Tag: Norceca

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, August 15, 2025 – Brazil’s middle blocker and team captain, Julliana De Andrade “Juju,” was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the women’s volleyball tournament at the II Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025, which concluded at the Arena of the Paraguayan Olympic Committee (COP) after Brazil claimed its second consecutive undefeated championship.

Juju, who also received the Best Blocker award, was a key factor in Brazil defending its title and finishing the tournament with a perfect 5-0 record.

Her teammate Ana Luiza Rüdiger was honored as the Second Best Attacker, while Heloise “Helo” Soares received the award for Best Setter.

The tournament’s Best Attacker was Cuba’s team captain, Whitney James, and her teammate Lianet García earned the Best Server award.

Katielle Alonzo of the Dominican Republic, bronze medalists, was recognized as Best Opposite, while Alondra Tapia took home the award for Best Scorer of the tournament.

The Second Best Blocker award went to Argentina’s Maria Victoria Matich.

Rashanny Solano from Costa Rica was named Best Libero, Best Digger, and Best Receiver.

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, August 15, 2025. – Brazil successfully defended its title and was crowned undefeated two-time champions of the women’s volleyball tournament at the II Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025, defeating Mexico 3-0 (25-23, 25-19, 25-14) in the final held at the Paraguayan Olympic Committee (COP) Arena.

The Brazilian team finished the tournament with a perfect 5-0 record, claiming its second title in as many appearances. Mexico, who earned the silver medal, celebrated its first-ever medal at the Junior Pan American Games, closing with a 4-2 record.

The opening set was highly contested, with several ties until 13-13. Brazil pulled ahead 15-13 with kills from Maria Clara De Moura and Jaqueline Schmitz, adding a key block from Ana Rüdiger against Michelle Lizárraga for a 20-17 lead. Mexico tied it at 22-22, but a tip from Jaqueline and a Mexican error, followed by a spike from Maria Clara, sealed the set for Brazil.

In the second set, Mexico started strong (8-5) with Aimé Topete’s offense and a block from Arleth Márquez. However, Brazil tied it at 10-10 and pulled away with precision from Rüdiger and the contribution of Lívia Dos Santos. Heloise Soares and Julliana De Andrade (Juju) extended the lead to 22-16. Despite Mexico’s late push, consecutive blocks from Jaqueline and Lívia closed the 2-0 lead.

Brazil opened the third set with a commanding 5-1 lead, driven by blocks from Maria Clara and Lívia. Mexico cut the deficit to 10-8 with a kill from Andrea Félix and a Brazilian error, but Brazil regained control, stretching the gap to 16-9 with Gabriela Carneiro joining the scoring effort. Rüdiger and Maria Clara maintained their efficiency, and a block from Juju against Topete secured the gold medal.

The champions dominated in blocking (15-3), as well as leading in attacks (34-29) and service aces (4-1). Mexico committed one fewer error than Brazil (22-23).

Ana Rüdiger led all scorers with 13 points (8 kills, 4 blocks, 1 ace), followed by Maria Clara De Moura with 12 (9 kills, 3 blocks) and Jaqueline Schmitz with 10 (8 kills, 1 block, 1 ace). Andrea Félix topped Mexico’s scoring with 10 points, all from attacks.

“We were very disciplined. We’re very happy because it was a great match for us. Paraguay is beautiful, and we thank all the fans for their support,” said Rüdiger, the match’s top scorer.

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, August 15, 2025. – The Dominican Republic claimed the bronze medal at the II Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025, defeating Argentina 3-1 (25-17, 25-21, 21-25, 25-19) in the women’s volleyball third-place match, held at the Paraguayan Olympic Committee (COP) Arena.

The Caribbean side closed the tournament with a 3-3 record, earning their first-ever medal at the Junior Pan American Games. Argentina finished with a 3-2 mark.

The Dominican Republic came out strong in a cautious start by both teams, with an intense pace but little speed. With Katielle Alonzo and Alondra Tapia leading the offense, the Caribbean squad built a six-point lead (14-7) and controlled the set from start to finish. The end was marred by an injury to Argentina’s Natasha Nosach, who landed awkwardly after a spike attempt.

In the second set, Argentina took a 10-8 lead thanks to Keila Llanos’ serving and Gisela Otamendi’s attacks. Tapia responded to tie the score and put the Dominican Republic ahead. The set remained tight until 18-18, when an error and a block by María Matich gave the South Americans the lead again. However, Alonzo and Dilenny Maleno turned the score around, and Tapia, along with a final block by Alonzo, sealed the set for the Dominicans.

The third set maintained the same intensity, with the lead constantly changing hands. Just like in the previous set, the teams were tied at 18. Paula Tomasa broke through the Dominican block to give Argentina a 20-19 advantage, but a soft touch from Alonzo tied it again. Matich, with a powerful kill, capped a long rally that the Dominican defense had extended spectacularly, putting her team ahead 23-21. An ace from Juana Giardini gave set point, and Tomasa closed it out with authority to force a fourth set.

The Dominicans, playing with authority, built a seven-point lead (18-11) and, although the South Americans cut the gap, they stayed in control until the end (21-17). With Crismeily Paniagua at the service line, the Caribbean side reached 23-18; Argentina closed to 19, but a powerful spike from Alondra Tapia brought up match point, followed immediately by the medal-winning point.

The Dominican Republic’s blocking (18-8) was a key factor, as were the 34 points scored off Argentina’s errors, compared to just 13 of their own. In attack, the South Americans led 51-39 and held a clear advantage in service aces, 10-5.

