NORCECA CONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP GROUP C
- Oct. 11-16, 2017
- Trinidad & Tobago
- Schedule/Results
Mexico def. Dominica 3-0 (25-7, 25-13, 25-7)
Trinidad & Tobago def. Costa Rica 3-0 (25-19, 25-16, 25-22)
Mexico and Trinidad & Tobago each won in sweeps on Saturday to set up a final showdown for Group C supremacy after both secured tickets to the 2018 World Championships.
Mexico downed Dominica for its second straight and seventh overall World Championships berth, while Trinidad & Tobago moved past Costa Rica to earn their first ever Worlds appearance.
Mexico 3, Dominica 0
Melanie Guadalupe Parra Quintero notched a match-high 12 kills and four aces to lead Mexico in its second victory of the tournament.
Andrea Maldonado, Dulce Carranza and Xitlali Herrera followed with nine points apiece as Mexico bested Dominica 38-7 in kills, 4-2 in blocks and 10-1 in aces. Maldonado managed nine kills, while Herrera added seven and two blocks. Carranza chipped in four kills, three aces and two blocks.
The Mexicans also had help from 23 Dominican errors in the match.
“Happy, our main goal is to qualifying to the world championship and I consider we are very close on doing so,” Mexican coach Ricardo Naranjo said. “I believe things were easy for us, our younger players had the opportunity to perform and get into better shape for senior level; adding that they will need more responsibility to work hard for next year.”
Shari Pascal scored three points for Dominica, putting up both of the team’s blocks and adding a kill. Anna Maria Xavier, Lisa James and Kyla Winston added two points apiece. Xavier and James posted two kills each, while Winston acounted for a kill and the team’s lone ace.
“In set two the team decided to go all out, we got out of the nerves and put everything into place we don’t have anything to lose,” Dominica captain Ana Xavier said. “Hopefully we may perform like that tomorrow”.
Trinidad & Tobago 3, Costa Rica 0
Three players posted double-digit scoring totals to lift Trinidad & Tobago over Costa Rica.
Sinead Jack led the way with 15, including a match-high 12 kills, two blocks and an ace. Krystle Esdelle (13) and Channon Thompson (10) rounded out the group. Esdelle also put down 12 kills to go with a block, while Thompson registered eight kills and a team-best two aces.
The trio helped T&T to a 39-25 lead in kills, 8-3 edge in blocks and 4-3 advantage in aces.
“I am so excited,” Esdelle said. “Four years ago we lost our opportunity and this year we were determined to make it happen. We decided that we wanted to win tonight and not wait for tomorrow. Our work has been difficult because it has been hard to keep the group together and look for support. We recovered well from our error against Costa Rica.”
Paola Ramirez scored 13 points, with 11 kills, a block and an ace to lead the Costa Rican charge. Yuliana Gonzalez Alfaro and Tannia Carazo Martinez turned in six points apiece to aid the effort. Crazo posted six kills, while Gonzalez managed five puataways and an ace.
“Costa Rica showed a lot of potential,” captain Mijal Hines said. “This is a process and we are motivated to continue working for the Central American Games. Despite our loss, we have our heads up and we are ready to keep a good level, we must practice mentally.”
?? Trinidad&Tobago celebrates qualifying tothe 2018 @FIVBWomensWCH Group C @NorcecaInfo pic.twitter.com/y7rkLdpLCq
— Carolina Rivas (@Carolina741967) October 15, 2017
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