The United States defeated Argentina to win the gold medal at the U20 Pan American Cup on Saturday
San Jose, Costa Rica, May 14, 2017 – United States defeated Argentina in straight sets (27-25, 25-22, 25-22) to claim the title at the U20 Women’s Volleyball Pan American Cup on Saturday night at Gimnasio Nacional of San Jose.
Both teams had earned spots to the age-group FIVB World Championship to be held in the cities of Boca del Rio and Cordoba, Mexico, from July 14 to 23.
Khalia Lanier stood out as the best offensive player of the match for the winners with 16 points, including four blocks and one ace. Regan Pittman and McKenzie May added 12 and 11 points, respectively, in the victory. Anahi Tosi was the best Argentinean scorer with 11 points.
The United States team outblocked Argentina 13-6 and also had the edge in spikes 41-38 and 3-2 in aces.
Cuba claimed the bronze medal with a 3-0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-20) victory over Puerto Rico.
Heidy Casanova led four Cubans in double digits with 15 points, followed by Diaris Perez, Ailama Cese and Laura Suarez with 12, 11 and 10 points, respectively. Paulina Perez and Dariana Hollingsworth finished with 11 and 10 points, respectively, for Puerto Rico.
The Cubans held a 39-27 advantage in spikes and 9-3 in the blocking category. The Puerto Ricans led in aces 9-3.
In the match for fifth place, Peru swept Uruguay 3-0 (25-14, 25-22, 25-10) with Katherine Regalado leading the victory with 14 points, including two blocks and three aces. Camila Bausero had 10 points in the loss.
Final Positions
1. United States
2. Argentina
3. Cuba
4. Puerto Rico
5. Peru
6. Uruguay
7. Dominican Republic
8. Chile
9. Costa Rica
Individual Awards
MVP: Thayer Hall (USA)
First Outside Hitter: Ailama Cese (CUB)
Second Outside Hitter: Diaris Perez (CUB)
First Middle Blocker: Geraldine Gonzalez (DOM)
Second Middle Blocker: Laura Suarez (CUB)
Opposite: Heidy Casanova (CUB)
Setter: Gretell Moreno (CUB)
LIbero: Valentina Gonzalez (ARG)
Best Server: Kris Justiniano (PUR)
Best Receiver: Valentina Gonzalez (ARG)
Best Digger: Valentina Gonzalez (ARG)
Top Scorer: Heidy Casanova (CUB)
Top Scorers
70- Heidy Casanova, Cuba
63- Anahi Tosi, Argentina
61- Thayer Hall, United States
60- Khalia Lanier, United States
59- Camila Bausero, Uruguay
56- Ailama Cese, Cuba
54- Regan Pittman, United States
51- Benisse Soria, Argentina
47- Madeline Guillen, Dominican Republic
47- Diaris Perez, Cuba
Most Blocks
16- Laura Suarez, Cuba
13- Geraldine Gonzalez, Dominican Republic
13- Brionne Butler, United States
12- Regan Pittman, United States
11- Candelaria Herrera, Argentina
Most Aces
9- Diairis Perez, Cuba
8- Kris Justiniano, Puerto Rico
7- Khalia Lanier, United States
6- Katherine Regalado, Peru
6- McKenzie May, United States
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
16- Khalia Lanier of United States v Argentina on 13-5-17
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
13- United States v Argentina on 13-5-17
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
27-25 United States v Argentina (1st Set) on 13-5-17
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