Mexico Grabs Bronze and Final Slot for Worlds 

TULSA, United States (July 19, 2014) – Mexico grabbed the final slot for the 2015 FIVB World Championship with a 22-25, 25-21, 27-25, 16-25, 15-6 win over Puerto Rico on Saturday at the Cox Business Center. 

Mexico finishes the tournament 4-2 and qualifies for the 2015 U17 World Championships as one of the top three finishers. Puerto Rico ends at 2-3.  

After losing the first set, Mexico came back to win two straight matches before badly falling in the fourth set. In the fifth set, Mexico took a 3-1 lead in the fifth set.

With Mexico still leading 7-5, Puerto Rico served into the net. Mexico’s Carlos Briseno took the serve and scored with an ace to make it 9-5. Mexico scored four more points before Puerto Rico’s Janeudy Hernandez connected with a kill. But by then the damage was done.

“Before the fifth set, I told them the past didn’t matter anymore,” Mexico Coach Gabriela Alarcon said. “It didn’t matter that they lost the other sets. The most important thing was the last set and we just focused point by point.”

Puerto Rico led in kills (61-55), aces (6-3) and digs (66-55) while Mexico dominated on the block (14-3).

Mexico Team Captain Ridl Garay led his team in scoring with 20 points on 20 kills. Bruno Cruz scored 16 points on 15 attacks and one block. Briseno totaled 11 points on five kills, four blocks and two aces.

Puerto Rico Team Captain Luis Ocasio led all scorers with 29 points on a match-high 27 kills and two aces. Hernadez added 16 points on 13 attacks, one block and two aces.

“In the fifth set, our intensity lowered a lot. Our energy was not there,” Ocasio said. “Overall the tournament was great for experience. Our team needs to mature, but overall it was a good experience.”

Quotes

Mexico Captain Ridl Garay: “Our good attitude was the key to winning the match. We were very positive. We wanted to win so badly. We knew against Puerto Rico serving and blocking would be key. The win was extremely important. We are going to World Championships so we are extremely excited.”

Mexico Coach Gabriela Alarcon: “The key today was our team’s confidence, especially in serving. In the fourth set we lost some points and confidence, but we came back in the fifth. “Before the fifth set, I told them the past didn’t matter anymore. It didn’t matter that they lost the other sets. The most important thing was the last set and we just focused point by point.”

Puerto Rico Captain Luis Ocasio: “In the fifth set, our intensity lowered a lot. Our energy was not there. Overall the tournament was great for experience. Our team needs to mature, but overall it was a good experience.”

Puerto Rico Coach Julio Ruvira: “Mexico has had more experience playing fifth sets. That was our first time in the tournament playing a fifth set. Mexico experienced that earlier in the tournament so they were more prepared. The experience was the main thing for us. It was great to play in an international tournament.”