XALAPA, Mexico, September 8, 2024.- Cuban opposite hitter Lisania Grafort won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award at the 2024 U23 Women’s Pan American Cup, held from September 3 to 8 at the Xalapa International Velodrome in Veracruz.
Lisania Grafort received the honor during the closing ceremony after Cuba was crowned champion for the first time in the history of the U23 Pan American Cup since its inception in 2012, following their victory over the Dominican Republic, a team that had won all previous editions of the event.
Individual Awards
Also from Cuba, Yensy Kindelan was recognized as the Second Best Blocker.
Ailyn Liberato of the Dominican Republic, who earned a silver medal at the event, was awarded the Best Setter. Her teammate, Alondra Tapia, was named the Best Opposite.
From Mexico, which won the bronze medal, Marcela Herrera and Michelle Lizárraga were named Best Spiker and Second Best Spiker, respectively. Marcela Herrera also received a second award for Best Server.
From Chile, María Ignacia Nielsen was named Best Blocker, and Petra Schwartzman was the Best Scorer with 128 points.
The awards for Best Libero and Best Receiver went to Camila Arias of Costa Rica.
Brissa Nieves of Peru was recognized as the Best Digger.
XALAPA, Mexico, September 8, 2024.- The Women’s U23 Pan American Cup has a new champion after Cuba’s victory in the gold medal match over the Dominican Republic 3-1 (26-24, 22-25, 25-21, 25-20) at the Xalapa International Velodrome, Veracruz.
This is the first time in the history of the U23 Pan American Cup, since its inception in 2012, that a team other than the Dominican Republic has claimed the championship. In addition to this first gold medal, Cuba has won three bronze medals (2014, 2016, 2018).
Cuba dominated the match in attacks (55-42) and serves (8-4) but gave away more points on errors (36-29). The Dominican Republic led in blocking (8-6).
CUBA
Opposite hitter Lisania Grafort led Cuba with 24 points. Outside hitter and captain Whitney James scored 15 points. Yensy Kindelan and Yalain De La Peña also contributed to the victory with 9 points each.
For the Dominican Republic, opposite hitter Alondra Tapia led all scorers with 25 points, while middle blocker Florangel Terrero added 11 points.
Cuba started strong, winning the first set after stealing a set point from the Dominican Republic with Lisania Grafort, followed by Yalain De La Peña sealing the set, both with kills. Cuba also benefited from 13 Dominican errors. The Dominican Republic tied the match after exchanging leads in the second set, pulling away at point 22, and closing with a block by Alondra Tapia and a kill in the middle with Florangel Terrero. In the third set, Cuba quickly jumped to a three-point lead, mostly through strong serving, with Grafort leading the way alongside Whitney James in the attack. Cuba didn’t allow the Dominican Republic to gain ground, despite their effective blocking in the fourth set.
Whitney James, Captain of Cuba: “We focused on our side, on our game, and not on what they were doing. We knew we could win the gold medal; it was our goal from the start of the event, and we knew we had the level. Our discipline today made the difference with the Dominican Republic”.
Leivis García, Coach of Cuba: “It was a cautious match. The Dominican Republic undoubtedly has a great history; their name carries weight, and they had players who competed in the Olympic Games, which commands respect. Our success came from tactical discipline; when we made mistakes, they grew, but when we maintained discipline, everything fell into place. We talked in the morning practice session that the game would depend on intelligence and strength.”
XALAPA, Mexico, September 8, 2024.- Mexico came out on top Chile 3-1 (20-25, 25-23, 25-15, 25-13) to win the Bronze Medal at the Women’s U23 Pan American Cup in the Xalapa International Velodrome, Veracruz.
This is Mexico’s first bronze medal in the history of the Cup, adding to their two silver medals (2021, 2023). Mexico finished in third place in the event with a 4-1 record, while Chile ended in fourth place with a 2-4 record.
CHILE AND MEXICO BATTLE THE BALL OVER THE NET
Mexico’s offense was crucial for the victory, with a 55-29 advantage over Chile. The South Americans led in blocking 13-9 and made fewer unforced errors, 25 against 28. Both teams scored 6 service points.
Seven players scored in double digits. For Mexico, Michelle Lizárraga (16), Marcela Herrera (14), María Ximena Cruz (12), Arleth Márquez (12), and María Fernanda Oregel (10). For Chile, Dominga Aylwin (15) and Petra Schwartzman (11). Chilean María Ignacia Nielsen scored a match-high of 7 blocks.
Chile rallied from a three-point deficit (9-12) to take the lead (19-15) with effective serves by Francisca Vásquez. Dominga Aylwin and Petra Schwartzman joined the offense to secure the first set. Mexico jumped to a five-point lead in the second set (12-7) with attacks from Michelle Lizárraga, Marcela Herrera, and Ximena Cruz, but Chile, with blocks from María Ignacia Nielsen and attacks from Aylwin, recovered to tie the set at 23 points; Mexico evened the match with a point by Lizárraga. Mexico dominated the third set from the beginning, winning it by a huge margin, preventing Chile from responding thanks to a 4-1 advantage in blocking. Mexico’s attack was decisive in the fourth set, with Herrera as top performer, scoring points both from kills and blocking. Mexico’s captain Ximena Cruz scored the winning point.
PETRAS SCHWARTZMAN (CHI) AND MARCELA CHIQUIS HERRERAA (MEX) BATTLE THE BALL OF TH ENET
Luis León, Head coach of Mexico: “We knew it was going to be tough, fighting for a medal with Chile after both teams had suffered a loss. We talked to the girls that the team that was better emotionally would have a better chance of winning. Chile pressured in the first set, and we lost focus, which cost us. We got back on track and are happy with the result”.
