NORCECA Pan-American Cup 2017
- June 15-26, 2017
- Canete, Peru
- Schedule/Results
Group B
Cuba 3, Chile 0 (25-12, 25-17, 25-19)
Dominican Republic 3, Canada 0 (25-19, 25-11, 25-18)
Peru 3, Trinidad & Tobago 1 (25-19, 24-26, 25-21, 25-7)
Peru and the Dominican Republic moved to 3-0 in Pan-American Cup play and look to be setting up a battle of the unbeatens in the group finale on Wednesday. Peru dispatched Trinidad & Tobago despite being outplayed statistically on Sunday, while the DR made short work of a still-injured Canadian side.
Cuba 3, Chile 0
Heidy Casanova Alvarez scored a match-high 27 points, with 25 kills, nearly matching Chile’s kill output on her own (26). As a team, Cuba racked up 53 kills, more than doubling the Chilean tally. Cuba also won the battle at the net (6-4) and from the service line (6-3).
“We didn’t want to allow that many points to Chile, but they have grown with the competition,” Cuban coach Wilfredo Robinson said. “Our goal is to win at least one set or two against Dominican Republic.”
Catalina Melo registered 14 points for Chile, including 13 kills, but no other player managed more than five points for the side.
“The attack of Cuba was very strong as usual, but today they were accurate also,” Chilean coach Eduardo Guillaume said. “It was very difficult for us to play.”
Dominican Republic 3, Canada 0
The Dominican Republic attack was too much for Canada as the team put down 46 kills, while allowing just 24. The Canadians outblocked the DR 6-5 and served up three aces to one, but could not overcome the offensive deficit or its own 23 miscues in the match.
“Our serve, which is one of the strongest part of our game, worked better today,” Dominican Republic coach Marco Kwiek said. “We have to improve our blocking and defense. Today I had the chance to use different formations to test some players.”
A trio of players posted double-digit scoring efforts to lead the Dominicans: Brayelin Elizabeth Martinez (13), Bethania De La Cruz De Pena (11) and Jineiry Martinez (11). Brayelin Martinez put down a match-high 13 kills, while De La Cruz and Jineiry Martinez added nine apiece.
Kyla Richey scored eight points, all on kills, to pace Canada. Michaela Reesor added seven points, with five kills and two blocks.
“To win against a strong team like Dominican Republic we have to play at our best level and that was not the case today,” Canadian captain Lucille Charuk said. “We need to minimize errors and today we made too many.”
Peru 3, Trinidad & Tobago 1
Trinidad and Tobago won its first set of the Pan Am Cup, but it was not enough to overcome an undefeated Peruvian side (3-0). Despite the 26-24 Set 2 win, T&T could not get out of its own way, making 37 errors in the match, nullifying its advantage in every other statistical category.
T&T led in kills (49-48), blocks (16-9) and tied in aces (5), but gave away 24 points on miscues (37-13) to spoil and otherwise standout effort.
“The blocking by Trinidad & Tobago was very high and consistent,” Peruvian captain Mirtha Uribe said. “The key for us was to avoid the mistakes and to locate good serves on the crucial moments.”
Channon Thompson led the way with 21 points, including 16 kills, three aces and two blocks. Sinead Jack added 18 points, with 11 kills and six stuffs.
Angela Leyva and Carla Rueda paced Peru with 18 points apiece. Leyva tallied a match-high 17 kills, while Rueda added 13 putdowns, three blocks and two aces.
“My team just needs to play more because practice is very different to playing real matches,” T&T coach Francisco Cruz said. “We made many errors but that is because lack of experience. It is the first time we take a set from Peru. Before it was always 3-0 and less than 15 points.”
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