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Canada Reaches First NORCECA Final Since 1989
Canada swept Cuba to reach a NORCECA final for the first time since 1989. The United States swept the three-time defending champion to reach the same one. Canada already beat the Americans once this week.
Canada swept Cuba 3-0 (25-19, 25-13, 25-17) in Santo Domingo on Tuesday and will play for a NORCECA championship for the first time since 1989.
The United States swept the host Dominican Republic 3-0 (25-19, 25-18, 25-10) to reach the same final.
Giovanni Guidetti's Canada out-attacked Cuba 42 to 28 and out-blocked it 8 to 2. Kiera Van Ryk and Hilary Howe scored 14 points each, and Abagayle Guezen added 11.
Erik Sullivan's United States out-blocked the Dominican Republic 15 to 3 and out-served it seven aces to one. Simone Lee scored 16 points, Asjia O'Neal and Logan Eggleston 12 apiece, and Jordan Thompson 11.
Canada Has Not Been Here Since 1989
Thirty-seven years is the gap. NORCECA put the date in the headline of its own match report rather than in the body, which is a federation deciding for everybody what the story of the night was.
NORCECA's own match report quoted Canada head coach Giovanni Guidetti afterwards.
"I think we did our job, and Cuba played hard as always. We expected a lot from them because they are a team that has improved a lot recently, but we were able to play with our fundamentals and close out the match."
Cuba's leading scorer, Yalain Regla De La Peña, finished with eight points, and the team managed two blocks to Canada's eight.
The same report carried Cuba's head coach, Luizomar De Moura.
"It was a very positive experience to play against teams at this world-class level because it is good for Cuba's rebuilding process. I hope we can play against teams like this more often so we can continue raising our level."
The Host Scored Ten in a Set
The Dominican Republic came into Tuesday as the three-time defending champion of this tournament, playing in its own building. It scored ten points in the third set.
The United States has played five matches in Santo Domingo and won four of them without dropping a set, including a 3-0 (26-24, 25-15, 25-17) quarterfinal against Puerto Rico.
Erik Sullivan, the American head coach, told NORCECA this afterwards.
"We improved as the week progressed. I liked the way we played today, with good rhythm, perhaps a little less intensity in the second set, but then we raised our level again in the third and closed out the match. Now we're very positive heading into tomorrow's final."
Canada Already Beat the Americans Once
Canada won the last pool match on Sunday, 3-2 (22-25, 26-24, 22-25, 25-23, 15-13), and it is the one match the United States has lost in Santo Domingo.
The final is at 4 p.m. Pacific on Wednesday, according to USA Volleyball, and the Dominican Republic plays Cuba for bronze.
The case for Canada is short. It beat this American team three days ago, and on Tuesday it took Cuba apart 42 attacks to 28 and eight blocks to two.
The case for the Americans is also short. They swept the three-time defending champion in that champion's own building, held it to ten points in a set, and have lost one match all week.
