Puerto Rico falls to Mexico at NORCECA U19 continentals
- The San Juan Daily Star
- 8 hours ago
- 2 min read
By THE STAR STAFF
Mexico topped Puerto Rico in four sets to take the lead in Group B of the NORCECA Girls’ U-19 Continental Championship in San José, Costa Rica on Tuesday.
Mexico dominated the first set 25-17 and set the pace early on. Puerto Rico responded in the second set with active defense, cleaner attacks and a six-point lead that forced Mexico to make adjustments. The Mexican team then bore down, tying the score and closing out the set 27-25 and appearing to shift the match’s momentum.
Puerto Rico responded by stepping up the pressure in the third set, ultimately prevailing by a narrow margin (27-25) to extend the match and prove they could go toe-to-toe with their opponents.
Mexico regained control from the start of the fourth set, however, using greater stability in reception and fewer errors to turn in another 25-17 win to seal the match and take over first place in the group.
“We did what we could; there’s nothing left to do but focus on our next match and move forward,” Carinialys Román, Puerto Rico’s offensive captain, said after the match. “We couldn’t close the block against Mexico, and that hurt us in the end.”
Collectively, Mexico was more efficient in attacks (57-54) and service aces (6-3). Puerto Rico held a slight advantage in blocks (7-6), but the decisive difference lay in unforced errors: Puerto Rico conceded 33 points to 22 by Mexico, a margin that ultimately tipped the scales at key moments.
Karen González finished with 22 points for Mexico. Isabella Gallardo scored 16 points and Ángela Pérez added 14.
Román led Puerto Rico with 16 points, followed by Ana Aquino, Daniela Echeandia and Eliany Quiñones each with 11.
Puerto Rico, which finished the group stage with a 1-1 record, was left to await the results from the other pools to determine its opponent for the next round.
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