It only lost to the United States team, the undefeated champion of the Ponce event.

The Cuban TEAM won the silver medal at the Norceca U19 Men’s Volleyball Championship 2024, which took place at the Salvador Dijols Coliseum in Ponce, Puerto Rico.

In the title match, the United States team defeated Cuba 3-1 (25-19, 25-19, 20-25, 25-18) to secure their ticket to the 2025 World Championship in the category.

The northern team was the only one that managed to beat the team from the Greater Antilles, as they also did so in their group elimination match, in a match that they won in three sets (25-22, 25-17, 25-18).

Lian Sem Estrada’s students finished with a 4-2 record and were the only ones to take a set from the United States, who dominated the tournament with five straight wins.

In the final match, the West Indies imposed more resistance and dominated in attacks 51-49, but their rivals managed advantages in blocking 7-3, and in points by direct services 7-4, as well as in unforced errors (23-32).

Cuba’s opposite Yosdani Medina was the top scorer of the match with 21 points, 20 on attacks and one on service, while corner player Andy Marrero contributed 12 points, thanks to 12 spikes and one ace.

For the Americans, double digits were achieved by auxiliary attacker Aleksey Mikhailenko (16), centre Roman Payne (12) and captain Grant Lamoreux (10), the top player.

Cuba put up more resistance to their outstanding opponents. In the third quarter, the technical director changed his regular passer, Ronaldo Flaquet, for Daniel Sainz, and managed to take a four-unit lead (15-11).

It was a reaction from which their opponents did not recover and lost a segment for the only time in the match.

Charles Sullivan, USA coach, told Norceca’s website that «Cuba made some adjustments in the third set, they brought in their other setter and implemented a new offensive, it was a great move by them, which forced us to make adjustments as well, making it a higher level match».

The bronze medal went to Puerto Rico as they defeated Canada in five sets (23-25, 25-20, 25-20, 20-25, 15-9). The Puerto Ricans finished with four wins and one loss, while their rivals finished with a 2-4 record.

In fifth place was the Dominican Republic after their success against Costa Rica, also in tie-break (23-25, 25-14, 27-25, 21-25, 15-8).

Dominican Republic’s Malik Britton scored a match-high 42 points: 39 attacks, two blocks and one service ace.

Guatemala defeated Suriname 3-0 (25-22, 25-17, 25-14) and avoided the basement of the event thanks to their only win in the match.