Puerto Rico scores first victory at U18 Cup

HAVANA, Cuba, March 18, 2015 – Puerto Rico defeated Costa Rica 3-0 (25-13, 25-10, 25-14) for their first victory at the III Girls’ U18 Volleyball Pan Am Cup, the last qualifier to the World Championship at the Coliseum of Ciudad Deportiva on Wednesday.

In a match where Puerto Rican coach used all his players, the captain Joscelyn Coronel was the best scorer with seven points while Ivania Ortiz added six. Costa Rica’s Mariana Rodríguez also tallied 6 points as the best for the losers.

Puerto Rican coach Luis Aponte expressed his satisfaction after the win pointing out the service as “the key for the victory against a Costa Rican team that couldn’t control the reception. We had many chances with direct points to capitalize.”

Coronel said it was an easy victory for her side. “We were better in the service and reception and had the chance to include girls from the bench who did an excellent job.”

Andres Lopez, coach of Costa Rica was glad about his side scoring higher than the day before when they lost to Chile. “In the rallies we won, the points were earned and obviously that is very important. Today I am more pleased because we didn’t give away many points with the serves.”

Costa Rica’s captain Mariana Rodríguez said: “We are getting used to the new experience of playing away from home and in a big stadium. We played better even though Puerto Rico is a difficult team. They are tall and with good technique. We are smaller but learned from the defeat.”