Peru overcome Mexico to win a five-setter

LIMA, Peru, June 14, 2013 – Hosts Peru edged Mexico in a five-set thriller (20-25, 26-28, 25-20, 25-17, 16-14) in a consolation match of the Movistar Women’s Volleyball Pan American Cup at Eduardo Dibos Coliseum on Friday night.

 Peru, out of contention for a spot in next year’s Grand Prix, is now battling for a fifth place.

The young Raffaela Camet was the top scorer of the home side with 25 points followed by Angelica Aquino, who tallied 16. The veterans Karla Ortiz and Yulissa Zamudio each had 12 points while Mirtha Uribe added 10.

Mexico’s Samantha Bricio and Alejandra Isiordia registered 24 and 19 points while Lizbeth Sainz finished with 16.

“I am happy for the victory but concerned because we have many players with tight muscles,” Peru’s Coach Sung Hong said. “We could recover from a bad start and now we meet Cuba again, a team we already know. I hope the outcome is for us this time after losing 3-2 in Iquitos.”

“We have problems to get the team-work going,” said Patricia Soto, a veteran player. “We have been together just for one month and the load of work is big. We are not 100 per cent physically, but the important thing is that we won. We lost the chance for the Grand Prix so now we have to aim to the world championship qualifier.”

Estanislao Vachino, Coach of Mexico, said: “We have a very young team, and the inconsistency is something normal. That’s why we couldn’t keep the level of the first two sets. Peru has many players of experience. Our goal is to be in our peak when we arrive in Czech Republic and we need to continue working hard towards de Junior Championship.”

“We couldn’t react and couldn’t keep the good reception,” Mexico’s Alejandra Isiordia said. “It was a good preparation match for the World Championship. We were close to winning, but were over confident and things didn’t work for us.”