Winnipeg, Canada, September 11,-
Dominican Republic scored a major
upset while edging Canada in a
five-setter by score of 19-25,
19-25, 29-31, 26-24, 19-17 in Day
Two of the Norceca Men’s Continental
Championships.
This was Canada’s first big test
after the Dominican took Cuba to a
fifth set on the opening day. Both
teams seemed to feel each other out
exchanging points and at the first
technical time out it was the
Dominican Republic up 8-7. Canada
would go on run to go up 14-11 and
hold the lead up 16-14 at the second
technical time out.
Canada continued to dominate on the
attack and cruised on to take set
one 25-19. In set two Canada
experienced some difficulty right
from the start and found them selves
down 12-16. Unforced errors
continued to plague the Canadians as
they dropped further down 17-23 and
eventually dropped the set 19-25.
Both teams started the third set a
little shaky with missed blocks and
service errors.
Canada seemed to shake it off first
to take an 8-5 advantage at the
first technical time out. The
Dominican Republic would work their
way back into the game to tie it up
at 11-11, before Canada would
reclaim the lead at the second
technical time out up 16-15. It
would remain a one point game with
Canada up 22-21, but the Dominican
would lock it up again tied 26-26. A
tough hand call would give the
Dominican a 27-26 advantage forcing
a Canadian time out. Canada would
regain the lead to go up by one and
finally take the set 31-29.
The teams continued to keep it tight
in the fourth set. Canada found
themselves up 8-7 at the first
technical time out and added to that
tally to go up 11-7 forcing a
Dominican time out. The Dominican
would respond tying the set at
15-15, but Canada would take the
back up 16-15 at the second
technical time out. The lead would
exchange hands two more time before
Canada would unload with a couple
service aces to go up 22-20, but
they would see that disappear as the
Dominican Republic would tie it up
at 23-23.
At 24-24 a missed Canadian serve
opened the door for the Dominican
Republic and they took full
advantage wining the next point and
the set 26-24.
Set five was another tight contest
with both teams attacking strong at
the net. Tied at 6-6 two big plays
in the middle for Canada gave them
an 8-6 lead at the side change.
Canada would retain the two lead
forcing a time out up 11-9. The
Dominican would tie it up one more
time at 15-15 then go up 16-15.
Canada would come right back to take
the lead 17-16 only to see it go
again as the Dominican Republic went
on to win 19-17. |