Dominican Republic outclass Panama in opening match

CAGUAS, Puerto Rico, September 12, 2011 – Defending champions Dominican Republic outclassed Panama in straight sets (25-12, 25-10, 25-15) in the opening match of the NORCECA Women’s Continental Championship at Coliseo Hector Sola Bezares on Monday.

Dominican Dahiana Burgos was the only scorer of the match in double figures with 11 points. Bethania De la Cruz and Sidarka Nuñez each registered 9 points in the winning effort. Panama’s Joana Arroyo finished with seven.

The winners scored with 8 blocks to only one by Panama with Cindy Rondon recording three blocks among her seven points.

“We achieved our objective of winning in three sets,” Dominican Milagros Cabral said. “We respected the team of Panama and played hard all the time.”

“It was our first match at this level of competition,” Panamanian Arroyo said. “Playing against a world class team like Dominican Republic, I think we did it pretty well.”

“We played hard since the start of the match and now we have a rest day and then play against Cuba,” Dominican Republic’s coach Marcos Kwiek stated. “Tomorrow we will study Cuba but these are two teams that know each other very well.”

“The experience of the Dominican team was the key,” Panama’s coach Reynaldo Ortega said. “They are the champions.”