Category: Volleyball

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, August 22, 2025.- Brazilian opposite Samuel Carazzai was named the Most Valuable MVP Player of the men’s volleyball tournament at the II Junior Pan American Games Asuncion 2025 that took place from August 17 to 22 at the Paraguayan Olympic Committee Arena COP.

Samuel Carazzai was handed the distinction after his team was crowned two-time Pan American Junior Champions in a dramatic five-set victory over Argentina.

Carazzai also received the award for Best Server. Also from Brazil, Maicon Dos Santos was recognized as the second Best Spiker.

Ezequiel Vazquez was honored as the Best Setter and Federico Trucco the Best Receiver, both from Argentina.

The first Best Spiker went to Yusniel Gonzalez of Cuba.

The Best Blocker was given to Paraguayan Milton Martinez and the second Best Blocker was for Dominican Moises Ortiz.

The Best Opposite and Best Scorer were handed to Jhon Mosquera of Colombia.

Mariano Gomez of Paraguay received the awards for Best Libero and Best Digger.

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, August 22, 2025.- Cuba captured the bronze medal in the men’s volleyball tournament of the II Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025 after defeating Mexico 3-1 (22-25, 25-13, 25-18, 25-23), also earning a berth to the Lima 2027 Pan American Games as the highest-ranked NORCECA team.

Mexico started strong thanks to the offensive power of Jared Toy and Eduardo Garza, taking an early lead in the opening set (10-8). Despite Cuba’s attempts at the net, Mexico kept control and pulled ahead on the scoreboard.

The Cuban squad bounced back decisively in the second set, surging to a 14-5 lead with Alejandro González and middle blocker Thiago Suárez leading the way. Blocking became Cuba’s main weapon, with Yusniel González and Alexis Wilson joining the wall at the net to tie the match.

In the third set, Alejandro González’s powerful serves pushed Cuba ahead 11-4. Mexico responded with Toy and Jorge Hernández, but the Caribbean side held their advantage to move in front 2-1.

The fourth set was a nail-biter, with Mexico leading 18-16 after Cuban errors and an ace by Alexis Alvarado. However, Thiago Suárez and Yusniel González turned the tide for Cuba, sealing the victory, the bronze medal, and the qualification to Lima 2027.

Statistically, Cuba dominated with a huge margin in blocks (14-4), attacks (55-45), and a slight edge in serves (3-2), though they conceded more points on errors (28-25).

Cuban opposite hitter Alejandro González topped all scorers with 23 points (17 attacks, 4 blocks, 2 aces), followed by Yusniel González with 18 (14 attacks, 3 blocks, 1 ace), and Thiago Suárez with 12 (9 attacks, 3 blocks). For Mexico, Jared Toy led with 15 points and Jorge Hernández added 11.

Cuba’s coach, Johan Collado, spoke about his team’s performance: “The boys entered the game overconfident, thinking Mexico wasn’t going to play. Every team goes out there looking for a medal, and we were too passive. After losing the first set, we called their attention, and they reacted because we needed to set the pace of the game. We won, and now it’s time to celebrate.”

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, August 22, 2025.- The Dominican Republic secured fifth place in the men’s volleyball tournament at the II Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025 after defeating Colombia in an exciting five-set battle 3-2 (25-20, 25-19, 21-25, 19-25, 15-10) at the COP Arena.

The Dominican team closed the tournament with a 2-3 record, while Colombia finished with 2-4.

The Caribbean side dominated the first two sets thanks to their offense and the serving of Malik Britton and Adrian Figueroa, which disordered Colombia’s reception. However, the South Americans responded with strong blocking to even the match and force a decider, where the Dominicans ultimately prevailed.

The Dominican Republic led in attacks (65-56) and aces (6-5), while Colombia excelled in blocking (11-8) and committed one fewer error (26-27).

Adrian Figueroa topped all scorers with 28 points (25 attacks, 3 aces). Ronny Molina added 15 points, Malik Britton contributed 14, and Moisés Ortiz chipped in 10 for the Dominican Republic.

For Colombia, captain Jhon Mosquera led his side with 20 points (16 attacks, 3 blocks, 1 ace), supported by Miguel Rodríguez with 16, while Ronnie Mosquera and Carlos Martínez each scored 13.

After the victory, Dominican captain Luther Rosario said: “After going up 2-0, we entered the third set with too much confidence and should have kept working. Fortunately, we won the match, but we must improve our concentration. It was an incredible competition; for me, my second Junior Pan American Games and the last, as I now move up to the senior category. I’m happy with the work we have done over these years.”

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, August 22, 2025.- Guatemala wrapped up the II Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025 with a 3-2 victory over Paraguay (18-25, 25-22, 22-25, 26-24, 15-13), securing seventh place in the men’s volleyball tournament.

The Guatemalan squad closed with a record of 2 wins and 4 losses; both wins over Paraguay who finished without a victory in the competition.

The hosts were close to sealing the match in four sets, but Guatemala rallied from a four-point deficit (20-24) in the fourth set to force a tie-break. The celebration came with an attack from Yeferson Zavala that sealed the win.

Guatemala held a slight edge in serving (5-4) and capitalized on 30 Paraguayan errors compared to their own 24. Both teams scored 63 attack points, while Paraguay held a huge margin in blocking 18-8.

Pablo Pérez led Guatemala with 19 points (18 attacks, 1 block), followed by team captain Jerry Durán with 18 (16 attacks, 1 block, 1 ace) and Luis Mendizábal with 14 (11 attacks, 2 blocks, 1 ace).

For Paraguay, Alejandro López shone as the top scorer of the match with 35 points, supported by Milton Pérez with 14 (11 attacks, 2 blocks, 1 ace), Elías Amarilla with 11, and both Tobías Brizuela and Ángel Sánchez with 10 each.

Cuban coach Reider Lucas, head coach of Guatemala, spoke about the team’s performance during the tournament: “The discussion for seventh-eighth place had the team in low spirits. We lost focus throughout the match, and it was very hard to recover. Our physical preparation helped us come back from four crucial points to force the fifth set. This was a tough competition, with talented players from very strong teams. For us, even winning a set against these teams is already a victory.”

