June 2014
Year.12 - No. 78
Dominican Republic
win first title ever
at NORCECA Girls’
U18
Coach James Stone II said. “Certainly I’m disappointed with the loss, but not of
my team, it’s a group of very talented players and for having played this match
they become a better team, they did a wonderful effort.”
In the bronze medal match, Mexico defeated Puerto Rico 3-1 (26-24, 25-20, 1925, 25-19) to capture the last berth to the 2015 Girls’ U-18 FIVB World Championship.
Kathya Garcia and Daniela Mireles topped Mexico with 19 and 15 points, respectively.
Puerto Rico’s Paola Salas finished with 18 points and Alejandra Negron had 16 in
the losing effort.
“Our strategy worked well, we played smart game and were mentally prepared for
Puerto Rico’s resistance,” Mexico’s Coach Ricardo Naranjo said. “Puerto Rico played
with a lot of character but we controlled them with offensive serves and our
counterattacks”.
In the first match of Sunday, Costa Rica subdued Guatemala 3-0 (25-18, 25-14,
25-18) for the fifth place.
Final Positions
1. Dominican Republic
2. United States
3. Mexico
4. Puerto Rico
5. Costa Rica
6. Guatemala
7. Trinidad and Tobago
8. Honduras
9. St Lucia
Individual Awards
MVP: Natalia Martinez, DOM
Best Scorer: Alejandra Negrón, PUR
Best Spiker: Kathryn Plummer, USA
Best Blocker: Mariana Rodriguez, CRC
Best Server: Milan Stokes, USA
Best Setter: Lauren Speckman, USA
Best Receiver: Alejandra Negron, PUR
Best Digger: Valeria Monge, CRC
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica, June 29, 2014 - Dominican Republic made history by defeating Best Libero: Valeria Monge, CRC
defending champions United States 3-1 (25-14, 25-21, 20-25, 25-20) for their first
ever gold medal at the NORCECA Girls’ U18 Continental Championship on Sunday. All-Star
Outside Hitter: Vielka Peralta, DOM
The Dominican victory snapped a run of six consecutive crowns of United States Outside Hitter: Alejandra Negron, PUR
at the biennial tournament. Both teams had secured slots to next year’s FIVB World Middle Blocker: Mariana Rodríguez, CRC
Championship of the age-group category.
Middle Blocker: Joseline Coronel, PUR
Opposite: Kathryn Plummer, USA
Massiel Matos was the winners’ top scorer with 18 points, followed by Natalia
Martinez and Vielka Peralta with 14 and 12 points, respectively. Olivia Nicholson’s
14 points and Karthryn Plummer with 12 points led USA scorers.
USA’s 42 unforced errors were significant in their loss since the Dominicans made
only 24.
“I’m very happy, we are making history,” Dominican Captain Yokaty Perez said. “We
prepared ourselves especially to face USA, it was hard work and the result is a team
effort; we really played with our hearts out.”
The Brazilian coach Alexander Ceccato of Dominican Republic expressed: “It’s a
great accomplishment for various reasons, making history with the first gold ever,
defeating USA and finally because the players are seeing the results of working
hard”.
“I sincerely congratulate Dominican Republic, they are a very good team,” USA’s