Ica, Peru, September 13, 2014 – Dominican Republic retained the Women’s U23 Pan American Cup following a sensational offensive output from Brayelin Martinez and Gaila Gonzalez at Jose Oliva Razetto Coliseum on Saturday.
Martinez, who was named the Most Valuable Player, scored 26 points while Gonzalez added 23, including five blocks, in the 3-1 (24-26, 27-25, 25-23, 25-11) victory over Colombia in the match for the gold medal.
Yonkaira Peña chipped in with 13 points for the winners, while Colombia's Amanda Coneo and Ivonee Montaño registered 14 and 13 points, respectively.
In the bronze medal match, Cuba outscored Peru 3-1 (25-21, 25-16, 19-25, 25-17) with young Melissa Vargas scoring a tournament-high 31 points.
Sulian Matienzo and Regla Gracia each contributed 10 points to the Cuban victory, while Peruvians Angela Leyva and Maguilaura Frias scored 16 and 12 points, respectively.
Mexico edged Argentina in five sets (20-25, 25-16, 25-23, 23-25, 15-13) getting enough from their bench to capture the fifth place of the championship. In the match for seventh position, Costa Rica defeated Trinidad and Tobago 3-1 (19-25, 25-22, 25-21, 25-17).
Dominican Republic and Cuba from NORCECA Confederation secured spots in next year’s FIVB U23 Women’s World Championship to be held in Brazil.
All-Star Team
Setter: María Marín, COL
First Outside Hitter: Brayelin Martínez, DOM
Second Outside Hitter: Camila Hiruela, ARG
First Middle-Blocker: Andrea Urrutia, PER
Second Middle-Blocker: Jineiry Martinez, DOM
Opposite: Melissa Vargas, CUB
Libero: Camila Gomez, COL
Other Individual Awards
MVP: Brayelin Martinez, DOM
Best Scorer: Brayelin Martínez, DOM
Best Server: Regla Gracia, CUB
Best Receiver: Camila Gomez, COL
Best Digger: Camila Gomez, COL
Best Performances
Top Scorers
116- Brayelin Martínez, DOM
108- Melissa Vargas, CUB
97- Amanda Coneo, COL
88- María Martínez, COL
87- Gaila González, DOM
85- Lisbeth Sainz, MEX
83- Ángela Leyva, PER
79- Andrea Rangel, MEX
78- Yonkaira Peña, DOM
71- Maguilaura Frías, PER
More Blocks
21- Andrea Urrutia, PER
21- Jineiry Martínez, DOM
21- Gaila González, DOM
17- Angélica Hinojosa, DOM
14- Heydy Casanova, CUB
More Aces
13- Regla Gracia, CUB
13- Claudia Resendiz, MEX
12- Micaela Tassara, ARG
11- Channon Thompson, TRI
11- Shamara Almeida, PER
11- Yeisy Soto, COL
Top Scorers by Day
21- Melissa Vargas of Cuba v Colombia on 7-9-14
26- Yonkaira Peña of Dominican Republic v Colombia on 8-9-14
26- Angela Leyva of Peru v Mexico on 8-9-14
23- Maguilaura Frias of Peru v Argentina on 9-9-14
24- Amanda Coneo of Colombia v Mexico on 11-9-14
24- Brayelin Martinez of Dominican Republic on 11-9-14
30- Melissa Vargas of Cuba v Dominican Republic on 12-9-14
31- Melissa Vargas of Cuba v Peru on 13-9-14
Top Scoring Performances
31- Melissa Vargas of Cuba v Peru on 13-9-14
30- Melissa Vargas of Cuba v Dominican Republic on 12-9-14
27- Gaila Gonzalez of Dominican Republic v Cuba on 12-9-14
26- Yonkaira Peña of Dominican Republic v Colombia on 8-9-14
26- Angela Leyva of Peru v Mexico on 7-9-14
26- Brayelin Martinez of Dominican Republic v Colombia on 13-9-14
24- Amanda Coneo of Colombia v Mexico on 11-9-14
24- Brayelin Martinez of Dominican Republic on 11-9-14
Top Blocking Performances
9- Gaila Gonzalez of Dominican Republic v Cuba on 12-9-14
8- Jineiry Martínez of Dominican Republic v Cuba on 12-9-14
7- Jocelyn Urias of Mexico v Peru on 8-9-14
7- Andrea Urrutia of Peru v Colombia on 12-9-14
Top Serving Performances
8- Regla Gracia of Cuba v Costa Rica on 8-9-14
7-Shiamara Almeida of Peru v Trinidad and Tobago on 7-9-14
6- Claudia Resendiz of Mexico v Costa Rica on 12-9-14
5- Micaela Tassara of Argentina v Trinidad and Tobago on 8-9-14
5- Channon Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago v Costa Rica on 13-9-14
5- Marisha Herbert of Trinidad and Tobago v Costa Rica on 13-9-14
Top Team Blocking Performances
25- Dominican Republic v Cuba on 12-9-14
22- Dominican Republic v Colombia on 13-9-14
19- Mexico v Peru on 8-9-14
13- Argentina v Peru on 9-9-14
13- Dominican Republic v Argentina on 11-9-14
Top Team Serving Performances
16- Cuba v Costa Rica on 8-9-14
15- Trinidad and Tobago v Costa Rica on 13-9-14
14- Argentina v Trinidad and Tobago on 8-9-14
12- Mexico v Costa Rica on 12-9-14
11- Peru v Trinidad and Tobago on 7-9-14
Highest Scoring Sets
29-27 Peru v Argentina (4th Set) on 9-9-14
28-26 Colombia v Peru (1st Set) on 12-9-14
27-25 Colombia v Dominican Republic (4th Set) on 8-9-14
27-25 Cuba v Dominican Republic (1st Set) on 9-9-14
27-25 Argentina v Peru (2nd Set) on 9-9-14
27-25 Colombia v Mexico (3rd Set) on 11-9-14
Highest Scoring Matches
228- Peru d Argentina 3-2 (22-25, 25-27, 25-22, 29-27, 15-11) on 9-9-14
225- Peru d Mexico 3-2 (22-25, 25-23, 23-25, 25-23, 18-16) on 8-9-14
215- Dominican Republic d Cuba 3-2 (18-25, 23-25, 26-24, 25-22, 15-12) on 12-9-14
210- Mexico d Argentina 3-2 (25-20, 16-25, 23-25, 25-23, 15-13) on 13-9-14
209- Colombia d Dominican Republic 3-2 (20-25, 25-19, 22-25, 27-25, 15-6) on 8-9-14