Opposite hitter Katielle Alonzo and outside hitter Alondra Tapia led the Dominican offense with 18 points each. Captain Florangel Shaylin Terrero added 10 points, highlighted by a match-high six blocks.

For Argentina, opposite Paula Tomasa was the match’s top scorer with 22 points, all on attacks. Keila Llanos contributed 14 points, including a match-high five aces, and Gisela Otamendi chipped in 12 points.

Florangel Terrero, team captain of Dominican Republic expressed “Winning the bronze medal is a great feeling. We have a great responsibility to take this medal back home. It was a hard match, Argentina wasn’t going to hand us the medal, and we fought strong, giving our all to win it. The team followed our coaches’  instructions and I motivated them to play with all our heart. It’s an honor to represent our country. I want to thank everyone for giving it all”.

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, August 15, 2025. – Cuba picked up fifth place in the women’s volleyball tournament of the II Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025 with a convincing 3-0 (25-15, 25-13, 25-12) victory over Costa Rica at the Paraguayan Olympic Committee Arena (COP).

Cuba closed the event with a 4-2 record, while Costa Rica finished at 2-4.

The Caribbean team’s blocking proved decisive, dominating 17-3 in that category. They also held the edge in attacks (33-20) and service aces (8-3). Cuba committed 11 unforced errors compared to Costa Rica’s 14.

Lianet García led Cuba’s offense with 16 points (7 attacks, 5 blocks, 4 aces). Yalain De La Peña contributed 11 points, while Whitney James added 10. Yensy Kindelán excelled at the net with 5 blocks, and Lisbeysis Hernández recorded 4.

For Costa Rica, Ivanny Blackwood was the top scorer with 10 points, followed by Melina Abarca with 9.

Cuba’s coach, Norka Latamblet, valued her team’s performance during the tournament, saying, “We started from less to more. I think the team played well, although we didn’t reach the goals we had set for ourselves. If the competition had been a little longer, I believe we would have been among the four finalists. The team is young, most of them are U19, and we hope that through their development they will help us achieve the results we expect for the Cuban team.”

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, August 15, 2025. – Paraguay thrilled the home crowd with a stunning reverse sweep over Chile 3-2 (20-25, 16-25, 25-16, 25-17, 15-12) to secure seventh place in the women’s volleyball tournament of the II Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025 at COP Arena.

After dropping the first two sets, the hosts mounted an inspired comeback, dominating the final three sets to earn their lone victory of the tournament and finish with a 1-4 record. Chile, meanwhile, closed the event without a win.

Paraguay led in kills (67-52) and service points (7-6) but committed more errors (29-22). Chile held the advantage at the net with more blocks (8-5).

Outside hitter Mayra Pérez spearheaded Paraguay’s offense with a match-high 23 points (22 kills, 1 block), while Ruth Peralta added 18 points (17 kills, 1 ace). Sofía Paredes and Tamara Barrios also reached double figures with 14 and 10 points, respectively.

For Chile, Florencia Giglio posted 22 points (21 kills, 1 block) and Savka Rendic followed with 16 points (13 kills, 1 block, 2 aces).

Paraguay’s coach, Cuban Delio Arruebarrena, expressed his excitement: “I’m very excited about the girls’ performance in this final match. We lost the first two sets and came back in impeccable fashion. They showed great character, attitude, put in the effort, and enjoyed their game. The girls loosened up and played. It’s an important victory because Chile is a country from our region, and we needed to measure ourselves to know where the team stands.”

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, August 14, 2025.– Brazil will defend its Junior Pan American women’s volleyball title at Asunción 2025 after defeating the Dominican Republic 3-0 (25-22, 25-19, 25-13) in the semifinals at the Paraguayan Olympic Committee (COP) Arena.

The South American squad will play for the gold medal against the winner of the other semifinal between Argentina and Mexico. The Dominican Republic will battle for bronze against the loser of that match.

In the first set, Brazil built a comfortable 14-8 lead thanks to Maria Clara De Moura’s offense and Juju’s serving. However, the Caribbean team tied the score at 17 with attacks from captain Florangel Terrero and Alondra Tapia, even turning the tables to lead 20-17. With blocks from Lívia Dos Santos and consecutive opponent errors, Brazil tied at 20 and again at 21. Juju’s energy was key to regaining control, and Ana Luiza Rüdiger sealed the set.

The Dominican Republic held the lead in the second set with the same offensive standouts and the addition of Katielle Alonzo. Brazil rallied from a three-point deficit to tie at 12, then took the lead with blocks from Heloise Soares and Lívia Dos Santos. A decisive block by Camilly De Souza closed the set, putting Brazil ahead 2-0.

In the third, Brazil dominated from the start, displaying unstoppable play that ended with a powerful spike from Jaqueline Schmitz to clinch the victory.

Brazil outperformed in attacks (44-27) and blocks (11-3), while both teams scored five points from serves. Brazil committed more unforced errors (19-15).

Outside hitter Maria Clara De Moura led Brazil with 17 points (13 attacks, 2 blocks, 2 aces), followed by opposite hitter Jaqueline Schmitz with 12 (11 attacks, 1 ace) and Camilly De Souza with 11 (8 attacks, 3 blocks). For the Dominican Republic, opposite hitter Katielle Alonzo tallied 12 points (9 attacks, 1 block, 2 aces).

Maria Clara De Moura expressed her excitement: “For me, personally, this is a great opportunity to be here representing my country. The key word before entering the game was aggressiveness; we came in to kill, and that’s what we did… I can only express gratitude and happiness.”

