Mexico reaches semifinals of NORCECA U19

TULSA, United States, July 17, 2014 – Mexico qualified for the semifinals of the NORCECA Boys’ Under-19 Continental Championship on Thursday with a 25-18, 25-17, 25-22 win over Nicaragua.

Mexico will play in Friday’s semifinal, against either the United States or Cuba. Nicaragua will play in Friday’s match for fifth place.

After losing a difficult five-set match to Cuba in pool play on Wednesday, Mexico Team Captain Ridl Garay said it was difficult for his team to get motivated for the quarterfinal match.

“Our intensity was lower during this match,” Garay said. “We should play 100 percent no matter what. Today our intensity had to build.”

Nevertheless, Mexico led Nicaragua in kills (41-28) and aces (8-1) while the team tied in blocks (4-4).

Nicaragua Head Coach Osman Hernandez said he has seen his team improve throughout the tournament.

“The team has definitely gotten better,” he said. “This has been a great experience. Against Mexico today, I think our reception was better than it has been, though I’m definitely not happy with the loss.”

Mexico’s Bruno Cruz led all scorers with 12 points on a match-high 11 kills and one ace. Garay added 11 points on nine attacks and two aces. Marco Polo Manjarez scored 11 points on seven kills and a match-high four aces.

Juan Reyes led Nicaragua with 10 points on 10 attacks. Roberto Espinosa scored eight points on seven kills and one ace and Freddy Vanegas had a match-high three blocks to go with four kills.