Ximena Cruz, captain of Mexico: “I’m very happy. It was hard to lose yesterday, but we managed to process it and came out strong to win the bronze medal today. I attribute the victory to our high spirits since the morning, knowing that the bronze medal would go to the team with the best attitude on the court”.
XALAPA, Mexico, September 8, 2024. – Peru won the match for fifth place in the Women’s U23 Pan American Cup after defeating Costa Rica in straight sets (25-15, 25-21, 25-20) on Sunday at the International Velodrome in Xalapa, Veracruz.
Peru finished with a 4-2 record for fifth place. Costa Rica secured sixth place with a 1-4 record.
The South Americans led in attacks (49-34) and aces (7-1). Costa Rica had a slight advantage in blocks (4-3) and committed one fewer unforced error (16-17).
PERU
Peruvian opposite hitter Jeissy Chia was the top scorer of the match with 17 points (12 attacks, 2 blocks, 3 aces). Katherine Pauro also contributed to the victory with 15 attack points, and Xina Cortéz added 14 points (13 attacks, one ace).
Costa Rican captain Ana Victoria Rojas led her team with 13 points (11 attacks, 2 blocks), followed by Krystel Vargas with 11 points (10 attacks, one ace).
Peru dominated the first set, but in the following two sets, Costa Rica stayed close, trailing by just one or two points, challenging Peru with longer rallies and effective blocking.
COSTA RICA CELEBRATING
Katherine Pauro, outside hitter of Peru: “We dominated the first set well because we had better coordination in defense and much more speed. We showed that we are a team that fights hard, never gives up, and the matches we lost were very close”.
Ana Victoria Rojas, captain of Costa Rica: “From the second set on, we focused a bit more and were more organized. I think in the first set we were too anxious to do everything right. Despite several days of intense competition, we performed well. Today we made quite a few blocks. What I liked is that as the tournament progressed, we improved each day individually and as a team. We are leaving with great growth and a strong desire to learn much more”.
XALAPA, Mexico, September 8, 2024. – Nicaragua defeated Suriname 3-0 (25-13, 25-16, 25-15) to finish in seventh place at the U23 Women’s Pan American Cup, held from September 3 to 8 at the Xalapa International Velodrome in Veracruz.
Nicaragua ended the event with two victories (both against Suriname) and four losses, while Suriname had five losses.
Nicaragua was superior in attacks (47-25), and Suriname led in blocks (4-0). Both teams scored three aces. Nicaragua only conceded 11 points on errors, while Suriname conceded 25.
NICARAGUA WINS FINAL 7-8 MATCH AGAINST SURINAME
Nicaragua’s middle blocker, Brittany Forbes, led all scorers with 14 points, all from kills. Joined by opposite hitter María José Rivera, who contributed 11 points, also all from kills.
Marcela Roa, captain of Nicaragua: “We wanted to finish with a victory to motivate ourselves. We know that this participation leaves us with many things to improve. We realized that this level of play motivates us to perform better in future opportunities. We need to work to improve. We are happy with what we’ve learned; we faced opponents with a very good level. We are motivated to participate in another tournament of this magnitude.”
Claudius Straal, Head coach of Suriname: “The players had no energy today, maybe they were tired and weren’t motivated enough. The team is young, most of them can play for the next two years and we must do some proper work for the future, to be much better next time”.
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).
CUBA CELEBRATING MATCH POINT
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.
MONSTER BLOCK FROM CUBA AGAINST MEXICO
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”.
XALAPA, Mexico, September 7, 2024. – The Dominican Republic defeated Chile 3-0 (30-28, 25-21, 29-27) to reach their seventh gold medal match in the Women’s U23 Pan American Cup at the International Velodrome of Xalapa, Veracruz.
The Dominican Republic has won every edition of the Women’s U23 Pan American Cup since its inception in 2012. The Dominicans will compete for the gold medal on Sunday at 6:00pm against the winner between Mexico and Cuba.
The Dominican Republic earned the win after a remarkable eight-point comeback (15-23) in the third set.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC CELEBRATES
The defending champions led the match in attacks (46-42) and blocks (7-6). Chile prevailed in serves (8-6). The Dominican Republic scored on 25 Chilean errors and handed out 20.
Opposite hitter Alondra Tapia led all scorers, contributing 25 points to the Dominican victory. Middle blocker Florangel Terrero added 14 points.
Once again, opposite hitter Petra Schwartzman led Chile with 19 points. Dominga Aylwin contributed 13 points, and Francisca Vásquez added 10.
PETRA SCHWARTZMAN ATTACKS
The Dominican Republic won a dramatic first set (30-28) with difficult and lengthy rallies, coming from behind (20-23) to prevent Chile four set points, with Alondra Tapia leading the scoring, and for Chile, Dominga Aylwin. The Dominican Republic lost four set points to blocks from María Nielsen and Aylwin, along with two attack errors by Ambar Hernández and Jullie Arias before winning the second. Chile quickly jumped to a seven-point lead (10-3) in the third set, with Petra Schwartzman joining Nielsen in the attack. The Dominican Republic closed the match in three sets after a remarkable eight-point comeback (15-23), with Alondra Tapia scoring one point and Florangel Terrero scoring five consecutive ones. Chile didn’t give up, denying the Dominicans four match points.
Wagner Pacheco, Head Coach of the Dominican Republic: “I am proud of the players and the coaching staff; it was a dramatic comeback in the third set. The team is resilient because we have many weaknesses. We came to the competition with three goals: to reach the semifinals, to reach the final, and now we have one left—to win the gold medal. We will keep working together”.
Camila Donoso, captain of Chile: “We fought hard. We’ve always struggled a bit mentally to close out sets. We’ll give it our all tomorrow, regardless of the opponent, just like today. The Dominican Republic is the current champion, and we gave them all the battle we could; we are satisfied”.
