Mexico and Puerto Rico won their first matches 

TIJUANA, Mexico, August 5, 2007.- Mexico and Puerto Rico took their first victory at the FIVB Girls’ Youth World Championship in the round for the 9 to 16 positions which started on Sunday.

Mexico defeated Peru in four sets 20-25, 25-17, 25-21, 25-20 in Pool G and Puerto Rico defeated Tunisia 25-20, 25-19, 25-20 in Pool H.

Diana Rubio and Nancy Ortega were the best for the Mexican team with 17 and 15 points and Carla Rueda (16) and Keith Meneses (14) topped Peru. Joedly Narvaez and Grace Salado scored 11 apiece for Puerto Rico.

Meanwhile, Germany crushed USA in straight sets 25-21, 25-11, 25-15 in Pool G with Kira Walkenhorst and Patricia Grohman as the main contributors with 18 and 16 points respectively.

In Pool E, part of the main bracket, Serbia outclassed the Dominican Republic 25-19, 25-18, 25-23 with Stefana Veljkovic and Sanja Malagurski as their top scorers with 10 and 9 tallies. Dominican Jeoselina Rodriguez had a match-high 13 points.

In the rest of the matches on Sunday, China defeated Brazil in straight sets but it was not a like a rose garden for the Chinese team who had to battle hard to prevail 25-15, 26-24, 26-24 in the nightcap of Pool F in Tijuana.

In the other match of Pool F, it was Russia recovering from losing the first set to win 14-25, 25-14, 25-19, 27-25 over Belgium.

In Pool E, Turkey outscored Japan in the blocking category 17-2 in route to a 25-18, 25-19, 25-20 triumph.

In the other match of Pool H, Italy prevailed against Korea in a five-setter by scores of 25-27, 25-20, 25-23, 18-25, 15-13.