TULSA, Oklahoma, USA, July 18, 2022 – Puerto Rico used strong serving and passing to win the first set before Brazil turned things around and won 3-1 (19-25, 25-18, 25-17, 25-21) in their first pool play match of the Girls U19 Pan American Cup on Monday at the Cox Business Convention Center in Tulsa.
Brazil (1-0) will play Dominican Republic (1-0) on Tuesday. Puerto Rico (0-1) will face Costa Rica (0-1). All matches are being livestreamed on https://www.ballertv.com/events/2022-norceca-girls-u19-pan-american-cup.
Brazil led the match in attacks (52-44) and Puerto Rico led in aces (9-6). The teams tied in blocks (6-6). Brazil scored 30 points on Puerto Rico’s errors while committing 22.
Four Brazil players scored in double figures. Brazil outside hitter and Team Captain Vittoria Kuehne led all scorers with 18 points on 18 attacks.
Puerto Rico was led by opposite Grace Lopez who scored 15 points on nine kills, two blocks and four aces. Outside hitter Destiny Skerrett added 11.
Brazil Head Coach Hylmer do Nascimento Dias: We started the first set a little nervous, playing high and low. It’s normal because of their ages. We hope that during the competition, we can grow up and improve.
Juan Carlos Rodriguez, coach of Puerto Rico: “In the first set our serves and good reception created problems to them but we could not do it in the second and third. In the fourth set our reaction was too late against a tall and strong team. We need to keep the focus.”
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