XALAPA, Mexico, September 7, 2024. – Peru defeated Suriname 3-0 (25-20, 25-14, 25-15) to compete for fifth place against Costa Rica in the Women’s U23 Pan American Cup in Xalapa, Veracruz.
On Sunday, Peru and Costa Rica will play for positions 5-6; before, Suriname and Nicaragua will compete for positions 7-8.
Peru also defeated Suriname in the group stage.
XINA CORTEZ ATTACKS WITH LEFT HAND AGAINST SURINAME
Peru’s dominance in attacks (43-23) secured their victory; they led in blocks by one point (4-3) and committed fewer errors (18-23). Both teams scored 5 points on aces.
The leading scorers for Peru were outside hitters Katherine Pauro and Xina Cortéz with 13 and 10 points, respectively.
Sharon Balkaran of Suriname led all scorers with 16 points.
Peru struggled to take the first set, with Suriname recovering from a five-point deficit (7-12) to tie at 13 points and then going ahead 15-13 with effective serving from Sharon Balkaran. With Xina Cortéz and Katherine Pauro, Peru regained the lead, closing the set 25-20. Peru never trailed in the second set, with Saskya Silvano joining the offense at the net. In the third set, despite long rallies, the Peruvians earned a comfortable lead of 21-11, mostly with attacks from Dayanne Cure and Carolina Oblea.
PERU
Fabiana Tavara, Peru’s captain: “Several players came in overconfident, and that threw us off our game. We started unfocused, and the first set was close. Talking among ourselves helped because we were at risk of losing. We motivated ourselves and improved, playing more relaxed and enjoying ourselves; sometimes we need that because when we play stressed, things don’t go well”.
Sharon Balkaran, captain of Suriname: “We had a significant improvement, it’s not what I wanted but we’re getting there step by step. I believe we can win a game in this tournament, that’s my goal. I want to take the seventh spot and we need to fight for it. I am proud of my team because we are fighting and improving”.
XALAPA, Mexico, September 7, 2024. – Costa Rica won the Central American derby 3-0 (25-22, 25-18, 26-24) against Nicaragua in the Women’s U23 Pan American Cup on Saturday at the International Velodrome of Xalapa, Veracruz.
Costa Rica will finish the competition facing the winner between Suriname and Peru for the positions 5-6 ; Nicaragua will go against the loser for 7-8.
Costa Rica celebrated
Costa Rica captured the victory with advantage in blocking (7-3) and benefiting from 28 points off Nicaragua’s errors. Both teams scored 39 attack points and 2 service points.
Three players scored in double digits for Costa Rica: Krystel Vargas (15), Lakysha Thompson (10), and Ana Rojas (10).
Brittany Forbes led Nicaragua with 15 points.
MARIA DEL SOL VENEGAS ATTACKS AGAINST NICARAGUA
Despite Nicaragua’s efforts to recover from a nine-point deficit (9-18), Costa Rica opened the match taking the first set (25-23) with Krystel Vargas’ offensive attack and serve. Nicaragua started strong in the second set, but Costa Rica quickly came back, surpassing Nicaragua and never trailing again, taking advantage of opponent errors and the blocking defense of Lakysha Thompson, along with Sol Venegas, Sheyla Alvarez, and Ana Rojas. Nicaragua, with Marcela Martínez and Brittany Forbes, kept the third set tight, supported by good defense. Brittany denied Costa Rica two match points with two kills from Brittany, but Sol Venegas sored the match point blocking Brittany.
Braulio Godínez, Head coach of Costa Rica: “We were able to control the first two sets, but in the third, Nicaragua made a substitution, using an opposite player we hadn’t studied who greatly improved their reception and defense; she did a lot of damage because she played a lot against our block, and the team had a hard time adjusting. The game evened out in the last set. Thankfully, we pulled through.”
Claudia Noguera, Head coach of Nicaragua: “My players wanted to win the match, but they only started playing in the third set, and by that point, it was difficult because Costa Rica was already more motivated, excited, and focused on winning. I believe part of the result is due to our athletes’ lack of concentration; they didn’t perform as they did in the earlier games, the reception wasn’t effective, and consequently, the attack wasn’t either”.
XALAPA, México, 6 de septiembre de 2024.- With impressive 33 points, opposite hitter Petra Schwartzman carried Chile into the Women’s U23 Pan American Cup semifinals beating Peru 3-1 (21-25, 25-18, 25-21, 25-19) on Friday at the International Velodrome in Xalapa, Veracruz.
On Saturday at 6:00pm, Chile will face the defending champions, the Dominican Republic, in the semifinals, followed by the other semifinal, between Mexico and Cuba. Peru will compete against Suriname in the classification match for positions 5 to 8 at 4:00pm.
ELIZABETH BRAITHWAITE (PER) ATTACKS AGAINST CHILE
Chile dominated in attacks (59-46), blocks (11-5), and serves (7-5), but conceded more points from errors (27-19).
Petra’s 33 points included 27 attacks, 3 blocks, and 3 serves. Outside hitter Dominga Aylwin and middle blocker María Nielsen contributed 12 and 11 points, respectively.
Opposite hitter Jeissy Chia led Peru with 12 points, followed by outside hitter Xina Cortéz with 11 points.
PERU AND CHILE BATTLEING THE BALL OVER THE NET
The first set was very close, with the teams tied and taking turns in the lead. Peru pulled ahead at point 20, scoring five consecutive points with a block by Elizabeth Braithwaite and four Chilean errors. Chile gained a significant eight-point lead and controlled the second set, with Petra Schwartzman’s attacks and capitalizing on Peru’s errors. Chile led 13-9 in the third set, with Petra joined by Dominga Aylwin. Despite the teams engaging in long rallies, Peru’s efforts from Xina Cortéz, along with Katherine Pauro and Saskya Silvano, were not enough. Chile completely dominated the fourth set, maintaining a good rhythm, taking advantage of Peru’s errors, and relying on the offense of Petra and Francisca Vásquez.
