Category: Volleyball

PARAMARIBO, September 21, 2024 – Following the conclusion of the 2024 Men’s U23 Pan American Cup, NORCECA announced that Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Guatemala have qualified for the Men’s Volleyball tournament at the II Junior Pan American Games to take place in 2025 in Asunción, Paraguay.

The announcement was made by NORCECA President Cristóbal Marte Hoffiz during the closing ceremony of the Men’s U23 Pan American Cup, held from September 16 to 21 in Paramaribo, Suriname.

The four teams secured their spots in the continent’s most important youth sports event, organized by Panam Sports, after completing the two-stage qualification process established by the NORCECA Confederation.

The first stage took place during the 2023 Men’s U23 Pan American Cup held in Havana, Cuba, where Cuba emerged as the champion and the Dominican Republic as the runner-up, earning the first two NORCECA tickets.

The qualification was completed with Mexico and Guatemala, as they were the highest-ranked NORCECA teams not yet qualified from the 2024 Men’s U23 Pan American Cup, securing the final two berths.

The four teams now set their sights on Asunción 2025 and will continue their preparation to achieve success on the Junior Pan American stage.

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, September 21, 2024. – Mexican outside hitter Isaías Aguirre was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 2024 Men’s U23 Pan American Cup, which concluded on Saturday at the Anthony Nesty Sporthal in Paramaribo, Suriname.

Isaías helped his team win the Cup, claiming the championship after defeating Peru in the gold medal match in four sets.

This is the second time in the history of the Cup that Mexico has won the title. The first gold medal was earned in 2021.

Isaías also received two additional awards: Best Spiker and Best Receiver. Other recognitions for Mexico include Diego Ruiz being named Second Best Blocker, and Franky Hernández awarded Best Server.

Other individual awards went to Alonso Porras of Peru, who was named Second Best Spiker.

From the Dominican Republic team, Adrián Figueroa, with a total of 148 points, was the Best Scorer and Best Opposite. Eliander Jiménez was honored as Best Libero and Best Digger, while Moisés Ortiz received the award for Best Blocker.

Cuba’s Yonni Iglesias was recognized as Best Setter.

The Pan American Cup was held from September 16 to 22 and qualified Mexico and Guatemala for the 2nd Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025. Cuba and the Dominican Republic secured their qualification during the 2023 edition of the Cup.

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, September 21, 2024 .- Mexico was crowned champion of the 2024 Men’s U23 Pan American Cup after winning the gold medal match 3-1 (25-16, 27-25, 21-25, 25-13) against Peru at the Anthony Nesty Sporthal in Paramaribo, Suriname, on the final day of competition.

This is Mexico’s second title in the history of the Cup; they also won gold in 2021 after defeating Puerto Rico. In total, Mexico has won 4 medals: 2 gold and 2 silver.

Peru won its first silver medal in the history of the Cup; last year, they won the bronze medal, giving them a total of two medals.

Mexico defeated Peru thanks to their superiority in blocking (12-2), as well as their advantage in attacks (57-49) and serves (6-5). Both teams committed 23 unforced errors.

Four Mexican players scored in double digits. Oziel Aguirre led with 22 points (20 attacks, one block, one ace). Franky Hernández contributed 16 points (10 attacks, 3 blocks, 3 aces). Diego Ruiz added 11 points, including a match-high of 5 blocks. Isay Toy scored 10 points.

Peru’s captain, Leonel Despaigne, led all scorers with 25 points (24 attacks, one ace). Also from Peru, Gerardo Chicoma finished with 11 points, all from attacks, and Edgar Vertiz recorded 10 points.

Mexico won the first set, leading throughout, with Franky Hernández as the top scorer, including three aces. The second set was a different story, with the teams tying multiple times, and Peru reaching set point after an attack from their captain, Leonel Despaigne. However, an error allowed Mexico to tie the score at 24, and then Mexico reached set point twice, with Hernández’s powerful offense keeping them ahead 2-0. In the third set, Peru jumped to a three-point lead (11-8) with a serve from Edgar Vertiz and two attacks from Leonel. Mexico tied the score at 12 points with Aguirre leading and Peru committing errors. From there, the score remained close until Peru gained a three-point advantage (19-16), driven by their captain. Peru lost two set points (24-19) due to an attack by Isay Toy and a self-error, but Leonel scored the set point with a soft touch. Mexico started the fourth set with a five-point lead (12-7), with Diego Ruiz putting pressure at the net. Mexico’s dominance grew with the blocking efforts of four players, ending the match with a wide margin.

Renato Soares, Head coach of Mexico: “We prepared for the tournament and the match. We trained on serving, defense, and blocking. We came here to secure qualification for the Junior Pan American Games, and we also wanted to win the competition. The set we lost was due to a lack of focus; being up 2-0, they relaxed, and we shouldn’t think that way”.

Diego Recavarren, Head coach of Peru: “I think the lack of experience in playing finals took its toll. The team entered very nervously, played well at times and not so well at others. Mexico had a very aggressive serve that hurt us a lot, and that didn’t allow us to play at the speed we like, plus their tall blocking. We had played ten sets in two days, which also had an impact. I have nothing to reproach my team for; they fought until the end and showed they know how to play”.

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, September 21, 2024. – Cuba won the bronze medal at the 2024 Men’s U23 Pan American Cup by defeating Guatemala 3-0 (25-20, 25-23, 25-15) at the Anthony Nesty Sporthal in Paramaribo, Suriname on the last day of competition.

Cuba wrapped up the tournament with a 4-1 record to win their first bronze medal in the history of the event. Cuba has an overall of five medals: 3 gold, one silver and one bronze. While Guatemala ended 4-2.

Cuba led in attacks (41-28), blocks (16-7), and aces (5-4), but conceded more points on errors (19-12).

Cuba’s top scorers were middle blockers Thiago Suárez with 15 points (12 attacks, 3 blocks) and Jakdiel Contreras with 11 points (6 attacks, 5 blocks). Outside hitter Bryan Camino added 10 points.

Opposite hitter Pablo Pérez and captain Yeferson Zavala each scored 11 points for Guatemala.

Guatemala managed to take a 12-11 lead in the first set with a block by middle blocker Christian Alvarez on Jakdiel Contreras. With the score close at 22-20 in Cuba’s favor, Daniel Martínez scored with a kill and an ace, followed by a kill from Contreras, giving Cuba the first set. In the second set, the score remained tight, and Guatemala once again took the lead 12-11 with an ace from Daniel Ralón and then 13-12 with a block from Yeferson Zavala. An attack from Pablo Pérez  put Guatemala ahead 15-14, extending to a two-point lead (17-15). For Cuba, it was a back-and-forth struggle, regaining the lead and then losing it, but Daniel Martínez’s pressure on the service line pushed them to a 21-18 advantage. With an attack from Zavala and another from Alvarez, plus a Cuban error, Guatemala tied the set at 21 points, but Cuba captured the set. Cuba elevated their level of play in the third set, gaining a significant advantage over Guatemala and sealing the bronze medal with a block by Daniel Martínez.

