USA won the gold at NORCECA Women’s Junior Championship

MONTERREY, Mexico, August 5, 2006.- The USA Team captured the gold medal at the NORCECA Continental Women’s Junior Championship with a 25-15, 25-23, 20-25, 18-25, 15-9 marathon five-set victory over Dominican Republic on Saturday evening.

Team USA and Dominican Republic have qualified for the 2007 FIVB Women’s Junior World Championship (U-20) as the top two teams in this bi-annual NORCECA event. Puerto Rico swept Canada 25-18, 25-20, 25-21 in bronze medal match tch and also qualified for the world tournament as the third-place team.

“I'm very proud of how the team stayed together, stayed with the game plan in the fifth set after losing the third and fourth,” Team USA Head Coach Craig Skinner said. “It was a great win for this team and a truly fitting end to our three-plus week training and competition schedule.”

Alexandra Klineman tallied 28 points in the victory. Juliann Faucette and Jennifer Doris tacked on 11 points apiece for USA.

The Dominican Republic used a balanced attack with Altagracia Mambru scoring a team-high 18 points, while Bethania De La Cruz and Ana Fabian added 17 and 16 in the loss.

Emily Calderón led Puerto Rico recording 14 points, while Yarimar Rosa added 12 and Yomaira Santana charted 8. Sarah Morrissette led Canada with 10 points.

Meanwhile, Dominican Bethania de la Cruz was elected as the Most Valuable Player of the event adding the honour to her best scoring title shared with Puerto Rican Yarimar Rosa.

Puerto Rican Xaimara Colon obtained the medals of best libero, defense and reception and teammate Roselly Perez was the best setter. 

Dominican Altagracia Mambru was the best attacker, Cuban Rachel Sanchez the best blocker and American Rachel Holloway the best sever. 

The awards were presented during the closing ceremony by Mr. Cristobal Marte, president of NORCECA, Mr. Alejandro Salinas, president of the Mexican Volleyball Federation, and Ms. Melody Falco, director of Nuevo Leon’s Sport Institute.