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MORELIA, Mexico, September 29, 2015.- Puerto Rico beat Trinidad
and Tobago 3-0 (25-14, 25-14, 25-21) on day three at the NORCECA
Women’s Continental Championship played at Bicentenario
Auditorium of Morelia, Michoacan.
The victory guaranteed Puerto Rico to reach the quarterfinals
with 2-1 record and 10 points, Trinidad and Tobago finishes the
preliminary round win-less.
Puerto Rico’s performance was overwhelming for Trinidad and
Tobago. In the second set, Trinidad and Tobago had a better
rhythm in keeping up with Puerto Rico’s fast game and the score
was close up to the second technical time out. Puerto Rico had
several line-up variations, giving Trinidad’s spikers more
opportunities to score.
Puerto Rico led the blocking field with huge 10-2 margin. They
also held advantage in spikes 33-28 and in aces 3-2. Puerto Rico
scored 30 points on Trinidad and Tobago’s errors.
Opposite Karina Ocasio was Puerto Rico’s top scorer with 11
points, while Outside Hitter Stephanie Enright and Middle
Blocker Lynda Morales chipped in with 7 points apiece. Outside
Hitter Channon Thompson led Trinidad and Tobago with 11 points,
10 on kills and 1 block, followed by Opposite Krystle Esdelle
with 9 points.
Yarimar Rosa of Puerto Rico said “glad to have won; it was
important to finish in three sets so we can be better rested for
tomorrow’s quarterfinal. Trinidad and Tobago’s height wasn’t
easy to overcome and their game level has risen, they perform
strongly”.
Coach Juan Carlos Nuñez of Puerto Rico agreed with Yarimar that
the team needs to be prepared for tomorrow “the idea was not to
use unnecessary strength, we had the chance to rotate our
players because we hope to give Puerto Rico the qualification to
the NORCECA Final Four. This group of players has been together
since juniors and it would be one of their biggest
accomplishments to reach a pre-olympic qualifier”.
Players Renele Forde and Krystle Esdelle gave their impressions;
Renele said “I believe we could have done better, we are
obviously improving, and it has been a challenge. Now we must
focus on the next match”. Krystle said “it’s been a difficult
transition, mostly because of government funds that have
affected sports in general back home; we had little practice
before the tournament”. |
