Bermuda's teenage Fed Cup team - the youngest of all those competing in the Americas Qualifying Group II matches in Puerto Rico this week - were handed another lesson yesterday.

But after a 3-0 defeat by Chile, which came on the heels of a similar loss to Jamaica a day earlier, non-playing captain Kelly Holland insisted her young charges were gaining valuable experience.

And she believed they could turn their fortunes around, if not today against Bolivia, then certainly in the last match on Sunday against Trinidad.

"We're by far the youngest team at this competition and the girls are getting valuable international experience," said Holland.

"In fact, that's what the international tennis federation want . . . they want countries to give some exposure to their young players.

"We didn't come here expecting to win, but it is a great learning experience for the team."

In yesterday's match, Bermuda's number one, 19-year-old Zarah DeSilva, put up a gallant performance against Chile's Andrea Koch, ranked 900 in the world, before going down 6-3, 6-3.

Bermuda's number two, 16-year-old Sasha Fisher, was beaten 6-1, 6-2 by Valentina Castro in the other singles while in the doubles the same two Chilean players defeated Bermuda's Ashley Brooks - at 15 the youngest in the squad - and Sasha Fisher 6-1, 6-1.

Of today's third match against Bolivia, Holland said: "I think we have a chance to beat them, but probably our best chance of a victory is against Trinidad in the last match. They're probably the weakest opposition."