USA takes de bronze for second year in a row

CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico, July 9, 2011 – United States scored a convincing straight-set victory over Cuba (25-21, 25-16, 25-13) to claim the bronze medal of the Women’s Volleyball Pan American Cup for second year in a row on Saturday.

Nancy Metcalf led three American players in double digits with 18 points. The veteran lefty was followed by Foluke Akinradewo and Jennifer Joyner-Tamas with 13 and 11 points respectively. Cuba’s Kenia Carcaces finished with 16 points.

The winners had the advantage in blocking (9-6) and service winners (4-1) with Joyner-Tamas recording four blocks.

Joyner-Tamas said: “We were really disappointed after yesterday’s loss and today we played well and together, so I am proud of my team and I congratulate Cuba for their amazing athletes.”

Coach Hugh McCutcheon praised his team performance. “I am pretty glad of Nancy Metcalf’s performance, she had some offensive momentums during the match; we have learned valuable lessons in this tournament and our main goal was our qualification to next year’s Grand Prix.”

“We didn’t have a good match today,” Cuban captain Yusidey Silie stated. “I feel sad because we were well prepared but we lost against more experienced teams than ours.”

Cuba’s coach, Juan Gala said he is satisfied with his team performance in the Cup. “We lost from the three best teams. We’ve already detected our faults and we need a better preparation.”