Mexico overcome Costa Rica in four sets

CAGUAS, Puerto Rico, September 13, 2011 – Mexico made its debut in the NORCECA Women’s Continental Championship with a 3-1 (25-21, 21-25, 25-11, 25-17) victory over Costa Rica in a Pool A match at Hector Sola Bezares Coliseum on Tuesday.

The strong and accurate serves of Mexico were the main factor for the victory as they held a 9-3 margin in the aces category and also dominated 8-4 in the blocking chart.

Mexico’s Samantha Bricio topped all the scorers with 20 points, including three aces, while Claudia Rios, Karla Sainz and Gema Leon finished with 15, 12 and 10 points respectively. Costa Rica’s Verania Willis and Angela Willis finished with 14 and 12.

“We have been working in our serves and the reception and tomorrow we will have a big challenge against Puero Rico”, Mexico’s Claudia Ríos said.

“The Mexicans put a lot of pressure on us with their serves and we made too many errors with our serves and also with the reception,” Costa Rica’s Verania Willis said.

Mexico’s coach Mario Herrera said: “Our serves were part of the key for the victory even though we also were down for moments in that part of the game.”

“We expected to do better but now we will have to go after the 7-9 positions,” Costa Rica’s Braulio Godinez said. “The match against Trinidad and Tobago is going to be a tough one.”