Jesús Angel Cruz, Head coach of Cuba: “After yesterday’s defeat, it was hard to lift the spirits of the guys because our goal was to win the title. Today we came out to win the bronze. Coming into the event already qualified for the Junior Pan American Games allowed us to see some players who hadn’t had much court time”.

Reider Lucas Mora, Head coach of Guatemala: “Today the boys were less pressured than yesterday. I think against Mexico, their desire to do well didn’t allow them to focus, and we couldn’t get into a rhythm. Today, we did things a bit better, knowing it would be difficult against Cuba’s tall blocking. This tournament was very important because we qualified for the Junior Pan American Games, and it helped us see new players in this category”.

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, September 21, 2024.- Dominican Republic defeated Costa Rica 3-0 (25-20, 25-15, 25-18) to claim fifth place at the Men’s U23 Pan American Cup, which concluded on Saturday at the Anthony Nesty Sporthal in Paramaribo, Suriname.

This was the second time in the tournament that the Dominican Republic beat Costa Rica. In the preliminary round, the Dominicans defeated the Central Americans, but in four sets.

The Dominican Republic finished with a 3-3 record, while Costa Rica ended with 1-4.

The Dominicans controlled all aspects of the game: attacks (48-26), blocks (7-5), and serves (6-4). Costa Rica made fewer unforced errors (14-18).

Dominican player Adrián Figueroa once again stood out as the top scorer of the match, contributing 26 points (23 attacks, one block, two aces). Middle blocker Moisés Ortiz added 14 points, including a match-high of six blocks, while outside hitter Ronny Molina contributed 11 points.

For Costa Rica, Luis Eduardo Solano and Harold Rodríguez led with 8 points each.

José Alexander Gutiérrez, Head coach of Dominican Republic: “These matches are more mental. We played with more confidence, and there was no pressure; in reality, throughout the tournament, there was no pressure on the team because we were already qualified for Asunción. We were able to test players who have only been working for a few months. This is a project for the future. Now we will prepare for the Junior Pan American Games”.

César Salas, Head coach of Costa Rica: “Today’s match wasn’t our best. I liked that my team grew during the group stage, going toe-to-toe with big teams. We played better against the Dominican Republic in the group stage. I’m satisfied because this is a new project. We did well, and we would have liked to compete more. We’re going back to Costa Rica to keep growing and adding to this project, ensuring it heads in the right direction in the short term”.

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, September 21, 2024.- Suriname finished in seventh place at the Men’s U23 Pan American Cup after defeating Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3-0 (25-16, 25-13, 25-10) at the Anthony Nesty Sporthal in Paramaribo, Suriname.

Suriname ended the tournament with a 2-4 record, which took place from September 16 to 21. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines closed with a 0-5 record.

It was a match where both teams lacked energy, performing below their capabilities.

The hosts finished their last match with a 28-23 advantage in attacks, 7-3 in blocks, and 4-3 in serves. Suriname benefited from 36 errors by Saint Vincent and conceded 10.

Outside hitters Shemar Jameson and Carlo Huisden of Suriname scored 9 and 7 points, respectively.

Middle blocker Shadron Delpesche of Saint Vincent was the top scorer with 14 points.

Carlos Orta, Suriname’s coach: “We knew Suriname had to win this match because of the difference in the level of play between the teams. Our true expectation was to be among the top five. This was a new experience for everyone, even for the spectators, to see that this is not a CAZOVA level, it’s Pan-American. We need to prepare better for future events. I’m happy with the boys because they showed that we’ve made good preparations, but we need to prepare even more”.

Daryl Franklyn, Head coach of St. Vincent: “I think the guys were unmotivated because they were playing for the last spots. They came with a kind of defeated mindset, and it showed on the court. They really didn’t fight”.

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, September 20, 2024. – Mexico defeated Guatemala 3-0 (25-19, 25-16, 25-18) in the semifinals and will play against Peru for the gold medal of the 2024 Men’s U23 Pan American Cup in Paramaribo, Suriname.

Mexico reaches its fourth gold medal match in the history of the Cup (2014, 2018, 2021), having won once in 2021.

Mexico will face Peru on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. for the 2024 title, following the match between Guatemala and Cuba at 3:00 p.m. for the bronze medal. Guatemala won the bronze medal in 2018.

The Mexicans had no trouble dominating Guatemala with an advantage of 34-24 in attacks, 10-2 in blocks, and 9-3 in serves. Mexico gave up 24 points from unforced errors compared to 22 from Guatemala.

Oziel Aguirre scored 13 points (10 attacks, 3 aces) in Mexico’s victory. Franky Hernández contributed 12 points (8 attacks, a match-high  of 4 aces).

Guatemala’s top scorer was Pablo Pérez with 8 points.

Mexico quickly jumped to a comfortable lead (12-4) in the first set, never trailing, and won it with the offense led by Franky Hernández, Oziel Aguirre, and Lorenzo Martínez. Despite Guatemala tying at six points in the second set, Mexico pulled ahead with a 4-0 block advantage, two of which came from José Adame. Mexico’s strong serving in the third set prevented the Central American team from responding, scoring 6 of the 9 total aces with which they closed the match.

Oziel Aguirre of Mexico, the top scorer of the match: “The victory was a team effort. We have worked on several strategies during practice. Besides the serves, it was a combination of factors, including the coaches’ guidance. Now we must face Peru, we saw them against Cuba, and they put on a great performance, well deserved. We can’t be overconfident, and we must give everything on the court, with each player giving their best”.

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, September 20, 2024.- Peru stunned Cuba by winning the semifinal of the 2024 Men’s U23 Pan American Cup in five thrilling sets 3-2 (25-13, 18-25, 25-18, 23-25, 15-12) on Friday at the Anthony Nesty Sporthal in Paramaribo, Suriname.

This was the second consecutive five-set match for Peru, their third of the tournament. Peru reaches the gold medal match for the first time in the history of the Cup; last year, they won bronze, their first medal.  

Peru will face the winner of the other semifinal between Guatemala and Mexico on Saturday at 5:00 pm. Cuba will face the loser at 3:00 pm in search of their first bronze medal in the history of the event, having previously won three gold medals (2014, 2018, 2023) and one silver in 2016. 

Although Cuba dominated every skill, attacks (60-53), blocks (14-7), and service (7-6), Peru committed fewer errors (22-31) to secure the win. 

The top scorer of the game was Peru’s captain Leonel Despaigne with 24 points (22 attacks, 2 aces). Outside hitters Gerardo Chicoma and Piero Porras contributed to the South American victory with 18 and 11 points, respectively. 

Cuba’s top scorer was outside hitter Bryan Camino with 21 points (19 attacks, 2 aces), followed by middle blocker Thiago Suárez with 20 points (19 attacks, 1 ace). Middle blocker Jakdiel Contreras added 10 points. 

