Rosa, Puerto Rico qualify for 2012 World Grand Prix

Former Panther volleyball standout Yarimar Rosa helped the Puerto Rican National Team qualify for the 2012 FIVB World Grand Prix over the weekend, as the her squad went 2-0 in its final two matches of the 2011 Pan Am Games to take fifth place.

Puerto Rico, competing in Pool B, opened action at the Pan Am Games on June 30, with a 3-0 (25-10, 25-13, 25-21) win over Costa Rica. The team would then suffer a pair of set-backs with straight-set losses to the United States (25-17, 25-17, 25-17) and Brazil (25-21, 25-21, 25-10) before Rosa’s team-leading 11 attack points led Puerto Rico to a 3-0 (25-16, 25-20, 25-18) victory over Trinidad & Tobago on July 4.

The following day, Puerto Rico defeated Peru, 3-1 (25-15, 25-21, 31-33, 25-13) to reach the quarterfinals and finish Pool B with a record of 3-2. Two days later, Cuba defeated Puerto Rico in quarterfinal action by a 3-0 (26-24, 25-19, 25-14) score to advance to the semifinals.

Yarimar Rosa, now a member of the Puerto Rican National Team, is the only four-time All-American in FIU volleyball history. Photo courtesy of FIUSports.com

On July 8, Puerto Rico defeated Canada, 3-1 (25-19, 25-14, 24-26, 25-16) before notching a thrilling, come-from-behind, 3-2 (23-25, 21-25, 25-23, 25-21, 15-13), victory over Argentina the next day. The win over Canada qualified Puerto Rico for the 2012 World Grand Prix, while the victory over Argentina gave Puerto Rico a fifth place finish for the 10th-Annual Pan Am Games.

Brazil defeated the Dominican Republic in straight sets (25-20, 25-22, 25-19) to take home the gold medal, while the United States took home the bronze. Brazil, the Dominican Republic, the United States, Cuba, Puerto Rico and Argentina all qualified for the 2012 FIVB World Grand Prix.

Rosa was a four-time All-American outside hitter at FIU and she is currently a member of the professional team, Criollas de Caguas, in Puerto Rico. Former teammate and All-American setter Natalia Valentin is also a member of the Puerto Rican National Team, as she competes for Leonas de Ponce on the professional level in her home country.

 — Courtesy of FIUSports.com