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, August 21, 2025.- Argentina defeated Mexico 3-0 (25-21, 25-19, 25-23) in the men’s volleyball semifinals of the II Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025, advancing to the gold medal match where they will face Brazil in a South American showdown.

It will be a rematch of the first edition’s final in Cali 2021, when Argentina fell to Brazil. This time, the Albiceleste will seek to reverse the outcome and capture the gold. Mexico, meanwhile, will play for bronze against Cuba.

The champion will secure a berth to the Lima 2027 Pan American Games. The winner between Mexico and Cuba, will also qualify to Lima, as the highest-ranked team from NORCECA.

Argentina controlled the first set with effective serving that challenged Mexico’s reception. Team captain Denis Cabañas landed Argentina at set point, and although Eduardo Garza scored for Mexico, a spike by Nahuel Rojas sealed the 25-21 win.

In the second set, serving once again proved decisive for Argentina, who led from start to finish. The offense was shared among Cabañas, Rojas, and Nicolás Oldani, while Jorge Hernández stood out for Mexico.

The third set was tighter, with Mexico attempting to close the gap through Hernández and Jared Toy. Still, Argentina held firm: Rojas scored through the middle for a 23-20 lead, Oldani brought up match point, and despite Mexico’s push, a service error sealed Argentina’s 25-23 victory.

Argentina held the edge over Mexico in attacks (46-41), blocks (4-1), and aces (8-2). Argentina committed 19 errors compared to Mexico’s 17.

Nahuel Rojas and Denis Cabañas led Argentina with 16 points apiece, while Jorge Ariel Hernández scored 12 points, the only Mexican player in double digits.

Nahuel García of Argentina said about the victory: “We’ve been training for quite some time, putting in effort and energy. We are very happy to reach the final. This team has improved since the start of the tournament; it helped us find a better level and stronger connection. Everyone gave their best today. Brazil is a tough opponent; our group stage match was very close, and we fell in five sets. The final will be very intense.”

Mexico’s coach, Brazilian Renato Soares, stated: “It was a good match from Argentina. We started well, but we couldn’t maintain that level until the end. We can’t afford to have those ups and downs; we must always stay at the top if we want to achieve good results. We are trying to change some things, especially the players’ mentality. Tomorrow’s match against Cuba is extremely important because it will decide qualification to Lima 2027, which is very significant for the senior national team project in Mexico.”

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, August 21, 2025.- Brazil will have the opportunity to defend its Junior Pan American title after advancing to the men’s volleyball gold medal match at Asunción 2025 with a dramatic semifinal victory over Cuba 3-2 (14-25, 25-17, 26-24, 23-25, 15-11).

It was Brazil’s second win over Cuba in the tournament; however, unlike the pool stage where they swept in straight sets, this time the Caribbean side pushed the match to the limit. Brazil will now face the winner between Mexico and Argentina.

Cuba started strong, capitalizing on attacks from Alejandro González and Bryan Camino, an ace by Yusniel González, and Brazilian errors to build a five-point lead (12-7) and take the opening set with solid blocking led by Yusniel and Alexis Wilson.

In the second set, Brazil responded with power. After tying at 6 points, they took control of the scoreboard, boosted by 13 Cuban errors and the performances of middle blocker Thiery Oliveira and outside hitter Guilherme Amorim.

The third set was intense: Brazil pulled ahead midway through, but Cuba caught up to tie at 22 and 23. Amorim put Brazil at set point, and two Cuban errors (serve and attack) handed the set to the defending champions 26-24.

In the fourth, Brazil led until 16-all, when Cuba rallied. Camino and Yusniel González pushed the Caribbean squad ahead, and an attack by Alejandro González sealed the 25-23 win to force a tie-break.

In the decisive set, Brazil surged ahead with offense from Samuel Carazzai and Maicon dos Santos. Cuba leveled the score at 9, but a relentless finish from Amorim, Maicon, and a block by Marcos José Gonçalves secured Brazil’s 15-11 victory.

Brazil outperformed Cuba in blocks (15-12) and committed fewer errors (28 to 39). Cuba led in attacks (54-47) and service aces (8-2).

For Brazil, three players tied as top scorers with 13 points each: Guilherme Amorim, Thiery Oliveira, and Maicon dos Santos. For Cuba, Alejandro González led all scorers with 21 points, followed by Yusniel González with 20, Bryan Camino with 13, and Alexis Wilson with 11.

Brazilian setter Gustavo Cardoso said after the victory: “It was supposed to be calm. We trained for this, to have a moment of tranquility on the court, but it really made our hearts race. It’s fantastic to play against Cuba! It’s fantastic to play with the Brazilian national team, and it’s a privilege to be here and contribute.”

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, August 21, 2025.- Colombia defeated Paraguay in straight sets 3-0 (25-23, 25-18, 25-23) to advance to the match for fifth place of the men’s volleyball tournament at the II Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025, where they will face the Dominican Republic on Friday at the Arena COP.

Paraguay will play against Guatemala for seventh place.

The opening set was thrilling and closely contested. Paraguay pushed late in the frame with a block by Miguel Ángel Rodríguez that denied set point, but an error on the next play handed Colombia the first set.

In the second set, Colombia’s blocking proved decisive, building a solid wall at the net that neutralized the home team’s offense from every position. With dominant net play, Colombia extended their lead 2-0.

The third set mirrored the first, with both teams tied throughout. Paraguay managed a two-point advantage at 22-20, but errors allowed Colombia to turn the tide. An ace from Rodríguez gave match point (24-22), but Milton Martínez responded with a strong attack to close the gap. Finally, Ronnie Mosquera sealed the victory with a powerful kill from the left side.

Colombia held the edge in blocks (12-5), attacks (39-33), and serves (7-4). Paraguay committed fewer unforced errors (17-22).