Eduardo Guillaume, Head coach of Chile: “We had total control in the last set. Peru is building a new team, and although our players already know each other, they haven’t played together in a while, so both teams are finding their rhythm. At times, they dominated a set, then we did, and in the last set, we settled in well, and they ran out of options to rotate, playing a lot through zone four. We were able to prevail, and now we’re in the semifinals, among the final four”.
Nieves Salas, Peru’s Libero: “Our team lacked more defense. Chile played as a unit and was able to effectively capitalize on good balls to score”.
XALAPA, Mexico, September 6, 2024.- Cuba defeated Nicaragua 3-0 (25-17, 26-24, 25-16) to move on to the semifinals of the Women’s U23 Pan American Cup at the International Velodrome of Xalapa, Veracruz.
Cuba will face Mexico in Saturday’s semifinals, while Nicaragua will play against Costa Rica in a classification match for positions 5 to 8 of the tournament.
MONSTER BLOCK FROM CUBA AGAINST NICARAGUA
Cuba had difficulties overcoming Nicaragua, but the key factor was their dominance in blocking (15-3). Cuba also led in attacks (33-30) and serves (7-3). Both teams committed 21 unforced errors.
Cuban Alejandra Gómez was the top scorer of the match with 15 points, and Brittany Forbes once again led Nicaragua, scoring 14 points. They were the only players with double-digit scores.
Nicaragua kept the score close in the first set with points from Brittany Forbes and Brisa Pérez, but halfway through the set, Cuba’s serving pushed them to a comfortable six-point lead to close the set. With solid defense, Nicaragua did not allow Cuba to take control in the second set, managing to tie the score at 14 points with Norma Brenes’ serving and then pulling ahead with a six-point lead (20-14). However, Nicaragua lost five set points (24-19), allowing Cuba to take a 2-0 lead in sets. Cuba imposed their game in the third set with Lisania Grafort and Whitney James as leading scorers, to seal the victory in straight sets.
WHITNEY JAMES (CUB) ATTACKS AGAINST NICARAGUA
Alejandra Gómez, top scorer of Cuba: “You can’t assume that the opponent won’t do anything on the court. We were too overconfident with Nicaragua. We recovered the match, but we didn’t reach our level. Honestly, we shouldn’t have conceded so many points to Nicaragua. This is another experience for us; we should never underestimate any opponent.”
Norma Brenes, Nicaragua’s setter: “We were disciplined during the second set, but in the end, we lost focus and couldn’t execute K-1. We managed to get close on the scoreboard because we improved our attitude and wanted to keep fighting. Tomorrow against Costa Rica, we’ll put on a good show; we’ll fight with everything to make the victory ours.”
XALAPA, Mexico, September 5, 2024. – Mexico won Pool B after a 3-0 (25-23, 25-19, 25-21) victory over Peru and advanced to the semifinals of the Women’s U23 Pan American Cup at the International Velodrome of Xalapa, Veracruz.
Mexico earned their spot in the semifinals with a 3-0 record. Peru (2-1), second in Pool B, will face Chile on Friday in the quarterfinals.
MEXICO
Mexico capitalized on 24 opponent errors, along with a comfortable 47 to 32 advantages in kills. The hosts also outperformed in blocks 5 to 3 and in service points 5 to 4.
Outside hitter Marcela Herrera and opposite hitter Arleth Marquez scored 19 and 12 points respectively for Mexico. Herrera scored a match-high of 4 aces.
For Peru, outside hitter Xina Cortez scored 8 points.
XINA CORTEZ ATTACKS AGAINST MEXICO
Peru surprised Mexico with Fabiana Hurtado and Xina Cortez power over the net to reach a seven-point lead (15-7), but Mexico fought back with the offense of Michelle Lizárraga, Arleth Marquez, and Marcela Herrera to tie at 21 and close the set in their favor. In the second set, Mexico played with more confidence and never trailed. The score in the third set remained close and tied until point 14, when Mexico pulled ahead up to the end, with María Ximena Cruz scoring the final kill point.
Luis León, Head coach of Mexico: “It was extremely difficult for us to get into the game, find our rhythm, and gain confidence. It wasn’t until after the middle of the first set that we reacted, and it was just enough for us to win the first set. Peru came out strong, did their job, and executed with confidence and security—something we lacked at the start. Things started to flow, and we are ready for the semifinals”.
Marcelo Diniz Bencardino, Head coach of Peru: “The team played very well in the first set. We were down 20-16 and managed to come back to 23-20 with good effort and confidence. We tied at 23 but had difficulty finishing. Basically, the first set was more ours than Mexico’s. Naturally, the second set took a toll. It won’t be the first or last time, so we need to stay calm. We will keep going”.
XALAPA, Mexico, September 5, 2024.- The Dominican Republic defeated Cuba 3-0 (25-22, 25-22, 25-20) to advance to the semifinals of the U23 Women’s Pan American Cup in Xalapa, Veracruz.
Defending champions, Dominican Republic, won Pool A with a 3-0 record, earning a direct ticket to Saturday’s semifinals. Cuba (2-1) will face Nicaragua on Friday in the quarterfinals.
ALONDRA TAPIA (DOM) ATTACKS AGAINST CUBA
Despite Cuba leading by one point in attacks (39-38) and in aces (3-2), the Dominican Republic secured the victory with advantage in blocks (6-4) and committing fewer errors (19-29).
