Guadalajara, Mexico, October 18, 2011 – Defending champions Cuba and the Dominican Republic completed the list of teams for the semifinal in the women’s volleyball tournament at the XVI Pan American Games Guadalajara 2011 in Mexico on Tuesday after coming through their respective quarterfinal matches.

Cuba will now take on USA at 15:00 (local time) while Dominican Republic will face Brazil at 20:00 on Wednesday.

In the first quarterfinal match on Tuesday, Cuba claimed a straight sets victory over Peru (25-18, 25-19, 26-24) before the Dominican Republic followed with a thrilling five set victory over Puerto Rico (25-21, 25-22, 26-28, 22-25, 15-8).

Wednesday’s schedule also features Canada against Peru at 13:00 and Mexico against Puerto Rico at 18:00 in the qualification matches for the 5-8 positions.

Cuba v Peru
Cuba secured a spot in the semifinals after downing Peru in straight sets (25-18, 25-19, 26-24) on Tuesday in their quarterfinal contest in front of 3,500 spectators at Avila Camacho Sport Complex in Guadalajara. The high blocking of Cuba proved to be one of the key aspects to the victory as they held a 14-5 advantage in that category with Yusidey Silie and Gyselle Silva each registering three blocks. Rosana Giel led Cuba with 13 points and Yoana Palacios added 11. Silva and Kenia Carcaces recorded 10 points apiece. Peru’s Yulissa Zamudio finished with 13 and Jessenia Uceda contributed nine tallies.

Dominican Republic v Puerto Rico
Dominican Republic clinched the final berth in the semifinal round of the women’s volleyball tournament after defeating a resilient Puerto Rico 3-2 (25-21, 25-22, 26-28, 22-25, 15-8). The winners scored with 24 blocks including seven by Lisvel Eve and four each by Bethania De la Cruz and Milagros Cabral. De la Cruz was the top Dominican scorer with 20 points followed by Eve, Sidarka Nuñez and Cabral with 13, 11 and 10 respectively. Stephanie Enright and Aury Cruz finished with 18 and 17 for Puerto Rico while Sarai Alvarez tallied 15 points.


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