IRAPUATO, Mexico, August 23, 2024.- Led by their captain Beatriz Novoa, Chile achieved an exciting 3-2 (25-20, 26-28, 28-26, 19-25, 15-8) victory over Peru in the XXI Women’s Pan American Volleyball Cup, to play for positions 5 to 8 of the event.
Novoa scored 33 points, the highest in a single match in the Pan American Cup so far, supported by Petra Schwartzman with 22 points and María Nielsen with 12 points.
Lesly Johansson finished with 16 points for Peru, and both Diana de La Peña and Aixa Vigil scored 14 points each.
Chile outperformed in attacks 73-63 and in serves 6-2, while both teams were tied with 8 blocks each. Chile committed 34 unforced errors compared to 26 from Peru.
On Saturday, Chile will face Mexico to determine the positions 5 to 8, after Mexico lost to Argentina in five sets.
The match was a rollercoaster of emotions, especially in the second and third sets, when both teams had set points. However, effective blocking and powerful kills from De La Peña on one side, and from Novoa and Schwartzman on the other, gave Chile the advantage in the third set.
In the fourth set, Peru was more effective with solid defense and second-chance plays. In the fifth set, Novoa and Petra once again remained focused and secured the Chilean victory.
Beatriz Novoa, captain of Chile: “It was a great match. The kind of game we were looking for. We knew we were at a similar level with Peru, that it would be a tough match, and I think each one of us gave 100 percent. I’m very happy about that, for my team, and because we are very united as a team”.
“We followed the game plan to the letter. Our statistician guided us really well, he’s amazing. We were aware and did it; I think we played very organized, and that was part of the victory.”
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