NORCECA PAN-AMERICAN CUP 2017
· June 15-25, 2017
· Lima, Peru
Gold Medal match
United States 3, Dominican Republic 1 (25-16, 19-25, 25-20, 25-23)
The United States earned their fifth Pan American Cup gold medal with a four-set win over the Dominican Republic on Sunday. The fifth title makes the Americans the winningest country in the 16 year history of the event. The U.S. has now won four Pan Am Cup titles in the last six years, and 10 overall medals in the event.
The Dominican Republic’s silver medal is its 15th overall Pan Am Cup medal. The DR won the gold in 2014 and 2016.
United States 3, Dominican Republic 1
Madison Kingdon racked up 21 points, with 16 kills and two aces, while three other Americans added double-digit points efforts in a four-set win to clinch the Pan American Cup title on Sunday.
“It feels great to be the champions of this important tournament,” United States coach Karch Kiraly said. “Dominican Republic is a great team with a lot of experience in NORCECA zone and we respect them very much.”
Liz McMahon (18), Paige Tapp (13) and Michelle Bartsch-Hackley (13) followed. McMahon tallied 13 kills and two aces, while Tapp managed four blocks alongside Rhamat Alhassan.
“Our team has evolved a lot during the period of this competition,” American setter and captain Micha Hancock said. “Our satisfaction is very big since the competition has served to give an opportunity to our young talents and we are so happy for winning the title for our country.”
As a team, the United States dominated the net with 16 blocks, while adding a match-high 58 kills and six aces. The Dominican Republic managed 52 kills, eight blocks and three aces. Twenty-one American miscues helped keep the DR in the match.
“Congratulations to United States for the victory,” De La Cruz said. “Their blocking dominated us for moments and we also failed too much with our attacks so we were not able to put everything together like we did in the second set.”
Brayelin Elizabeth Martinez racked up 25 points to lead the Dominican Republic, with 23 kills, a block and an ace. Bethania De La Cruz De Pena added 15 points, with 12 kills, two blocks and an ace.
“We missed the aggressiveness with our serves,” DR coach Marcos Kwiek said. “The American setter has a very fast game and made it very difficult for us to defend. However, I think that in case we had been able to keep the aggressive serve we had in the second set, which allowed to control the ball, we would have obtained better results.”
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