Puerto Rico falls to Canada in the match for the Norceca bronze medal

The score closed 3-0 (26-24, 25-13 and 25-20) in favor of Canada, which took the third place of the contest held at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum.
Last Thursday, Puerto Rico had defeated the Canadians 3-0 (25-23, 25-22 and 25-18) in a group stage match and that gave the Puerto Rican direct pass to the semifinals.

Do not start upside down today, Puerto Rico obtained one of the three spaces for the Pre-Olympic, which will be held in January in the Dominican Republic. Canada and Mexico stayed with the other two spaces.
Speaking of the result of the commitment, the leader of Puerto Rico, Jose Mieles, explained that their players seemed not to have handled properly the painful and strenuous setback on Saturday in the semifinals against the Dominican Republic, in addition to the physical fatigue caused by that meeting that went to five sets and ended late at night.
“There are many factors. I can think of physical tiredness, emotional tiredness. I think, maybe, a bit of frustration over the game last night (against Dominican), ”said Mieles, who regretted that Puerto Rico lost its third medal this summer.
“We did not meet one of the goals we had set, which was to win a medal. We're all frustrated, it's the third medal we lose this summer: the Pan American Cup and (in the Norceca Champions Cup in) Colorado Springs, ”he said.
The leader denied that the national players had underestimated the Canadians and showed concern about what could happen with this team in the Pre-Olympic. “There is a little pain, a little frustration. But these things can't happen again, if we want an Olympic qualification. ”
Looking ahead to the Pre-Olympic, Mieles hopes to work with athletes who stay in Puerto Rico to avoid losing rhythm. The leader said that six players, among them Stephanie Enright, Aury Cruz, Natalia Valentin and Neira Ortiz, leave for Europe to rejoin their teams.

The plans are for the team to be complete – at the latest – on December 26 so they can be training together for three weeks.
Little emotion in the game
In the first quarter, Canada always stayed ahead on the scoreboard. Puerto Rico managed to approach by a point twice (4-5 and 5-6) thanks to errors in the service of the northern ones. Canada was able to keep the advantage, until the Puerto Ricans managed to tie 24 points with a ace from Paulina Prieto Close me. An attack of Kiera Van Ryk and a negative attack by the Puerto Rican Aury Cruz gave them that partial, in which Canada surpassed Puerto Rico in positive attacks by 19-9.

For the second period, the scoreboard looked more level until the score was 12-15 in favor of the visitors, which caused the national leader Jose Mieles to ask for time. Not seeing a reaction from his team, Mieles again asked for time with game 12-17 in favor of Canada. The native sextet, could not with the service and blockade of Canada, only managed to make an additional point, to lose by 12 units, 25-13.

The inclusion of the poncena usher Raymariely Santos in the third round it proved to be effective, causing Puerto Rico to close the first technical half with the advantage of a point (8-7). When the locals made three more notes (11-7), it was Canada that asked for time, which tied for 13. Then it was Mieles' turn to talk with their players.
The last part was the most close of all, with both teams staying close.
Dominican took the gold
On the other hand, the Dominican Republic won the gold medal of the tournament after defeating the United States in the final game in five sets.
The quequeyanas took the match 25-19, 25-23, 15-25 and 20-25 and 15-9.
In the first two games of the Sunday, Mexico defeated Cuba 3-1 (25-20, 25-20, 17-25 and 25-22) to keep the fifth position, while Costa Rica beat Trinidad and Tobago 3-0 (25-19, 25-21 and 25-19) to conclude in seventh place.