SALTILLO, Coahuila, July 24, 2008.- In a disputed match match worth of a final, Cuba edged Puerto Rico 3-2 (23-25, 27-29, 25-14, 25-16, 15-10) securing the first place of Pool B in the NORCECA Women’s Junior Volleyball Tournament.

The Puerto Ricans deserved the triumph in the first two sets, due to a better composure on the court with good defense and strong attack, essential to deceive the high blocking of Cuba.

Their opponents, meanwhile, underestimated the good ball control of the Puerto Ricans and their good strategy, that for moments dismantled the Cubans in the middle of the battle, although at the end Cuba took match, taking out the thorn of the losses suffered in the three previous U-20 NORCECA.

So big was the excitement of the Puerto Ricans in the two first legs but they couldn’t resist the duel presented by the Cubans, who with accurate attacks quickly finished the following sets.

Forced to attack in the decisive tie-breaker, the pupils of Joel Olazabal and the veteran Ana Ibis Diaz, attacked with no mercy with their best weapons: strength and blocking against a team that never quit and sold its loss at a high price.

All the regulars of Cuba scored in double figures: Wilma Salas (16), who was a whip from the corners, middle-blocker Gyselle de la Caridad (15), Lilianny Marsillán (14), Yoana Palacio, Dayesi Massó (13) and Egli Sabín (12), evidence of the balanced contributions.

For the Puerto Ricans the best offensive was Leichelie Guzmán (21), while teammate  Stephanie Enright added 19, the only in double digits.

Joel Olázabal, coach od Cuba: “After three tournaments of this type without winning against the Puerto Ricans and to do it now, I can see the need of competition for a junior group and we have a lack of that, the lack of scrimmage and warm-up matches, it is a load they are carrying from the start of each match and is a heavy load.”

Luis Papo García, coach of Puerto Rico: “I expected this match well fought, this team has better fundaments than the previous ones we have beaten, high, with strength, these tow years of training with their coach were very effective, they have a team well disciplined in the blocking, we trusted in our fundaments and ball control, I think we went to the final set playing evenly until point eight, and after that each one could win and deserve the victory.”

Lilianny Marsillán, captain of Cuba: “At the beginning we were over confidente, but we recovered on time and got the victory, now we can’t stop.”

Stephanie Enright, captain of Puerto Rico: “The match was well fought by both teams, but the Cuba team is very tall and play very well, it went to their way but we gave our best, we will continue battling because the tournament is not over yet.”