2016 Olympics Rankings: #11 Puerto Rico (Women)

The Puerto Rico women's volleyball team clocks in at No. 11 in our 2016 Olympics Rankings.

Jul 26, 2016 by Megan Kaplon

2016 Olympics Rankings: #11 Puerto Rico (Women)

By Bev Oden

The FloVolleyball Olympics Rankings will count down to the start of the indoor volleyball competition in Rio by highlighting one team per gender each day. Today, 11 days before the first serve, we profile the No. 11-ranked Egypt men and Puerto Rico women.

COUNTRY: Puerto Rico

TOP PLAYERS

Karina Ocasio, Opposite
Leading hitter, 20 kills against USA at NORCECA Qualifier

Aurea Cruz, Outside Hitter
Best receiver and second-best server in Group 2 at World Grand Prix

Vilmarie Mojica, Setter
Second-best setter in Group 2 at World Grand Prix

RISING STAR TO WATCH

Stephanie Enright, Outside Hitter
Third-best hitter in Group 2 at World Grand Prix

SYNOPSIS

Puerto Rico qualified for its first-ever Olympic Games at the very last FIVB qualifier in May. The team failed to earn a berth at the NORCECA qualifier (it placed third behind the U.S. and Dominican Republic), but was the only team to steal a game from World No. 1 USA at that event. At Grand Prix, the team competed in Group 2 and emerged from the preliminary round undefeated with a surprising 6-0 record, including a four-set victory over Argentina. Puerto Rico fell to the Dominican Republic in the semifinals and finished the tournament in third place.

PREDICTION

Puerto Rico is tough and finds ways to win. But the team relies heavily on their best hitter Karina Ocasio, and she will not be enough in Rio. Puerto Rico is in a very strong pool where the lowest-seeded team is the Netherlands women, who just came off an amazing third-place finish in Group A of the World Grand Prix. Expect the Puerto Rico women to give everything they've got to win a few sets here and there but not advance to the quarterfinals.