Puerto Rico qualifies to 2012 World Grand Prix

CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico, July 8, 2011 - Puerto Rico prevailed over Canada 3-1 (25-19, 25-14, 24-26, 25-16) and qualified to the 2012 FIVB World Grand Prix at the 10^th Pan American Women’s Volleyball Cup.

Puerto Rico enjoyed a relaxed match against Canada, but not after a scare when they lost the third set, booking their ticket to the FIVB World Grand Prix, a spot they lost last year. Meanwhile Canada will look for the seventh place with Peru.

Sarai Alvarez, Aury Cruz, Stephanie Enright and Amanda Vasquez, took Puerto Rico to the win, with 20, 19, 11 and 10 respectively. As for Canada, top scorer was Sarah Pavan with 21 points.

Vilmarie Mojica, for the winners, said: “Glad to have reached our goal, we worked hard and we executed well.”

“Puerto Rico really did a good job, unfortunately we couldn’t play better,” a disappointed Canadian Sarah Pavan said .

Coach David Alemán expressed: “I am pleased to have qualified to the Grand Prix which  was our priority; we performed well as our serves and reception were better and that helped us make our game faster to compensate our height”. He added: “Now I want to get as far as we can, so tomorrow we’ll fight for the fifth place.”

“My team gets scared when the matches turn tight, and that really disappoints me, because I now we can do much more,” said Arnd Ludwig.