Cuba blanked Costa Rica

 

Canada, September 18, 2007. This match can be described as a modern day David and Goliath. While anything can happen on the court, it will take some exceptional play for Costa Rica to topple Cuba. Cuba, a world class program that has produced a team that is respected as one of the best in the world, while Costa Rica, who has been improving drastically over the past few years is still not at the same competitive level as Cuba.

 

Cuba stormed out to a 5-0 in the first set, but Costa Rica reduced the deficit to 8-5 at the first time out. Cuba picked up their game to lead 16-10 at the second technical time out and forced a Costa Rican time out when they added 2 more to lead 18-10. There was no looking back for Cuba at that point as they took set one 25-14.

 

Cuba seemed to be able to attack at will in set two. Costa Rica was putting up a valiant fight, but Cuba was just to strong leading 8-2 and 16-6 at the technical time outs. Costa Rica could not seem to find a solution for the huge Cuban block and tough serves and was defeated in set two by a score of 25-8.

 

Set three sew a feistier Costa Rican team. After being down 8-3 at the first time out, they rallied back to within one at 14-13. Cuba immediately responded adding to their lead up 16-13 at the technical time out. Costa Rica would try to hang in for the rest of the match, but could not give enough to beat Cuba, dropping the set and the match 25-15.

 

Nancy Carrillo De La Paz was top scorer for Cuba with 13 points on 7 kills, 5 blocks and a service ace. Leading the way for Costa Rica was Karen Cope with 10 points on 7 kills, 2 blocks and 1 service ace.

 

Post Match Quotes:

Team Cuba

Yumilka Ruiz Luaces- Captain

“I don’t think we allowed Costa Rica to implement their game strategy. They were able to play well at times, but we were very good in the serve and made it difficult for them.”

A. Perdomo Estrella- Head Coach

“Our serve was very good, very effective tonight. It was a direct, tactical serve and this did not allow Costa Rica to execute their strategy for the entire match. The result was a 3-0 win.”

 

Team Costa Rica

Paola Ramirez- Captain

“I can’t say I like the result of the match, because no one likes to lose. I think we did well; we were able to complicate some of Cuba’s combinations. It is always exciting to play against a team like Cuba, and I think we are improving as the competition goes forward.”

 

Eladio Vargas- Head Coach

“To play against Cuba for a country like Costa Rica it will always be complicated. We tried to play happy and relaxed because we were playing against some of the best players in the world. At moments in the match when Cuba was substituting players we tried to react and take advantage of that but Cuba maintained their level of play and avoided us. We are not well prepared physically for this event, or this style of event. It is different that any event we have been to, to have to play every day at full capacity, so we have already suffered some fatigue and injury. This is way there are ups and downs in our play.”