| Brazilian women claim second Pan Am Cup title | |
Miami, Florida - Olympic champions Brazil claimed their second Women's Pan American Cup crown with a convincing straight-sets victory (25-18, 25-20, 25-14) over the Dominican Republic in the gold medal match at the University of Miami on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Aurea Cruz hammered a match-high 27 points and Sarai Alvarez added 20 of her own to lead Puerto Rico to a 25-22, 20-25, 25-21, 25-20 victory over USA to claim the bronze medal. The four finalists had already qualified for next year's World Grand Prix, the FIVB's premier annual women's competition. The Brazilians' serves and blocks were the keys to their triumph over the Dominicans. The winners out-blocked their opponents 14-5. Sheila Castro led the balanced attack of Brazil with 15 points, including four blocks, and Natalia Pereira had three blocks en route to her 10 tallies. Fabiana Claudino added nine points and Mari Steinbrecher and Thaisa Menezes contributed seven apiece. Milagros Cabral topped Dominican Republic with 11 points, Lisvel Eve added 8 and Bethania de la Cruz was limited to only seven points. Danielle Scott-Arruda led USA with 14 points and Nancy Metcalf and Kristin Richards added 13 and 11 respectively. In other action, Peru held off a resilient Argentina, prevailing 27-25, 25-20, 16-25, 19-25, 17-15 in a titanic five-setter for fifth place. Jessenia Uceda led five Peruvians in double figures with 19 points. Patricia Soto added 16, including three aces, Leyla Chihuan contributed three blocks and three aces among her 13 points, and Yulissa Zamudio and Carla Ortiz posted 13 and 10 respectively.
In other matches, Canada swept Costa Rica 25-20, 25-13, 25-19 in the seventh-place match. Tiffany Dodds topped Canada with 16 points including three blocks and one ace, and Nadine Alphonse put up five blocks among her 10 points for the match. Brittney Page and Tammy Mahon each contributed six tallies. Verania Willis was Costa Rica's top attacker with 11 points, all attacks, and Angela Willis added 8 points, including three blocks and three aces. Early on Saturday, Trinidad & Tobago defeated Guatemala 25-15, 25-16, 25-22 in the tenth-place match. Krystle Esdelle paced Trinidad & Tobago with a match-high 21 points, including 17 kills, three aces and a block. Jalica Ross and Kelly-Anne Billingy added nine points apiece in the victory. Susana Alvarado Gomez was credited with eight points for Guatemala. Blanca E. Recinos Ocana added six points in the match.
Final standings: 1. Brazil 2. Dominican Republic 3. Puerto Rico 4. United States 5. Peru 6. Argentina 7. Canada 8. Costa Rica 9. Mexico 10. Trinidad & Tobago 11. Guatemala. | |
Photo courtesy of FIBV |
