Dominican Republic and USA will battle for the gold at NORCECA U-20

MONTERREY, Mexico, August 4, 2006.- Dominican Republic and USA advanced to the match for the gold medal at NORCECA Women’s U-20 Continental Tournament and also secured berths for the 2007 Junior World Championship.

The Dominicans defeated Puerto Rico in a close match 25-23, 27-25, 18-25, 25-21 and the Americans took a 25-12, 25-18, 25-21 victory against Canada. In the match for fifth place Cuba walked over Mexico with a 25-22, 25-21, 25-17 triumph.

Puerto Rico will meet Canada on Saturday for the bronze medal and the winner will get also a ticket for next year’s World Championship.

Bethania de la Cruz led Dominican Republic with 25 points and got help from Ana Fabian and Altagracia Mambru who added 15 and 14 points respectively. Yarimar Rosa scored 18 for Puerto Rico and Emily Calderon added 16.

Dominicans and Puerto Ricans engaged in a close battle during the whole match but at the end the better serves and reception sent Dominican Republic to the final match of the competition.

“It was a great battle as I expected because Puerto Rico is a very tough competitor,” said Wilson Sanchez, the Dominican coach. “My players were mentally prepared for that kind of resistance.”

Luis Garcia, the Puerto Rican coach, agreed: “We knew it was going to be a big battle as it is always between these two teams. Now we will focus in tomorrow’s match for the third place.

Megan Hodge and Alexandra Klineman led the USA victory with 16 and 14 points respectively and Sarah Morrisette was the best Canadian with 11 points.

“I am very pleased because we achieved the first goal of qualifying for the World Championship,” said Gregg Skinner, the American coach.

Rachel Sanchez had 16 points and Yisel Silva added 13 in the Cuba’s victory while Mexican Carolina Alvarado had 12.

“Our goal, of course, was to battle for the top positions,” said Ana Ivis Diaz, the Cuban coach. “But the win was important because at least we finished in the same position of the last tournament. The girls looked better today and showed what I didn’t see in the previous matches.”