PR falls to Cuba in final match at Women’s NORCECA Olympic Qualifier

Puerto Rico’s Ivania Ortiz spikes against Cuba during Saturday’s final match of the Women’s NORCECA Continental Olympic Qualifier in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Cuba won the match in straight sets. (NORCECA) 

By THE STAR STAFF

The Puerto Rican National Team fell to Cuba in straight sets on Saturday in the final match of the Women’s NORCECA Continental Olympic Qualifier in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic at the Prof. Ricardo Gioriver Arias Volleyball Palace.

Although the scoreboard favored the Cubans by set scores of 25-22, 25-18 and 25-21, Puerto Rico had its moments, particularly in the first and third sets, when the team applied strong pressure from the service line and managed to keep the match close. Puerto Rico held a 6-2 advantage in service aces, reflecting their aggressiveness and determination to stay in the contest.

“Cuba imposed a style of play on us right from the start, applying heavy pressure from the service line and with attacks at the net, and we simply couldn’t figure it out,” Puerto Rico coach Juan Carlos Núñez said. “[Cuba] Coach Luizomar [de Moura] deserves congratulations for the great job he has done with that team in less than a year.”

In the third set, Puerto Rico narrowed the gap after falling behind, but the rally fell short as Cuba closed out the match. 

Decelise Champion led Puerto Rico with 11 points, followed by Adriana Rodríguez, who contributed 10 points and was steady at the net. 

Yalain Regla de la Peña was the top scorer for Cuba with 12 points, followed by captain Laura Suárez with 10 points and Diaris Pérez with nine.

Collectively, Cuba held a slight 36-35 edge in attacks and outperformed Puerto Rico 12-7 in blocks, while Puerto Rico committed 25 errors compared to Cuba’s 13.