Del Valle tops Puerto Rican victory over TTO

CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico, July 18, 2012 — Puerto Rican captain Jetzabel del Valle recorded a match-high 23 points in a 3-1 (25-27, 25-11, 25-19, 25-17) victory against Trinidad & Tobago in the classification round at the XI Women’s Pan Am Cup.

Del Valle was followed by Yarimar Rosa (15 points), Amanda Vazquez (14, 2 aces) and Stephanie Enright (13, 2 aces). For Trinidad & Tobago, Channon Thompson scored 16 and captain Krystle Esdelle finished with 13 (6 blocks).

“We really expected a strong match against Puerto Rico with fast plays. We had to use our strength against them, but they played very good,” Esdelle said.

“We worked with our service. Trinidad &Tobago is a team with players that jump so high and they played a very strong first set. We started slowly and we didn’t know how to prepare our setting game,” Jetzabel del Valle indicated.

“I am satisfied how the team developed the tournament. The girls had a chance to achieve more experience against a team like Puerto Rico with a very stabilized game. This has helped us a lot,” coach Francisco Cruz mentioned about Trinidad and Tobago.

Puerto Rican coach David Aleman felt satisfied with this victory. “Trinidad & Tobago is a team that has advanced a lot and it is very strong. We tried to take out their force with our service and girls’ reaction was a key for the win”.