MATCH INFO

Niterói, Brazil, August 3, 2011 – Puerto Rico won its first match of the FIVB Volleyball Men´s Junior World Championship 2011, defeating Tunisia, 3-2 (20-25, 25-13, 23-25, 25-20, 15-11) this early afternoon at Caio Martins gymnasium.

Puerto Rico (1-2) took its first match victory of the tournament and scored two points while Tunisia (0-3) scored its first point with the 2-3 loss.

Neither team qualified for the next phase in Rio, and will keep playing in Niterói for ninth through 16th place in the competition. Their next matches will be against Pool C last positions, Germany and Egypt.

Puerto Rico’s Steven Morales led all scorers with 27 points on 22 attacks, two blocks and three service aces. On the Tunisian side, Mohammed Arbi was the best scorer with 19 points on 16 attacks and three blocks.

Puerto Rico led in attacks, 52-41, in blocks 14-8 and in service aces, 8-5. However Tunisia scored 40 points on Puerto Rico errors while giving up 34 points on errors.

The first set was very balanced and the score was close. Tunisia led 8-7 at the first technical timeout (TTO). Puerto Rico led at the second TTO, 16-15. After a few mistakes from both sides, Tunisia took the lead and managed to close the set, 25-20. Mohamed Arbi was the best player in the set, scoring seven points.

Puerto Rico held an 8-5 advantage at the first technical timeout (TTO) of the second set.  With Puerto Rico still leading 9-6, Tunisia scored on a tip by Mohamed Ayech followed by a spike to pull to within two at 9-7. But Puerto Rico went on a 6-2 run to capture a 15-9 lead. Tunisia never recovered.

Tunisia held an 8-5 lead in the first TTO of the third set and increased it to 10-6 before Puerto Rico rallied and eventually tied the score at 11-11. The teams exchanged points until the score was tied 14-14. Late in the set, with the score tied 23-23, Tunisia used an ace and a block from Mohamed Arbi Ben Abdallah to win the set.

The fourth set was tied at 16-16 when Jose Ribas scored with an ace, followed by a block by Jedissan Agosto. Tunisia would never again tie

The tie-breaker was even until the score was tied 10-10. Morales scored with an attack off Tunisia’s block and Noah Emmanuel Marrero added an ace. Tunisia called timeout, but Morales responded with a block. Puerto Rico’s next serve went into the net, but Ricardo Archilla responded with a kill from the left side. Puerto Rico won the set and the match when Tunisia was called for a double contact on the set.