Second Cuban victory in the U-23 Pan American Volleyball Cup

Havana, Sep 5.- The Cuban team scored its second victory in the U-23 Women's Pan American Volleyball Cup by beating the Costa Rican team in straight sets on the stage set up at the international velodrome in Xalapa, Veracruz.

Against a lower level team and in a match in which all the Antilleans had the opportunity to take the field, they dominated with scores of 25-16, 25-20 and 25-14 without any setback.

The Cubans exhibited a wide advantage in attacks (41-22), in blocks (10-1) and in serves (4-1), as well as in unforced errors by winning 26 points to the 20 they conceded to their rivals.

After the second success in group A, in which they opened with a smile against the Chileans, they secured their advancement to the quarterfinals.

This Thursday they will face the defending champions of the Dominican Republic in the last preliminary round, a country that has won the title in the six previous editions.

The Quisqueyans beat the Ticos in their debut and this Wednesday they are favorites against the South Americans, although it could be a close duel. The winning squad of each of the keys automatically earns its place in the semifinals.

In the match against the Costa Ricans, the offense was distributed, led by corner players Lianet García and Alejandra Gómez with 13 and 11 points, respectively.

The center back Yensy de la Caridad Kindelán (8 points), the opposite Lisania Grafort (6) and the blocker Edisleidys Reyes (5) also contributed. For the rivals, Melina Abarca was the one who scored the most with seven points.

Lianet, the leading scorer, told the event site that we tried several new things during the game, the coach made variations in the draw, all to develop us individually and as a team.

We close the group against a strong rival (Dominican Republic) and the objective is to win, play hard and give everything. We are going to fight, as is customary in Cuba, we hope to advance to the semifinals, he expressed.

For her part, Camila Arias, libero from Costa Rica, said that Cuba gave us the fight we expected, it is a great rival. The game was difficult for us, it was not easy, we fought, but we needed attitude. We completed the objectives we set for the match: not to stop fighting for the balls and improve our serve. I think that in the last set we were more effective in serving.

In key B Peru defeated Suriname 3-0 (25-5, 25-10, 25-13) and at the end of the day Mexico and Nicaragua face each other. (Text and photo: JIT)