Cuba defeat Puerto Rico

Canada, September 17,2007,It was going to be a fitting end to a great opening day of volleyball at the 2007 NORCECA Continental Championships. After 3 great matches, perhaps the best showdown of the evening was going to be Cuba vs. Puerto Rico, with two to great teams both looking to come out of the pool play on top.

 

As expected, the teams did not disappoint the crowd. They came out flying and exchanging powerful spikes and incredible digs. Puerto Rico took the first lead up 8-6 at the first time out, however Cuba reversed that by the second time out to lead by one up 16-15. The Cubans took advantage of some sloppy play late in the set by Puerto Rico to increase their lead and take the first set 25-22.

 

Set two was another tight affair with Cuba taking a narrow 8-7 lead at the first time out. Not much would change as Cuba continued to hold the advantage up 16-14. Neither team was prepared to give up much but Puerto Rico was able to find a little space in the Cuba court to tie the set at 19-19. They remained tied until Puerto Rico took a one-point lead up 24-23 forcing a Cuban time out. Puerto Rico would not look back as they took set two 26-24.

 

It was clear that this was going to be a battle until the end. Puerto Rico continued their great play leading the third set 8-7 at the first time out. Cuba would storm back into the set showing why they are one of the best teams in the world to reverse the advantage leading 16-13 at the second technical time out. Once again though, Puerto Rico would fight back to tie the set at 16-16. They remained deadlocked until 21-21 when Cuba took the advantage with some great play winning the set 25-21.

 

Cuba finally came out with that Cuba will to win and dominated the set taking an 8-2 lead and advancing even more up 16-7 by the second technical time out. It was not going to be Puerto Rico’s night tonight to topple Cuba as they dropped the fourth set and the match 25-12 Nancy Carrillo de La Paz was Cuba’s top player with 24 points on 14 kills, 8 blocks and 2 service aces. Pureto Rico was led by Eva Cruz with 10 points all on kills.

 

Post Match Quotes:

Team Cuba

Yumilka Ruiz Luaces- Captain

“I think it was a very good match. The Puerto Rican team came in very strong and they were able to win one set. At the end we were able to get our rhyme and maintain our performance to win the match.”

 

A. Perdomo Estrella- Head Coach

“I think it was the first match of the tournament. Always the first match is not very easy to play. Maybe Puerto Rico in the first set made to many serving errors and Cuba did not have very good rhyme. I am not satisfied with the match we had, we were only able to play like we are used to playing in the fourth set. But in the end, we were able to win.”

 

Team Puerto Rico

Aurea Cruz- Captain

“We knew that today’s game was going to be really tough as we were playing with a new line-up, compared to what we have had for the past two tournaments. We always have trust in ourselves, that’s why in the first game we came out strong, but we are a team that when we go down in a set it is tough to come back. We need to be more consistent and reduce our errors. Cuba came out very strong. They knew our game and played us very hard. We need to regroup for our next match against Canada. They are a team that has been playing very well and have a good group of players so we expect a strong match from them.”

 

Juan Nunez- Head Coach

“We know who we were facing. It was an ideal match in order to test a new strategy that we have put into place. We had a totally new starting six players and we have never used this combination ever. We were able to control their service, one of their main weapons. After the third set and fourth set, Cuba started to play their game, a physical game and we were not able to hold on.”