Dominican Republic’s head coach, Wagner Pacheco, commented: “We played two good sets. Brazil is a great team, a strong team with a lot of experience. We have young girls. During the match, we managed to make them change a player, and a better one came in. Tomorrow will be another tough match, and we’ll give everything to win the bronze.”

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, August 14, 2025.– With a commanding 12-1 edge in service aces, Mexico defeated Argentina to advance to the women’s volleyball final at the II Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025, winning the semifinal 3-0 (25-20, 25-12, 25-16).

Mexico will face defending champions Brazil for the gold medal. In addition to vying for the Junior Pan American title, both Mexico and Brazil secured their spots at the Lima 2027 Pan American Games as the top-ranked teams from each Volleyball Confederation.

Argentina will aim to repeat the bronze medal they won in the first edition of the Games in Cali, this time against the Dominican Republic.

In the first set, Mexico came out strong (10-5) thanks to Marcela Herrera’s attacks and Andrea Félix’s serving. The lead held at 18-11, capitalizing on Argentine errors. The South Americans closed the gap with consecutive points from María Matich and Keila Llanos, but Mexico stayed ahead, boosted by Aimé Topete. Before closing the set, Argentina denied three set points (24-17) with a rival error and blocks from Josefina Ossvald and Valentina Gartenbank, but Mexico eventually took it 25-20.

The second set was all Mexico, jumping to a 12-3 lead with Herrera’s consistent attacking, Félix’s offense and serving, and captain María Ximena Cruz’s net defense. Topete kept the momentum going and Argentina found no answers, falling 25-12.

In the third, Argentina started stronger and tied the score at 5, but Herrera and Topete pushed Mexico to a three-point lead (8-5). The Mexicans regained full control to double Argentina’s score (14-7). With the score at 19-9, Argentina put together three straight points from Gisela Otamendi and Llanos, plus a Mexican error, in an attempt to rally. However, a spectacular defensive play by Herrera preserved the lead at 22-14. Topete scored match point (24-15) and sealed the 25-16 win with an attack off Ossvald’s block.

Statistically, beyond their serving dominance, Mexico led in attacks 39-28, while Argentina had the edge in blocks (7-5). Mexico committed 12 unforced errors to Argentina’s 19.

Mexico’s Andrea Félix led all scorers with 16 points (11 attacks, 2 blocks, 3 aces), followed by Aimé Topete with 13 (11 attacks, 1 block, 1 ace) and Marcela Herrera with 11 (9 attacks, 2 aces). For Argentina, María Matich was the top scorer with 10 points (8 attacks, 2 blocks), the only player in double digits for her team.

Outside hitter Aimé Topete said “ In the morning, we were focused, personally I thought I am going to give it my all. We all wanted to win. Before the match we spoke in the dressing room that it wasn’t important the point they would score, but the point we were going to score. We got the result. Everything worked well. In the morning training session, we practiced on serving a lot, which was an important weapon in today’s victory”.

Luis León, head coach of Mexico said after the win “We all had our goal very clear. Far from the pressure of a semifinal match, thinking of what would happen, the girls enjoyed the match and just played. I am super excited, happy with the team’s performance, but mostly for the attitude. Tomorrow, no matter what happens, I am proud of this group”.

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, August 14, 2025.- Cuba swept Paraguay 3-0 (25-18, 25-11, 25-19) in the women’s volleyball tournament of the II Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025, held at the COP Arena, and will play for fifth place against Costa Rica.

The match started evenly, with Paraguay tying 14-14 thanks to a spike from outside hitter Ruth Peralta. However, Cuba stepped up and comfortably closed the first set 25-18.

In the second set, the Caribbean team dominated from start to finish, doubling their opponent’s attack points (12-6) and adding 4 aces, two of them by Lianet García.

The third set was more contested. Paraguay tied the score at 11 points and then took the lead 14-12, capitalizing on Cuban reception errors. The hosts denied two match points (24-17) before a kill by Claudia Tarín sealed Cuba’s victory at 25-19.

Statistically, Cuba outperformed Paraguay 37-30 in attacks, 6-3 in blocks, and 9-6 in serves, also scoring 23 points from opponent errors while committing 19 of their own.

Opposite hitter Yalain De La Peña led Cuba with 15 points (10 attacks, 2 blocks, and 3 aces), followed by captain Whitney James with 14 (13 attacks, 1 block, and 1 ace). For Paraguay, Ruth Peralta was the top scorer with 12 points.

Cuban captain Whitney James said: “We knew Paraguay wanted to win in front of their home crowd, just as we wanted to secure the best possible position in the tournament. We kept our composure, overcame our mistakes, and tomorrow we will go for fifth place, the highest we can aim for”.

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, August 14, 2025.- Costa Rica defeated Chile 3-1 (25-23, 28-26, 21-25, 25-21) in the women’s volleyball tournament of the II Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025, at the COP Arena, and will play for fifth place against the winner of the match between Paraguay and Cuba.

The tightly contested first set went Costa Rica’s way in 27 minutes, with María del Sol Venegas and Jocelyn Moraga leading the offense. In the second set, the Central Americans quickly jumped to a 14-8 lead, but Chile fought back to force a dramatic ending, which Costa Rica finally closed out with two consecutive kills from Ivanny Blackwood, taking the set to overtime.

