Cuba On to Semifinals with Straight Set Win against Nicaragua

XALAPA, Mexico, September 6, 2024.- Cuba defeated Nicaragua 3-0 (25-17, 26-24, 25-16) to move on to the semifinals of the Women’s U23 Pan American Cup at the International Velodrome of Xalapa, Veracruz. 

Cuba will face Mexico in Saturday’s semifinals, while Nicaragua will play against Costa Rica in a classification match for positions 5 to 8 of the tournament. 

Cuba had difficulties overcoming Nicaragua, but the key factor was their dominance in blocking (15-3). Cuba also led in attacks (33-30) and serves (7-3). Both teams committed 21 unforced errors. 

Cuban Alejandra Gómez was the top scorer of the match with 15 points, and Brittany Forbes once again led Nicaragua, scoring 14 points. They were the only players with double-digit scores. 

Nicaragua kept the score close in the first set with points from Brittany Forbes and Brisa Pérez, but halfway through the set, Cuba’s serving pushed them to a comfortable six-point lead to close the set. With solid defense, Nicaragua did not allow Cuba to take control in the second set, managing to tie the score at 14 points with Norma Brenes’ serving and then pulling ahead with a six-point lead (20-14). However, Nicaragua lost five set points (24-19), allowing Cuba to take a 2-0 lead in sets. Cuba imposed their game in the third set with Lisania Grafort and Whitney James as leading scorers, to seal the victory in straight sets. 

Alejandra Gómez, top scorer of Cuba: “You can’t assume that the opponent won’t do anything on the court. We were too overconfident with Nicaragua. We recovered the match, but we didn’t reach our level. Honestly, we shouldn’t have conceded so many points to Nicaragua. This is another experience for us; we should never underestimate any opponent.” 

Norma Brenes, Nicaragua’s setter: “We were disciplined during the second set, but in the end, we lost focus and couldn’t execute K-1. We managed to get close on the scoreboard because we improved our attitude and wanted to keep fighting. Tomorrow against Costa Rica, we’ll put on a good show; we’ll fight with everything to make the victory ours.”