Canada, USA and Dominican Republic share first place at NORCECA U-18

GAINESVILLE, Florida, July 26, 2006.- Canada, USA and Dominican Republic share the lead of the NORCECA Girls’ Youth Continental Volleyball Championships with 2-0 mark after two days of play at the O’Connell Center on the campus of the University of Florida in Gainesville.

Canada defeated Puerto Rico in four sets while Dominican Republic and USA defeated Honduras and Mexico by score of 3-0.

The Canadians overcame a first-set loss to defeat Puerto Rico 21-25, 25-18, 25-23, 25-17 with Becky Pavan pacing the Canadian attack with 16 points that included 10 kills, four blocks and two aces.

Maura Hayes and Kelly Frittenburg added 12 points apiece for Canada and Jaclyn Ellis turned in nine points. Puerto Rico was led by Joely Narvaez’s 14 points, Sol Gonzalez contributed 11 points and Shirley Ferrer amassed eight points.

Kanani Herring led Team USA with a match-high 17 points sparking the victory over Mexico by score of 25-14, 25-14, 25-18. Tarah Murrey chipped in 10 points, Alexandra Hunt pocketed nine points and Kelsey Brandl added 8 points.

“We were confident that if we played well, we would beat Mexico,” Team USA Head Coach Shelton Collier said. “We are now immediately turning our attention to our Puerto Rico match tomorrow night. They will be our most high-emotion opponent of the tournament, and after their loss to Dominican Republic in the opening match, they will be even more determined against us, I am sure.”

In the first match of Wednesday, Dominican Republic won its second match in as many days as it defeated Honduras 25-16, 25-22, 25-13.

Jeoselyna Rodriguez paced the Dominican Republic with 13 points, Dharlenis Marte tallied 11 points, Kahoriz Feliz chipped in 10 and Mayern Nunez recorded nine points. Elaine Santos contributed 29 assists to go with two kills and two aces. Honduran Karla Ponce recorded eight kills and three aces to lead her side with 11 points.