United States blocks Puerto Rico at NORCECA U20

FORT LAUDERDALE, United States, July 27, 2016.- United States blocking controlled Puerto Rico 3-1 (25-15, 23-25, 25-15, 25-20) NORCECA Women’s U-20 Continental Championship Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

United States won the first set dominating Puerto Rico with consecutive blocks Stephany Samedy and Brionne Butler, while Dariana Hollingsworth carried Puerto Rico on winning set two. The home team stormed past Puerto Rico managing total control in sets three and four.

United States depended on their effective blocking, with a huge 16-3 margin. In other skills, the numbers were very close; USA did better in spikes 50-47 and Puerto Rico in serves 7-4. The home team benefited from Puerto Rico’s 28 unforced, while they committed 18.

Middle blocker Brionne Butler and outside hitter Dawn Sun led USA’s scorers with 16 points apiece, while Taryn Knuth and Elizabeth Hall tallied 9 each. Puerto Rico’s Dariana Hollingsworth topped all scorers with 20 points and Ivania Ortiz added 13 points.

Group B resumes on Thursday with Puerto Rico (1-1) facing French St. Martin (0-2) and United States (2-0) takes on Mexico (1-1).

Sydney Hilley captain of United States said “in the second set Puerto Rico challenged us and our passing broke down, but we got back into our rhythm in the third and fourth sets. Our hard work in practice with blocking really paid off. Our biggest strengths as a team are blocking and serving. The adjustments in defense worked out well because we started off guard. We are expecting Mexico to be very competitive just a Puerto Rico”.

Puerto Rico’s captain Andrea Fuentes said “I’m satisfied with most of our performance, we played on a high level in the second and fourth set, and I believe we could have done it better. Our outside hitters aren’t the tallest and they did a really good job against USA’s dominant blocking and our defense performed well. On a certain level our team depends in crucial moments on Dariana, she’s an essential part of the team”.

For coach Laurie Corbelli said that Puerto Rico was phenomenal tonight “they are so good using any team’s block. Our blocking started strong in the first set and then we weren’t as effective, and I really can’t put my finger on why, I guess it has to do with losing focus. Overall the team effort had a good comeback after losing the first set ever as a team; it was great to have to go thru this. Each match we’re getting better and better, we are intending to work more with our middles because we know they score often”.

Coach Juan Cartagena of Puerto Rico indicated that they are aware of United States’ world class level, “our plan was to win one our two sets and we achieved it. We improved from yesterday working one step at a time. As in the High Performance, Dariana was very effective and the wing players can’t score enough and it’s something we are working on”.