Puerto Rico's women's team will be under the control of captain Aury Cruz at the 2006 FIVB World Championships in Japan. Aury, a former star outside hitter with the University of Florida Gators, takes part in this Question and Answer e-mail session with the official website of the World Championships (www.2006vball.jp).
What is Puerto Rico's target in this year’s World Championships? How high do you think you can finish in the final rankings?
Our team’s target is to play really consistently in all facets of the game. We have demonstrated that we can compete with the top teams in the world. So we have set a goal to give all our best to enter the second round and maintain our ranking.
What are the strong points of the Puerto Rico team?
We are a young team that has been improving our game in every tournament that comes along. But our serving is one of the strong points in the team. We have players with offensive serves.
You finished fourth in the Norceca Championship in Trinidad last September. What aspects of the game do you need to improve in particular before the World Championships?
Finishing fourth at the Norceca is good for us, but not enough because we know we could be at the top in our region. We are working on new things with this team we are taking to the Worlds that will make it a better team than we've had before.
Have you some exciting, talented young players we must watch out for in Japan?
We are a young team, we have some exciting players that should be watched in the tournament. Karina Ocasio, even though she played on the last World Championship team, has improved her game, bringing her strong offense to the team. Also we have two new setters who will have their opportunity to show their game.
You will play USA again, in Pool C, as well as Brazil, Netherlands, Cameroon and Kazakhstan. How highly do you rate the USA, and why?
USA is a team that have shown their consistent game all the time. That’s what makes them a strong team to beat, even though they changed their personnel. We understand that our pool is not going to be easy but we have the personnel to take it to the top.
How can you stop USA's left-handed spiker Nancy Metcalf?
Nancy Metcalf is a really good player who a few of us have played with or against. We know what she is capable of doing in the court. The point is not to stop her but to stop the other players so she can’t do what she is capable of doing.
You also play Brazil. Why do you think they were so dominant last year in the World Grand Prix and the World Grand Champions Cup?
Brazil is a very competitive team with a lot of volleyball talent. They have the courage to bring any player from the junior team and they will still do the same work as a veteran player. Their defense, serving and passing skill is so strong that their offense is unstoppable. We are going to have the opportunity to play the Brazil A team at the Pan-American Cup in Puerto Rico in like a preparation match for the World Championship.
What do you know about Cameroon, and what style of volleyball do you expect from them?
Now, a team like this we don’t know anything until we play them at the tournament. If they are in the tournament it is because they can play. We understand that we need to play our game -- not the other team's -- to win.
How old were you when you started playing volleyball, and why did you start?
I started playing volleyball at age 5 once my sister also started at age 12. It was a choice that my parents made to keep us busy in recreation.
Why did you choose a career in volleyball rather than basketball or beach volleyball, and what does the future hold?
I decided to stay with volleyball because women’s basketball was not a big sport in Puerto Rico, even though I played until I left for college. Women’s volleyball had all the attention, not basketball, and also I looked at it as an open door for a university scholarship. I could get one in basketball but basketball didn’t move around a lot like volleyball, which keeps us traveling and I could be seen playing. Beach volleyball is a sport needing a lot dedication, not meaning that I can’t play it. But you need a partner as dedicated as you to be able to perform well. Anyway, beach volleyball was not going to give me my ticket to college. But I still have hope that one day I will find that partner to play beach.
You had a wonderful NCAA volleyball career at the University of Florida from 2000 to 2003. What is your best memory of being a Gator?
My best memory of being a Gator is making it to the Final Four two times in a row (2002 and 2003), and also taking Mary Wise to be the first female coach in a Final Four Championship match (2003). My four years at Florida was the best decision I have ever made, because I would not have been able to accomplish such things if I hadn't gone there to improve my game.
If your older sister Eva makes a mistake on the court, do you argue and fall out? And vice-versa!
As the captain and a player of the national team, we don’t need to argue with our own players. We need to support them and to let them know we are there for them and understand that they would fix the mistake in the next play. My sister and I have talked about how to speak to each player because everyone does not react the same way. It is not easy to do because you want them to react as soon as possible but at the same time you don’t want to fall out or they will not focus on the game.