For Colombia, captain Jhon Mosquera once again led all scorers with 16 points, while Miguel Ángel Rodríguez contributed 15, including a match-high of 5 aces, and Ronnie Mosquera added 13. For Paraguay, middle blocker Tobías Brizuela topped his team with 10 points, while Alejandro López and Ángel Sánchez chipped in 9 apiece.

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, August 21, 2025. The Dominican Republic swept Guatemala 3-0 (25-20, 25-18, 26-24) to advance to the fifth-place match of the men’s volleyball tournament at the II Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025.

On the final day of competition, the Dominicans will face the winner between Paraguay and Colombia for positions 5/6, while Guatemala will meet the loser in the battle for seventh place.

The Dominican blocking line set the tone early, with captain Luther Rosario standing out at the net. In the second set, the Caribbean side’s serving proved decisive, disrupting Guatemala’s reception and helping to widen the gap, closing with a 3-1 edge in aces.

Guatemala fought back in the third, taking the lead with Luis Mendizábal spearheading the attack and reaching a 23-20 advantage. However, two defensive errors and a kill from Adrián Figueroa brought the Dominicans back, before Ronny Molina sealed the victory with a block.

The Dominicans completely dominated at the net with a stunning 12-0 advantage in blocks, while attacks were nearly even (37-36). Errors were also balanced, with Guatemala committing 22 and the Dominican Republic 23.

Ronny Molina led all scorers with 17 points, followed by opposite Adrián Figueroa and middle blocker Luther Rosario with 13 each. Rosario was particularly impressive on defense, recording a match-high six blocks. For Guatemala, Yeferson Zavala tallied 11 points and José Pablo Pérez added 10.

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, August 20, 2025.- Cuba secured a spot in the semifinals of the Men’s Volleyball Tournament at the II Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025 with a straight-set victory over Colombia 3-0 (25-13, 25-21, 25-22) at the Paraguayan Olympic Committee Arena (COP)

Cuba will face Brazil in the semifinals, while Argentina and Mexico will battle in the other semifinal matchup. Colombia moves on to play Paraguay in the classification round for positions 5 to 8.

From the very beginning, Cuba imposed its rhythm, jumping to a quick 10-3 lead with the effective serving of middle blocker Thiago Suárez and Alejandro González, combined with Colombia’s struggles in reception against the Cuban power attack.

Colombia responded early in the second set with a two-point lead (5-3) led by captain Jhon Mosquera. However, Cuba quickly tied and pulled ahead, never allowing Colombia to overtake them. A late attack by Mosquera brought Colombia within 21-23, but an error from the same player and a kill by Yusniel González sealed the second set for Cuba.

The third set was close, tied at 9 points, but once again Cuba pulled ahead, capitalizing on Colombian reception errors. A strong serve from Dainer Ocoro gave Colombia hope at 22-23, but Cuba closed with a spike from Bryan Camino and another Colombian mistake to seal the match.

Cuba’s blocking was a key factor, dominating 12-3, along with the edge in attacks (47-37) and service points (4-3). Colombia committed one less error overall (12-13).

Thiago Suárez and Yusniel González led Cuba with 15 points each, with Suárez recording an impressive 7 blocks. Alejandro González added 10 points to the win.

For Colombia, captain Jhon Mosquera was the top scorer of the match with 17 points, followed by Ronnie Mosquera with 10.

Cuba’s libero, Dayron Gallego, said: “Colombia has the characteristic that after losing the first set, they lift their spirits; they’re a team that, if you let them advance, they gain more focus and get ahead. We had a few inaccuracies, maybe nerves. Tomorrow we’re going all out against Brazil, I think we have the tools to beat them, even though in the first match against them we couldn’t come away with the victory. Every day we’re getting better.”

Colombia’s coach, Iván Lovera, said: “I believe my team is increasingly understanding the rhythm we’re playing at; they improve from the start of matches toward the end. It’s motivating to play against a high-level opponent like Cuba. The boys did very well, and the progress comes from the conviction that we have the ability to play at this level, despite being very young. In the end, we were able to enjoy ourselves and play some great volleyball.”

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, August 20, 2025.- Argentina secured a spot in the semifinals of the men’s volleyball tournament at the II Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025, defeating Guatemala 3-0 (25-22, 25-16, 25-15).

In the semifinals, Argentina will face Mexico, while Guatemala will move on to classification matches for positions 5 to 8, starting against the Dominican Republic.

The match opened at a fast pace, with Guatemala leading 13-9 behind the offense of José Pablo Pérez and Luis Mendizábal, along with the tough serving of Jerry Durán. The Central Americans held the lead until Argentina patiently tied the score at 18. At 22-21, a Guatemalan attack error by Pérez gave Argentina the advantage, and with a block and an attack from Nahuel Rojas, they sealed the first set.

In the second set, Argentina built a five-point lead (11-6) with Rojas contributing in both attack and blocking. The pace slowed compared to the opening set, but the South Americans extended their dominance as Giuliano Turcitu and Samuel Guidi added to the scoring, outpowering Guatemala at the net.

The third set saw Argentina take complete control, jumping to a six-point lead (15-9) and maintaining command to close the match in straight sets.

Argentina held the edge in key skills: attacks (47-28), blocks (12-3), and serves (5-4), although they committed more errors than Guatemala (18-11).

Samuel Guidi led Argentina with 11 points, while Denis Cabañas added 10 points despite only playing two sets. For Guatemala, José Pablo Pérez scored 14 points and Luis Mendizabal finished with 10.

Argentina’s captain, Denis Cabañas, spoke about the difference between the first set and the rest of the match: “We started out very relaxed, but Guatemala knows how to defend and attack well; we were able to stay patient and then take control to win. The semifinal against Mexico will be a beautiful match, we’re going to analyze them and define our strategy.”

After the loss, Luis Mendizabal said they could have maintained the intensity of the first set throughout the entire match: “I believe our mentality influenced the outcome a lot. I think we could have won the first set, but we lacked attitude. Now we have another intense match ahead against the Dominican Republic.”