The South Americans, led by Florencia Giglio and Savka Rendic, responded in the third set to close the gap and force a fourth. In that decisive set, Javiera Núñez denied Costa Rica’s first match point with a kill, followed by a long rally that ended with a reception error from Costa Rica. However, Blackwood reappeared with a spike off the block to seal the victory.

Costa Rica capitalized on 30 Chilean unforced errors compared to their own 17 and held a slight edge in blocking (7-6). Chile led in attacks (65-58) and service points (7-4).

María del Sol Venegas and Jocelyn Moraga topped Costa Rica’s offense with 14 points each, while Blackwood contributed 12. For Chile, team captain Florencia Giglio was the match’s top scorer with 29 points, followed by opposite hitter Javiera Núñez with 16 and outside hitter Savka Rendic with 11.

Ivanny Blackwood highlighted the team’s motivation: “We came in giving it our all from the start. We were focused on the idea that we could beat Chile; we are almost at the same level, but after two losses, we were motivated to finish in the best possible position in the tournament. In the second set, I feel we gotoverconfident and lost our lead, it was hard to recover, but thankfully we took the set.”

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, July 13, 2025. – Dominican Republic secured the final spot in the semifinals of the women’s volleyball tournament at the II Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025, defeating Cuba 3-0 (25-20, 27-25, 25-18) at the Paraguayan Olympic Committee Arena.

On Thursday, in the semifinals, the Dominicans will face Brazil in a rematch of their pool play encounter, which was won by the South Americans. The other semifinal will feature Argentina against Mexico. Cuba will compete in classification matches for 5th to 8th place, starting against hosts Paraguay.

The first set was highly contested, with frequent lead changes and multiple ties. Dominican Republic took a 16-13 lead with an attack from Alondra Tapia and Cuban errors, but Cuba responded through Claudia Tarin to level the score at 16-16. The offense of Katielle Alonzo and net defense from Florangel Terrero gave the Dominicans breathing room, and Selanny Puente’s block on Lianet García sealed the set.

In a dramatic second set, the Dominicans maintained a three-point lead until Cuba, with more dynamic play, tied the score at 20. Lisania Grafort and Whitney James denied two set points, but two kills from Tapia sealed the 2-0 lead for the Dominican side.

The third set was dominated by the Dominicans, who capitalized on eight Cuban errors to extend the lead to 20-14. A service error by Brenda Nold ended the match in favor of the Dominican Republic.

The blocking advantage (12-6) and 26 points scored off Cuban errors were decisive for the Dominicans. Cuba led in attacks (41-37) and service points (3-2) but failed to make their edge count.

Alondra Tapia once again led Dominican Republic in scoring with 19 points, followed by Katielle Alonzo with 14. For Cuba, Claudia Tarin scored 16 points and Whitney James added 12.

Wagner Pacheco, coach of the Dominican Republic, spoke about the match: “It was a night when my team played with heart. It was a very tough match; with Cuba, the games are always intense. Today we played very well, we knew how to calm our emotions when needed, play strong when required, and we came through. The second set was complicated because there was a lot of arguing at the net with Cuba but thank God, we took control”.

Yensy Kindelan of Cuba said: “Today’s match was very good. We wanted to advance to the semifinals, but it wasn’t possible. I think our own mistakes were what led us to the loss. Now we must go for fifth place, which is the highest we can aim for in this tournament. I believe the Dominicans can reach the podium since they knocked us out of the Final Four”.

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, July 13, 2025. – Mexico secured its place in the semifinals of the women’s volleyball tournament at the II Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025 after defeating Costa Rica in straight sets (25-17, 25-18, 25-19) at the Paraguayan Olympic Committee Arena.

In the semifinal stage, Mexico will face Argentina, while Costa Rica will compete in the classification round for fifth to eighth place.

In the first set, Costa Rica managed to contain Mexico in the early points, but from point 10 onward, Mexico took control with strong offense from outside hitters Aimé Topete and Marcela Herrera. For Costa Rica, outside hitter María del Sol Venegas contributed key points.

The second set followed a similar pattern, with the score tied until point 11. Costa Rica displayed defensive resilience to keep the ball in play, while Mexico made several lineup adjustments. Katherine Ramírez stood out for Mexico, and Jocelyn Moraga led the Costa Rican effort.

In the third set, Costa Rica surprised by tying the score at 16 thanks to offensive contributions from Ivanny Blackwood and Melina Abarca. However, Mexico capitalized on the opponent’s errors and added points through the attacks of Topete and Michelle Lizárraga to close the match, which ended with a powerful spike from Lizárraga.

Mexico led in attacks (57-33) and blocks (6-4), conceding 15 points from errors. Costa Rica scored 2 points on aces and committed 12 unforced errors.

Aimé Topete led all scorers with 16 points (13 attacks, 3 blocks). Also contributing to the winning effort, Michelle Lizárraga with 10 (9 attacks, 1 block), and Arleth Márquez and Andrea Félix with 8 each. For Costa Rica, María del Sol Venegas led with 11 points (7 attacks, 4 blocks), while Jocelyn Moraga contributed 10, all on attacks.

Mexico’s head coach, Luis León, highlighted that the first goal was accomplished: “Reaching the semifinals has been achieved. Now we go for the next one, which is to be in the medals. Tomorrow will be a tough match regardless of the opponent.”

Costa Rica’s head coach, Braulio Godínez, emphasized his team’s progress: “We have seen the team’s improvement throughout the tournament. This group wasn’t able to play together due to Costa Rica’s various international commitments. Little by little, we have improved from the first match to this one; something they have achieved is getting more into the game.”

