Puerto Rico sweeps Cuba for seventh place at Santiago 2023

SANTIAGO, Chile, October 26, 2023.- Puerto Rico swept Cuba (25-23, 26-24, 25-19) for seventh place in the Women’s Volleyball tournament at the nineteenth Pan American Games Santiago 2023 at the Arena Parque O’Higgins.

Puerto Rico finished the event with a 2-4 record and Cuba 0-5. Puerto Rico also beat Cuba in pool-play.

Despite Cuba’s 13-5 huge margin in blocking, Puerto Rico earned the win leading 43-42 in attacks,  6-1 in aces and scoring on 22 opponent errors against 10 of their own.

Ivania Ortiz topped Puerto Rico’s scorers with 15 points all on kills. Destiny Skerrett followed with 13 points all on kills as well and Neira Ortiz registered 12 points on 8 kills, 2 blocks and 2 aces.

Ivy Vila led Cuba with 14 points all on kills. Dayana Martinez added 11 points on 6 kills, 4 blocks and one ace and Yalain De La Peña contributed 10 points on 7 kills and 3 blocks.

Wilmarie Rivera, setter of Puerto Rico, said about the match “This was the second victory against Cuba in the tournament, and there wasn’t much of a difference because the important thing was to focus on our side of the court and make the girls feel comfortable”. Regarding the tournament, she expressed, “It wasn’t the position we wanted, although finishing with a win makes us feel a bit better. The group is very young, the girls fought hard, and we will continue learning to improve. I’ pleased with the performance of the young players; we will improve”.