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, August 19, 2025.- Mexico advanced directly to the semifinals of the men’s volleyball tournament at the II Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025, after dominating Pool A with three consecutive victories and no defeats.

In their final group stage match, Mexico defeated Paraguay in straight sets 3-0 (25-19, 25-17, 25-17), showcasing strength across all areas. With this result, the final Pool A standings were defined with Mexico in first place, followed by Colombia, Guatemala, and Paraguay.

In the quarterfinals, Colombia will face Cuba and Guatemala will meet Argentina, while Paraguay will compete in classification matches for positions 5 to 8.

The first set was marked by Mexico’s offensive power (12-9 in attacks), which managed to neutralize Paraguay’s blocking advantage (4-0). Eduardo Garza led Mexico’s offense, while José Gaete was the main scoring reference for the home team.

In the second set, Mexico adjusted its blocking and gained greater performance, with Jared Toy standing out as the top scorer. In the third set, Lorenzo Martínez and Bryan Vásquez joined the offensive effort, and a block by team captain Juan Salvador García —who came off the bench— against Alejandro López sealed the victory for Mexico.

Mexico outperformed Paraguay in attacks (38-32), blocks (10-4), and service aces (3-0). They also conceded 17 points on unforced errors while benefiting from 24 mistakes by their opponent.

Jared Toy was the only player to reach double digits, scoring 12 points and establishing himself as the match’s top performer.

Mexico’s opposite hitter, Lorenzo Martínez, said after the victory: “We achieved the goal we set from the moment we knew which group we were in. We knew the opponents would be tough, and we prepared well to face them as if they were finals. Now we have a rest day to fine-tune the details we missed in the group stage; we want to be ready for the semifinals. From the quarterfinals onward, the matches become more demanding.”

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, August 18, 2025. – Colombia earned its first victory in the men’s volleyball tournament of the II Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025, defeating Paraguay in a thrilling five-set battle 3-2 (30-32, 25-21, 25-18, 20-25, 18-16) at the Paraguayan Olympic Committee Arena (COP).

Colombia evened its record to 1-1 in Pool A, while Paraguay dropped to 0-2. Standings will be decided on Tuesday with Colombia (1-1) facing Guatemala (1-1) and Paraguay (0-2) taking on Mexico (2-0).

The host team struck first after a tightly contested opening set that extended to 32 points, led by Alejandro López. Colombia answered in the second, capitalizing on Paraguayan errors and maintaining control after a 16-16 tie. In the third set, middle blocker Dainer Ocoro made the difference at the net, and although Paraguay rallied late, Colombia closed strongly.

Paraguay refused to back down, forcing a fifth set by dictating the rhythm in the fourth, with Tobías Brizuela earning set point and López sealing it with a back-row attack.

The decider was dramatic: Paraguay reached match point at 14-12, but Colombia held on with a block by Kevin Villamizar and an attack from Miguel Ángel Rodríguez. In the end, Jhon Mosquera blocked López for 17-16, and a Paraguayan error sealed the 18-16 win.

Colombia dominated in blocks (21-8) and edged in service points (5-4), while Paraguay held the advantage in attacks (68-60). Both teams committed 32 unforced errors.

Colombian captain Jhon Mosquera was the standout of the match with 30 points, the tournament-high so far. Ocoro and Rodríguez each added 12 points, while Santiago Ramírez and Kevin Villamizar contributed 11 apiece.

For Paraguay, López led with 24 points, followed by Brizuela and Ángel Sánchez with 12 each, and José Gaete along with Milton Martínez with 10 apiece.

Colombia’s coach, César Lovera, said after the victory: “The evolution of volleyball in Paraguay has been very interesting. I told coach Ronald that you can see the work, the love, and the passion for the jersey. Thanks to God for winning such a close match with such a young team that is just starting to compete internationally. It’s a joy to win.”

Paraguay’s coach, Ronald Sarti, said: “It was a tough match, as we expected. My team is developing and gaining experience. My boys did well, they gave it their all. We’ll keep maturing to be able to finish in this kind of situation. We still have work to do in the competition.”

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, August 19, 2025. – Brazil defeated Cuba 3-0 (25-18, 25-19, 25-20) to finish Pool B undefeated and secure a spot in the semifinals of the men’s volleyball tournament at the II Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025.

The defending champions topped Pool B, followed by Argentina, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic. With the result, Brazil advanced directly to the semifinals, while Argentina and Cuba will compete in the quarterfinals.

Cuba showed a strong offensive effort, but Brazil’s blocking advantage (10-4) made the difference, allowing them to counterattack effectively and close the match in straight sets. The South Americans also outperformed Cuba in attacks (42-37) and limited their unforced errors to just 13, compared to 21 by the Caribbean side. Cuba held a slight edge in service points (3-2).

Maicon dos Santos led Brazil’s scorers with 16 points, followed by Guilherme da Silva with 11, while Samuel de Morais and Witallo de Sousa contributed 10 points each. For Cuba, Yusniel González was the top scorer with 11 points, the only player in double digits.

Brazilian team captain Neufeld Samuel Carazzai said after the victory: “I didn’t expect a 3-0 score, but we got it and achieved our goal of qualifying to the semifinals. I think the semifinals will be tough, but it will be another day of competition that we will face with seriousness.”

Cuba’s head coach Dayron Gallego reflected on the pool stage: “We knew this was the toughest group, with the champions and runners-up from each Confederation. I think we lost the chance against Argentina; we were very close. We go into the quarterfinals against Colombia, which is the most important match to be among the top four. I believe the three teams from our group should advance. Today against Brazil, details slipped away against a high-level opponent.”

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, August 19, 2025.- Colombia defeated Guatemala in a thrilling five-set battle 3-2 (25-23, 21-25, 25-19, 17-25, 15-13) to secure second place in Pool A of the men’s volleyball tournament at the II Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025.

Both teams advanced to the quarterfinals, with Colombia as pool runner-up and Guatemala in third place.