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, August 12, 2025 .– Cuba swept Paraguay (25-16, 25-12, 25-14) to advance to the quarterfinals of the women’s volleyball tournament at the II Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025, taking place at the Arena COP.

Cuba secured second place in Pool A and will face the Dominican Republic, third in Pool B, in the quarterfinals. Paraguay, still in search of its first win, will play in the classification round for positions 5 to 8.

In the first set, Whitney James and Lianet García led Cuba’s offense, while Alexia Martínez and Mayra Pérez stood out for Paraguay. In the following sets, Cuba quickly pulled ahead and maintained control until the end.

Cuba’s strong serving proved decisive, outscoring Paraguay 13-4 from the service line. They also held the edge in attacks (35-24) and blocks (8-3). Cuba committed 11 unforced errors compared to Paraguay’s 19.

Cuban captain Whitney James led all scorers with 15 points (13 attacks, 2 aces). Lianet García contributed 14 points, including 3 attacks, 5 blocks, and a match-high 6 aces, while Yalain de la Peña added 10 points.

For Paraguay, Mayra Pérez led with 11 points (9 attacks, 2 aces).

Norka Latamblet, head coach of Cuba, said, “The girls have gained confidence as the tournament has progressed and with the training sessions. Our main goal is to qualify for the 2027 Pan American Games, and that is achievable.”

Mayra Pérez, the top scorer of the match for Paraguay, stated, “There were moments when it seemed like we could make a comeback; we switched to a better formation, which helped us a lot. Feeling the crowd’s support motivated us to raise our level of play. The difference with Cuba is significant; they have international experience and are taller than us. For us, this is our first international experience.”

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, August 12, 2025.– Brazil secured its spot in the semifinals of the women’s volleyball tournament at the II Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025 after defeating the Dominican Republic 3-1 (25-17, 25-23, 22-25, 25-20) at the Arena COP, closing the group stage as the undefeated leader of Pool B.

Brazil advanced directly to the final four, while the Dominican Republic, which finished third in the pool with a 1-2 record, will compete in the quarterfinals.

The match was marked by intense rallies and hard-fought plays. In the first set, the South Americans took an early lead (11-6) with a balanced attack from Julliana De Andrade “Juju,” Jaqueline Schmitz, and Maria De Moura, staying ahead throughout to close the set comfortably.

In the second set, the Dominican Republic erased a five-point deficit to tie at 11-11 thanks to the offense of Alondra Tapia and the net defense of Katielle Alonzo. However, after a series of unforced errors, Brazil regained control (18-13), though the Caribbean side tied again at 21. A block by Juju against Alonzo brought Brazil to set point, but Alonzo answered with a block of her own. In the end, Schmitz sealed the set with a spike from position two.

The third set went to the Dominican Republic, which led from start to finish, dominating in blocking (7-4) and service (4-2), overcoming Brazil’s resistance despite the South Americans saving four set points.

In the fourth set, Brazil once again took the initiative (13-7) and never relinquished the lead, sealing the 25-19 victory with a powerful attack by Stephany Gomes from zone four.

Brazil outperformed in attacks (51-43) and service aces (10-6), while the Dominican Republic led in blocking (18-11). The South Americans committed 18 unforced errors and benefited from 25 by the Dominican side.

Juju led Brazil’s scoring with 18 points (8 attacks, 5 blocks, 5 aces), followed by Jaqueline Schmitz and Maria De Moura with 12 each. Stephany Gomes and Ana Luiza Rüdiger added 10 apiece. For the Dominican Republic, Alondra Tapia was the match’s top scorer with 22 points (17 attacks, 3 blocks, 2 aces), followed by Alonzo with 16 and Selanny Puente with a match-high of 6 blocks.

Brazil’s head coach Marcos Pinheiro remarked: “We won a very tough match. We knew the Dominican Republic is a very strong team, with tall players who play well both offensively and defensively. We stayed calm to execute what we had studied before the game. We’re happy to reach the semifinals ahead of schedule.”

For her part, Katielle Alonzo praised her team’s effort: “We gave it our all. It was an exciting match, and we had fun. We are fierce competitors and when provoked, we respond with competitive and fair execution. I think we made too many mistakes, had too many net touches, and didn’t block as much as we should have.”

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, August 12, 2025.– Argentina secured a direct berth to the semifinals of the women’s volleyball tournament at the II Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025, finishing first in Pool A with an undefeated 3-0 record.

In their final pool play match, Argentina defeated Costa Rica 3-0 (25-11, 25-19, 25-22). The Central American team, with a 1-2 record, now awaits the final standings to determine the round they will play in the next stage.

The South Americans started with complete dominance in the opening set. In the second, Costa Rica, led by Ivanny Blackwood and Priscilla Alfaro, tied the score at 15 points, but Argentina, with María Victoria Matich and Keila Llanos leading the way, regained control. Valentina Gartenbank added key points to close the set.

In the third, Costa Rica took a five-point lead (13-8) thanks to the offense of María Sofía Torres and serves by María del Sol Venegas, along with unforced errors from Argentina. However, Lara Espeche, Paula Tomasa, and Matich led a comeback to tie at 15. The score stayed close until Matich blocked Melina Abraca for match point, and team captain Josefina Ossvald sealed the victory from the service line.

Argentina led in attacking points 37 to 20, blocking 11 to 6, and service aces 7 to 5, committing one more error than Costa Rica (21-20). Matich and Ossvald led the Argentine offense with 15 and 11 points respectively, both scoring 5 blocks, while Paula Tomasa added 10 points. Venegas was Costa Rica’s top scorer with 8 points.

