Medal slips away in disappointing closing performance
In a nail-biting match, Mexico emerged victorious against defending champions Cuba in the U23 Pan-American Volleyball Cup. The scoreline read 3-2 (25-21, 22-25, 19-25, 25-15, 15-11) in favour of the hosts.
The match took place at the Domo de la Feria in León, Guanajuato, Mexico, during the 2025 U23 Women's Pan American Cup. Mexico had maintained a strong performance in the tournament, including an early victory over Canada, which set the stage for the unbeaten showdown against Cuba for the top spot in their group and a direct ticket to the semifinals.
The first set saw Mexico pulling away, leading 22-19, thanks to effective counterattacks and blocks. However, Cuba struggled to find their rhythm and eventually lost the set. The Caribbean team managed to turn the tables in the second set, with their captain and top player, Whitney James, leading the attack, allowing them to win 25-22.
The third set was a closely contested one, with Cuba leading 19-14. However, the Mexicans fought back, tying the set at 21-21. A crucial kill from zone two by de la Peña secured the set for Cuba, giving them a 2-1 lead in the match.
Despite a late comeback attempt from Cuba, they ultimately fell to a powerful kill from the Mexican captain, Ximena Cruz Solar. Three early blocks, including one from Aime Topete, gave the hosts a 3-1 lead in the tiebreak. Cuba struggled in the fourth set, making a series of errors and allowing several direct service points, falling behind 4-12.
Unfortunately, detailed roster and player contributions for each team were not specified in the available information. However, Mexico's win over the reigning champions marked an important accomplishment for the team. The semifinals of the VNL will feature Italy against Slovenia and Poland against Brazil, with the final taking place tomorrow.
Meanwhile, in another match, Slovenia defeated France in the quarterfinals of the VNL with a score of 3-1 (25-22, 15-25, 25-19, 25-18). Slovenia had more blocks than France, with 10 to 4, while France had a higher number of attacks, with 56 to 38. France made 40 errors during the match, while Slovenia made 17.
In the quarterfinals of the VNL, Poland beat Japan with a score of 3-0 (25-23, 26-24, 25-12). Kewin Sasak, the top scorer for Poland, contributed 15 points in the match against Japan. Poland had fewer errors than Japan, with 16 to 24. Both teams rarely used the middle of the net during the match.
The Caribbean team, led by Whitney James, will now face a tough challenge in the semifinals. Mexico's resilience and determination were on full display in their thrilling victory over Cuba, and they will undoubtedly be a formidable opponent in the upcoming matches.
The Caribbean team, led by Whitney James, will now face a tough challenge in the semifinals of sports, having experienced a thrilling victory over Cuba in the U23 Pan-American Volleyball Cup. Mexico, demonstrating resilience and determination, will undoubtedly be a formidable opponent in their upcoming matches.
