Membership
Bill Kauffman
Manager, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: 719-228-6800
E-Mail: bill.kauffman@usav.org
ANAHEIM, Calif. (Sept. 27, 2009) – U.S. Women’s National Team opposite Nancy Metcalf (Hull, Iowa) was named the Best Spiker at the conclusion of the NORCECA Continental Championship held Sept. 22-27 at Bayamon, Puerto Rico.
Metcalf, the captain of the U.S. squad, tallied 75 kills on 161 attempts for a tournament-leading 46.6 conversion percent. She also produced a .366 hitting efficiency with only 16 hitting errors. The U.S. finished fourth in the tournament as it lost back-to-back heart-breaking five set matches to Dominican Republic in the semifinals and Cuba in the bronze-medal match.
Dominican Republic’s Prisilla Rivera was elected the Most Valuable Player of the tournament as she led her country to its first NORCECA Championship title with an emotional five-set victory over host Puerto Rico. Dominican Republic, which saved five match points against the U.S. during the semifinals on Sept. 26 to win in five sets with the final set being 21-19, saved four more match points in the gold-medal match on Sept. 27 against Puerto Rico to win.
Dominican Republic teammate Brenda Castillo was heralded as the Best Libero, Best Digger and Best Receiver.
Cubans Yanelis Santos and Nancy Carrillo were selected as Best Server and Best Blocker, respectively. Cuban teammate Wilma Salas received the Rising Star Award honoring young players making an impact on their team.
Puerto Ricans Aurea Cruz and Vilmarie Mojica were recipients of the recognition as Best Scorer and Best Setter.
The awards were presented by the NORCECA Confederation President Cristobal Marte Hoffiz and Puerto Rico Volleyball Federation President Nelson Perez.