MEXICO'S ISIORDIA AND BRICIO MAKE THE GIRLS U18 PAN AM CUP ALL STAR TEAM

Alejandra Isiordia and Samantha Bricio got the honors
at home.

TIJUANA, Mexico.- Mexican players Alejandra Isiordia and Samantha Bricio were included in the Girls U18 Pan American Cup. 

Isiordia was named best server while Bricio was considered as the best scorer.

The most valuable player of the competition was Argentina’s captain Priscila Bosio, whose teammates Graciela Allende and Jazmin Molly, awarded the best setter and best receiver respectively.

The best libero of the competition was Dominican Winnifer Fernandez. Dominican Republic had also two more members in this selected group as Brayelin Martinez was named best spiker and Luz Divina Nuez the Best Blocker.

Puerto Rico’s Dianise Rodriguez finished as best digger.

ARGENTINA WINS THE FIRST U18 GIRLS' PAN AM CUP

The battle for gold was decided in five sets.

TIJUANA, Mexico.- Argentina became the first champion of the Girls’ U18 Pan American Cup after defeating Mexico 3-2 (25-20, 25-27, 25-21, 15-25, 15-13).

Despite the loss, Samantha Bricio was the top scorer of the match with 34 points (31 on attack), while Alejandra Isiordia finished with 30. For Argentina, Maria Sol Calvette ended with 22 and Priscila Bosio with 19.

Micaela Tassara scored 11, and Natalia Cendan 10. “It was so difficult for both of us to close one point because of the effort and quality shown in this match, cause we faced such great players like Bricio and Isiordia”, said Argentinean coach, Guillermo Caceres.

“I think in the end we could match our expectation, I anticipated we could face each other at the finals, it happens and it was so close for us, but We will face again in the World Championship in Turkey”, stated Victor Garcia, Mexico’s coach.

BRAYELIN MARTINEZ TOPPED DOMINICAN REPUBLIC TO WIN THE BRONZE MEDAL

Peruvian captain Milagros Rodriguez tries to save a ball
during the Bronze Medal match against Dominican
Republic, that won 3-2 over Peru.

TIJUANA, Mexico.- Brayelin Martinez scored 31 points and contributed with Dominican Republic to win third place at Girls’ U18 Pan Am Cup after beating Peru 3-2 (23-25, 23-25, 25-13, 25-12, 15-9).

Martinez converted 28 spikes and 2 services, while Pamela Soriano finished with 14 and Nairobi Agramonte and Luz Divina Nuez scored 12 apiece. Milagros Rodriguez scored 16 and Angela Leyva 12 for Peru.

“The girls felt down and tired after last night’s match against Mexico, We couldn’t find our tactical idea until the third set, when they decided to play, I think that was the moment when things changed”, stated Dominican coach Wilson Sanchez.

“This was a more interesting match than the first one and definitively our team increased the level, but unfortunately it happened almost at the end of this tournament and in this match we lost concentration on the third set”, said Peru’s Manuel Artieda.

“We understood what playing enthusiastically is, but couldn’t achieve the advantage  We had”, said Milagros Rodriguez about Peru. 

Dominican captain Soriano “everything became easier on the third set, but Peru didn’t quit playing well”.

COSTA RICA CLOSES ON SEVENTH PLACE

Costa Rica's captain Gabriela Arias tries to block
a ball while facing El Salvador on the final day of the
First Girls U18 Pan Am Cup.

TIJUANA, Mexico.- Costa Rica defeated El Salvador 3-2 (25-16, 23-25, 26-24, 21-25, 15-6) to finish in seventh place on the last day of the Girls U18 Pan American Cup.

Yuliana Gonzalez Alfaro scored 28 points for Costa Rica, and captain Gabriela Arias ended with 16, while Carmen Amador registered 15.

Salvadorean captain Andrea Manzur tallied 20 and Maria Jose Galeano 28. “We had a weak start, and even though We recovered, we failed on our defense”, said Manzur.

“If you miss more than 20 times in your service in a match that is a lot. We did not miss our services on the last set, and that helped us to achieve this victory”, said Costa Rican coach Martin Rodriguez.

Both teams Salvador and Costa Rica will compete in the Central American Championships, in this category. 

Thus their participation in this tournament was part of their preparation, coaches agreed.

