United States stomp Puerto Rico to stay unbeaten

PACHUCA, Mexico, June 13, 2014 - Two-time defending champions USA maintained their spotless win-loss record in Pool B with a crushing victory over Puerto Rico 25-18, 25-13, 25-17.

USA improved to 3-0 and Puerto Rico dropped to 1-2. The Americans outblocked their opponents 16-5 with Bailey Webster and Cursty Jackson each registering four blocks.

They dominated in attacks 36-23 and held a slight 3-1 margin in aces. Webster finished with a match-high 17 points while Jackson contributed 10. Lynda Morales had 10 points as the only Puerto Rican with double digits in the scores.

Jamie Morrison, coach of United States: “I am very proud of my team as we played well and keep improving with each match. Puerto Rico is a good rival of past battles and we are happy that today we won.”

USA Captain Carli Lloyd commented “we have accomplished some goals during the tournament and that is because we are playing as a team, supporting each other, the starters and the ones on the bench.”

Puerto Rico’s coach Jose Mieles admitted United States presented a better tactical plan “and my team couldn’t control the ball to attack freely while the blocking from our rivals, historically of good quality, hurt us.”

The slender Sheila Ocasio, captain of Puerto Rico, lamented that their reception was not fluid “and it is very difficult to play without reception and things didn’t go as we planned. There’s no doubt the disciplined blocking of our rivals did hurt us.”