hospitalized (when competition began) and now Angela Leyva. It is not an excuse, but I don’t wish any of that to any team”.

Puerto Rico, also with a young roster clinched a berth in the FIVB Grand Prix. “I am happy with the result. Even though I didn’t feel any kind of pressure, there were a lot of critics in Puerto Rico. I am satisfied and in this match the serve strategy was a key against Peru’s setter,” coach David Aleman remarked.