MEXICALI, Baja California, June 3, 2008.- Bethania de la Cruz came from the bench and led the Dominican Republic to a spectacular victory over Mexico in straight sets by score of 25-19, 25-15, 25-7 and conclude atop of Pool A in the Women’s Pan American Cup.

The victory enabled the Dominican side to finish with a point-ratio of 1.301 which was better than the 1.287 of USA and Argentina’s 1.232. Those three teams ended with 4-1 record. By advancing to the semi final round, they also gained a ticket to the 2009 World Grand Prix.

De la Cruz, who has been nursing a sore knee, finished with 18 points and was followed by Milagros Cabral and Annerys Vargas with 14 and 11 respectively. Mexicans Martha Revuelta and Migdalel Ruiz each had 10 points.

“I was recovering from a knee injury and that was the reason I didn’t play in the first matches,” said De la Cruz. “But now I feel super and ready to go.”

“We had to play conservative volleyball because we couldn’t risk too much,” said Beato Miguel Cruz. “I feel happy for the victory and the classification to the next year’s World Grand Prix.”

The high blocking of Dominican Republic was the key element in the first set with Cindy Rondon and Vargas leading the defense at the net.

The spikes of De la Cruz and Cabral sent Dominican Republic to the victory in the second set. Two blocks by Cabral and Rondon sealed the triumph.

De la Cruz was unstoppable in the third set scoring with 11 spikes, sending her side to the top of the pool.