Esdelle Racks Up Pan Am Cup-Best 25 Points as T&T Finishes 11th

NORCECA Women’s Pan American Cup

• July 8-14, 2018
• Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
• Schedule/Results

In addition to the Pan American Cup semifinals, the ninth and 11th place matches were played in Santo Domingo on Friday.

Argentina edged Mexico in four sets for ninth place, while Trinidad & Tobago rode star player Krystle Esdelle’s tournament high points haul to a  sweep of Costa Rica to grab 11th place.

Argentina def. Mexico 3-1 (23-25, 25-22, 25-22, 25-19)

Mexico won the opening stanza, piled up 12 blocks and had help from 31 Argentine errors, but could not finish off a victory over Argentina on Friday.

The Argentines used a 65-41 advantage in kills to make up for a 12-5 blocking deficit and a seven points deficit due to errors (31-24). Argentina also boasted a slim 5-4 edge in aces.

Four Argentine players turned in double-digit scoring efforts, led by 18 apiece by Paula Yamila Nizetich and Elina Rodriguez, each posting 18 putaways. Lucia Fresco (12) and Julieta Constanza Lazcano (11) followed, adding 12 and 10 kills respectively. Clarisa Sagardia served up four aces, while Agnes Tosi put up a team-best two blocks.

Andrea Rangel paced Mexico with 14 points (12 kills, 1 block, 1 ace) and Samantha Bricio tacked on 10 (9 kills, 1 block). Jocelyn Urias and Karina Flores Gamez put up three stuffs apiece to lead the team at the net. Melanie Parra Quintero was tops from the service line with two aces.

Trinidad & Tobago def. Costa Rica 3-0 (26-24, 25-18, 25-16)

Opposite Krystle Esdelle brought her best effort of the Pan Am Cup with a tournament high 25 points in Trinidad & Tobago’s finale against Costa Rica.

Esdelle managed 20 kills, three aces and a team-leading two blocks to pace T&T. Her putaways nearly matched Costa Rica’s team tally of 23. Channon Thompson chipped in eight kills and a team-best four aces for a 12-point effort.  Middle blocker Jalicia Ross and setter Renele Forde chipped in two blocks apiece.

Tannia Carazo Martinez led the way for Costa Rica with nine points on seven kills and two blocks. Yuliana Gonzalez Alfaro added six putaways. Johanna Gamboa put up a team-high three blocks, part of her five-point tally.

Trinidad & Tobago nearly doubled Costa Rica’s offensive output, 43-23 in kills, while also outserving its foes 10-3 in aces. Costa Rica won the block, despite a distinct height advantage, 10-7.