Packed Coliseo Arequipa during the first day of World Championship qualifications
Lausanne, Switzerland, October 14, 2017 – Argentina and Peru emerged victorious from the first leg of the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship South American qualifications that got underway on Friday in Arequipa, Peru.
Four teams – Argentina, Colombia, Peru and Uruguay – are playing a three-day round-robin tournament to determine the last South American representative at Japan 2018. Brazil have already booked the other spot, available to the CSV, by winning the 2017 South American Championship.
The Argentinean Panthers took 74 minutes to master a 3-0 (25-21, 25-19, 25-19) victory over Colombia in the opening game of the event, taking place at over 2,300 metres above sea level.
Colombia’s Dayana Segovia made 15 points to become the best scorer of the match, while Julieta Lazcano, with 10, was the biggest point contributor to Argentina’s success.
"Our team came out enforced with all the players that we lacked in some previous competitions,” said Argentina’s captain Emilce Sosa. “We came out onto the court to play, and that is why we won. Tomorrow we will have to go out and crush Uruguay before we look forward to facing Peru."
In front of packed stands at the Coliseo Arequipa, the home team also needed 74 minutes to shut out Uruguay. The Peruvians delighted the crowd with a speedy 3-0 (25-14, 25-23, 25-15) win.
Carla Rueda contributed 20 points to her squad’s victory, while Uruguay’s most prolific scorers, Florencia Aguirre and Andrea Cammarano, ended up with 10 points each on their tallies.
“This victory was the result of some great teamwork,” Peru’s captain Mirtha Uribe summed up after the match. “Our team behaved really well. One more time, I would like to thank the spectators in Arequipa for their support and all the positive energy.”
Remaining match schedule (all times local):
October 14, 17:00 – Uruguay v Argentina
October 14, 19:00 – Peru v Colombia
October 15, 16:00 – Colombia v Uruguay
October 15, 18:00 – Peru v Argentina