SAN SALVADOR, July 3, 2008.- USA advanced to the quarterfinals and eliminated Puerto Rico by winning in four sets the final match of Pool A in the Preliminary Round of the U-21 Norceca Men’s Continental Championship.

The sets finished 22-25, 27-25, 25-18,, 25-22 with a big combined effort of Kyle Caldwell and Murphy Troy who scored 22 points apiece. Tri Bourne added 11.

The match was postponed last night due a downpour that affected the playing venue.

“It has been a tough day, playing last night, today in the morning, and again in the afternoon, but my players have found the necessary strength to give a good match,” said Shawn Patchell, the American coach.

“I am very proud of them, we have faced very strong teams and we have been able to establish our game,” he added.

He said that after the first set, the attack from the corners was organizad and the results could not be better.”

Carlos Rodríguez, the Puerto Rican coach, did no offer any excuses to justify the defeat, but pointed out the absence of Sequiel Sanchez, one of his premier attackers, who is nursing a bad back.

“We could not attack down the middle and USA has a very good blocking and prevented us from establisihing our game,” he said.

The best Puerto Rican scorers were Emanuel Batista with 15 points, and Rafael Negrón and Omar Rivera with 13 apiece.