'An opportunity', accordingly to Mojica

“An opportunity. We now know every team we will face in Bayamon, which set up nicely for us to demonstrate that we can play anyone in the region”, said a visible exited Vilmarie Mojica, as she and the rest of Puerto Rico's national women volleyball team prepares to take on Trinidad&Tobago in the opening day of the XXI North, Central American and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation (NORCECA) Tournament.

“We had worked tireless since the spring on our new playing style. Improving as we played against the best teams in the world. Hopefully, all that hard work will payoff next week”. This will be the last NORCECA event of the year and it will serve as a tune up for next summer's World Championships to be held in Tokyo, Japan.

“Ever since the Pan American Cup, where we beat the United States, we feel like we belong. Never in the history of our program had we played so well in an international tournament”, said the 24-year old. Puerto Rico stole the show in Miami this past June taking home an unexpected bronze medal, the first ever for women volleyball in this type of forum. A month later, they were at it again coasting to a 3-0 mark in the XX NORCECA to earn their first, outright ticket for the a Grand Prix, another benchmark.

“We played really well at the Prix. The record (1-8) may not show it, but our team played Brazil, the United States and Russia, a team we beat, well in the first two rounds. Unfortunately some errors cost us key points. The problem for us came later. First, we were playing a new system with little practice time against the best teams. Secondly, our lack of depth cost us dearly. Every other team was able to field a complete, 16 players roster, we could not match that. Now it different. We had more than four months of practice our quick-hitting style, so I think we are better prepare.”, added the sixth time team captain.

Beside Mojica, Team Puerto Rico is compose of Aury Cruz, Debora Seilhammer, Tatiana Encarnación, Saraí Álvarez, Ania Ruiz, Sheila Ocasio, Alexandra Oquendo, Eva Cruz and Raimariely Santos. Joining the group for the first time are the cuartet of Wilnelia González, Stephanie Enright, Diana Reyes and Shara Venegas.

The Island, currently ranked #18 in the world, will play in the competitive Group A along with Canada (#18), the Dominican Republic (#14) and Trinidad&Tobago (#53). The United States (#2), Cuba (#5), Mexico (#26) and Costa Rica (#30). The first two teams on each group will advance to the querterfinal round.