Cuba started with a seven-point lead (10-3) thanks to the attacks of Bryan Camino and Thiago Suárez. Cuba never trailed, closing the first set with a huge margin. Peru managed a three-point lead (5-2) to start the second set with the offense of Piero Porras, Gerardo Chicoma, and Leonel Despaigne. As the set progressed, Peru maintained the lead, doubling Cuba’s points with quick plays, solid defense, and pressure from their serve (16-8). A block by Peruvian middle blocker Andrew Luján on Thiago tied the match. Cuba recovered by jumping to a comfortable lead in the third set, with powerful attacks and taking advantage of Peru’s errors. Cuba won the third with a spike by Thiago. In the fourth set, Cuba held the lead (14-12), with Carlos Pereira joining the offense, but Peru stayed close with Luis Ñiquen scoring along with Chicoma and Despaigne to tie at 22, then 23, and went on to force a fifth set with a kill from Edgar Vértiz and a Cuban error.  Peru started the tie-break ahead 4-1, and although Cuba tied at points 9, 10, and 11, Peru always stayed in front, closing the match with an ace from Despaigne. 

Diego Recavarren, Head coach of Peru:  “We didn’t give up. We knew Cuba was a superior opponent, but when you play very closely, they make a lot of mistakes, and that was the key. The team is proving to be very tenacious despite the height limitations, but we have developed a compact game system, and that’s why we are in the final”.

Leonel Despaigne, captain of Peru: “We were thinking a lot about this match. Cuba is incredibly strong, and we were eager for revenge from last year against them (at least for me, as I played in the Cup in Cuba). I’m super happy. Beating Cuba is the ultimate. We played very organized, listened well, and we are very united and determined, we never give up on any ball”.

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, September 20, 2024.- Dominican Republic defeated Saint Vincent 3-0 (25-10, 25-11, 25-8) and will face Costa Rica on Saturday for fifth place in the Men’s U23 Pan American Cup at the Anthony Nesty Sporthal in Paramaribo, Suriname. 

Dominican Republic and Costa Rica played in the preliminary round, with the Dominican team winning in four sets. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines will compete for the 7th/8th position against Suriname. 

The Dominican team secured the victory in 48 minutes, with a huge advantage in attacks (44-16), a slight edge in blocking (7-6), and scoring more service points (4-0), while benefiting from Saint Vincents’ 20 errors compared to their own 7. 

The top scorer was Dominican Adrian Figueroa with 15 points (14 attacks, one block). Moisés Ortiz and Ronny Molina contributed to the win with 9 and 8 points, respectively. 

Shadron Delpesche led Saint Vincent with 10 points (8 attacks, 2 blocks). 

Luther Rosario, captain of the Dominican Republic: “It’s very difficult to play a match for this position; it’s a mental challenge after losing an important game. The team’s morale is a bit low. We need to stay strong, as this is part of the sport, and we must know how to get back up because we are representing a country”. Philroy Nero, libero of St. Vincent: “The focus of our team was not here today. Our team needed to focus on passing, hitting and keeping our fire on. Dominican Republic played very well”.

Philroy Nero, libero of St. Vincent: “The focus of our team was not here today. Our team needed to focus on passing, hitting and keeping our fire on. Dominican Republic played very well”.

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, September 20, 2024. – Costa Rica defeated the host Suriname in a dramatic game 3-2 (25-17, 25-27, 25-22, 29-31, 20-18) to advance to the match for fifth place at the Men’s U23 Pan American Cup at the Anthony Nesty Sporthal in Paramaribo.

Costa Rica will play the fifth-place match on Saturday against the winner between Saint Vincent and the Dominican Republic; Suriname will face the loser for positions 7/8.

In a match that lasted over two hours (2:24), with the tie-break nearly resembling a regular set, Costa Rica claimed victory by leading in attacks (74-67) and committing fewer errors (24-34). Suriname held the advantage in blocking (15-12) and serving (9-4).

Five Costa Rican players scored in double digits, with standout performances from middle blocker Luis Eduardo Solano and outside hitter Harold Rodríguez, who scored 24 and 20 points, respectively.

The top scorer of the match was Suriname’s Lee A Leong with 28 points, supported by Carlo Huisden (17), Gianni Ritfeld (15), and Shemar Jameson (14).

Costa Rica started strong, winning the first set while always staying ahead on the score, with four players leading the attack. The second set saw several ties, until Gianni Ritfeld and Lee A Leong pressed to level the match 1-1, with Ritfeld scoring the set-winning block. Costa Rica and Suriname were tied up to 21 points in the third set, but Costa Rica won despite Suriname leading the attack (14-9). After two consecutive errors by Costa Rica near the end, Harold Rodríguez sealed the set with a kill. In a dramatic fourth-set finish, Suriname lost a set point (24-23) after a powerful attack from Costa Rica’s Juan Delgado. Costa Rica then missed a match point after a kill from Lee A Leong, and Suriname forced a fifth set by scoring two consecutive points to close it out 31-29. In the fifth set, both teams traded leads, extending the set to nearly a regular one, but Costa Rica clinched the win with a final kill from Rodríguez.

Luis Eduardo Solano, top scorer of Costa Rica: “It was a tough match. Both teams got carried away emotionally; at times one team was ahead, and then the other would take the lead, switching roles throughout the game. Thankfully, we were able to pull through and now we’re aiming for fifth place, which is a good position for a new team like ours in tournaments of this level”.

Lee A Leong, top scorer of Suriname: “We had a good game. We need to finish the sets. We all committed a series of errors. We played a good game, and we showed that we can compete with these teams. We must work to improve more”.

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, September 19, 2024. – Mexico captured the last spot in the semifinals of the U23 Men’s Pan American Cup after defeating host Suriname 3-0 (25-19, 25-10, 25-23) at the Anthony Nesty Sporthal in Paramaribo.

Mexico will face Guatemala on Friday at 8:00 p.m. in the second semifinal; the first one will be at 5:00 p.m. between Cuba and Peru. Suriname will play a classification match for positions 5 to 8, starting against Costa Rica at 11:00 a.m.

Mexico and Guatemala secured their berths in the II Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025 as the two best-ranked non-qualified NORCECA teams in the event. Cuba and the Dominican Republic earned their qualification in last year’s U23 Cup.

Mexico outperformed Suriname with a 44-23 advantage in attacks, 8-3 in blocks, and 4-1 in aces. Suriname made fewer errors (19-25).

Oziel Aguirre and Lorenzo Martínez each scored 12 points for Mexico, while Meson Anakaba scored 10 for Suriname.

The first set was very close, with Shemar Jameson leading Suriname, supported by Lee A Leong, both spearheading the attack. Mexico won the first set by pulling ahead mid set, gaining a comfortable five-point lead (19-14) with the push from Juan García, Lorenzo Martínez, and Franky Hernández. Mexico took the second set without complications, with Oziel Aguirre joining the offense and Alexis Alvarado scoring the final point with an ace. In the third set, Suriname led 15-13 with Meson Anakaba at the front, alongside Sandel Revelino and Carlo Huisden. Mexico ended Suriname’s good streak, tying at 21 points and then going up 22-21 thanks to an attack from Anakaba, followed by an attack from Aguirre. Mexico closed the match with a kill from Isay Toy, despite losing one match point on a kill from Huisden.

