Dominican Republic Holds Home Court, Wins NORCECA Group A

NORCECA CONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP GROUP A

• Oct. 11-16, 2017
• Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
• Schedule/Results

Dominican Republic def. Puerto Rico 3-0 (26-24, 25-21, 25-15)

Guatemala def. Jamaica 3-0 (25-23, 25-19, 25-20)

The Dominican Republic gave the home fans something to cheer about by winning Group A with a sweep of Puerto Rico in Sunday’s finale. Both teams already qualified for the World Championships with 2-0 records in the tournament.

Guatemala took third place in the group with the sweep of Jamaica.

Dominican Republic 3, Puerto Rico 0 

Annerys Vargas Valdez led the Dominicans at the net with six blocks to go with seven kills for a match-high 13 points in the win as the victors bested Puerto Rico 12-9 in stuffs.

Brayelin Martinez turned in 12 points, with 10 kills and two blocks, while Gina Mambru Casilla and Bethania De La Cruz De Pena notched nine points each. De La Cruz downed eight kills and a block and Casilla added seven kills and two stuffs.

The Dominicans outdid Puerto Rico 39-28 in kills and 12-9 in blocks, but Puerto Rico boasted a 5-0 lead in aces.

Stephanie Enright served up three of Puerto Rico’s five aces, while also adding a team-best nine kills for 12 points. Daly Santana chipped in nine points, all on blocks, while Neira Ortiz added a nine-point effort with six kills, two blocks and an ace.

Guatemala 3, Jamaica 0 

Beatriz Gomez Guzman Rut accounted for a match-high 17 points, including 14 kills, to lead Guatemala to victory.

Guatemala won the match with a 38-22 lead in kills and 8-5 edge in aces, to overcome a 9-8 deficit in blocks and five more errors (26-21).

“We achieved our objective and the girls executed the game we planned,” Guatemala coach William Fernandez said. “Our reception was steadier which allowed us to be effective in the attacks-This experience for sure will be of great for our preparation for the Central American Games in Nicaragua.”

In addition to Gomez’s 17 points, Guatemala was aided by 12 point performances by Blanca Recinos Ocana and Michelle Gonzalez Morales. Ocana notched 10 kills, a block and an ace, while Morales turned in six kills, a match-high four blocks and two aces.

Tahleia Bishop was the top scorer for Jamaica with 10 points, including nine kills and a block. Tasha-Gaye Richards was next with seven points, notching four blocks and three kills.