The opening set was tightly contested, but Colombia capitalized on Guatemala’s errors to take the lead, highlighted by its blocking superiority (9-6), while the Central Americans were more effective on attack (14-11). Colombian captain Jhon Mosquera led the offense alongside middle blocker Santiago Ramírez, while José Luis Samayoa and Luis Mendizabal powered Guatemala’s response.

In the second set, the teams traded points and leads until a 19-19 tie. Guatemala, sparked by Yeferson Zavala and José Pablo Pérez, surged ahead to even the match 1-1.

Colombia reacted in the third set, finding more opportunities after the 10th point. Dainer Ocoro’s blocking became the key to slowing Guatemala’s offense and regaining control of the scoreboard.

Guatemala came back strongly in the fourth, jumping to a six-point lead and extending it behind captain Jerry Durán’s consistent attacking and Samayoa’s support, while Colombian errors forced the match into a deciding fifth set.

In the tie-break, Colombia took early control with a 9-5 lead. Guatemala rallied late, closing the gap to 13-14 with attacks from Zavala and Samayoa, but a costly error handed the South Americans the victory.

Colombia’s dominance at the net with 20 blocks to Guatemala’s 8 was the decisive factor, while Guatemala led in attacks (68-54) and service aces (5-2). Both teams were nearly even in unforced errors, with Colombia committing 24 and Guatemala 27.

Colombian captain Jhon Mosquera stood out with 25 points, including a match-high of 6 blocks, supported by Miguel Ángel Rodríguez with 20 points and Ronnie Mosquera with 11. For Guatemala, José Pablo Pérez led with 23 points, followed by Samayoa with 18 and Zavala with 12.

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, August 19, 2025.- Argentina sealed its spot in the quarterfinals of the men’s volleyball tournament at the II Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025, defeating the Dominican Republic 3-1 (25-12, 20-25, 25-12, 25-19) at the COP Arena.

Argentina closed the group stage in second place of Pool B with a 2-1 record, earning its ticket to the quarterfinal round. The Dominican Republic, which finished winless in the opening phase, will compete in the classification series for positions 5 to 8.

The match was marked by ups and downs for both sides. Argentina dominated the opening set with ease, relying on middle blocker Nicolás Oldani’s offense. In the second set, the Caribbean squad responded with greater efficiency in attack, led by opposite Malik Britton, to even the score.

The South Americans regained control in the third set with Nahuel García’s solid blocking and captain Pablo Denis’s powerful offense. In the fourth set, Argentina built a comfortable lead (18-13), with Nahuel Rojas adding to the attack. The match came from Giuliano Turcitu, who entered in the third set and sealed the victory with a decisive spike.

Argentina outperformed the Dominican Republic in every skill: attacks (60-46), blocks (12-6), and service aces (4-1). Argentina committed 14 unforced errors, while the Dominican Republic made 19.

Pablo Denis led Argentina’s scoring with 17 points, all on attacks. He was followed by Nicolás Oldani with 16 (12 attacks, 3 blocks, 1 ace) and Nahuel Rojas with 14, also all on attacks.

For the Dominican Republic, Malik Britton led his team with 17 points, supported by Adrián Figueroa with 14, while Ronny Molina and Moisés Ortiz each added 10.

Argentina’s libero, Federico Trucco, said: “We knew the Dominican Republic had been a tough opponent in all their previous matches, so we came out strong, as if we were playing a final, because it was all about qualification. I think we started very well in the first set, and that psychologically affected them due to the big point difference. In the second set we relaxed a bit, but we came back strong again in the third.”

Dominican opposite Malik Britton said about the loss: “Argentina is a very solid team and didn’t let us pull away. Any attack or attempt, they wouldn’t let us play our game. We’ll try to finish in the best position possible.”

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, August 18, 2025. – Brazil came out on top in a thrilling five-set match, defeating Argentina 3-2 (27-25, 19-25, 25-14, 22-25, 15-12) to remain unbeaten in Pool B of the men’s volleyball tournament at the II Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025, held at the COP Arena.

On Tuesday, Brazil (2-0) will close the preliminary round against Cuba (1-1), while Argentina (1-1) will face the Dominican Republic (0-2). The group winner will earn a direct berth to the semifinals.

The opening set had a dramatic finish, with Argentina pulling ahead 21-19 thanks to the attacks of Nicolás Oldani. However, Brazil rallied and sealed the set 27-25 with a block by Witallo de Sousa over Nahuel García.

In the second set, Argentina took control behind the leadership of team captain Denis Cabañas, supported by Samuel Guidi and Oldani, prevailing 25-19 to level the match.

Brazil regained momentum in the third, led by Maicon dos Santos on offense along with contributions from Samuel de Morais and Sousa, dominating with a convincing 25-14 win.

Argentina forced a decisive fifth set after controlling the fourth with solid blocking, highlighted by Nahuel Rojas and Nahuel García. Brazil narrowed the gap with an ace from Guilherme da Silva, but Argentina held firm to close 25-22.

In the tiebreak, the score was tied at 8 before Brazil surged ahead with back-to-back points from Maicon dos Santos. Guilherme da Silva added key points down the stretch, and after an Argentine service error, Brazil secured the 15-12 victory.

Brazil led in attacks (58-48) and service points (7-5), while Argentina held the edge in blocks (14-8). Errors were nearly even, with Brazil committing one fewer (34-35).

Four Brazilian players scored in double digits: Maicon dos Santos with 18 points, including 4 aces, Guilherme da Silva with 17, Samuel Carazzai with 14, and Witallo de Sousa with 10. For Argentina, captain Denis Cabañas was the match’s top scorer with 20 points, followed by Nahuel Rojas with 12, and Nahuel García and Nicolás Oldani with 10 each.

Brazilian outside hitter Amorim da Silva said: “It was a very tough match. Brazil and Argentina are always a great classic; our rivalry is very strong. We knew it would be a very complicated game. At no point did we stop believing that we could win, and that’s why we kept playing hard. For now, we are undefeated, tomorrow we have a very difficult match against Cuba, and we hope to neutralize them to finish first in the group.”