Renato Soares, Head coach of Mexico: “It was a match with many ups and downs. I always tell the players that we must maintain a high level of play. We can’t play this way because we suffer. In the match before ours, the Dominican Republic struggled against Peru and ended up losing. Our goal was to qualify for the Junior Pan American Games, and we’ve achieved that. Now, we are going to aim for the final. We have a tough semifinal against Guatemala, and we will prepare well”.

Meson Anakaba, top scorer of Suriname: “We gave our all in the last set, but at the end our mistakes cost us the set which we led most of the time. We have to work on limiting our errors to reach another level of play. I am a bit disappointed, but personally I tried my best”.

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, September 19, 2024.- Peru defeated Dominican Republic in a five set thriller 3-2 (19-25, 27-25, 22-25, 25-22, 15-13), to advance to the semifinals of the U23 Men’s Pan American Cup at the Anthony Nesty Sporthal in Paramaribo, Suriname. 

The match was a rollercoaster, a point-for-point battle where Peru held an advantage in attacks (74-71), while the Dominican Republic led in blocks (12-11) and serves (4-1). Peru committed 23 errors, while the Dominican Republic had 22. 

Peru’s captain, Leonel Despaigne, led his team with 27 points (26 attacks, one block). Outside hitter Gerardo Chicoma scored 24 points (20 attacks, 3 blocks, one ace), and Piero Porras added 17 points (16 attacks, one block). 

Dominican opposite Adrián Figueroa led all scorers with 29 points (28 attacks, one block). Ronny Molina contributed 25 points (23 attacks, 2 blocks), and Edward Rojas added 14 points (12 attacks, one block, one ace). 

The Dominican Republic overcame a four-point deficit (2-6) at the start of the first set, with both teams tied several times until the Dominican side took control through a block by Moisés Ortiz and a kill from Adrián Figueroa. Peru gained a five-point lead (14-9) thanks to the offense of Gerardo Chicoma and Piero Porras. However, the South Americans couldn’t hold the advantage, as the Dominican Republic rallied to tie the set at 22, with Figueroa leading the way and Ronny Molina joining in. Peru finally tied the match by winning the second set in overtime with two attacks from Leonel Despaigne. The Dominican Republic never trailed in the third set, though Peru stayed close throughout. It was a duel of attacks between the Dominicans Molina and Edward Rojas, and Peru’s Despaigne and Chicoma, with the set ultimately going to the Dominican Republic after Molina scored on a kill. Peru quickly took the lead in the fourth set (7-1), thanks to a strong performance by Luis Ñiquen, and extended the advantage with Chicoma’s help, forcing a tie-break.  The fifth set was fast-paced play, with the teams tying at 13 points. A Dominican error and an attack from Leonel Despaigne secured the victory for Peru. 

Diego Recavarren, Head coach of Peru:   “Aggressiveness was crucial. We entered the match with the mindset that we were on the same level as them. Serving, attacking aggressively, and counterattack speed were key. We have a very strong, fast, and smart setter. We fought for every ball”.

Gerardo Chicoma, outside hitter of Puer: “We had a very good attitude. We entered the game knowing what we needed to do. Given the opponent’s height, we had to play intelligently rather than relying on strength, and that was evident on the court. We knew how to work as a team and defend well to achieve victory”.

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, September 19, 2024. – The U23 Men’s Pan American Cup, taking place from September 16 to 22 in Paramaribo, Suriname, not only showcases the talent of the region’s young players but also a select group of international referees entrusted with officiating at this event, which serves as a qualifier for the II Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025.

Among the appointed referees, two women stand out, underscoring the North, Central America, and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation’s (NORCECA) commitment to gender equity in sports. Cinthya Hernández of Costa Rica and Chantal Karsters of Suriname are leading this effort.

The complete list of referees includes: 

Cinthya Hernández from Costa Rica, Chantal Karsters from Suriname, Ricardo Borroto from Cuba, Nestor Mateo from the Dominican Republic, Raúl Mejía from Guatemala, Randy Sánchez from Mexico, Herberth González from Peru, and Brian Charles from Trinidad and Tobago (representing Saint Vincent and the Grenadines).

The referees are under the supervision of Referee Coaches Jorge Isaac Villalobos from Costa Rica and Cheryll Rogers from Curaçao, who ensure the proper execution of refereeing decisions throughout the tournament.

This diverse group of officials guarantees the quality and professionalism of the refereeing in a competition that brings together teams from Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and the host nation, Suriname.

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, September 18, 2024. – Peru took second place in Pool B after a 3-0 (25-15, 25-19, 25-17) victory over host Suriname in the Under 23 Men’s Pan American Cup, at the Anthony Nesty Sporthal in Paramaribo.

Peru ended pool-play with 2-1 record and Suriname finished 1-2. In Thursday’s quarterfinals, Peru will face the Dominican Republic (5:00 pm) and Suriname will take on Mexico (8:00 pm).

Peru dominated every skill of the game: attacks (43-25), blocks (7-5), and serves (8-2), though they committed more errors (19-17).

Three players from Peru scored in double digits: Gerardo Chicoma (17), Piero Porras (15), and Leonel Despaigne (11).

On Suriname’s side, Lee A Leong scored 15 points.

The first set was tied at 5 points before Peru took control without difficulties. In the second set, despite Suriname’s efforts through Lee A Leong, Peru once again dominated the play. The third set was tightly contested, with both teams tied early on, but Peru applied pressure with strong blocking from Piero Porras and serves from Luis Ñiquen and Adrian Gushiken to secure the victory in three sets.

Diego Recavarren, Head coach of Peru: “The host team has improved a lot in their level; it was a tough game, but fortunately, my team stayed focused on what they needed to do, including committing few errors and being aggressive with serves and blocking. I think we accomplished that. Now we face the Dominican Republic, a strong and tall team. We are going to play well and counterattack their best attackers to show the progress that men’s volleyball in our country has made”.

Carlos Orta Fellove, Head coach of Suriname: “From the beginning, I knew today’s game against Peru and yesterday’s game against Guatemala would be difficult. We did everything we could, all the efforts, all the necessary changes to win, but it was tough. The boys gave it their all and reached the peak of their performance”.

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, September 18, 2024. – Cuba defeated Mexico 3-1 (20-25, 25-21, 25-19, 25-14) to secure a direct spot in Saturday’s semifinals of the U23 Men’s Pan American Cup, being held at the Anthony Nesty Sporthal in Paramaribo, Suriname.

Cuba earned their direct pass to the semifinals as Pool A winners with a 3-0 record. Mexico (2-1) will play in the quarterfinals on Friday against  third place from Pool B (Suriname or Peru).

Cuba outperformed in attacks (41-33), while Mexico led in serves (10-7). Both teams scored 9 blocking points. Cuba capitalized on 27 errors by Mexico, while committing 38 of their own.

