NORCECA Pan-American Cup 2017
- June 15-26, 2017
- Lima, Peru
- Schedule/Results
Group B
Dominican Republic 3, Trinidad & Tobago 0 (25-22, 25-21, 25-20)
Cuba 3, Canada 1 (21-25, 25-20, 25-10, 25-22)
Peru 3, Chile 0 (25-13, 25-13, 25-12)
The defending champs from the Dominican Republic were challenged more than the prognosticators thought in a sweep of Trinidad and Tobago, while Peru cruised past Chile and Cuba downed a wounded Canadian side on Saturday to kick off Group B action.
Dominican Republic 3, Trinidad & Tobago 0
The defending champion Dominican Republic was outblocked 8-5, but had more than enough help from 30 T&T miscues in a sweep Saturday at the Pan American Cup.
“Trinidad & Tobago shows improvement every year,” Dominican Republic coach Marcos Kwiek said. “We need to improve in some aspects because the group is very strong and every team as a chance. Our plan is to play one game at a time to achieve our goals.”
Brayelin Elizabeth Martinez led all scorers with 12 points for the DR, including a match-high nine kills, two blocks and an ace. Jineiry Martinez added eight points, with seven kills and an ace.
Three players posted double-digit point tallies for Trinidad and Tobago: Channon Thompson (11), Sinead Jack (10) and Krystle Esdelle (10). Esdelle managed eight kills and two blocks, while Sinead added seven kills and three blocks. Thompson tallied seven kills, two blocks and two aces.
“It was a good fight against a very strong team,” T&T captain Renelle Forde said. “Playing our first match against the Dominican Republic will be helpful for the rest of the tournament. It was a good start of the tournament and we will play better.”
Cuba 3, Canada 1
Cuba outscored Canada 96 to 77 including a crushing 25-10 Set 3 win. Heidy Casanova Alvarez provided 23 points and Regla Rainierys Gracia Gonzalez added 22 to lead the Cuban charge. Alvarez managed 21 kills, while Gonzalez tallied 19 kills, two aces and a block.
The Cubans won every statistical category, posting 59 kills to 43, outblocking the Canadians 10-8 and serving up five aces to four.
“Canada’s blocking was very high and consistent during the first set and then we improved our reception and served better,” Cuban coach Wilfredo Robinson said. “We still made too many errors and need to reduce that but is a very young team and we expected it.”
Canada was without two players – Marie Alex Belanger and Sarah Chase, due to ankle injuries.
“We have been together just for a few weeks and Cuba’s game grew up a lot after the first set,” Canadian coach Marcello Abbondanza said. “I need to understand my team and find solutions now that we lost two players with injuries and I don’t know if they are going to be ready for the next match.”
Kyla Richey led the Canadian effort with 17 points, including 12 kills, a match-high four blocks and an ace. Shainah Joseph added nine points, all on kills.
Peru 3, Chile 0
Peru nearly doubled the output of their Chilean counterparts, outscoring them 75 to 38 in a three-set drubbing Saturday.
Peru committed just 11 errors in the match and also excelled in every other category, posting 38 kills, outblocking Chile 10-5 and serving up three aces.
“It was our first match with the new coach and we showed the improvement in our serves and blocking, two areas in which we have been working,” Peruvian captain Mirtha Uribe said.
Three Peruvian players posted double-digit point tallies, led by Angela Leyva’s 15, including 14 kills. Maguilaura Frias (11) and Clarivett Yllescas (11) followed. Yllescas managed five kills and a match-high six blocks.
Captain Catalina Melo tallied a team-best eight points, with seven kills and a block, for Chile. Amalia Carvajal added seven points, all on kills.
“Peru is a very solid team and played good defense,” Chilean coach Eduardo Guillaume said. “They outplayed us in every aspect of the game. In the third set our reception collapsed. Our goal is to work with this group of players and to get consistent training for a continued period of time.”
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