Opposite hitter Alondra Tapia led the Dominican Republic to victory with 25 points (22 attacks, 2 blocks, one ace), she was the only player on her team to score in double digits.
Opposite hitter Yalain De La Peña and captain Whitney James led Cuba with 12 and 11 points, respectively.
AILYN LIBERATO SETTING FOR DOM_MIKASA
The Dominican Republic recovered from a five-point deficit (8-13) thanks to consecutive points from Alondra Tapia, tying the score at 14 and then turning the game around to 19-15 with Geraldine González’s block; Cuba denied them two set points (24-20) with Thainalien Castillo attacking and a Dominican error. In the second set, the Dominicans pulled away from point 4 onward and never looked back; even so, the ending was close, with Lisania Grafort scoring two service points before the Dominican Republic went up 2 sets. The Dominican Republic quickly advanced to a huge 12-3 lead in the third set with a block from Florangel Terrero, but Cuba fought back with Lianet Garcia, Whitney James, and Castillo closing the gap, but a short touch by Ailyn Liberato surprised Cuba with a short touch to score match point.
Wagner Pacheco, Head coach of the Dominican Republic: “It was a very difficult round because we have three very young players who hadn’t played at this level before. Besides the victory and reaching the semifinals, the most important thing is that we are playing as a team, playing very well. The players understood that results are achieved as a team, and that makes the difference. Now we rest and will come out strong against the next opponent”.
Leivis García, Head coach of Cuba: “The tactical game plan was not followed. What was trained was not executed on the court, and evidently, the Dominican Republic knows how to play volleyball. The players didn’t apply themselves and started making basic mistakes, which reduced their competitiveness. We still have a chance to compete for the gold”.
XALAPA, Mexico, September 5, 2024. – Nicaragua defeated Suriname 3-0 (25-21, 25-12, 25-15) to advance to the quarterfinal round as third place in Pool B of the U23 Women’s Pan American Cup at the International Velodrome in Xalapa, Veracruz.
Nicaragua (1-2) will face the loser between the Dominican Republic and Cuba in quarterfinals on Friday. Suriname (0-3) will play in the matches for positions 5 to 8 in the event.
Nicaragua
Nicaragua controlled every element of the game, with a 39-22 advantage in attacks, 7-6 in blocks, and 8-3 in serves, while scoring 21 points from opponent errors compared to 17.
Brittany Forbes of Nicaragua led all scorers with 18 points (13 attacks, 2 blocks, 3 aces). Brisa Pérez contributed 12 points, all from kills.
Sharon Balkaran, captain of Suriname, led her team with 11 points (10 attacks, one block).
NORMA BRENES (NCA) ATTACKS AGAINST SURINAME’S BLOCKERS SHOMANTLA DE GRAVEN
The first set was the most contested, despite Suriname recovering from a four-point deficit (16-20), Brittany Pérez, along with María José Rivera and Brisa Pérez, put Nicaragua ahead. From the sixth point onward, the Central Americans were always in the lead in the second set, topping Suriname with a huge margin, using the offense of its three key players. Nicaragua started the third set with a significant lead (6-1) and claimed victory in straight sets, with Brittany and María José leading the offense.
Claudia Noguera, Head coach of Nicaragua: “This victory guaranteed us a spot in the quarterfinals. It is the first time that Nicaragua has reached the quarterfinals in this Pan American age-group, which is gratifying. I told the players that this is a new experience for them and to take advantage of all the resources and everything they can gain from this championship. We will continue to fight to climb up the rankings”.
Claudius Straal, Head coach of Suriname: “We had a great first set. In the next sets we had too many passing errors as well as serving errors which is the most important thing in volleyball. Maybe we’ll have a rematch against them and do better”.
XALAPA, Mexico, September 5, 2024.- Chile defeated Costa Rica 3-0 (25-22, 25-23, 25-20) to advance to the quarterfinal round of the U23 Women’s Pan American Cup at the International Velodrome in Xalapa, Veracruz.
With their first victory in the tournament, Chile (1-2) secured third place in Pool A and moved on to the next round, where they will face the loser between Mexico and Peru. Costa Rica (0-3) will play in the classification matches for positions 5 to 8.
FRANCISCA VASQUEZ ATTACKS FOR CHILE AGAINST CRC
Chile finished the match with advantage in attacks (40-30) and blocks (5-3). Both teams scored 4 direct points from serves. Costa Rica conceded fewer points on errors (26-28).
Opposite hitter Petra Schwartzman was once again Chile’s top scorer with 17 points (15 attacks, 2 aces). Outside hitter Dominga Aylwin added 12 points for the win (9 attacks, 2 blocks, one ace). Francisca Vásquez contributed 10 points, all from kills.
Krystel Vargas led Costa Rica with 11 points (10 attacks, 1 block).
KRYSTEL VARGAS RECEIVES FOR CRC
The game had really extended rallies with both teams taking turns holding the advantage. Chile closed the first set by scoring four consecutive points (21-21) with attacks from Dominga Aylwin and Francisca Vásquez, along with a couple of opponent errors. Costa Rica started the second set 4-0 with offense from Ana Victoria Rojas and María del Sol Venegas, alongside Krystel Vargas’s serve, but Chile recovered, and the point exchange resumed. Chile always led in the third set and managed to finish with a comfortable five-point margin after a block by Aylwin against Jezrel Cabezas.
Ediardp Guillaume, Head coach of Chile: “This was a key match, the most important one. Not only was it important to win this match to move on to the next round, but also to gain confidence because we had faced two very strong opponents (Cuba, Dominican Republic), and the team wasn’t playing freely. To play freely, you need things to go well, and today they did, even though it was close. Now we will face the loser between Peru and Mexico, and we will see what happens.”