Head Coach of Argentina, Eduardo Allona, highlighted the competitive level of their recent opponents: “Costa Rica played well and pushed us, just like Paraguay did yesterday. I think volleyball in both regions (South America and NORCECA) is improving. We’re already among the top four teams in the tournament.”

Costa Rican coach Braulio Godínez valued the experience as part of the team’s growth: “It was an exciting match. We played the first set too timidly, with a lot of insecurity. We improved in the second set, played more aggressively, and took more risks. In the final stretch of the third set, which was quite good, the double substitution we tried didn’t work, but it’s all part of the team’s learning process. Our goal is the Central American Games in Guatemala. Here, we hope to win one of the next three matches.”

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, August 12, 2025. – Mexico defeated Chile 3-0 (25-23, 25-16, 25-17) on the final day of the women’s volleyball group stage at the II Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025, securing their place in the quarterfinals.

Mexico closed Pool B with a 2-1 record, while winless Chile will compete in the classification matches for positions 5 to 8.

Middle blocker Arleth Márquez, along with Aimé Topete, played key roles in helping Mexico rally from a six-point deficit (12-18) in the first set, a lead built by Chile through the offensive efforts of Florencia Aguilera, María Véliz, and Esperanza Basualto. Mexico adjusted and took the tightly contested opening set.

In the second set, the Mexican squad dominated with authority and extended the gap without major trouble. The third set was tied at 16 points apiece before Márquez and setter Jimena Salinas, from the service line, pushed Mexico ahead to seal the straight-set victory.

Mexico held the advantage in attacks (42-29) and serves (12-5), while Chile led in blocking (11-7). Both teams committed a similar number of errors, Mexico 11, Chile 14.

Márquez led Mexico with 12 points (6 attacks, 3 blocks, 3 aces). Coming in as a substitute in the first set, Topete contributed 11 points (9 attacks, 2 aces). Salinas stood out with a match-high of 5 service aces.

For Chile, captain Florencia Giglio led all scorers with 17 points, while outside hitter Aguilera added 11 (5 attacks, 3 blocks, 3 aces).

At the end of the match, Mexican captain María Ximena Cruz said: “We never believed the first set was lost, because we kept fighting until the very last point. We are known for our grit and battling until the end. We listened to our coach’s instructions, and, for the second set, we corrected our mistakes, paid close attention, and found areas for improvement. We are already in the quarterfinals, now it’s about continuing to improve, fine-tuning details, and going for more.”

Chilean middle blocker Esperanza Basualto commented: “We are a young team, with an average age of 17, and that’s why we lack a bit of grit and experience. We’ve had ups and downs, but we are satisfied with what we are building. Due to our age, we need more consistency and the ability to recover after losing a point.”

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, August 11, 2025. – Argentina defeated Paraguay 3-0 (25-16, 25-12, 25-21) to remain undefeated in the women’s volleyball tournament of the II Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025, taking place at the Arena COP.

With a 2-0 record in Pool A, Argentina is one step away from securing a spot in the semifinals and will close the preliminary round on Wednesday against Costa Rica (1-1). Paraguay (0-2) will seek its first victory against Cuba (1-1).

In the closing moments of the first set, Argentina stopped a four-point run from Paraguay with key plays from Valentina Gartenbank, Josefina Ossvald, and Keila Llanos. Argentina  dominated the second set comfortably, but in the third, the hosts jumped ahead 8-5 thanks to disciplined blocking from Tirsa Enríquez, solid defense, and the tactical serving of Sofía Paredes. Paraguay thrilled their home crowd by extending their lead to five points (15-10), capitalizing on changes in the Argentine lineup, but Argentina rallied to tie and secure the straight-set victory.

Although Paraguay committed fewer errors (16-22), Argentina held the advantage in all other skills: attacks (42-20), blocks (10-3), and serves (7-4).

Opposite hitter Paula Tomasa and outside hitter Keila Llanos led Argentina with 15 points each, with Llanos standing out from the service line with 7 aces. Gisela Otamendi added 10 points. For Paraguay, Sofía Paredes led with 8 points, followed by Mayra Pérez with 6.

Argentina’s middle blocker and captain, Josefina Ossvald, commented on the lineup changes:
“We have a deep team, everyone can play, and the team must work regardless of who is on the court. The last set was tough for us overall; it was hard to close it out, but we managed to come back and finish it.”

Paraguay’s setter and captain, Rebeca Ayala, spoke about the exciting ending: “We were missing a bit more height and a bit more fight on the court. I think we could have won that third set and extended the match. Things happen for a reason.”

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, August 11, 2025.– Brazil defeated Chile 3-0 (25-13, 25-14, 25-12) to remain unbeaten in the women’s volleyball tournament of the II Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025, taking place at the Arena COP.

With a 2-0 record, Brazil leads Pool B and will face the Dominican Republic (1-1) in the final match of the preliminary round, with the pool winner advancing directly to the semifinals. Chile, standing at 0-2, will close the group stage against Mexico (1-1).

The match began with Chile applying pressure through the powerful and well-placed serves of their captain, Florencia Giglio, which disturbed Brazil’s reception. However, Juju’s blocking efficiency gave Brazil a strong first set.

In the second set, Chile showed greater offensive aggressiveness with Giglio, Esperanza Basualto, and Florencia Aguilera, managing to tie the score at 10 points. Brazil, with a different lineup, found an answer in Ana Luiza Rüdiger, who scored consecutive points to stop Chile’s momentum.

