The Pan American titles in youth and junior volleyball were decided over the past week, with the U.S. and Cuba dominating both tournaments and each winning one. The details:
∙ NORCECA women’s U-18 Championship in Tegucigalpa (HON)
The U.S. and Cuba both breezed through the group stage with 3-0 records and moved both directly to the semifinals.
In the semis, Cuba fell to Canada in a very tight, five-set match – 18-25, 25-19, 20-25, 25-23, 16-14 – with the total points actually favoring Cuba by 106-104. The U.S. had no trouble with the Dominican Republic, winning in straight sets, 25-12, 25-17, 25-17, in 60 minutes.
That pushed the U.S. into the final against Canada and the Americans swept it, winning by 25-13, 25-12, 25-23. Cuba won the bronze medal over the Dominican Republic, 3-1.
Not only did the U.S. finish 5-0 in the tournament, they never lost a set! They won all three group games by 3-0 and finished by winning 15 sets to none for the opponents. The final standings:
1. United States
2. Canada
3. Cuba
4. Dominican Republic
5. Costa Rica
6. Honduras
7. Nicaragua
8. Barbados
The individual awards were dominated by the U.S. team. Jessica Mrusik was named Most Valuable Player and Best Wing; teammates Allison Jacobs (Best Wing), Kennedi Orr (Setter), Emily Londot (Opposite) and Hattie Monson (Receiver and Receiver) were all honored.
Dominican blockers Geraldine Gonzalez and Estefany Rabit were awarded, as was Katerina Geordiadis (CAN: Libero).
The top scorer was Thainalien Castillo (CUB), who compiled 77 points.
∙ NORCECA men’s U-21 Championship in Havana (CUB)
Both Cuba and the U.S. won their groups with 3-o records. In the semifinals, Cuba defeated Canada, 3-1 and the Dominican Republic edged the U.S. by three sets to one in a very tight match (21-25, 25-23, 26-24, 25-18).
That placed the U.S. and Canada in the bronze-medal match, and Canada won by 3-1 in four close sets: 25-22, 25-23, 25-27, 25-17.
The Cubans zipped past the Dominicans, 3-0 (25-16, 25-15, 25-20) in the final. The final standings:
1. Cuba
2. Dominican Republic
3. Canada
4. United States
5. Guatemala
6. Haiti
7. Nicaragua
8. Barbados
Cuba’s Jose Carlos Romero was named Most Valuable Player and was named to the tournament all-star team as the Best Opposite. His teammates Julio C. Cardenas and Bayron Valdez were named as the Best Hitters; Akeil Williams (BAR) and Fynnian McCarthy (CAN) were the Best Defenders; Erick Villar (DOM) was Best Libero and Best Receiver; Jaylen Jasper and Blake Crisp were the Best Server and Best Setter, respectively, and Jordan Carcache (NIC) was the Best Defender.
Valdez was the tournament’s top scorer with 113 points (95 attacks, three blocks and 15 service aces), the only one to exceed 100.
