Costa Rica finishes the second match of XI Women’s Pan Am Cup with success – Volleyball News
Despite having the advantage of familiar conditions and the stupendous support of local fans, Mexico lost its third match of the XI Women's Pan Am Cup to Costa Rica on Friday.
The visiting team exhibited a spectacular show of volleyball and finished the match with following result: 3-1 (25-27, 25-18, 25-20, 25-23). The match was hotly contested and scoring was intensely tight from first frame to the decisive fourth stanza. Costa Rica took almost two hours to dismantle the power of hosts in the match.
Victory moved the winning team to 1-1 record. Costa Rica had dropped its previous match to Brazil on the opening day of the tournament. However, the team got back on track and gave out a winning performance against tough rival Mexico in the next fixture.
Costa Rica was supported by Verania Willis, who added team-high 19 points. Three other Costa Rican players added double-figure score and contributed to the overall success of the team.
Alejandra Isiordia of the home squad staged great battle with visitors and had a match-high 25 points, but still the team dropped the decision.
Mexican and Costa Ricans attackers came into stride in the first set of the match. The ball kept rolling in the air and both sides exchanged long rallies. Hosts used the competitive edge and tried to put pressure on the rival side. Nonetheless, the Costa Ricans displayed good effort to stay hand in hand with the opponent. Eventually, Mexico closed the first set with two points, 27-25.
Mexican team delighted the home fans with opening-set victory, but that proved to be the only set-win for Mexico. Costa Rica devastated the hosts in the following sets and captured three sets in row. Costa Rica ended the match with better points and settled for 3-1 victory.
“We came to play well focused and followed the tactical plan of our coach (Xavier) Perales,” Verania Willis said. “But it was not easy because Mexico is a team with a lot of fighting spirit that we respect very much.”
“Mexico did what they could against a rival that played well,” coach Etanislao Vachino said. “The ups and downs are part of the developing process of a young team. The team that played better won the match.”
In the next run, Costa Rica will cross ways with Peru on Saturday. The match will take place at the Gimnasio COBACH in Cd. Jurez, Mexico. The hosts Mexico is scheduled to meet Argentina in the third match of the XI Women’s Pan American Cup on the weekend.
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