Argentina wins Bronze Medal at Junior Pan Am Games

CALI, Colombia, November 30, 2021. - Argentina won the bronze medal of the Men’s Volleyball tournament at the I Junior Pan American Games over host Colombia 3-1 (23-25, 25-22, 25-21, 25-17) on Tuesday night at Evangelista Mora Coliseum.

Outside hitter and captain Mauro Zelayeta led Argentina to win the first Junior Pan Am Games bronze medal with a tournament-high of 34 points on 31 kills and 3 blocks, opposite hitter Lorenzo Nieto and middle blocker Imanol Salazar contributed with 10 points each.

Outside hitter Leiner Aponza scored 20 points on 16 kills and 4 blocks, the only player with double-digits for Colombia.

Argentina prevailed with a huge 67-40 advantage in attacks, a 3-0 margin in serves and handed out 34 points from unforced errors. Colombia with a sizeable 11-6 margin in blocks committed 22 errors.

Argentina ends the event with a 4-1 record; Argentina also beat Colombia during the preliminary round with a five-set thriller. Colombia finishes fourth place with 2-3 record.

Mauro Zelayeta, outside hitter and captain of Argentina: “Since ending yesterday’s tough match, we came today to give it all and it’s a great joy. I am really proud of my team that was in everything during the entire tournament and now we will enjoy it. We were coming for a medal at these first junior Pan American Games. What’s important is winning a medal. There is a lot of support in Argentina and we are doing things well”.