XALAPA, Mexico, September 7, 2024.- Cuba won their semifinal in five sets 3-2 (18-25, 25-22, 25-19, 25-19, 22-25, 16-14) against Mexico and will face the Dominican Republic on Sunday in the gold medal match of the U23 Women’s Pan American Cup at the Xalapa International Velodrome in Veracruz.
This is the first time in the history of the U23 Women’s Pan American Cup that Cuba has reached the gold medal match. The Caribbean team has only won three bronze medals (2014, 2016, 2018).
Cuba prevailed in overtime with advantage in blocking (16-13) and scoring on 44 Mexican errors against 31. Mexico dominated in kills (54-41) and serves(7-5).
Cuban opposite hitter, Lisania Grafort, led all scorers with 22 points (18 kills, 2 blocks, 2 aces). Cuba’s captain, Whitney James, contributed 12 points (9 kills, 2 blocks, one ace). Middle blocker Yensy Kindelan scored a match-high of 5 blocks from her 8 points.
Four Mexican players scored in double digits: Michelle Lizárraga (18), María Cruz (16), Marcela Herrera (15), and Arleth Márquez (14).
Mexico controlled the first set with Michelle Lizárraga joined by María Cruz in the attack, topping with 7 blocks. Cuba tied the match winning a tight second set, reaching 22 points each and scoring the last three points with a kill by Lisania Grafort, Yensy Kindelan blocking Marcela Herrera, and a Mexican error. Cuba dominated the third set from start to finish, capitalizing on Mexico’s errors and leading in blocking 5 to 2, with Grafort as their best player. Mexico came back stronger in the fourth set, jumping to a comfortable six-point lead (15-9) pushed by from Cruz, Herrera, and Arleth Márquez joining in to force the fifth set. The tiebreaker was a party of points, which Cuba won after losing a match point; with a kill from Grafort, Cuba reached the second match point, and Yalain De La Peña sealed the victory with another kill.
Leivis García, Head coach of Cuba: “We have improved in game organization and made progress from a mental perspective. Despite having a good physical condition, we needed the players to feel powerful during the game, to believe in themselves, and we have worked to bring them to that point. They were motivated against an opponent that deserves respect, the host of the tournament, with athletes of a very high level of play and good tactics, but today the Cubans showed their courage”.
Michelle Lizárraga, Mexico’s top scorer: “We got overconfident and relaxed because we started very well. We gave everything for Mexico, we fought, but the result didn’t go our way. In the end, we pushed hard and recovered after losing two sets”.
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