Peru conquered the bronze medal in the U20 Cup

LIMA, Peru, May 18, 2019 - Peru beat Puerto Rico in straight sets (25-16, 25-23, 25-17) and won the bronze medal of the V Pan American Cup U20- Herbalife Cup, in the day closing of the tournament held at the Manuel Bonilla Coliseum in Miraflores.

 The Peruvian team took control in the first set complicating the reception of Puerto Rico (25-16). For the next set, the Caribbean improved their reading of the rival field, but the trainer Natalia Málaga changed her setter, Carolina Takahashi for Yadhira Anchante which provided greater speed and effectiveness to the Peruvian attack that would close with a tight (25-23).

 In the third set the Peruvian team surprised with its attack through the center and although Puerto Rico fought point by point, the advantage would be for the white red team (25-17).

 Peru made a difference in their favor in attack (32-27), the fight was more even in blocking (10-11) and service (5-4). Puerto Rico committed 28 errors and its rival 14.

 Top attacker Kiara Montes scored 11 points for Peru, and her teammates Ariana Arciniega and Camila Pérez had 10 points each. For Puerto Rico, Sofia Victoriá and Alondra Maldonado evened with 10 points each.

Kiara Montes, Peruvian top scorer: We are happy to get a medal for our country, but our goal was to have this competition in preparation for the World Championship in Mexico. We have only two months working with the selection of minors and I thank my colleagues for the commitment they showed in each game.

 Alondra Maldonado, Puerto Rico's top scorer: We are happy with the evolution of the team, very young girls facing a youth tournament. I think we knew how to give battle to the strongest rivals, and learning helps us a lot for the tournaments that are coming.

Peru has so far accumulated two medals in the U20 Cup, the first was gold in the 2011 edition and now the bronze. For its part, Puerto Rico repeats the fourth place reached in 2017.