ARGENTINA is having the BEST WEEK EVER!
Argentina has not really won any major international and continental tournaments in a longggggggggggggggggg time but the tides have changed with the Under 18 Girls squad winning the recently concluded Pan American Cup hosted by Cuba.
The Argentines won against tourney favourites from the Dominican Republic in 5 sets.
Below is the full tourney report released by the FIVB:
Argentina outdueled the Dominican Republic in five exciting sets 3-2 (17-25, 25-21, 13-25, 25-23, 15-8) to capture the gold medals at the U18 Girls’ Volleyball Pan American Cup at the Ciudad Deportiva Coliseum in Havana on Sunday.
Argentina’s victory means the South American country claim the title for the second time after winning the first edition held in Tijuana, Mexico in 2011.
Earlier in the week, Cuba claimed a ticket to the FIVB Volleyball Girls’ U18 World Championship in Peru as winners of Pool B. Argentina were already qualified for the World Championship as the 2014 South American Girls’ Youth Championship runners-up.
In the final on Sunday, Maria Corbalan scored 22 points for the winners. MVP Anahí Tosi added 10.
The Dominican Republic’s top scorers were Natalia Martinez and Massiel Matos with 22 and 21 points respectively.
Argentina coach Mauro Silvestre was delighted by his team’s victory over a more experienced opponent.
“In sports, the winners are not always the strongest or the fastest, but the ones who believe it is possible to win,” Silvestre said. “I think that was the difference today, and I hope this victory can open new doors for us.”
Brazilian Dominican Republic coach Alexandre Ceccato gave credit to Argentina, saying it was a well deserved triumph.
“Argentina served hard and received and defended better than us,” he said. “They are a great team and deserve the gold medal. I am disappointed with my players as they are much more experienced and should have brought the cup home.”
In the match for the bronze medals, Cuba beat Puerto Rico in straight sets 3-0 (25-21, 25-22, 25-16).
Cuba’s Heidy Casanova was the top scorer of the match, with 16 points. Puerto Rico’s Dariana Hollingsworth finished with 13.
Earlier on Sunday, Peru defeated Mexico in five sets 3-2 (27-25, 24-26, 20-25, 25-23, 15-12) in the match for fifth place.
Leslie Leyva led Peru with 21 points, followed by Nicole Abreu and Maricarmen Guerrero each with 14 points. Mexico’s Kathya García and Karla Mirelis had 17 and 16 points respectively.
Final Ranking
1. Argentina
2. Dominican Republic
3. Cuba
4. Puerto Rico
5. Peru
6. Mexico
7. Chile
8. Costa Rica
Individual Awards
Most Valuable Player: Anahi Tosi, Argentina
First Outside Hitter: Diaris Perez, Cuba
Second Outside Hitter: Aidachi Aguero, Cuba
First Middle Blocker: Lisbeth Rosario, Dominican Republic
Second Middle Blocker: Diana De la Peña, Peru
Best Opposite: Massiel Matos, Dominican Republic
Best Setter: Azul Benítez, Argentina
Best Libero: Marla Arreola, Mexico
Best Server: Natalia Martínez, Dominican Republic
Best Receiver: Diaris Perez, Cuba
Best Digger: Valentina González, Argentina
Best Scorer: Massiel Matos, Dominican Republic
Top Scorers
92 – Massiel Matos, Dominican Republic
86 – Natalia Martínez, Dominican Republic
86 – Anahí Tosi, Argentina
80 – Dariana Hollingsworth, Puerto Rico
76 – María Corbalán, Argentina
66 – Leslie Leyva, Peru
65 – Paola Salas, Puerto Rico
