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LA PAZ, Baja California Sur, June 9, 2022.-
The United States advanced directly into
semifinals winning pool B over Argentina in an
exciting 3-1 (25-16, 25-21, 22-25, 27-25) at the
Women’s U21 Pan American Cup at the Arena La Paz
in Baja California Sur.
The Americans join Mexico in the semifinals as
the top ranked pool winners, while Argentina
will play the quarter finals after finishing
second in pool B against Puerto Rico on Friday.
The other pool winner was Cuba that will play in
the quarter finals against Chile.
The tournament grants two berths to the 2023
FIVB World Championship for the two NORCECA top
finishers.
The U.S. jumped to comfortable leads early in
sets one and two, Argentina’s pressure for the
service line in the third helped them to recover
from a five-point deficit (13-18) only to put
tension extending the actions to a fourth and
final set, led by Argentina up to 18 all.
The United States held a 59-41 advantage in
attacks and a comfortable 15-9 margin in blocks,
while Argentina controlled serves 10-5. The U.S.
handed out 27 points from unforced errors and
Argentina 20.
Opposite hitter Merritt Beason of United States
scored a tournament-high of 28 points, on 25
kills and three blocks. Also contributing to the
U.S. victory were outside hitter Norah Sis with
15 points on 13 kills, one block and one ace and
middle blocker Breanna Kelley with 12 points on
7 kills and 5 blocks.
Argentina’s leading scorers were opposite hitter
Valentina Vaulet with 21 points on 16 kills and
leading in aces 5 points, middle blocker Avril
García who added 14 points on 9 kills, 3 blocks
and two aces, and outside hitter Milena Margaria
tallied 11 points on 10 kills and one block.
Daniel Fisher, Head Coach of United States:
“We were playing very consistently, I liked how
we performed both offensively and defensively.
Congratulations to Argentina for changing the
game with a very strong service game; that got
the crowd going. I thought we settled back in
the middle of the fourth set, by receiving the
ball better and we got some nice contributions
from Elia Rubin coming off the bench. We are
excited for playoffs”.
Marcelo Silva, Head Coach of Argentina:
“It was a beautiful match. They (United States)
played well the first two sets; we were able to
carry out what we needed in the next two. I
believe some critical points weren’t called. I
am glad because the team fought up to the end”.
Fue un lindo partido. Ellas (Estados Unidos)
jugaron bien los dos primeros sets, nosotros
pudimos ir llegando a donde queríamos en los
siguientes dos. Creo que algunos puntos
decisivos no se cobraron. Estoy contento porque
el grupo luchó hasta el final”. |
