Costa Rica is undefeated at Women’s Final Four

JUANA DÍAZ, PUERTO RICO, June 10, 2023.- Costa Rican is undefeated at 2023 Women’s Norceca International League Final Four by winning in straight sets (25-13, 25-18, 25-12) against the US Virgin Islands.

With this victory, Costa Rica will face Puerto Rico tomorrow at 8:00 p.m. for the only ticket available in this tournament for the 2024 FIVB Challenger Cup (VCC), which offers the opportunity to qualify for the Volleyball Nations League, the FIVB’s most important annual international tournament with the participation of the best 16 teams of the world.

Costa Rica dominated the US Virgin Islands in attacks (44-22), as well in aces (3-2). The US Virgin Islands led (5-3) in blocks.

Tatiana Sayles Marín was the best scorer for Costa Rica with 16 points (14 kills, one block, one ace), María Fernanda Alfaro had 10 points, and Marcela Araya with eight. For the US Virgin Islands, I’tania Taylor with eight points, Anna Gillens with six, and Jala Dixon with five.

“It is important for our confidence. Our preparation has been good, but if we get here and we don’t take action, it’s useless. The girls have applied everything in a very disciplined and meticulous way. We are already prepared for the last exam, which is the most difficult”, said Pablo Acuña, coach of Costa Rica. “We know that Puerto Rico has historically been superior to us, but the girls are very excited to face them. We are going to continue studying Puerto Rico and find a way to decipher them and compete at a high level with them.”

Tatiana Sayles Marín, from Costa Rica, said that “we are very happy to have won today. We follow the directions of our technician. Our plan for this tournament was to come compete, and we are succeeding. For tomorrow’s game we are psyched up. Every match is different. The mentality is to come with everything, and we are going to prepare to give our best”.

The coach of the US Virgin Islands, Isaac Raphael, said that “They (Costa Rica) played very well. We do not attack aggressively. I think we will continue to improve and learn. Tomorrow, we go with Trinidad & Tobago, which is a great team with experience, and we hope to win”.