USA overcome Peru in Pool B of Pan Am Cup

TIJUANA, Mexico, June 18, 2010 – USA claimed a 27-25, 25-22, 25-17 victory over Peru in the opening match of the Ninth Women’s Pan American Cup.

The winners had slow start but came back in the late part of the first set behind their solid blocking and dominated the rest of the way even though Peru never gave up.

Veteran middle-blocker Heather Bown led USA with 14 points while Jordan Larson contributed 11 tallies. Foluke Akinradewo and Megan Hodge charted 10 apiece and Nancy Metcalf chipped in 8 points.

Yulissa Zamudio topped Peru with 10 points and Jessenia Uceda and Leyla Chihuan tallied 8 points apiece.

“After a slow start we settled down and started to play better,” Head Coach Hugh McCutcheon said. “We found a way to win the first set against a team of Peru that played good volleyball.”

“We didn’t play our best volleyball but we are happy with the victory,” American Captain Metcalf said. “I am very proud of my teammates and I hope we keep improving during the tournament.”

“Our poor reception and the high blocking of USA were the keys today”, Korean Choel Yong Kim said about his Peruvian side.

“This is an important competition for us in preparation for the World Championship,” Chihuan said.  “We recently toured Europe and played against France, Greece, Turkey and Russia and the team is in good shape. Our goal is to improve from the fifth place of last year.”