Miami, Florida, July 6, 2009 - Olympic champions Brazil
claimed their second Women's Pan American Cup crown with a convincing
straight-sets victory (25-18, 25-20, 25-14) over the Dominican Republic in the
gold medal match at the University of Miami on Saturday.
Brazil's last Pan American title came in 2006 when the
competition took place in Puerto Rico. Dominican Republic was the defending
tournament champion.
Meanwhile, Aurea Cruz hammered a match-high 27 points and
Sarai Alvarez added 20 of her own to lead Puerto Rico to a 25-22, 20-25, 25-21,
25-20 victory over USA to claim the bronze medal.
The four finalists had already qualified for next year's
World Grand Prix, the FIVB's premier annual women's competition.
The Brazilians' serves and blocks were the keys to their
triumph over the Dominicans. The winners out-blocked their opponents 14-5.
Sheila Castro led the balanced attack of Brazil with 15
points, including four blocks, and Natalia Pereira had three blocks en route to
her 10 tallies. Fabiana Claudino added nine points and Mari Steinbrecher and
Thaisa Menezes contributed seven apiece.
Milagros Cabral topped Dominican Republic with 11 points,
Lisvel Eve added 8 and Bethania de la Cruz was limited to only seven points.
Danielle Scott-Arruda led USA with 14 points and Nancy
Metcalf and Kristin Richards added 13 and 11 respectively.
In other action, Peru held off a resilient Argentina,
prevailing 27-25, 25-20, 16-25, 19-25, 17-15 in a titanic five-setter for fifth
place.
Jessenia Uceda led five Peruvians in double figures with
19 points. Patricia Soto added 16, including three aces, Leyla Chihuan
contributed three blocks and three aces among her 13 points, and Yulissa
Zamudio and Carla Ortiz posted 13 and 10 respectively.
Leticia Boscacci had a match-high 24 points, hammering 21
kills along with three blocks for Argentina, while Georgina Pinedo added 21 and
Georgina Klug added 15.
In other matches, Canada swept Costa Rica 25-20, 25-13,
25-19 in the seventh-place match.
Tiffany Dodds topped Canada with 16 points including
three blocks and one ace, and Nadine Alphonse put up five blocks among her 10
points for the match. Brittney Page and Tammy Mahon each contributed six
tallies.
Verania Willis was Costa Rica's top attacker with 11
points, all attacks, and Angela Willis added 8 points, including three blocks
and three aces.
Early on Saturday, Trinidad & Tobago defeated
Guatemala 25-15, 25-16, 25-22 in the tenth-place match.
Krystle Esdelle paced Trinidad & Tobago with a
match-high 21 points, including 17 kills, three aces and a block. Jalica Ross
and Kelly-Anne Billingy added nine points apiece in the victory.
Susana Alvarado Gomez was credited with eight points for
Guatemala. Blanca E. Recinos Ocana added six points in the match.
Final standings:
1. Brazil
2. Dominican Republic
3. Puerto Rico
4. United States
5. Peru
6. Argentina
7. Canada
8. Costa Rica
9. Mexico
10. Trinidad & Tobago
11. Guatemala.