Braulio Godínez, Head coach of Costa Rica: “In the third set, our setter lost focus, and Chile managed to pull away; we didn’t have a chance to catch up. I feel it was a good match, with a high volume of play, and I am pleased with the team’s performance. We still lack a bit of faith and confidence in the final moments, as evidenced by closing the second set with two bad serves. Now we have two tough matches ahead of us, and we hope to win them.”
XALAPA, Mexico, September 4, 2024. – Mexico defeated Nicaragua 3-0 (25-10, 25-17, 25-13) in their second victory at the Women’s U23 Pan American Cup at the Xalapa International Velodrome, Veracruz.
On Thursday, Mexico (2-0) and Peru (2-0) will compete for first place in Pool B and a direct spot in Saturday’s semifinals. Nicaragua (0-2) and Suriname (0-2) will battle for third place and a chance to advance to the quarterfinals.
XIMENA SOLAR SERVING FOR MEXICO_MIKASA
The home team dominated in attacks (39-20), blocks (6-3), and serves (12-1). Mexico conceded fewer points from errors (16-18).
Mexico was able to use all its players, with Marcela Herrera as leading scorer with 10 points (7 attacks, 3 serves). María Ximena Solar registered 9 points.
For Nicaragua, Brittany Forbes led with 10 points (7 attacks, 2 blocks, 1 ace). María José Rivera contributed 8 points.
In the first set, Mexico was convincing, reaching a huge lead (20-8), which allowed them to control the match in the following sets.
JIMENA SALINAS SETTING FOR MEXICO
Marcela Herrera, top scorer of Mexico: “After watching Nicaragua play against Peru yesterday, we expected a tougher match, so we approached it with more confidence than we did in our previous game. Tomorrow against Peru, we need to come in strong, with a lot of confidence, and focus on our own game without depending on external factors. We want to enjoy tomorrow’s match; we’re playing at home, and we hope to have the support of the crowd”.
Brittany Forbes, top scorer of Nicaragua: “We knew it would be a tough match; they are playing at home and would have more confidence. We lacked better performance in receiving; without that, there’s no setting and no attack. I think we lacked confidence, although we recovered a bit towards the end, but the result didn’t go our way. Tomorrow, our opponent (Suriname) has height, but if we play at the level we know we can, we can win”.
XALAPA, Mexico, September 4, 2024. – Dominican Republic defeated Chile 3-1 (21-25, 25-11, 25-20, 25-20), improving their record 2-0 in Pool A of the Women’s U23 Pan American Cup in Xalapa, Veracruz.
The Dominican Republic (2-0) and Cuba (2-0) will face off on Thursday for the top spot in the pool and a place in the semifinals. Chile (0-2) will play against Costa Rica (0-2) for third place and a chance to advance to the quarterfinals.
GERALDINE GONZALEZ AND AILYN LIBERATO BLOCKING CHILE’S OH DOMINGA AYLWIN
The Dominican Republic bounced back from losing the first set, defeating Chile thanks to their superiority in blocking (10-3) and benefiting from 40 Chilean errors compared to their own 20. They also held a slight edge in attacks (37-36). Chile dominated in serves (10-9).
With double-digits, Alandra Tapia (18 points), Geraldine González (16 points), and Florangel Terrero (14 points) led the Dominican Republic to victory. González scored a match-high of 6 blocks.
Chilean Petra Schwartzman led all scorers with 19 points, while her teammate Dominga Aylwin contributed 11 points.
PETRA SHWARTZMAN (CHI) ATTACKS AGAINST DOM
Chile won the first set after coming back from a three-point deficit (7-10) with a block by María Nielsen and a serve by Francisca Vásquez; the lead shifted back and forth throughout the set. With the offense of Alondra Tapia and Florangel Terrero, the Dominican Republic rebounded, jumping to a huge lead in the second set (14-6). Geraldine González’s block stopped Chile’s efforts, allowing the Dominican team to tie the match with a convincing 25-11. The Dominicans maintained control in the third set, but the Chileans stayed close with attacks and strong serves from Petra Schwartzman. In the fourth set, González’, Tapia, and Terrero blocks were key to securing the win.
Alondra Tapia, top scorer of Dominican Republic: “It was hard for us to get into our rhythm. The team worked hard, and we supported each other to recover, along with the coaching staff. Our team is working on improving, getting better, because there are new players who are still developing. The pressure of coming from behind helps us improve. Personally, I need to be more responsible with my role on the team and give my best. Tomorrow will be a very fun and dynamic match against Cuba”.
Petra Schwartzman, top scorer of Chile: “In the first set, we came out with more determination, more intention, and they gave us more points on errors. The Dominican Republic got more organized in the second set, and it was hard for us to get back into our rhythm. The goal is to win as many matches as we can; we haven’t been able to win the first two, but tomorrow we will give it our all. It’s time to turn the page and play well”.
XALAPA, Mexico, September 4, 2024. – With an overwhelming 12-0 advantage in serves, Peru dominated Suriname 3-0 (25-5, 25-10, 25-13) in the Women’s U23 Pan American Cup that’s being played at the Xalapa International Velodrome in Veracruz.
Peru remains undefeated (2-0) in Pool B and will finish the preliminary round on Thursday against Mexico. Suriname, still winless (0-2), will close the pool-play against Nicaragua. The top team in the pool advances to Saturday’s semifinals.
Peru
In addition to their serving advantage, Peru dominated in attacks 33-11 and blocks 3-1, limiting their errors to 14 compared to 29 from Suriname.
Peru used all its players, with Carolina Oblea scoring a match-high of 5 service aces, 4 of them in the first set, totaling 7 points overall. The top scorer was opposite Jeissy Chia with 13 points (10 attacks, 3 aces). Xina Cortez added 7 points.
