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MEXICALI, Baja California, June 6, 2008.- The
Dominican Republic advanced to the gold medal
match of the Women’s Pan American Cup following
their 3-1 victory over Puerto Rico by score of
18-25, 25-19, 25-22, 25-17.
With their victory, the Dominicans kept alive
their streak of podiums in the seven editions of
the event. They will meet Brazil in the final
match on Saturday.
Bethania de la Cruz had 19 points leading four
Dominicans in double digits. Milagros Cabral had
13 and Cindy Rondon and Sidarka Nunez each had 11.
Sarai Alvarez and Sheila Ocasio had 11 and 10
respectively for Puerto Rico.
“Our serves gave us the victory in the first set
but even maintaining the effectiveness we could
not stop the Dominican offense,” said Juan Carlos
Nunez, the Puerto Rican coach. “Also one of our
main weapons, Karina Ocasio, is nursing a tired
shoulder product of so many matches in the past
few weeks.”
“It was very tough for us to control the serves of
Puerto Rico in the first set, but finally our
power was the difference,” said Beato Miguel Cruz.
“The important thing is that we won and kept alive
our streak of finishing among the top three.”
“After the first set we were without offense and
the blocking of Dominican Republic improved a
lot,” said Puerto Rican Vilmarie Mojica.
“The improvement of our blocking was the
difference,” said Dominican Cosiri Rodriguez.
“They play better fundamental volleyball than us,
but our strength at the net was too much.”
The serves of Aury Cruz combined with the spikes
of Sarai Alvarez plus the defense at the net
proved to be the difference in favour of Puerto
Rico in the first set.
The Dominicans relied on the attack of Sidarka
Nunez and the blocking of Rondon to build a 16-13
difference in the second set and they increased
the gap with three more blocks by De la Cruz.
The difference in the third set plagued of errors
from both teams was the better blocking by the
Dominicans.
De la Cruz and Cabral led the offensive of
Dominican Republic in a fourth set they dominated
from wire to wire. |
