NOGALES, Mexico, June 11, 2024. – Canada swept Puerto Rico 3-0 (25-19, 25-23, 25-13) in their pool B debut at the NORCECA U21 Men’s Continental Championship, which began on Tuesday in Nogales, Mexico.
Canada (1-0) will face Guatemala (0-1) on the second day of competition. Puerto Rico (0-1) will go up against Cuba (1-0).
Canada finished their first match with a huge advantage in blocks (10-1). They also led in attacks (34-30), scored one more point from serves (5-4), and conceded fewer points on errors (20-26).
Outside hitter Piers De Greeff was Canada’s top scorer with 14 points (12 attacks, 2 blocks). Opposite Daniil Hershtynovich recorded 13 points (12 attacks, 1 service ace).
Puerto Rico’s team captain, opposite Ramón Rosado, scored 12 points (10 attacks, one block, one ace). Outside hitter Lorenzo Rivera added 9 points.
Kai Boyko, captain of Canada said: “There were some ups and downs, which is normal because for many of the guys this is there first international match. We were kind of figuring out what we got to do. We stuck to the game plan well especially in the second and third set. We’re happy with how it went for the most part. I think we blocked a lot better towards the end”.
Ramón Rosado, captain of Puerto Rico, said: “It was challenging. We knew little about them because this Canada team is a new group, and as we saw, they are very good. We came out stronger in the first two sets. I feel that the third set could have been better. But it’s just the first game; hopefully, we’ll get to face them again. We’re going to keep working hard”.
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