Sharon Balkaran led Suriname with 7 points.
SASKYA SILVANO ATTACKS AGAINST SURINAME
Evelyn Gallegos, middle blocker of Peru: “In yesterday’s match, we learned that we need more communication on the court. Today’s match allowed our coach to make many changes and give everyone a chance to play and get more confidence, which I think was evident. What worked in our favor was our serves, especially in the first set. Tomorrow, we hope to see a full house when we face Mexico. We’re going to try to limit our errors but also repeat the successes we’ve had. We’re going to play with passion to put on a show for all of Veracruz”.
Shemandy Clydesdale, setter of Suriname: “We definitely could have done better. Peru’s serves were challenging for us. Our team lacks spirit, we don’t celebrate enough to motivate us. At some point the receiving was good and the passing, but we couldn’t score. I tried to hype my team, and we need to work on that”.
XALAPA, Mexico, September 4, 2024. – Cuba earned its second victory in the Women’s U23 Pan American Cup after defeating Costa Rica 3-0 (25-16, 25-20, 25-14) on Wednesday in Xalapa, Veracruz.
This was Cuba’s second consecutive win in Pool A, and they will face the Dominican Republic on Thursday in their final match of the preliminary round. Costa Rica, with a 0-2 record, will play against Chile. The top team in the pool advances to the semifinals of the competition.
CUBA WINS MATCH AGAINST CRC
Cuba outplayed Costa Rica using all of its players, making various lineup changes, and ended with a 41-22 advantage in attacks, 10-1 in blocks, and 4-1 in serves. Costa Rica committed fewer unforced errors (20-26).
Cuban outside hitters Lianet García and Alejandra Gómez were the top scorers of the match with 13 and 11 points, respectively.
Melina Abarca was Costa Rica’s top scorer with 7 points.
SHEYLA ALVAREZ SETTING FOR COSTA RICA
Lianet García, Cuba’s top scorer: “We tried several new things during the game because the coach made lineup changes, all to help us develop individually and as a team. Tomorrow, we face a strong opponent (Dominican Republic), and the goal is to win, play hard, and give it our all. We will fight, as is customary in Cuba, and we hope to secure the berth in the semifinals”.
Camila Arias, libero of Costa Rica: “Cuba gave us the tough match we expected; they are a great opponent. The match was challenging, not easy; we fought, but we lacked the right attitude. We met the objectives we set for the match: not to stop fighting for the balls and to improve our serve, which I believe we executed more effectively in the last set”.
XALAPA, Mexico, September 3, 2024.- Mexico began the Women’s U-23 Pan American Cup with a convincing 3-0 (25-13, 25-13, 25-13) victory over Suriname at the International Velodrome of Xalapa in Veracruz.
The hosts dominated every skill of the game, attacks (37-16), blocks (3-1), and service aces (11-1). Mexico committed 19 errors, while Suriname made 24.
Mexico
On Wednesday in Pool B, at 4:00pm, Suriname (0-1) will face Peru (1-0), and at 8:00pm Mexico (1-0) goes against Nicaragua (0-1).
Mexico’s middle blocker and captain, María Ximena Cruz, was the top scorer of the match with 13 points (11 attacks, one block, one ace). Opposite hitter Arleth Marquez contributed to the victory with 9 points, while setter Jimena Salinas recorded a match-high 4 service aces.
María Ximena Cruz, captain of Mexico: “This is the first international tournament for many on the team, and I feel that for a first match, it was a good start for us to loosen up as a team. We were a bit nervous; sometimes we put too much pressure on ourselves because we want to do things right, especially playing in Mexico. I believe that with what we’re doing in training, we have what it takes to win a medal. We have much more to give.”
Sharon Balkaran, captain of Suriname: “I think we could have done better. I expected Mexico to be stronger and maybe we could have won this game. I have a positive mindset; it’s the beginning of the journey and it’s going to be fine. We must learn from our mistakes and regroup. I believe we can win a game or two”.
XALAPA, Mexico, September 3, 2024.- Cuba defeated Chile 3-1 (19-25, 25-23, 27-25, 25-13) on the first day of competition at the Women’s U23 Pan American Cup in the International Velodrome of Xalapa, Veracruz.
Cuba recovered after losing the first set with a 45-42 advantage in attacks and scoring 36 points on Chile’s errors compared to their own 22. Chile had the edge in blocking with 14-8 and scored one more point in aces, 8-7.
IGNACIA NIELSEN ATTACKS AGAINST CUBA
Cuba’s captain, Whitney James, led her team with 16 points (14 attacks, 2 aces). Opposite hitter Lisania Grafort added 10 points, all on attacks.
Chilean opposite hitter Petra Schwartzman was the top scorer of the match with impressive 29 points (21 attacks, 5 blocks, 3 aces). Outside hitter Dominga Aylwin contributed 11 points, including 5 blocks, followed by middle blocker Maria Ignacia Nielsen with 10 points.
On the second day of Pool A, Cuba (1-0) will face Costa Rica (0-1) at 2:00 PM, and Chile (0-1) will take on the Dominican Republic (1-0) at 6:00 PM.
CUBA’S CAPTAIN WHITNEY JAMES CELEBRATING FOR CUBA
Chile quickly earned a six-point lead (16-10) in the first set, capitalizing on Cuba’s reception errors, along with Petra Schwartzman’s offense and Maria Ignacia Nielsen’s blocking. Cuba came back from a seven-point deficit in the second set (13-20) with attacks from Lisania Grafort and Thainalien Castillo. Yensy Kindelan stopped Chile with a block, and Whitney James’ attack tied the match. Cuba took the third set after losing two set points to Petra, but a block by Lisbeysis Hernández put Cuba ahead. With a 4-1 advantage in blocks and 2-0 in aces, Cuba dominated the fourth and final set.