Argentina’s coach, Damián Arredondo, stated: “We’re left with a bittersweet feeling because we felt we could have won, especially the first set which was very close. This is a learning experience for this very young group, and that’s why we go through ups and downs. We are extremely proud of the match the players played and the effort they gave.”

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, August 18, 2025. – Mexico defeated Guatemala 3-0 (25-11, 25-17, 25-23) to remain unbeaten in Pool A of the men’s volleyball tournament at the II Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025, held at the Paraguayan Olympic Committee (COP) Arena.

With a 2-0 record, Mexico will play its final pool match against hosts Paraguay, while Guatemala (1-1) will face Colombia.

The Mexican squad controlled the match from the start, taking the first set with a huge margin and showcasing four different scorers leading the offense. Their blocking game was key to establishing the early advantage.

In the second set, Guatemala fought back and tied the score at 9 points, led by Yefferson Zavala and capitalizing on Mexico’s errors. However, the power of Alexis Alvarado, Jared Toy, and Leonardo Maldonado allowed Mexico to regain control and extend the lead to go up 2-0 in the match.

The third set was the most competitive. With lineup adjustments, Guatemala stayed close and engaged in a battle at the net between Jerry Durán and Lorenzo Martínez. Pablo Pérez and Daniel Ralón tied the score at 15, and later Guatemala leveled again at 21. Still, attacks from Bryan Vásquez and Diego Ruiz pushed Mexico ahead (24-22). Although Guatemala closed the gap, a reception error sealed the win for Mexico.

Mexico held the advantage in attacks (46-30), blocks (7-2), and aces (3-2), while also committing fewer errors (17-19).

Mexico’s outside hitter Jared Toy led all scorers with 17 points, while Pablo Pérez topped Guatemala with 12. They were the only players to reach double digits.

Jared Toy said: “We were solid and kept a good level of play, but we made mistakes because we got too confident. We need to keep working on our rhythm and focus on staying focused. I’m grateful for every opportunity I get on the court, and I always give my best.”

Pablo Pérez added: “The third set was better for us. I came in as opposite in the second, and in the third with the setter change (Daniel Ralón) we understood each other better. Our reception improved and we were able to move the ball more effectively. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to extend the match.”

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, August 18, 2025. – Cuba claimed its first win in the men’s volleyball tournament of the II Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025, defeating the Dominican Republic in straight sets 3-0 (25-23, 25-18, 25-23).

With the result, Cuba improved its record in Pool B to 1-1 and will face Brazil in its final group-stage match. Dominican Republic, still winless, will play its last preliminary round match against Argentina.

The opening set featured several ties, although Cuba always held the edge. The Cubans reached set point following an attack error by Ronny Molina (24-22), but Moisés Ortiz responded with a block on Alejandro González (24-23). In the end, a Dominican service error sealed the set for Cuba.

In the second set, Cuba was more dominant. With strong offense from Thiago Suárez and Yusniel González, along with solid net defense by Alejandro González, the Cubans pulled away starting at point 11, building a comfortable five-point advantage (16-11) that allowed them to close out the set securely.

The third set unfolded much like the first, with the Dominican Republic staying close on the scoreboard (20-23). However, another error from the opponent handed Cuba the victory in straight sets.

The stats highlighted Cuba’s offensive edge, leading in attacks 43-32. The Dominican Republic was superior in serving (6-4), while both sides tallied 8 points from blocks. Cuba committed 18 errors, while the Dominican Republic totaled 20.

Individually, Cuban opposite hitter Alejandro González topped all scorers with 16 points, followed by team captain Bryan Camino with 12. On the Dominican side, opposite Adrián Figueroa contributed 15 points and Ronny Molina added 12.

After the match, Cuban captain Bryan Camino said: “We know the Dominican Republic well, we went out looking for the win, and the level of demand was lower than yesterday’s opponent. We gave it our all to fight for a spot in the next round, and this was a very important victory to achieve that goal.”

Meanwhile, Dominican head coach Alexander Gutiérrez stated: “This is a tough pool. Yesterday Cuba played five sets against Argentina, and they have players competing in foreign leagues, so it wasn’t easy for my team to face them. We don’t have the same background as those teams, but we are gaining a lot of experience here, which is what we are looking for. We want to measure ourselves to see how far we are, and based on the results, the differences in sets have been small details. That means we are on the right path; we just need to keep working.”

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, August 17, 2025. – Guatemala opened strong in men’s volleyball at the II Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025, defeating host Paraguay 3-1 (26-24, 25-20, 20-25, 25-19) in Pool A action on Sunday at the Paraguayan Olympic Committee (COP) Arena.

With this result, Guatemala (1-0) will face Mexico (1-0) in their next match, while Paraguay (0-1) will look for their first win against Colombia (0-1).

The Guatemalan squad had to rally from a slow start in the first set, as Paraguay responded with an ace and a spike from Alejandro López to tie the score at 21-21. After a thrilling finish, the Central Americans claimed the set thanks to an opponent’s error.

In the second set, Guatemala pulled ahead after point 16, fueled by captain Jerry Durán and José Pablo Pérez, maintaining the lead until closing 25-20, also capitalizing on the home team’s mistakes.

Paraguay answered back in the third set, with López, José Gaete, and Tobías Brizuela leading an offensive surge to build a comfortable 14-9 lead and extend the match to a fourth set.

Guatemala quickly took control of the fourth with contributions from Durán, Pérez, and middle blocker José Luis Samayoa. Although Paraguay closed the gap late, a service error and a block by Pérez sealed the victory for the Central Americans.

Guatemala capitalized on 32 Paraguayan errors while committing only 16. Paraguay, however, held the advantage in attacks (60-56), blocks (8-7), and aces (4-1).

Juan Pablo Pérez and Jerry Durán led Guatemala with 18 points apiece, supported by 10 from José López. For Paraguay, Alejandro López stood out as the top scorer of the match with 27 points (23 kills, 2 blocks, 2 aces), followed by Gaete with 13, and Brizuela and Milton Martínez with 11 each.

