Puerto Rico earns first win at NORCECA Continental Championship

CHARLESTON, W.Va., USA (Sept. 7, 2023) – In a battle of teams looking for their first win of the NORCECA Senior Men’s Continental Championship, Puerto Rico defeated Suriname 3-0 (25-22, 25-15, 25-21) on Thursday at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center.

Puerto Rico (1-2) will finish pool play in third place and will play in Friday’s quarterfinals while Suriname (0-3) takes fourth and will play on Sunday in the match for sixth place.

Suriname held leads in the first and third sets but could not hold on for a set victory.

Puerto Rico led in attacks (46-34) and held an edge in aces (5-4) while Surname led in blocks 10-6. Puerto Rico scored 18 points on Surname errors and gave away 10 points.

Puerto Rico outside hitter Klistan Lawrence led all scorers with 19 points on a match-high 15 attacks and a match-high four aces. Outside hitter Omar Hoyos added 11 points on 11 attacks and opposite Jamal Ellis totaled 11 points on 10 kills and one block.

Suriname was paced by middle blocker David Pinas with 10 points on seven attacks and three blocks. Outside hitter Keven Sporkslede added 10 points on nine attacks and one block. Middle blocker Anfernee Lee-A-Leong had a match-high four blocks.

Puerto Rico Head Coach Oswald Antonetti Cameron: “It’s a bit of fresh air for the guys. It’s a team that is in a different zone of training and playing. But for us it was positive. We have a young team and tomorrow is a new tournament for us. We want to compete and try to win some matches. We will see.”

Suriname Head Coach Carlos Orta Fellove: “My team played well. The opposing team has more experience. They applied all the experience they had and defeated us. We tried to stay close to them. I came here to learn, and I am learning already.”