Whitney James, captain of Cuba: “The key to our recovery was patience, a lot of patience. We focused on correcting our mistakes and calming down. This is the first match of the tournament, and it’s normal to have ups and downs; training is one thing, and playing a match is another. We concentrated on our game”.
Camila Donoso, captain of Chile: “Cuba finished extraordinarily; they started blocking us, especially at the end of the match, making it difficult for us to score, and as a result, we got frustrated. It’s only the first match; we’re used to the pressure of coming from behind, and I’m sure we’ll bounce back”.
XALAPA, Mexico, September 3, 2024.- Peru started off the U23 Women’s Pan American Cup with a 3-1 (25-17, 21-25, 25-16, 25-15) victory over Nicaragua at the Xalapa International Velodrome in Veracruz, Mexico.
In their first match in Pool B, despite dropping a set, Peru outperformed in attacks (50-38), blocks (6-5), and serves (9-4). Peru scored 31 points from opponent errors and gave away 26.
PERU’S LIBERO BRISSA NIEVES RECEIVING
On Wednesday, Peru will play against Suriname, and Nicaragua will face Mexico.
Three players scored in double digits for the South American team; Fabiana Hurtado with 15 points (10 attacks, one block, and a match-high of 4 aces), Xina Cortez with 14 points (all from kills), and Jeissy Chia with 11 points (6 attacks, 3 blocks, 2 aces).
Brittany Forbes led Nicaragua with 15 points (12 attacks, 2 blocks, one ace).
Nicaragua surprised Peru in the second set, jumping to a comfortable four-point lead (11-7) and tying the match at one set apiece, thanks to the offense of Brittany Forbes and María José Rivera. Peru came back with determination in the third set, surpassing Nicaragua 13-9 in attacks, with Xina Cortez leading the way. In the fourth set, Fabiana Hurtado was joined by Katherine Pauro to secure the win.
Peru
Fabiana Tavara, captain of Peru: “We lost the second set because we got anxious and stressed when things weren’t going our way. I made some poor decisions, which caused the team to be unsure of what to do. Our defense also became disorganized, and as a result, our reception suffered. We needed time to calm down, we communicated and improved a lot. Starting with a win motivates us and gives us confidence to keep going, especially after bad results in other championships”.
María Marcela Roa, captain of Nicaragua: “We showed that we have potential by winning the second set. The key was that we enjoyed ourselves. I think we got nervous because for some of us, it’s our first time in a Pan American Cup. In the following sets, we felt pressured. We need to improve our communication, teamwork, and go back to enjoying the game”.
XALAPA, Mexico, September 3, 2024.- Dominican Republic defeated Costa Rica 3-0 (25-18, 25-16, 25-17) in the opening match of the U23 Women’s Pan American Cup at the Xalapa International Velodrome in Veracruz.
Dominican Republic finished with a huge lead in attack points, 45 to 22, holding a slight edge in blocks, 6 to 5, and in serves, 2 to 1. The Caribbean team conceded one more point on errors (23-22).
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC WINS MATCH AGAINST CRC
Dominican opposite hitter Alondra Tapia led all scorers with 17 points. Middle blocker Geraldine Gonzalez contributed 10 points to the Dominican victory.
Costa Rican opposite and team captain Ana Victoria Rojas scored 11 points, the only player on her team to reach double digits.
In the first set, the teams were tied at twelve points, but from then on, Ailyn Liberato and Alondra Tapia pushed the Dominican Republic to take the first set. The Dominican Republic dominated the second set, gaining a sizeable lead (14-6), with Florangel Terrero joining their offense, and then closing their first win in straight sets.
GERALDINE GONZALEZ (DOM) ATTACKS AGAINST CRC
Aiylin Liberato, captain of the Dominican Republic: “We are a team with the motto: improvement; we are seeking to reach a good level of play, to prepare together as a team, and to reach the maximum of our potential. We trust our coaches and follow their instructions, which gives us all the confidence to achieve a good result. We adapted during the game; it was the first time we played together as a team. We have three Caribbean Queens, two Olympians, and there was a lot of disposition to come together and come out with the win.”
Ana Victoria Rojas, captain of Costa Rica: “We came in with the mindset to enjoy the game and for each of us to fulfill our role on the court. As the match progressed, the Dominican Republic got more comfortable, and we lost focus. There were moments during the sets when we regained our defensive and attacking mindset as we did in the first set. The experience of the Dominican Republic weighed heavily.”
VERACRUZ, Mexico, August 28, 2024.- Dominican Republic will seek their seventh title at the 2024 U23 Women’s Pan American Volleyball Cup, to be held from September 3 to 8 at the Xalapa International Velodrome in Veracruz, Mexico.
Reigning champion Dominican Republic has won the event in each of its six editions and all eyes are set for them to retain their title. Mexico has lost the title match to the Dominican Republic in the last two editions. Argentina has one silver and one bronze medal. Brazil, Colombia, and Peru have one silver medal each, while Cuba has three bronze medals.
The 2024 U23 Women’s Pan American Cup is part of the qualification system towards the 2025 Pan American Junior Games in Asunción, Paraguay.
From the four (4) vacancies granted to NORCECA, two (2) vacancies will be granted to the top two placed teams in the final ranking of the event among NORCECA National Team. The remaining two (2) vacancies will be granted to the two (2) highest ranking teams in the NORCECA U23 Ranking not qualified. The South American Volleyball Confederation, CSV, will establish its own qualification system.
The eight participating teams have been divided in two pools, with Pool A consisting of Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic and Chile; and host Mexico is in Pool B with Nicaragua, Peru and Suriname.
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