Guatemala’s captain, Jerry Durán, said, “I think that being up 2-0, the team felt overconfident in the third set, and we had to fight from behind because of our own mistakes. We’ll rest now, and tomorrow we need to get in the right mindset to give everything against Mexico because we want to play a good match. In the morning practice, we’ll work on tactical plays to implement in the game.”

Paraguay’s libero and captain, Mariano Gómez, stated, “Obviously, we were a bit nervous, it was hard to loosen up. We really started playing our game late in the match, which was evident in the third set when we committed more fully. The nerves of our debut held us back.”

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, August 17, 2025. – Brazil made a strong debut in men’s volleyball at the II Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025, defeating the Dominican Republic in straight sets 3-0 (25-20, 25-17, 25-23) at the Paraguayan Olympic Committee (COP) Arena.

In the next matches of Pool B, Brazil (1-0) will face Argentina (1-0), while the Dominican Republic (0-1) takes on Cuba (0-1).

Team captain Samuel de Morais led Brazil’s offense in the opening set, supported by Witallo de Sousa and Maicon dos Santos, while Adrián Figueroa was the main scoring weapon for the Caribbean team.

In the second set, tied at 12, Figueroa’s serving put Brazil’s reception under pressure, but Samuel responded with back-to-back aces to give his team a 15-13 lead. From there, Brazil stayed in control with key contributions from Guilherme Amorim.

The third set was tighter, reaching 20-20. Two Dominican errors and a spike by Maicon dos Santos put Brazil ahead 22-20. Although Luther Rosario closed the gap with a powerful attack, another Dominican mistake sealed Brazil’s straight-set victory.

Brazil held the edge in all categories: attacks (43-35), blocks (7-3), and service aces (8-5). Both teams committed 17 unforced errors.

Brazilians Samuel de Morais and Witallo de Sousa topped the scorings with 17 and 14 points respectively. Samuel also delivered a match-high 4 aces.Maicon dos Santos added 10 points. For the Dominican Republic, Adrián Figueroa led with 13 points, followed by Malik Britton with 10.

Brazil’s head coach Nery Pereira praised the opponents: “The Dominican team has a lot of talent. They come in as NORCECA U23 champions, and we knew it would be a tough match. Brazil was able to handle it. We dream of winning the competition, just like every team here.”

Dominican captain Luther Rosario remained optimistic: “Despite the loss, it wasn’t a bad match, but we feel we could have done more because we have the potential. We’ve worked hard and can show a higher level. We faced a tough rival. We’re focused on the upcoming matches.”

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, August 17, 2025. – Argentina dug deep to overcome Cuba in a marathon five-set thriller 3-2 (25-21, 26-24, 21-25, 23-25, 16-14), in the opening match of Pool B in the men’s volleyball tournament at the II Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025, held at the Paraguayan Olympic Committee (COP) Arena.

The first set was even until 15-all, when Argentina took control through the power of captain Pablo Cabañas and Nahuel Rojas, while Alejandro González kept Cuba in contention.

The second set brought a dramatic finish. Cuba reached set point with a spike from Bryan Camino, but Argentina denied them with a block and an ace by Nahuel García, tying the score at 24. A block from Iván Pavón and a Cuban reception error on García’s serve handed Argentina the 2-0 lead.

Cuba struck back in the third, powered by the serves of Thiago Suárez and the attacks of Yusniel González, narrowing the gap. The fourth set was a nail-biter, with constant ties. Thiago gave Cuba set point, and Jakdiel Contreras sealed it with a block to force a decisive tie-break.

The fifth set was a rollercoaster. Argentina surged ahead 13-8, but Cuba rallied to level at 13-13 after capitalizing on errors. With the score locked at 14-14, Cabañas delivered a crushing spike and then forced a Cuban net violation to clinch the battle for the South Americans.

Argentina took advantage of 33 Cuban errors (against 25 of their own), while Cuba led in attacks (61-58), blocks (14-12), and service aces (9-8).

Argentinean team captain, Pablo Cabañas led all scorers with 29 points (25 attacks, one block, three aces), followed by Nahuel Rojas with 22. For Cuba, Alejandro González tallied 22 points, Yusniel González added 20, and Bryan Camino finished with 17.

Action continues Monday in Pool B with Argentina vs. Brazil and Cuba vs. Dominican Republic.

Argentina’s coach Damian Arredondo said about his team’s victory: “We have a young group, a mix of U19 and U23 players, so we knew we would have ups and downs. We held on and resisted Cuba’s attack and serve, playing smart when it mattered. We struggled with Cuba’s serving pressure. We had the tie-break almost sealed, and Cuba’s coach made a good substitution with a player who opened the game with his serve; the win was heroic.”

Cuba’s middle blocker Thiago Suárez said: “It was a tough match. We are known for being fighters, and even when we were two sets down, we hadn’t given up. We managed to push it to five sets, unfortunately we couldn’t get the victory, but we will improve for the next match.”

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, August 17, 2025.– Mexico opened with a victory by defeating Colombia 3-1 (18-25, 25-18, 25-23, 26-24) in the opening match of the men’s volleyball tournament at the II Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025, held at the Paraguayan Olympic Committee (COP) Arena.

The match began with Colombian dominance thanks to the aggressive serving of Dainer Ocoro and Ronnie Mosquera, who put pressure on Mexico’s reception to secure the first set.

Mexico, however, responded in the second set, taking control early and building a six-point lead (20-14), driven by the offense of Jorge Hernández and opposite hitter Eduardo Garza.

The third set had the flavor of a comeback: Mexico recovered from a four-point deficit (13-17) after several consecutive Colombian errors. Leonardo Maldonado and Daniel Cravioto were key in leveling the score at 18, and a spike by Juan García closed the set, giving Mexico a 2-1 lead.

The fourth set was the most contested. Colombia tied at 15 points with plays from Miguel Ángel Rodríguez and Santiago Ramírez, keeping the score tight until the end. A Colombian blocking error and a powerful spike from Hernández sealed Mexico’s 26-24 win.

