Argentina's U18 team have won three tournaments this year, including the Pan American Cup in Havana
Lima, Peru, May 11, 2015 – Argentina overcame a resilient Dominican Republic to claim the gold medal at the Final Four U18 Girls’ Gatorade Cup with a 3-2 (25-18, 25-21, 17-25, 21-25, 15-9) victory at Niño Héroe Manuel Bonilla Coliseum on Sunday.
Added to the victories at the U18 Pan American Cup in Havana, Cuba and the Invitational Baja California Cup in Mexico earlier this year, it is the third tournament won by the Argentinean side.
Both Argentina and the Dominican Republic and hosts Peru are teams qualified for the FIVB Volleyball U18 Girls’ World Championship to be played in Lima, Peru next August.
Maria Corbalan led Argentina with 22 points followed by Anahí Tosí and Brenda Chur with 17 and 11 points, respectively. Dominican Republic’s Massiel Matos led all the players in the match with 28 points, while Vielka Peralta had 14 points and Madeline Guillén added 11 in the loss.
Earlier on Sunday, Peru claimed the bronze medal with a 3-1 (25-22, 25-22, 18-25, 25-19) victory over Baja California of Mexico.
Nicole Abreu led Peru with 19 points while Katherine Regalado and Leslie Leyva chipped in with 13 and 10 points, respectively, in the victory. Veronica Gomez and Daniela De la Torre had 16 and 15 points for Baja California.
The Peruvian girls led the blocking category for the match 8-5 and edged their opponents in aces 6-5.
Preliminary roundArgentina d Dominican Republic 3-1 (25-9, 27-25, 21-25, 25-23)
Peru d Baja California 3-0 (26-24, 25-12, 25-22)
Dominican Republic d Baja California 3-2 (25-21, 18-25, 25-15, 19-25, 15-10)
Argentina d Peru 3-0 (25-13, 25-21, 25-18)
Argentina d Baja California 3-0 (25-13, 25-19, 25-14)
Dominican Republic d Peru 3-2 (25-22, 23-25, 21-25, 25-21, 17-15)
Bronze MedalPeru d Baja California 3-1 (25-22, 25-22, 18-25, 25-19)
Gold MedalArgentina d Dominican Republic 3-2 (25-18, 25-21, 17-25, 21-25, 15-9)
Final Positions1. Argentina
2. Dominican Republic
3. Peru
4. Baja California
Individual AwardsMost Valuable Player: Maria Corbalan, Argentina
Setter: Azul Benitez, Argentina
First Outside Hitter: Nicole Abreu, Peru
Second Outside Hitter: Anahi Tosi, Argentina
First Middle Blocker: Candelaria Herrera, Argentina
Second Middle Blocker: Agostina Beltramino, Argentina
Opposite Player: Massiel Matos, Dominican Republic
Libero: Marla Arreola, Baja California
Best Server: Maria Corbalan, Argentina
Best Receiver: Marla Arreola, Baja California
Best Digger: Marla Arreola, Baja California
Top Scorer: Massiel Matos, Dominican Republic
Top Scorers by Day25 – Massiel Matos of Dominican Republic v Argentina
24 – Massiel Matos of Dominican Republic v Baja Califronia
32 – Massiel Matos of Dominican Republic v Peru
28 – Massiel Matos of Dominican Republic
Highest Scoring Performances32 – Massiel Matos of Dominican Republic v Peru
28 – Massiel Matos of Dominican Republic
25 – Massiel Matos of Dominican Republic v Argentina
24 – Massiel Matos of Dominican Republic v Baja Califronia
23 – Veronica Gomez of Baja California v Dominican Republic
22 – Maria Corbalan of Argentina v Dominican Republic
20 – Maria Corbalan of Argentina v Dominican Republic
20 – Leslie Leyva of Peru v Dominican Republic
Top Blocking Performances6 – Candelaria Herrera of Argentina v Dominican Republic
4 – Agostina Beltramino of Argentina v Dominican Republic
4 – Gabriela Hernandez of Dominican Republic v Baja California
4 – Lisbeth Rosario of Dominican Republic v Baja California
4 – Lisbeth Rosario of Dominican Republic v Peru
4 – Diana De la Peña of Peru v Dominican Republic
4 – Claudia Palza of Peru v Dominican Republic
4 – Diana De la Peña of Peru v Baja California
Top Serving Performances5 – Madeline Guillen of Dominican Republic v Argentina
4 – Maria Corbalan of Argentina v Dominican Republic
4 – Claudia Palza of Peru v Baja California
4 – Candelaria Herrera of Argentina v Peru
Top Team Blocking Performances15 – Argentina v Dominican Republic
12 – Dominican Republic v Baja California
10 – Dominican Republic v Argentina
10 – Dominican Republic v Peru
10 – Peru v Dominican Republic
Top Team Serving Performances12 – Dominican Republic v Argentina
9 – Peru v Baja California
9 – Argentina v Dominican Republic
8 – Argentina v Dominican Republic
8 – Argentina v Peru
8 – Dominican Republic v Peru
Highest Scoring Sets27-25 Argentina v Dominican Republic (2nd Set)
26-24 Peru v Baja California (1st Set)
Highest Scoring Matches
219 - Dominican Republic d Peru 3-2 (25-22, 23-25, 21-25, 25-21, 17-15)
201 - Argentina d Dominican Republic 3-2 (25-18, 25-21, 17-25, 21-25, 15-9)
198 - Dominican Republic d Baja California 3-2 (25-21, 18-25, 25-15, 19-25, 15-10)