Brazil’s quick and effective play closed out the match in straight sets. The winners led in attacking 49-25 and blocking 6-0, while Chile had the edge in serving points (3-2). Brazil committed 11 unforced errors compared to Chile’s 18.

Juju was Brazil’s top scorer with 12 points, including a match-high 6 blocks. Ana Luiza Rüdiger contributed 11 points, all from attacks, and Stephany Gomes added 10. Florencia Giglio stood out for Chile with 16 points (14 kills, 2 aces), leading all scorers.

“We are very happy with the victory. We came into the game with that goal in mind. From the start we played strong, without lowering the intensity and without letting the ball drop. We are also happy with the team’s adaptability; everyone who came in played very well,” said Brazil’s captain, Juju.

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, August 11, 2025. – Cuba earned a convincing victory over Costa Rica 3-0 (25-11, 25-14, 25-15) in the women’s volleyball tournament of the second edition of the Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025, held at the Arena COP.

Cuba claimed its first win in Pool A for a 1-1 record, the same as Costa Rica. On the final day of the preliminary round, Cuba will face Paraguay, while Costa Rica will play against Argentina.

From the opening set, Cuba displayed a varied and effective offense, while Costa Rica struggled to find answers. In the second set, the Cuban block, led by Yensy Kindelán, proved decisive in extending their lead. Despite committing more errors in the third set (9 to Costa Rica’s 4), the Caribbean side sealed the match with a block from Lianet García against Ivanny Blackwood.

Statistics highlighted Cuba’s dominance in attack (45-15), blocking (9-3), and serving (9-0). Costa Rica, meanwhile, committed fewer unforced errors (12 compared to Cuba’s 22).

Lianet García led Cuba with 17 points from 8 attacks, 4 blocks, and 3 aces. Yalain De La Peña added 14 points (13 attacks, 1 block), and captain Whitney James contributed 11.

James emphasized the importance of the victory: “Today’s match was very important for us to move on to the next round, as well as to take the opportunity to practice several base combinations and connections. Tomorrow we will go for the win against Paraguay.”

Costa Rica’s captain, Rashanny Solano, acknowledged areas for improvement: “In the first set our performance was not good, and then we improved. I think that in addition to our defense, we need to work on our reception. Tomorrow we close the preliminary round, and we will go in with a positive mindset.”

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, August 8, 2025.- Dominican double Olympic champion Félix Sánchez, one of the greatest legends in world athletics, arrived at the COP Arena to support volleyball at the II Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025.

Sánchez, winner of two Olympic gold medals in the 400m hurdles (Athens 2004 and London 2012) and a member of the Technical Commission and the Athletes’ Commission of Panam Sports, took the opportunity to speak with the players and coaching staff of the Dominican Republic women’s national team, sharing motivating words and his experience as a high-performance athlete.

Women’s volleyball at the Junior Pan American Games runs from August 10 to 15, while the men’s tournament will take place from August 17 to 22 at the COP Arena in Asunción.

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, July 10, 2025. – Costa Rica defeated Paraguay 3-0 (25-21, 25-21, 25-11) in the final match of the opening day of the II Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025, held at the Arena COP.

The first set was marked by a strong early lead built by the offense of Costa Rica’s Ivanny Blackwood. Costa Rica lost five set points (24-16) but eventually closed it out thanks to the attacking efforts of Ruth Peralta and Mayra Pérez, along with Paraguay’s own mistakes that complicated their chances.

The second set was more balanced, with long rallies and both teams trading the lead until a 10-10 tie. Costa Rica took control at 12-10, with María Torres leading the scoring, and thanks to their solid defense and reception, they pulled away on the scoreboard. Krystel Vargas and Torres added key points to prevent Paraguay from staging a comeback in the closing stretch.

The third set was dominated from start to finish by the Central American side, which took a 12-6 lead and sealed the win convincingly.

Costa Rica had the advantage in the main skill categories, outscoring Paraguay in attacks (41-28), blocks (3-2), and service points (7-3). Costa Rica committed 20 errors compared to 24 from their opponents.

Ivanny Blackwood led the Costa Rican offense with 15 points, followed by Krystel Vargas with 12 and María Sofía Torres with 11. For Paraguay, Alexia Martínez was the top scorer with 8 points.

In Pool A, Costa Rica (1-0) will next face Cuba (0-1), while Paraguay (0-1) will play Argentina (1-0).

Braulio Godínez, Head coach of Costa Rica, said, “We didn’t know anything about Paraguay; however, they showed good volume of play. I feel that as the match went on, we built our rhythm, and they (Paraguay) made more mistakes. The first set was very close. We have a similar technical and physical level, but the volume of play we have in Central America and NORCECA benefits us a lot, and today that made the difference.”

Delio Arruebarrena, coach of Paraguay, said, “For a first match, the girls could have performed better. We don’t have game rhythm because there are few opportunities to play at this level. Most of the teams here come with international experience, and that shows. As the tournament goes on, the girls will improve their rhythm.”

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, July 10, 2025 .– Brazil defeated Mexico 3-1 (25-18, 21-25, 25-15, 25-15) in the second match of Pool B in the women’s volleyball tournament at the II Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025, held at the Arena COP.

At the start, both teams traded points in long rallies until Brazil pulled ahead thanks to the attack and serving of Jaqueline Schmitz, creating a gap to take the first set.

