USA will play Argentina for the gold medal on Saturday
San Jose, Costa Rica, May 13, 2017 – The United States secured a spot in the FIVB U20 Women’s World Championship thanks to a 3-1 (25-17, 25-23, 30-32, 25-20) victory over Cuba and Argentina's subsequent 3-0 (25-21, 25-11, 25-9) victory over Puerto Rico in the U20 Pan American Cup on Friday night.
The victory meant the United States would be the top-ranked NORCECA team among those taking part at the U20 Pan American Cup.
Top South American team Argentina, who qualified a day earlier for the World Championship, which will be held in Cordoba and Boca del Rio, Mexico, from July 14 to 23, will battle the United States for the Pan American Cup title on Saturday.
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Elizabeth Hall racked up 20 points to lead four American players in double digits. Regan Pittman, Khalia Lanier and Mackenzie May finished with 14, 13 and 12 points, respectively.
Cuba’s Heidy Casanova finished with 21 points, followed by Ailama Cese with 15 points and Laura Suarez with 13.
The Cuban side committed 32 errors to 17 by the United States. The winners held an 8-5 margin in aces while the losers had the edge in blocks 13-11.
Argentina’s Benisse Soria was the best scorer in the lopsided match against Puerto Rico with 14 points, followed by Anahi Tosi with 12. Dariana Hollingsworth had 11 points for Puerto Rico.
In the match for seventh place, the Dominican Republic beat Chile 3-0 (25-19, 25-17, 25-12) behind Vielka Peralta’s 21 points.
Top Scorer by Day
23- Camila Bausero of Uruguay v Costa Rica on 8-5-17
17- Camila Bausero of Uruguay v Puerto Rico on 9-5-17
25- Heidy Casanova of Cuba v Peru on 10-5-17
16- Anahi Tosi of Argentina v Peru on 11-5-17
21- Vielka Peralta of Dominican Republic v Chile on 12-5-17
21- Heidy Casanova of Cuba v United States on 12-5-17
Best Scoring Performances
25- Heidy Casanova of Cuba v Peru on 10-5-17
23- Camila Bausero of Uruguay v Costa Rica on 8-5-17
21- Madeline Guillen of Dominican Republic v United States on 10-5-17
21- Vielka Peralta of Dominican Republic v Chile on 12-5-17
21- Heidy Casanova of Cuba v United States on 12-5-17
20- Elizabeth Hall of United States v Cuba on 12-5-17
Best Blocking Performances
5- Flavia Montes of Peru v Chile on 9-5-17
5- Laura Suarez of Cuba v Peru on 10-5-17
5- Maricarmen Guerrero of Peru v Cuba on 10-5-17
5- Brionne Butler of United States v Dominican Republic on 10-5-17
5- Geraldine Gonzalez of Dominican Republic v United States on 10-5-17
Best Serving Performances
5- Elizabeth Vicet of Cuba v Chile on 8-5-17
5- Kris Justiniano of Puerto Rico v Uruguay on 9-5-17
4- Diaris Perez of Cuba v Chile on 8-5-17
4- Mikaella Brendel of Chile v Costa Rica on 11-5-17
Best Team Blocking Performances
14- United States v Dominican Republic on 10-5-17
14- Dominican Republic v Chile on 12-5-17
13- Cuba v Peru on 10-5-17
13- Cuba v United States on 12-5-17
12- Cuba v Chile on 8-5-17
Best Team Serving Performances
11- Cuba v Chile on 8-5-17
10- Peru v Chile on 9-5-17
Highest Scoring Sets
32-30 Cuba v United States (3rd Set) on 12-5-17
29-27 Cuba v Peru (1st Set) on 10-5-17
26-24 Uruguay v Costa Rica (4th Set) on 8-5-17
26-24 Cuba v Peru (2nd Set) on 10-5-17
Highest Scoring Matches
197- United States d Cuba 3-1 (25-17, 25-23, 30-32, 25-20) on 12-5-17
189- Cuba d Peru 3-1 (29-27, 26-24, 18-25, 25-15) on 10-5-17
186- Uruguay d Costa Rica 3-1 (25-21, 25-18, 22-25, 26-24) on 8-5-17
186- United States d Dominican Republic 3-1 (25-22, 21-25, 25-22, 25-21) on 10-5-17
178- United States d Argentina 3-1 (25-23, 25-19, 15-25, 25-21) on 9-5-17