Middle blocker Thiago Suárez once again led Cuba and was the top scorer of the match with 24 points (18 attacks, a match-high 5 blocks, and one ace). Outside hitter Bryan Camino collected 14 points (12 attacks, one block, and one ace).

Outside hitter Isay Toy led Mexico with 15 points (14 attacks and one block), followed by Franky Hernández, who also scored 15 points (8 attacks, 2 blocks, and a match-high of 5 aces).

The teams traded leads throughout the first set, with Mexico pulling ahead from point 20, scoring six consecutive points with the offense of Alejandro Adame and Isay Toy, as well as the blocking from Diego Ruiz, to take a 1-0 lead. Cuba jumped to a four-point advantage (10-6) in the second set with Thiago Suárez and Carlos Pereira leading the way, but Mexico managed to tie the score on numerous occasions starting from point 12. Cuba evened the match by taking the second set with a 12-9 advantage in attacks, where Yonni Iglesias also contributed. Thiago and Camino dominated Cuba’s attack to recover from a five-point deficit (9-14) and put Cuba ahead two sets to one. With a seven-point lead (15-8), Cuba paved the way to victory with a commanding advantage, and opposite Daniel Martínez sealed the win with a kill.

Jesús Ángel Cruz, Head coach of Cuba:  “Mexico always comes to fight in this category; they are fighters, just like us. In the first set, their serving worked really well, especially No. 48 (Milatony), who caused us a lot of trouble in that rotation with his serve. After that, we made the necessary adjustments to control that serve. Our attack worked perfectly in the last set”.

José Alejandro Adame, setter of Mexico:  “We had a good first set. There was a lot of distraction afterward. I think we will meet Cuba again in the tournament final. Cuba’s blocking caused us a lot of damage, along with the powerful attack. We need to make several adjustments”.

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, September 18, 2024.- Guatemala made it to the semifinals of the U23 Men’s Pan American Cup being held at the Anthony Nesty Sporthal in Paramaribo after winning Pool Be.

Guatemala defeated St. Vincent and the Grenadines 3-0 (25-10, 25-12, 25-17) in their last match of pool-play. Guatemala closed with a 3-0 record. St. Vincent (0-3) will compete for positions 5 to 8.

Guatemala was superior in kills  (37-16) and in service aces  (5-2). Guatemala scored on 28 opponent errors and gave away 17.  

Yeferson Zavala of Guatemala was the only player with double digits scoring 12 points on 11 kills and one block. Also contributing to the win were Roberto Recinos with 9 points and Christian Alvarez with 8.

The best scorer for St. Vincent was Damari Frederick with 7 points.  

Guatemala controlled the game from start to finish, using all its players.

Reider Lucas Mora, Head coach of Guatemala: “Our goal was to win the pool. Against Peru we expected an even match, and we were able to get the result. The Suriname players were the hosts, and they have athletes with great potential, they didn’t make it easy, I was satisfied. And today, we were aiming for 3-0, we accomplished it. We advance to semifinals, and we want to enjoy them, playing the best we can”.

Daryl Franklyn, Head coach of St. Vincent: “I don’t think the guys played today at their full potential. As I said before, coming into the competition we lost a lot of players, so the chemistry amongst the guys was really bad. I think they could have done much better. Hopefully the guys can pull it together for our next matches and we can play for a higher position in the competition”.

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, September 18, 2024. – Dominican Republic advanced to the quarterfinals of the U23 Men’s Pan American Cup with a 3-1 (25-17, 25-21, 23-25, 25-22) victory over Costa Rica at the Anthony Nesty Sporthal in Paramaribo, Suriname.

The Dominican Republic (1-2) finished third in Pool A and will face the second-place team from Pool B (yet to be determined) in Thursday’s quarterfinal round. Costa Rica (0-3) will compete in the matches for positions 5 to 8.

The Dominican Republic led in attacks (59-45) and blocks (14-6). Both teams scored 5 direct points from serves. The Dominican Republic gave away 29 points on errors, while Costa Rica committed 20 errors.

Dominican opposite Adrián Figueroa led all scorers with 29 points (28 attacks, one block), followed by outside hitters Rony Molina and Edward Rojas with 16 and 13 points respectively. Cristofer Andujar had a match-high of 5 blocks.

Costa Rican middle blockers Luis Eduardo Solano and Jeremy Vanega led their team with 11 points each.

The Dominican Republic opened the match with a comfortable four-point lead (13-9), applying pressure with serves and attacks from Adrián Figueroa and Ronny Molina, and never trailed. Luis Solano and Franco Molina helped Costa Rica gain a five-point advantage (7-2) at the start of the second set, but the Dominicans tied it at eight points. From there, the score remained close until it was tied at 20 points. With three Costa Rican errors and a point from Molina, the Dominican Republic secured the second set. Costa Rica started the third set strong, building an eight-point lead (12-4) with offensive help from Diego Delgado and Jeremy Vanega. Costa Rica stayed ahead but gave up four set points on Cristofer Andujar blocking, attacks from Figueroa, and their own errors before forcing a fourth set. The fourth set was tied at 21 points; with three attacks, a serve, and an error, the Dominican Republic won.

Eliander Jiménez, libero for the Dominican Republic: “After winning two sets, we lost focus and got overconfident. I think we underestimated Costa Rica, but they showed the opposite. Costa Rica played better than us in the third set. We adjusted our reception in the fourth set, the outside hitters woke up since only the opposite was attacking, and I improved in defense. We played with more harmony to get the result”.

Anderson Barboza, libero for Costa Rica: “I feel that we always supported each other on the court. We had several errors in reception, which I think caused us to lose today. We will work on that aspect to get the results we expect. Despite the outcome, we did well”.

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, September 17, 2024. – Guatemala remains undefeated in the U23 Men’s Pan American Cup after securing a 3-1 (25-20, 25-18, 21-25, 25-23) victory over host Suriname at the Anthony Nesty Sporthal in Paramaribo.

Guatemala holds a 2-0 record in Pool B, guaranteeing their spot in the next round. A win against Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (0-2) on Wednesday will secure them a direct ticket to the semifinals as group leaders. Suriname and Peru, both with a 1-1 record, will face off to determine the final standings.

Guatemala’s advantage in attack (51-47) and fewer errors (22-34) were enough to overcome Suriname, who dominated in blocking (11-9) and serving (6-2).

Yeferson Zavala led Guatemala with 18 points from attacks, followed by Roberto Recinos with 16 points.

Suriname’s Jameson Shemar led all scorers with 24 points, including a match-high of 4 blocks. Lee A Leong contributed 15 points for Suriname.

Guatemala won the first set coming from behind (12-17) following Suriname errors. Jerry Duran pushed the Central Americans forward, supported by Yeferson Zavala and Christian Álvarez. Guatemala remained solid, overpowering Suriname in the second set with blocks from José Samayoa and Daniel Ralón, despite struggling with serves from Lee A Leong and Jameson Shemar. Suriname took a three-point lead in the third set (12-9) thanks to Jameson’s blocks, but the teams tied at 13. Suriname gained a four-point advantage (18-14) with powerful attacks from Lee A Leong, giving them the confidence to force a fourth set. Guatemala reached a five-point lead (17-12) with offensive plays from Pablo Pérez and blocks from Ralón and Samayoa. Suriname’s errors benefited Guatemala, but they closed the gap (20-21) with points from Jameson. Guatemala celebrated the win with a kill from Zavala, though not before losing two match points due to errors.