PUERTO RICO WINS FIFTH PLACE OVER CHILE

Stephanie Massanet was the Top Scorer for Puerto Rico.

TIJUANA, Mexico.- Puerto Rico finished in the fifth place after defeating Chile 3-0 (25-15, 25-14, 25-20) at Girls’ U18 Pan American Cup.

Stephanie Massanet was the top scorer for the Puerto Rican team with 15, while Gabriela Varela scored 14, and Kanisha Jimenez 10.

 For Chile, Amalia Carvajal scored 14. “Finishing sixth with an U15 team in a U18 tournament playing against more experience teams it is not easy, but We enjoyed a lot this competition and we appreciate the invitation made by the Norceca confederation”, stated Chilean coach Italo Raggio.

“Some of the players in this category could not be at this tournament, because were called to the senior Pan Am Cup in Juarez (Chihuahua), but our girls did a great job on the first and second set, and this tournament helped us to see how to prepare and evaluate the team for the World Championship”, said Puerto Rican coach Eric Gonzalez.

FROM THE CARIBBEAN TO THE PACIFIC COAST BORDER, EVELYN COMES TO SHARE HUNGER FOR WINNING

S

Former Dominican Star Libero Evelyn Carreras, gives
instructions to Mexico's U18 Kaomi Solis during a
concentration in Peru.

TIJUANA, Mexico.— Maybe the semifinal between Mexico and Dominican Republic had a special taste for Evelyn Carreras.

On one side, there was her native country team, Dominican Republic. On the other one there was Mexico, where she lives and works as an assistant coach.

Mexico defeated Dominican Republic in 5 sets and qualified to the finals of theGirls’ U18 Pan Am Cup. This was the first time a mexican team reached the finals in a continental competition.

This same team edged Dominican Republic in the Norceca tournament celebrated one year ago in Guatemala, looking for a spot in the category World Championship that will be played in Turkey.

Carreras achieved a lot of experiencie after playin in the Dominican National Teams. “Two years ago I retired, but now I started to work as assitant head coach”, said the former libero, who arrived by the beginning of this year to Mexico to work with the Sports talent program in Baja California.

Carreras competed in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. “I have also been in World Championships and in the Grand Prix thanks to God”, she remembered.

Dominican Volleyball growth has been notorious in the last years. The island won a silver medal in the 2009 Women’s World Junior Championship, losing only against Germany, but eliminated favorite team Brazil, in the semifinals.

“The Dominican project started since 1994, by getting youngsters who have been cosen for national teams and also have represented the country in International events succesfully”, she said.

Carreras has worked with the female teams of Baja California in the National Junior Olympic Festivals, as well as in the U20 Pan Am Cup with the young girls who finished fourth in that tournament celebrated in Peru.

That same team reached its second podium in one year after reaching the finals the U20 Pan American Cup, celebrated in Tijuana, this weekend.

MEXICO WINS AGAINST DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, LOOKS FOR REVENGE AGAINST ARGENTINA

Mexican players celebrate the victory over Dominican
Republic after five sets.

TIJUANA, Baja California.- Mexico came from behind and defeated Dominican Republic 3-2 (19-25, 25-12, 18-25, 25-23, 15-5) to advance to the finals at the Girls’ U18 Pan Am Cup and will face Argentina this friday.

Brayelin Martinez finished with 25 points, and Pamela Soriano with 21 for the Dominicans. Mexico’s Samantha Bricio finished with 23 and Alejandra Isiordia with 22.

Dominican Republic will face Peru in the battle for the third place.

Mexico came back on the second set, and played a very tough fourth one, but it helped to prolong the match to five sets. 

“This match was very important for us. We could win easily but We did not give it all. It was a very tough and tied match, and Mexico did not surrender any time”, said Dominican captain Soriano.

“We were very relaxed at the beginning, but We recovered and did our best. When We played the fifth set said it is now or never”, stated Alicia Castro, captain of Mexico. 

“They knew how to get back on track and We didn´t know how to apply our tactical idea”, said Wilson Sanchez about the Dominican team.

“We have faced each other many times, sometimos you are up and suddenly you are down, we fought till the end and will be preparing more intensively for the World championship”, concluded Victor García, coach of Mexico.