Costa Rica joins quarterfinals in Tijuana
TIJUANA, Mexico, May 1, 2012 – Costa Rica saw off Trinidad and
Tobago 3-1 (25-19, 25-22, 15-25, 25-13) to claim a quarterfinal
spot in the NORCECA Women’s Olympic Qualification Tournament on
Tuesday.
Verania Willis recorded 22 points to lead the offense of the
Central American side. She was aided by Angela Willis and Karen
Cope who charted 15 and 13 respectively. Krystle Esdelle and
Rheeza Grant finished with 14 and 13 for the defeated team.
The taller Trinidadians could not capitalize on their 18-11
advantage in the blocking stats. Jalicia Ross and Grant
registered 8 and 5 respectively. Costa Rica had a 4-2 edge in
the serving aces frame.
“Against a team like Trinidad and Tobago you have to keep the
focus all the time because they strong and are going to fight
every point,” Verania Willis said. “Fortunately we were able to
keep the calm and react in the fourth set.”
“It was difficult for us to maintain the level of superiority
after winning the third set the way we did it,” Esdelle stated.
“We lost the third set because of the qualities of Trinidad and
Tobago and not by our mistakes,” Costa Rica’s Coach Xavier
Perales said. “We need to continue working game by game in this
new process of our team.”
“We played a good set but my team was not able to keep the
consistency which is necessary at this level but I am satisfied
because most of my players don’t have the experience,” Trinidad
and Tobago’s Coach Francisco Cruz said. |