Yeferson Zavala, Guatemala’s captain: “I think our attitude today was a bit lower compared to yesterday. We started the match very well but lost some energy as Suriname played better and put more pressure on us. Tomorrow, we face Saint Vincent, and we hope to play well from the start and win our pool”.

Duncan Hiwat, setter of Suriname: “It was a dramatic finish. I came off the bench in the second  set and the teams’ performance stabilized, we played better and really excited. I am happy that the team played well, we gave our best even if we lost”.

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, September 17, 2024. – Cuba came back from a two-set deficit to defeat the Dominican Republic 3-2 (21-25, 22-25, 25-20, 25-18, 15-13) in the U23 Men’s Pan American Cup on Tuesday at the Anthony Nesty Sporthal in Paramaribo, Suriname.

Cuba and Mexico, both with a 2-0 record, will face each other on Wednesday for first place in Pool A and a direct pass to the semifinals. The Dominican Republic and Costa Rica, with 0-2 records, will play for a spot in the quarterfinals.

Cuba led in attacks (69-52) and service points (7-2), while the Dominican Republic dominated in blocks (12-8). Cuba committed 35 errors compared to 24 from the Dominican Republic.

Cuba’s middle blocker Thiago Suarez led the team with 24 points (21 attacks, 2 blocks, one  ace). Outside hitter Bryan Camino contributed 23 points (22 attacks, one ace) to the win. Outside hitter Carlos Pereira scored 13 points, and middle blocker Alexis Wilson added 11, including a match-high of 5 blocks.

The  top scorer of the game was Dominican opposite Adrián Figueroa with 26 points, all from attacks. Outside hitter Ronny Molina added 16 points for the Dominican team.

After a close score, the Dominican Republic pulled ahead with a six-point lead (15-9) thanks to the offensive efforts of Adrián Figueroa and Ronny Molina, maintaining the lead until closing the set with a serve by Molina. From point 11 of the second set, the Dominican Republic kept the advantage until the end. Cuba, with Bryan Camino and Thiago Suárez, applied pressure, but their errors, combined with the effectiveness of Dominican Figueroa, couldn’t prevent the Dominican Republic from winning the second set. The Dominicans took advantage of Cuba’s mistakes in the third set, holding the lead until Cuba recovered from a three-point deficit (11-14) with scores from Alexis Wilson and Thiago to tie it. With an attack from Camino, along with a Dominican error, they forced a fourth set. Cuba capitalized on their momentum and quickly jumped to a wide 12-4 lead, driven by Yonni Iglesias and Thiago’s attacks and Alexis Wilson’s blocks, never falling behind and extending the match to a tie-break. Cuba won the fifth set with an advantage in attacks (9-5) and by capitalizing on six Dominican errors.

Thiago Suarez, Cuba’s top scorer: “We didn’t have the necessary focus in the first two sets; we were too excited. We calmed down to win the next three sets. We stayed calm, added points, and had patience. Tomorrow, we will fight for first place in the group against Mexico, and we hope to get the win”.

José Gutiérrez, Head coach of the Dominican Republic: “For us, it’s about gaining experience; we are already qualified for Asunción 2025. We lost, but while playing well. The boys lack game volume, and this inconsistency (playing two sets very well, then two sets poorly) is due to a lack of matches. If the Dominican Republic doesn’t build a league that allows them to play, it’s going to be difficult for us. We need to be patient and keep working”.

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, September 17, 2024. – Peru improved their record (1-1) in Pool B after defeating St. Vincent 3-0 (25-14, 25-15, 25-15) in the U23 Men’s Pan American Cup being held at the Anthony Nesty Sporthal in Paramaribo, Suriname.

Peru (1-1) will close pool-play on Wednesday against Suriname, and St. Vincent (0-2) will face Guatemala.

Peru delivered a convincing victory over St. Vincent, dominating in attacks (46-17) and service points (8-1), while St. Vincent led in blocks (8-4) and committed one fewer error (17-18).

Leonel Despaigne, Peru’s captain, was the top scorer with 17 points (16 attacks, one ace), and Piero Porras added 10 points.

St. Vincent’s middle blocker Shadron Delpesche scored 10 points, including a match-high of 5 blocks.

Peru was able to use all their players in a match that lasted less than an hour (0:57).

Piero Porras, Peru’s outside hitter: “Our coach made quite a few changes so that everyone could get on the court and find their rhythm for the upcoming matches. Today we were able to control the game as the opponent gave us the opportunities to do so. We did what we know how to do. We’re ready to face Suriname, and what we need is to control the ball because that’s how we will control the game”.

John Jaimion, captain of St. Vincent and the Grenadines: “We got off to a rough start and we couldn’t get our foot in. Passing was one of our main issues today and we hope with some training sessions we can improve for the following games”.

PARAMARIBO, Mexico, September 17, 2024.- Mexico beat Costa Rica 3-0 (27-25, 25-18, 25-21) in its second win in Pool A of the U23 Men’s Pan American Cup, taking place at the Anthony Nesty Sporthal in Paramaribo, Suriname.

With two victories in Pool A, Mexico (2-0) is assured of advancing to the next round, but it remains to be seen whether they will go directly to the semifinals or compete in the quarterfinals after facing Cuba on Wednesday. Costa Rica (0-2) will play against the Dominican Republic in their final group stage match.

Mexico and Costa Rica are vying for one of the two spots available for NORCECA teams at the II Pan American Junior Games Asunción 2025.

After a tough first set, Mexico secured the win with an advantage of 41-31 in kills, 9-4 in blocks, and 9-2 in serves, but Costa Rica benefited from 27 unforced errors compared to 18.

Jared Toy led Mexico with 11 points (8 attacks, 2 blocks, one ace). Oziel Aguirre scored 10 points (5 attacks, including a match-high of 5 direct serve points). Juan García also contributed 10 points (5 attacks, a match-high of 4 blocks, 1 ace).

For Costa Rica, Jeremy Vanega and Dennis Jenher each scored 9 points.

Costa Rica started strong, reaching a five-point lead (11-6) with powerful kills from Dennis Jenher and Jeremy Vanega, but Mexico quickly recovered with Oziel Aguirre’s attacks and Jared Toy’s blocks. The set remained very close, with Mexico finally closing it out in extra time. In the second set, Aguirre maintained his serve to help Mexico hold a comfortable lead over Costa Rica and stay in control of the match. In the third set, the teams tied several times until reaching 20 points, when Mexico pulled ahead with consecutive points from Franky Hernández.

Jared Toy, Mexico’s top scorer: “We started a bit slow, which is something we’ve been struggling with as a team. Costa Rica gave us a good scare. We managed to get into rhythm and come through. Tomorrow, we close against Cuba, and we expect it to be a great match, good for both teams”.

