Cuba U-19 women's volleyball team suffers setback in NORCECA championship

Havana, July 16 (JIT) - The Cuban national team suffered its second setback in the Norceca U-19 Women's Volleyball Championship 2024, taking place in Honduras, losing to Puerto Rico by 0-3 (25-17, 25-17 25-10).

For the Puerto Ricans it was their first victory at the Jorge Galeano Gymnasium, in Tegucigalpa, in a match in which they outscored our team 35 to 17 in attacks, 10 to 5 in blocks and 12 to 2 in points from direct serves.

Corner player Salet Castillo and middle blocker Yalenis Marquez were the most productive for Cuba with just eight and six points.

While their opponents had a trio of double-digit scorers: auxiliary attacker Pamela Agosto (16), center back Jomailee Reyes (13) and Alana Guibert (10).

The students of Olympic medalist Norka Latamblet started the match with a 4-0 lead, but effective attacks and the good serving of Jomaille put the Puerto Ricans ahead, who achieved in the second set an early difference in their favor of 15-10 while maintaining control in the service, according to the tournament website.

In the third set Puerto Rico secured the victory with much more determination to show a record of one win and one setback, on the eve of the clash against the strong United States (2-0) that is undefeated after beating Canada in straight sets (25-19, 25-13, 25-15).

The Cuban team will face the Canadians (1-1), who should not have any setbacks to dominate the match and secure the second place in the A bracket.

Ashley Simón, the Cuban passer, said after the match against the Puerto Ricans that “we started with strength and a lot of spirit, but when we want to do things right we get nervous and that makes us fail”.

She acknowledged that “there is a lack of communication among us, discussions that hurt us as a team. Let's wait and see what happens against Canada. We need more unity and to be a team”.

In key B, the Dominicans beat the Hondurans 3-0 (25-20, 25-11, 25-12) and got their first success, while Mexico defeated Costa Rica 3-0 (25-16, 25-15, 25-15) to remain undefeated in two outings.