Mexico led in attacks (56-40), while Colombia held the edge in blocks (11-9) and conceded fewer errors (24-34). Both teams scored 5 aces.

Jorge Hernández and Leonardo Maldonado led Mexico with 19 points each; Hernández all on kills, while Maldonado contributed 15 attacks, 2 blocks, and 2 aces. Opposite hitter Eduardo Garza added 10 points.

For Colombia, captain Jhon Mosquera topped the scoring with 18 points (14 attacks, 3 blocks, 2 aces), followed by Miguel Ángel Rodríguez with 11 (7 attacks, 3 blocks, 1 ace).

On the second day of Pool A, Mexico will face Guatemala, while Colombia will take on host Paraguay.

After the victory, Jorge Hernández said: “I believe this was the most important match for us in the group stage. Facing Colombia helps us improve our performance and gain rhythm. Guatemala is also a strong team and Paraguay is at home, but this one was a bit more important. There was inconsistency in our game, and I think we need to handle the pressure better in the closing points of the sets to avoid making errors.”

For his part, Jhon Mosquera explained that Colombia is a team that plays with joy: “As long as we can enjoy every match, the results will be positive. Unfortunately, today we didn’t get the result we wanted, but we’ll keep working to improve our confidence both individually and as a team, which I think was the decisive factor in Mexico’s win.”

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, August 16, 2025.– The teams competing in the men’s volleyball tournament of the II Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025, to be held from August 17 to 22 at the Paraguayan Olympic Committee (COP) Arena, arrive with great expectations.

At stake in this event is a berth to the 2027 Pan American Games in Lima for the tournament champion, as well as for the highest-ranked team from the opposite continental confederation that does not win the gold medal.

Before the start of the competition, the technical meeting took place with the participation of Dominican double Olympic champion Félix Sánchez, a member of the Panam Sports Technical Commission and Athletes’ Commission, alongside officials from the Pan American Volleyball Union.

Diego Ferreira, Delegate of Argentina: “We came with solid preparation. This season, with several international competitions (U21 World Championship, Senior World Championship), assembling a roster was challenging. We carried out a dedicated effort throughout the year. We are confident we can deliver a high level of volleyball for the fans who come to enjoy the Junior Pan American Games.”

Lucas Müller, Delegate of Brazil: “We had a long preparation, about three months. This competition is part of the national team’s season, and I believe we are very strong to reach the final. We came to defend the title, Brazil always plays to win tournaments.”

César Lovera, Coach of Colombia: “The first objective is to get through the group stage. We believe we have a chance to move on to the next round, and from there we hope to play the best tournament possible. Preparation was short due to overlap with the U21 World Championship and the Senior Pan American Cup. The group is strong and ready to compete for a good performance at the Junior Pan American Games.”

Darian Ferrer, Coach of Cuba: “We will aim for the best possible result. One of our goals is to fight for a spot on the podium. We ask the boys to enjoy the competition, to take it one match at a time and to feel good, because from there, results will come.”

Alexander Gutiérrez, Coach of Dominican Republic: “For us this is a tough tournament; we’re in a group that everyone expects the medalists to come from. This will allow us to measure ourselves against the powerhouses Brazil and Argentina, to see how far we still need to go to keep progressing and consolidating as we move forward. We just had a good tournament at the U23 Pan American Cup, and we will try to do our best, fighting in every match to see if we can advance to the next round. This is a long-term project, and a good result doesn’t mean we’re already established, it means we’re on the right path.”

Reider Lucas, Coach of Guatemala: “This is a beautiful competition, with a very high level and well-prepared teams; it is the prelude to the senior national teams. We come with the goal of finishing the group stage in a position that allows us to advance to the next round and improve on our performance from the last edition.”

Renato Soares, Coach of Mexico: “We arrived two days ago and are eager to start the competition. We are ready to do our best. The group we’re in is theoretically not as difficult as the other, and we must face three important matches to move into the next round. We will try to finish first in the group, that’s our first goal, though it will be a very tough challenge.”

Ronald Sarti, Coach of Paraguay: “Paraguay is a developing team, a process we began two years ago with my arrival in 2023 to prepare for the Junior Pan American Games. It’s a young group with little experience but a strong desire to compete. We’ve worked hard and seriously to arrive in the best possible shape, and I believe we’ve succeeded because they have improved. We have a team ready to compete; you will see a different Paraguay, a young and hungry team. Even though we’re the least experienced nation, we will compete and give our all to represent the country in the best way possible.”

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, August 16, 2025.– The spotlight now shifts to the Men’s Volleyball tournament at the II Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025, set to ignite from August 17 to 22 at the Paraguayan Olympic Committee Arena (COP).

The multi-sport event unites the best under-23 athletes from across the Americas, showcasing the next generation of stars and driving the growth of volleyball throughout the region.

A place at the Lima 2027 Pan American Games is on the line for the tournament champion, along with the highest-ranked team from the opposite continental confederation that does not claim the gold medal.

Eight national teams will battle for the crown, with four representatives from NORCECA and four from the South American Confederation CSV, divided into two pools:

• Pool A: Host Paraguay, Colombia, Guatemala, and Mexico
• Pool B: Defending champion Brazil, Argentina, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic

The preliminary round runs from August 17 to 19, with the winners of each pool advancing directly to the semifinals on August 21. Second and third place finishers will fight through crossover quarterfinals on August 20 for a spot in the final four. The medal matches will bring the tournament to a thrilling close on August 22.

Preliminary Round Schedule (local time)

August 17

11:00 am    Mexico vs Colombia

2:00 pm       Cuba vs Argentina

5:30 pm       Brazil vs Dominican Republic

8:30 pm       Paraguay vs Guatemala

August 18

11:00 am    Cuba vs Dominican Republic

2:00 pm       Mexico vs Guatemala

5:30 pm       Brazil vs Argentina

8:30 pm       Paraguay vs Colombia

August 19

11:00 am    Argentina vs Dominican Republic

2:00 pm       Guatemala vs Colombia

5:30 pm       Brazil vs Cuba

8:30 pm       Mexico vs Paraguay