Jeremy Vanega, Costa Rica’s top scorer: “We lost control in the first set because we started making errors and gradually lowered our level of play. From there, we lost focus and Mexico’s pressure increased. This is another experience; we learn from each game and regardless of the outcome, we’re happy to be growing”.

PARAMARIBO, Mexico, September 16, 2024. – Suriname swept Saint Vincent (25-18, 25-16, 25-20) in their first match of the Men’s U23 Pan American Cup, which began on Monday at the Anthony Nesty Sporthal in Paramaribo, Suriname.

The Men’s U23 Pan American Cup is being held from September 16 to 22 and offers two berths for NORCECA teams not yet qualified for the 2025 Asunción Junior Pan American Games. 

Located in Pool B, Suriname (1-0) will face Guatemala (1-0) on Tuesday, and Saint Vincent (0-1) will take on Peru (0-1). 

The host country controlled Saint Vincent with advantages in attacks (36-22), serves (5-4), and committed fewer errors (21-29). Saint Vincent was superior in blocks (7-5). 

Suriname’s opposite hitter, Meson Anakaba, led all scorers with 13 points (11 attacks, 2 aces). Contributing to the win with seven points each were outside hitter Anfernee Lee and middle blocker Faiq Lobo. 

For Saint Vincent, setter Damari Frederick and middle blocker Shadron Delpesche scored 12 and 10 points, respectively. 

Suriname dominated the first set with attacks from Meson Anakaba, Anfernee Lee, and Faiq Lobo. In the second set, the host country jumped to a comfortable five-point lead (10-5) thanks to the offense of Shemar Jameson and Carlo Huisden; for Saint Vincent, Damari Frederick emerged as the set’s top scorer. Saint Vincent had momentum in the third set, recovering from a six-point deficit (17-23) to close in at (20-23) with effective blocks from Kyle Liverpool and several errors by Suriname, who eventually celebrated their first victory with a match point attack from Jonovan Wijngaarde.

Siryan Meijer, captain of Suriname: “It was a good beginning for us. I think we didn’t make as many errors as St. Vincent. We were more consistent than them and we played cleaner volleyball, they were kind of messy on their side. In the third set St. Vincent tried to lift, but we came back as a team, we talked in the time-out, and we were determined to go for it”.

John Jaimion, captain of St. Vincent and the Grenadines: “It took us a while to get started, we had a good third set, we got a little momentum going because we needed time adjusting. We will improve with the upcoming games. Tomorrow, we face Peru, we saw them today and they are a bit intimidating, but I think with today’s experience we will be able to formulate something for them”.

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, September 16, 2024.- Mexico began its U23 Men’s Pan American Cup campaign with a 3-1 (25-23, 23-25, 25-21, 25-22) victory over the Dominican Republic at the Anthony Nesty Sporthal in Paramaribo, Suriname. 

Mexico is aiming for one of the two available spots for NORCECA teams in the II Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025. The Dominican Republic is already qualified. 

On the second day of the event in Pool A, Mexico (1-0) will face Costa Rica (0-1), and the Dominican Republic (0-1) will play Cuba (1-0). 

Mexico capitalized on 38 Dominican errors, compared to their 18. Mexico led in all aspects of the game: attacks (66-47), blocks (9-5), and serves (9-1). 

Mexico’s outside hitter Isaías Aguirre and Dominican opposite Adrian Figueroa led all scorers with 23 points each. 

Aguirre scored on18 attacks, one block, and a match-high of 4 aces. Mexico’s captain, Franky Hernández, added 21 points in the win (17 attacks, one block, 3 aces). Middle blocker Diego Ruiz contributed 16 points (9 attacks, a match-high of 6 blocks, and one ace). Opposite Lorenzo Martínez finished with 15 points. 

Alongside Adrian Figueroa, middle blocker Moisés Ortiz scored 12 points for the Dominican Republic. 

Mexico’s serving (4-0) and blocking (3-1) were key, with points from Franky Hernández and Isaías Aguirre, helping them take the first set after tying at 18 points. From the 11th point onward, the Dominican Republic led in the second set, tying the match by taking advantage of Mexico’s errors, with the offense led by Moisés Ortiz and Adrian Figueroa. Mexico led the third set from point 15, closing it out with a kill by Juan García and a Dominican error, winning by four points. The fourth set was close, but Lorenzo Martínez joined Mexico’s offense to overpower the Dominicans. 

Franky Hernández, captain of Mexico: “This is the first game we’ve played at this level. We are a completely new team, with some players in new positions, but we managed to get a good result. The Dominican Republic is a formidable team. Our spirit, our unity, we are like a family, and that makes the team always resonate”.

Luther Rosario, captain of the Dominican Republic: “We had problems with our reception, and that didn’t allow us to play our game. We also need to adjust our blocking a bit more. We will keep working hard because we didn’t show everything we have today”.

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, September 16, 2024. – Guatemala kicked off the U23 Men’s Pan American Cup with a thrilling five-set victory 3-2 (22-25, 25-23, 25-21, 24-26, 15-11) over Peru at the Anthony Nesty Sporthal in Paramaribo, Suriname. 

The U23 Pan American Cup grants two spots to NORCECA (non-qualified) teams for the second edition of the Junior Pan American Games in Asunción 2025. 

On the second day of competition in Pool B, Peru (0-1) will face Saint Vincent, and Guatemala (1-0) will play against the host, Suriname.

Guatemala recovered from losing the first set, overcoming Peru with a comfortable lead in blocks (13-6) and aces (3-1). Peru had the advantage in attacks, 75-65. Guatemala conceded fewer points on unforced errors, 24-30. 

Five Guatemalan players scored in double digits, led by Pablo Pérez (27, including a match-high of 5 blocks), Yeferson Zavala (15), José Samayoa (12), Roberto Recinos (11), and Christian Alvarez (11). 

The top scorer of the match was Peru’s Leonel Despaigne with 34 points, all on kills. Piero Porras contributed 11 points for Peru. 

Leonel Despaigne and Piero Porras helped Peru build a four-point lead (15-11) in the first set and go up 1-0, despite two attacks by Guatemala’s José Samayoa stealing two set points. Gerardo Chicoma joined Peru’s offense, but Guatemala, with Pablo Pérez and Yeferson Zavala, tied the score at 16 points in the second set and then jumped to a three-point lead (19-16) to even the match. Guatemala came from behind in the third set (6-10) to tie at 12 points and never trailed again, with Zavala leading the offense, along with efforts from Roberto Recinos and Christian Alvarez. 

The teams traded leads in the fourth set, which Peru eventually won in overtime, 26-24, with two attack points from Vicente Plana and Despaigne. In the tiebreak, after tying at 10 points, Pérez put Guatemala ahead with two powerful attacks. Despaigne responded (11-12), but Guatemala secured the victory with three consecutive points: an attack from Alvarez, a block by Julián Carmona, and an opponent’s error. 

