Cuba tops Puerto Rico for NORCECA U20 Bronze

FORT LAUDERDALE, United States, July 31, 2016.- Cuba topped Puerto Rico 3-1 (18-25, 25-20, 25-20, 25-16) to win the NORCECA Women’s U-20 Bronze medal at Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Cuba won their fourth bronze medal in the recorded history of the event beating Puerto Rico with orderly game, keeping their starters up to the end.

Cuba lost set one to Puerto Rico who quickly moved ahead on Cuba’s errors. Actions had high energy on both sides and Puerto Rico managed to win their only set with their outside hitters smacking on Cuba’s blocking. In set two, Cuba’s offense was on fire, distributing points between Perez, Palma and Vicet. In sets three and four, Cuba dismantled Puerto Rico’s entire game plan with huge advantage using monster blocking and hard hitting; it seemed like Puerto Rico had given up.

Cuba’s 11-4 advantage in serves and 55-44 margin in kills were crucial in winning the bronze. In errors they were similar; Cuba committed 29 and Puerto Rico 23.

 Dalila Palma led Cuba’s offense on a 21 match-high on 17 kills, 3 blocks and one ace. Diaris Perez and Elizabet Vicet also chipped in with 17 and 13 points respectively. Dariana Hollingston was Puerto Rico’s top scorer with 17 points on kills.

Coach Roberto Garcia of Cuba indicated “our own mistakes gave Puerto Rico set one. We didn’t reach our goal, but we’re happy with the bronze and with our athletes’ development for future events. We were confident with our starters because we needed to win third place”.

Cuba captain Diaris Pérez said “we focused on our tactics, our fundamentals and we followed instructions”.

Head coach Juan Cartagena of Puerto Rico said “the team tried but things didn’t work out, they lost concentration too fast and were desperate. We play a lot of volleyball back home but the international level is different, we have lost volleyball basics and we are starting to build a new structure”.