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GUADALAJARA, Mexico, August 30, 2021. - Puerto
Rico dominated Canada 3-1 (25-18, 19-25, 25-23,
25-20) at the Women’s NORCECA Continental
Championship semifinals in Guadalajara and
qualifies to the 2022 FIVB World Championship.
Puerto Rico moved into their second NORCECA
title match in the history of the event with
58-48 advantage in attacks and a 5-1 margin in
serves, despite Canada’s impressive blocking
advantage of 11-5. They committed similar amount
of errors, Puerto Rico 25 and Canada 26.
Opposite hitter Brittany Abercrombie of Puerto
Rico scored a match-high of 22 points on 21
kills and one block. Also contributing in Puerto
Rico’s semifinal win was outside hitter Marie
Victoria with 16 points, joined by Stephanie
Enright with 13 points and middle blocker Neira
Ortiz with 10 points.
On Canada’s side, four players hit double
figures, middle blocker Alicia Ogoms led with 15
points on 13 kills, 3 blocks and one ace,
outside hitter Kiera Van Ryk followed with 12
points, outside hitter Hilary Howe led on 5
blocks from her 11 points and middle blocker
Jennifer Cross added 11 points.
Natalia Valentin, Captain of Puerto Rico: “It
was intense and our team was calm in moments of
pressure. We knew our performance was going to
work out so we were patient, trusting the staff
and ourselves; honestly we executed every aspect
of the game well”.
“Fue un partido sumamente intenso y nuestro
equipo tuvo mucha calma en los momentos de
presión. Sabíamos que nos iba a salir el juego
por lo que tuvimos paciencia, confiando en el
staff y en nosotras mismas; la verdad ejecutamos
bien todos los aspectos del juego”.
Fernando Morales, Coach of Puerto Rico: “We
prepared our game plan studying Canada and the
girls followed it. The credit is all theirs,
they trusted themselves when they lost the third
set, the trusted the plan when things were
difficult. We served better in this match, so
Canada had difficulties in receiving and weren´t
able to perform their fast rhythm of play”.
“Estudiamos bien a Canadá, hicimos el plan de
juego y las muchachas lo siguieron. El crédito
es de las muchachas, confiaron en ellas mismas
cuando se perdió el tercer set, confiaron en el
plan cuando las cosas se complicaron. En este
partido sacamos mejor, le complicamos el recibo
a Canadá y no pudieron implementar su juego
rápido”.
Jennifer Cross, Captain of Canada: “We didn’t
serve that aggressive and Puerto Rico was in
system a lot, they were able to use different
options and made it difficult for our
block-defense, there were some good parts in
this match, but it hurts a little bit”.
“No servimos de forma agresiva y Puerto Rico
estuvo en su sistema bastante, ellas pudieron
utilizar diferente opciones y nos dificultaron
el bloqueo-defensa, hubo algunas partes buenas,
pero duele un poco”.
Shannon Winzer, coach of Canada: “We stopped
them when attacking but we were outserved by
Puerto Rico. We were too tentative from the base
line and Puerto Rico in system is a really good
team, they fought much better than the first
time”.
“Las pudimos detener cuando atacamos pero Puerto
Rico nos superó en el servicio. Fuimos muy
indecisas en la línea y el sistema de Puerto
Rico es muy bueno, lucharon mucho mejor que la
primera vez”. |