Yeferson Zavala, captain of Guatemala: “It was a very tough five-set match. I feel that what helped us was raising our spirits when our strength was running out. We were able to block their best attacker, who scored the most points (#6), and that also contributed to our victory”.

Leonel Despaigne, captain of Peru: “It was a very tough match. We didn’t know how to close at the end, which is when true players shine. We’re going to bounce back from this match, the competition is just starting, and there’s still a lot more to come from Peru. In the fourth set, we were very tenacious”. 

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, September 16, 2024.- The Men’s U23 Pan American Cup kicked off with Cuba’s 3-0 (25-13, 25-21, 25-22) victory over Costa Rica at the Anthony Nesty Sporthal in Paramaribo, Suriname.

The U23 Pan American Cup runs from September 16 -22 and offers two berths for non-qualified NORCECA teams for the 2025 Asunción II Junior Pan American Games.

Cuba’s next opponent in Pool A is the Dominican Republic, while Costa Rica will face Mexico.

Cuba led in kills 46-29, in blocks 7-6, and in aces 6-1, but committed more unforced errors, 20-16.

Cuban outside hitter Bryan Camino led all scorers with 21 points (17 attacks, a match-high of 4 aces). Fellow outside hitter Yusniel González contributed 11 points (10 attacks, one block).

Costa Rican middle blocker Jeremy Venega led his team with 9 points (4 attacks, a match-high of 5 blocks).

Cuba quickly jumped to a 4-0 lead with a block from Jakdiel Contreras and capitalized on Costa Rica’s errors. In the second set, the Central Americans performed better, taking advantage of Cuba’s mistakes as Cuba used a different lineup, pulling even at 20 points with a block from Jeremy Venega and Harold Rodriguez, along with a kill from Franco Molina. Daniel Martinez and Bryan Camino closed the set for Cuba. Costa Rica surprised in the third set, taking a 4-0 lead and holding the lead throughout the set until Cuba recovered from a five-point deficit and climbed up to a 25-22 finish with a 16-12 margin in kills.

Ronaldo Flaquet, captain of Cuba: “We got overconfident. This match helped us shake off the rust. We knew how to come back from a big deficit in the third set; we are an experienced team and knew how to resolve it. Starting with a win is good for the team”.

Andru Jones, captain of Costa Rica: “This was clearly a difficult match, against a worthy opponent. I feel we started getting into rhythm, this is a process, and each set was better than the previous one. We hope to keep improving in the coming matches, reach a good performance, and aim for a medal”.

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, September 15, 2024.- The teams are ready to begin the Men’s U23 Pan American Cup from September 16 to 22 in Paramaribo, Suriname.

The event grants two berths for NORCECA teams (not already qualified) to the 2025 Junior Pan American Games in Asunción, Paraguay.

Jesús Cruz López, Head Coach of Cuba: “Cuba’s expectation is always to be in the tournament final. Last year, we won the competition in Havana, and we qualified for the Junior Pan American Games. The team is in good shape; many players competed this year at the Men’s Senior Pan American Cup in the Dominican Republic, which served as a preparatory tournament to get us ready for this event, with a clear objective in mind”.

César Salas, Head Coach of Costa Rica: “This is a team that is still being built. We want to present a new image of the U23 national team, which is part of the senior team. We aim to fight for the chance to qualify for Asunción. We are going to revisit game ideas, systems, and more, and this is a great opportunity to evaluate the group. I know there are more players who could be here, but we are going to work hard with the twelve that are here. The hope is there, and we will fight to make a good representation for Costa Rica and the region.”

Reider Lucas Mora, Head Coach of Guatemala: “This is a very interesting and important tournament for the region because it grants two more spots for the Junior Pan American Games. We are aiming to secure one of those two spots, which is our main objective, in addition to other goals set for the players and the team”.

Dante Mañon, Assistant Coach of Dominican Republic: “At the recent Final Six event held in Canada, we went with this team and with only two senior players to prepare for this competition. Our setter couldn’t come because his university didn’t give him permission, but otherwise, the team is complete. Since we’re already qualified for the Junior Pan American Games, we are here to keep the team playing, to improve, and to help the players continue progressing”.

Renato Soares, Head Coach of Mexico: “We are ready for the competition. Most of the team has been part of our senior team. We’ve been training for three months, and we are ready to start the competition well. The goal is to qualify for the Junior Pan American Games. We also want to win every match and the competition as well, but we want to be in next year’s Junior Pan American Games”.

Sidney Mandros, Assistant Coach of Peru: “The team is young. We’ve been training since June with the entire team, training alongside the senior team to face this new challenge, with the projection of our athletes who will participate in the qualifying event for the U21 world championship”.

Daryl Franklyn, Head Coach of St. Vincent and the Grenadines: “Preparation for the competition was kind of rough for us, because a lot of our players had last minute injuries, so we had to switch out players and that made preparations extremely tough as we had to come up with different lineups in a very short space of time. I think the guys are prepared to do their best and we can only hope for the best”.

Carlos Orta Fellove, Head Coach of Suriname: “Suriname is a country that is just beginning to play volleyball at this level; we compete in CAZOVA and NORCECA, and now we are stepping up to a higher level. The team’s preparation has been good. We recognize that all the countries, except Saint Vincent (about whom we know little), have had international experience, and keeping that in mind, our goal is to try to win the first two games of our group. We know that afterward, we will face Peru, and we will battle against them to try to win the group and qualify for the 2025 Junior Pan American Games. Being at home, we hope our boys will play their best”.

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, September 11, 2024.- Eight national teams are headed to Paramaribo, Suriname, for the 2024 Men’s U23 Pan American Cup from September 16-21 at the Anthony Nesty Sporthal  .

Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic are in Pool A, Guatemala, Peru, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and host Suriname are in Pool B.

Two (2) direct tickets for the 2025 Junior Pan American Games will be granted to the top placed NORCECA teams in the final ranking of the event who are not yet qualified.

Cuba and Dominican Republic, first and second place of the 2023 edition of the U23 Pan American Cup, earned their berth to the Junior Pan American Games to take place in Asunción, Paraguay in 2025

Cuba has won the event in three occasions since its inception in 2012, winning over Mexico in 2014  and 2018, and over the Dominican Republic last year. Argentina, Brazil and Mexico have one gold medal each.

Teams will play a round-robin preliminary round, qualifying the first and second places to the to the semifinals.

Preliminary Round Schedule

September 16

11:00am   Cuba vs Costa Rica

2:00pm     Peru vs Guatemala

5:00pm     Mexico vs Dominican Republic

8.00pm     Suriname vs St. Vincent

September 17

11:00am   Costa Rica vs Mexico

2:00pm     St. Vincent vs Peru

5:00pm     Cuba vs Dominican Republic

8.00pm     Suriname vs Guatemala

September 18

11:00am   Dominican Republic vs Costa Rica

2:00pm     Guatemala vs St. Vincent

5:00pm     Cuba vs Mexico

8.00pm     Suriname vs Peru

HISTORIC MEDALS MEN’S U23 PAN AMERICAN CUP

MEDAL COMPOSITION