Little Rock Signee Valencia Dariana Leads Puerto Rico to 3-0 Win over Canada at U19 Pan American Cup

CIUDAD DE JUANA DIAZ, Puerto Rico – Setter Valencia Dariana, a Little Rock signee, registered 13 assists and nine digs while leading her native Puerto Rico to a 3-0 straight set win over Canada in the first group stage match of the U-19 Pan American Cup.
 
In front of a home crowd of over 500 spectators at Coliseo Dolores Martinez, Dariana played the entire match as the Puerto Rican setter and guided her team to a thrilling 25-20, 25-17 and 25-21 win over Canada in Group B.
 
This marks the fourth time Dariana has registered double-digit assists in a U19 Pan American Cup match after competing for Puerto Rico at the 2022 Pan American Cup.
 
Puerto Rico recorded what is believed to be its first-ever win over Canada in the U-19 Pan American Cup.

The home girls kept up with Canada's pressure to open the tournament with a win but on a rollercoaster performance, coming from behind in all three sets. Puerto Rico held a huge 42-24 advantage in kills and 11-3 in aces; Canada did better in the blocking 8-4 and committed fewer unforced errors 18-23. Puerto Rican opposite hitter Grace Lopez scored a match-high of 22 points on 19 kills and three aces, followed by team captain Elena García who added 13 points on nine kills and two from blocks and two on aces. Outside hitter Chareika Carrion contributed with 10 points on 8 kills, two blocks and two aces. Canada was commanded by outside hitter Mary Healy with 9 points.  
 
Canada has a roster that features three Division I signees or players, including two from autonomous five programs (Taylor de Boer, OH/OPP, Illinois; Lydia Johnson, OPP, Denver; Kaiya Tyson, S, Georgia).
 
Puerto Rico will now face Dominican Republic in the second group stage match for both teams. DR swept Honduras, 3-0, Wednesday with set scores of 25-10, 25-6 and 25-9. In Group A, Team USA swept the U.S. Virgin Islands, 3-0, with set scores of 25-6, 25-18 and 25-12 while Mexico recorded a 3-0 win over Costa Rica, tallying set scores of 25-19, 25-14 and 25-15.
 
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