NORCECA Pan-American Cup 2017
- June 15-26, 2017
- Canete, Peru
- Schedule/Results
Group A
United States 3, Columbia 0 (25-8, 25-19, 29-27)
Argentina 3, Venezuela 0 (25-11, 25-10, 25-20)
Puerto Rico 3, Mexico 0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-15)
After two days of competition, the United States, Argentina and Puerto Rico stand atop Group A at 2-0 after each picked up a sweep on Sunday.
One of the undefeated, however, will fall on Monday as the USA takes on Puerto Rico in the last match of the day.
United States 3, Columbia 0
Annie Drews, who played collegiately at Purdue and just recently joined Team USA after two seasons in Puerto Rico, led the way with nine points, including eight kills, as the United States moved to 2-0 with a sweep of Columbia.
Aiding Drews were captain Micha Hancock, who served up eight aces, outside hitter Michelle Bartsch-Hackley, who added eight kills, and opposite Liz McMahon (four kills, three blocks). Bartsch-Hackley had showed her ability to make an impact during the team’s Red and Blue Scrimmages.
Dyana Segovia led all scorers with 13 points, all on kills, while Giselle Perez (8) and Maria Margarita Martinez (6) followed.
“I liked the fight Colombia put today,” USA coach Karch Kiraly said. “That made us to give a better effort. The match was interesting and we rotated our players because we feel good with anybody on the court. This competition gives us the chance to see the development of different players.”
The U.S. dominated all sides of the ball, racking up 44 kills, outblocking Columbia 6-3 and serving up nine aces, while allowing just one.
“We played better today,” Columbian captain Maria Alejandra Marin said. “Different to yesterday we were more disciplined. In the last set we made some mistakes but we are a young team and we need to learn how to control the game. We will continue learning and giving our best in the next matches.”
Argentina 3, Venezuela 0
Argentina put up eight blocks and 15 aces in an easy sweep of Venezuela on Sunday.
“Our advantage over Venezuela today was in the serve and the blocking and defense,” Argentinian captain Emilce Sosa said. “In the third set when they narrowed the difference was because they improved the attack and blocking but we recovered the focus in the key points for the victory.”
Paula Yamila Nizetich was nearly unstoppable for Argentina with 17 points, including a match-high 12 kills and five aces. Lucia Fresco added 12 points, with 10 kills and two aces.
Maria Jose Perez paced Venezuela with nine points, all on kills, but it was not enough to help her team overcome the large point deficit in blocks (one), aces (two) and errors (19).
“I think today we failed more in the reception which didn’t allow us to build the game we wanted to, but I am confident about my team and I know that as the competition moves forward the girls will catch confidence and things are going to be better,” Venezuela coach Jhosvany Chambers said.
Puerto Rico 3, Mexico 0
In a match that took just 80 minutes, Puerto Rico’s Daly Santana continued to dominate the competition, pounding down 11 kills, while adding seven aces and a block as her team cruised to a sweep.
“Very glad with the victory but not satisfied with the way we are playing,” Puerto Rican coach Javier Gaspar said. “Mexico did cause a lot of problems with their serves and complicated the plan to use more the middle players. We have to continue ramping our game level.”
Pilar Marie Victoria added 14 points, with 11 kills, two blocks and an ace as the Puerto Ricans won the stat sheet with 37 kills (to 26), 11 blocks (to 6) and nine aces (to 2).
Mexico got its strength from a 12-point effort by captain Andrea Rangel in the form of 10 kills and the team’s lone two aces. Dulce Carranza added six points, including five kills and a block.
“I think that for some moments we were able to play at the same level against a team with much more experience than us,” Mexican coach Ricardo Naranjo said. “Our mistakes in defense and reception had to do with the losing of some important rallies. However we finished with a junior player as setter and I think is a positive thing to have her playing at this level in a fair way. I think that is an achievement for the Mexican volleyball and me personally, also”.
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