62 – Diaris Pérez, Cuba
60 – Katherine Regalado, Peru
60 – Maricarmen Guerrero, Peru
Most Blocks
19 – Lisbeth Rosario, Dominican Republic
16 – Diana De la Peña, Peru
13 – Gretell Moreno, Cuba
13 – Maricarmen Guerrero, Peru
12 – Joscelyn Coronel, Puerto Rico
Most Aces
17 – Natalia Martínez, Dominican Republic
15 – Andrea Nájera, Mexico
11 – Dariana Hollingsworth, Puerto Rico
10 – Maricarmen Guerrero, Peru
9 – Karla Mireles, Mexico
Top Scorer by Day
16 – Massiel Matos of Dominican Republic v Mexico on 17.3.2015
16 – Massiel Matos of Dominican Republic v Peru on 18.3.2015
25 – Natalia Martínez of Dominican Republic v Argentina on 19.3.2015
17 – Anahí Tosi of Argentina v Chile on 20.3.2015
21 – Dariana Hollingsworth of Puerto Rico v Dominican Republic on 21.3.2015
22 – María Corbalan of Argentina v Dominican Republic on 22.3.2015
22 – Natalia Martínez of Dominican Republic v Argentina on 22.3.2015
Best Scoring Performances
25 – Natalia Martínez of Dominican Republic v Argentina on 19.3.2015
23 – Anahí Tosi of Argentina v Dominican Republic on 19.3.2015
22 – María Corbalan of Argentina v Dominican Republic on 22.3.2015
22 – Natalia Martínez of Dominican Republic v Argentina on 22.3.2015
21 – María Corbalán of Argentina v Dominican Republic on 19.3.2015
21 – Dariana Hollingsworth of Puerto Rico v Dominican Republic on 21.3.2015
21 – Leslie Leyva of Peru v Mexico on 22.3.2015
21 – Massiel Matos of Dominican Republic v Argentina on 22.3.2015
20 – Katherine Regalado of Peru v Mexico on 19.3.2015
20 – Massiel Matos of Dominican Republic v Argentina on 19.3.2015
Best Blocking Performances
8 – Diana De la Peña of Peru v Mexico on 22.3.2015
6 – Lisbeth Rosario of Dominican Republic v Puerto Rico on 21.3.2015
6 – Natalia Peta of Puerto Rico v Dominican Republic on 21.3.2015
Best Serving Performances
7 – Natalia Martínez of Dominican Republic v Argentina on 19.3.2015
7 – Dariana Hollingsworth of Puerto Rico v Dominican Republic on 21.3.2015
6 – Andrea Nájera of Mexico v Chile on 21.3.2015
6 – Maricarmen Guerrero of Peru v Costa Rica on 21.3.2015
5 – Andrea Nájera of Mexico v Peru on 19.3.2015
Best Team Blocking Performances
16 – Peru v Mexico on 22.3.2015
15 – Dominican Republic v Puerto Rico on 21.3.2015
13 – Cuba v Puerto Rico on 17.3.2015
11 – Dominican Republic v Argentina on 19.3.2015
11 – Peru v Puerto Rico on 20.3.2015
11 – Puerto Rico v Dominican Republic on 21.3.2015
Best Team Serving Performances
13 – Mexico v Peru on 19.3.2015
13 – Dominican Republic v Argentina on 19.3.2015
13 – Peru v Costa Rica on 21.3.2015
12 – Argentina v Chile on 20.3.2015
11 – Puerto Rico v Dominican Republic on 21.3.2015
Highest Scoring Sets
31-29 Chile v Puerto Rico (2nd Set) on 19.3.2015
28-26 Puerto Rico v Dominican Republic (2nd Set) on 21.3.2015
27-25 Peru v Mexico (1st Set) on 22.3.2015
Highest Scoring Matches
225 – Puerto Rico d Chile 3-2 (25-21, 29-31, 25-19, 22-25, 15-13) on 19.3.2015
222 – Peru d Mexico 3-2 (27-25, 24-26, 20-25, 25-23, 15-12) on 22.3.2015
213 – Mexico d Peru 3-2 (25-21, 25-21, 23-25, 20-25, 15-13) on 19.3.2015
207 – Dominican Republic d Puerto Rico 3-2 (21-25, 26-28, 25-15, 25-18, 15-9) on 21.3.2015
206 – Dominican Republic d Argentina 3-2 (21-25, 25-23, 23-25, 25-19, 15-5) on 19.3.2015
197 – Argentina d Dominican Republic 3-2 (17-25, 25-21, 13-25, 25-23, 15-8) on 22.3.2015
(images: norceca.net)