Mexico responded in the second set, building an 11-8 lead with standout performances from Andrea Felix and Arleth Márquez. With Marcela Herrera joining the offense and capitalizing on Brazil’s errors, the Mexicans tied the match.

Brazil regained control in the third set with an effective offense led by Lívia dos Santos. With a 10-4 lead, the South Americans dominated the game while Mexico’s errors made closing the set easier. In the fourth set, Brazil maintained consistency, led by Ana Luiza Rüdiger and Gabi Carneiro.

Blocking was key to Brazil’s victory, with a 13-6 advantage, along with superiority in attacks (53-42). Both teams scored 5 aces. Brazil gave away 20 points on errors, while Mexico conceded 25.

Ana Luiza Rüdiger was the top scorer with 15 points. Lívia dos Santos added 14 and Maria Clara de Moura contributed 12. For Mexico, Andrea Felix was the only player in double digits, with 14 points.

Letizia, Brazil’s libero, explained: “We were nervous going into the game, which is normal for the first match, and we were distracted. During the match, we were able to focus and put our minds into the game. Things went much better in the fourth set.”

Brazil’s coach, Marcos Pinheiro, said: “We have a lot of respect for Mexico. In their last competition they finished third after a very tough semifinal. Today, the first sets were a game of stars; nerves were running high. We handled the first set very well, but in the second, a change in positions prevented us from executing our plan. We returned to our game plan in the last two sets, and things went well, especially in our reception.”

Mexico’s coach, Luis León, shared his thoughts: “When things didn’t work for us at certain times, Brazil took advantage, made adjustments, changed players, and it worked for them. At some point, Mexico didn’t manage to maintain the rhythm and composure, allowing Brazil to get a bigger lead. Physically and technically, Brazil has a good team.”

Next, Brazil (1-0) will face the Dominican Republic (1-0), while Mexico (0-1) will play Chile (0-1).

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, July 10, 2025 .-The Dominican Republic opened their campaign in the women’s volleyball tournament of the II Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025 with a convincing 3-0 (25-21, 25-15, 25-18) victory over Chile at the COP Arena, kicking off Pool B action.

Chile started with a strong attacking performance led by Florencia Aguilera, building a 13-9 lead. However, the Caribbean side tied the score at 17 points and took advantage of a series of errors from the South American team to claim the first set, with Alondra Tapia as their main offensive weapon.

In the next two sets, the Dominicans found better rhythm in their game system and imposed their dominance.

The Caribbean team capitalized on 31 unforced errors by Chile, committing only 15 themselves, and outblocked their opponents 8-3. Both teams scored 30 attack points and 6 aces.

Outside hitter Alondra Tapia led all scorers with 13 points (11 attacks, 2 aces), while Chile’s Florencia Aguilera stood out with 10 points.

Dominican Republic’s captain, Florangel Terrero, said after the match: “We started out nervous because we know how important this tournament is, and we wanted to show what we can do. We were aware that Chile would play hard, and that made us anxious. We lifted our spirits, and when that happens, the Dominican Republic becomes a warrior”.

Chile’s head coach, Sergio Soto, commented: “Unfortunately, our game plan didn’t work. Our serving and passing fundamentals were not executed well, that was our biggest problem, and we need to improve that right away. This is a developing, mixed team, and if we can fix that aspect, we’ll perform much better in the tournament”.

In their next match, the Dominican Republic will face Mexico, while Chile will take on Brazil.

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, July 10, 2025.– Argentina opened with a victory in women’s volleyball at the II Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025, defeating Cuba in straight sets 3-0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-23) in the first match held at the Paraguayan Olympic Committee (COP) Arena.

Both teams are part of Pool A of the tournament, where their next matches will be Argentina against hosts Paraguay and Cuba against Costa Rica.I

In the first and second sets, Cuba started strong, but Argentina came from behind in both. In the opener, Argentina tied at 15 points with a block from Josefina Ossvald and, taking advantage of consecutive opponent errors, took the lead. An attack by Keila Llanos closed the first set in favor of the South Americans.

In the second set, the score was even until 12-12, when Argentina moved ahead and never trailed again.

The third set was the most contested. Cuba led 23-18, thanks to the work at the net by Yensy Kindelán and Argentina’s errors. However, Argentina rallied to tie at 23-23, erasing a five-point deficit. A block by María Victoria Matich brought match point (24-23), and a Cuban net error sealed the win.

The statistics reflected Argentina’s dominance in attack (35-29) and blocking (11-4), while Cuba scored one more point from service (5-4) but committed one more error (25-24).

Middle blocker María Victoria Matich led Argentina with 18 points (12 attacks, 6 blocks) and outside hitter Keila Llanos added 10 points (9 attacks, 1 ace). For Cuba, middle blocker Lianet García was the top scorer with 9 points, all on attacks.

Argentina’s captain Josefina Ossvald said, “It was an exciting finish. We came from behind, but luckily, we’re a team that always pushes forward, and we’re happy about our first win. We’re a new group and winning a match while playing well is a huge source of pride and a great thrill”.

Coach Eduardo Allona highlighted the key to the victory: “In the last set, at times we were playing so-so, and at other times very well. Keila’s serve, the best we have, worked in our favor by making Cuba’s setting more difficult, allowing our middle blocker to get the block”.

Cuba’s coach Norka Latamblet noted, “I think that due to the long trips to get here, we didn’t have time to train and get the team mentally ready. We need to finish better; they play well and have good preparation. The match was good, we always started ahead, and we hope that in the next games we can close them out.”