LEON, Mexico, August 24, 2024. – The United States booked their place in the final of the 21st Women’s Senior Pan American Volleyball Cup by defeating the Dominican Republic 3-0 (25-18, 25-23, 28-26) in the semifinals.
This marks the tenth time that the United States has advanced to compete for the gold medal in the Pan American Cup, having won it seven times, making them the most successful team in the Cup’s history.
United States will compete for the gold medal on Sunday at 6:00 pm (local time) against the winner of the other semifinal between Colombia and Argentina. The Dominican Republic will battle for the bronze medal at 3:00 pm against the loser.
The United States outperformed the Dominican Republic in kills (50-44) and blocks (8-4). Dominican Republic held a slight edge in service aces (4-3). In errors, United States committed 15, while the Dominican Republic had 17.
USA’s opposite Kendall Kipp led all scorers with 20 points (18 kills, 2 blocks). Team Captain and outside hitter Veronica Perry scored 12 points (10 kills, one block, one ace). Claire Hoffman added 11 attack points.
Yonkaira Peña led the Dominican Republic with 14 points (13 kills, one ace). Middle blocker Candida Arias contributed 10 points (6 kills, 3 blocks, one ace).
USA never trailed in the first set, holding up to an eight-point lead, with Kendall Kipp and Veronica Perry leading the way, joined by middle Serena Gray’s blocks. In the second set, the Dominican Republic rallied to tie at 16 with Yonkaira Peña and Gaila González, but USA pulled ahead again, reaching set point (24-19), with the Dominican Republic extending the set to 25-23. The Dominican Republic reached set point in the third (24-22), which the Americans fought with an attack by Claire Hoffman and a block by Tia Jimerson to tie at 24. Florangel Terrero reached a new set point for the Dominican Republic, which USA extended to an overtime 28-26 win with a Dominican error.
Veronica Perry, captain of United States: “There were a lot of technical parts in this game. I think our staff members had us well prepared for this match, in technical and tactical strategies. Our team did a good job staying steady and executing those things. Dominican Republic is a really good team, and we came in with a good strategy, but they made adjustments from the second set forward”.
Brad Rostratter, Head Coach of United States: “We did a good job from the service line, they did too. There were longer plays, both teams were out of system that we would’ve liked. We were in system a little bit more and that gave us the advantage over time. In the first set we played well, and they played well the next two”.
Marcos Kwiek, Head Coach of the Dominican Republic: “It was a good match. We made mistakes at key moments due to the lack of maturity of some players; the last point is proof of that, it’s part of the process. We are in a transition phase, it’s natural. We’re going for the bronze medal.”
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