Argentina Earns Direct Ticket to the Junior

Pan American Games Semifinals

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.”