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LINCOLN, Neb. (Jan. 9, 2016) – Puerto Rico claimed the NORCECA
Olympic Qualification Tournament bronze medal by defeating
Canada 32-30, 25-17, 25-20 on the final day of competition in
Lincoln, Neb.
Puerto Rico ended the tournament with a 1-2 record and in
third-place in the four-team round-robin event. By finishing
with the bronze, Puerto Rico remains alive in the Olympic
qualification process and will play in the Intercontinental
Olympic Qualification Tournament in May. They will be joined by
the third-place team in the South American Olympic Qualifier and
the second- and third-place teams from the African Olympic
Qualification Tournament. Canada finished the tournament 0-3 and
their dreams of competing in the 2016 Olympic dashed.
Puerto Rico was led by Karina Ocasio’s 23 points and Aurea Cruz
added 12 points in the victory.
Canada was paced by Tabitha Love’s 14 points and Jaimie
Thibeault added 10 points.
Puerto Rico’s serve kept Canada out-of-system much of the match
with an 8-2 ace advantage. Both teams finished with seven
blocks. Puerto Rico held a 41-35 advantage in kills.
Puerto Rico Head Coach Juan Carlos Nunez: “It was a tough
match, our backs are against the wall. This is one of the last
chances for some of the players, their last cycle, to qualify
for the Olympics. They really want to play their best to be
able, in May, to qualify for the Olympics. It is going to be
tough having a team together - January to May the players go
play internationally. Until they announce when and where the
qualifier will be, we’ll get together for a week before we play
again.”
Puerto Rico Captain Yarimar Cruz: “It will be an easier
of a qualifier as the third-place team. We are happy we won
today and now we have to stay healthy and focus on the next
tournament to see if we can finally qualify for our first
Olympics.”
Canada Head Coach Arnd Ludwig: “We are disappointed in
the outcome today. I am a little disappointed in the way we
played. I think we can play a little bit better. Puerto Rico
played well and put a lot of pressure on us. Sometimes we
couldn’t hold the pressure, especially in the first set. In the
second and third set we were always chasing the game and never
really got into the game like we were in the first set.”
Canada Captain Brittney Page: “Obviously it is very
disappointing, especially since we came out so hard in the first
set. We really responded to every point in the first set and
really rolled over a bit in the second set and lost momentum.
Unfortunately for us, they didn’t do much different than in the
first set. It really is on our shoulder, which is really the
most disappointing part. Nonetheless, there is growing and I am
always proud of team.” |
