Puerto Rico defeats Canada in straight sets

TIJUANA, Mexico, April 29, 2012 – Puerto Rico relied on a team-effort to score a convincing 3-0 (25-18, 25-14, 25-21) over Canada in Pool A of the NORCECA Women’s Olympic Qualification Tournament on Sunday.

Five players of the winning side concluded the match in double-figures with Aury Cruz and Shanon Torregrosa each registering 13 points, Sarai Alvarez and Jetzabel Del Valle contributing 11 apiece and Yarimar Rosa adding 10 points.

Sarah Pavan and Tammy Mahon were the top producers for Canada with 11 and 9 points respectively.

Vilmarie Mojica and David Aleman, Captain and Coach of Puerto Rico respectively, both praised the performance by middle blockers Torregrosa and Del Valle.

“It was a team effort and I am especially happy by the way our middle blockers performed,” Mojica said. “It is a good way to start the tournament.”

“We need to leave this game in the past and start focusing in our next two matches of the preliminary round,” Canada Captain Tammy Mahon said.

“We had a good rhythm as consequence from the good reception and our middle blockers did an excellent job,” Aleman said. “Everyone contributed to the victory we didn’t have one player standing out above the rest.”

“Our team was a little tight for the first two sets and it was only in the third set when we were able to do a good job,” Canada’s Coach Arnd Ludwig said. “One big reason is that our team is adjusting to play with a new setter”.