Lausanne, Switzerland, August 31, 2017 – Argentina made a successful start at the South American qualification tournament for the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship in Italy and Bulgaria. At the Estadio Palpala in Jujuy, the host team came back from a set down against Chile to manage a 3-1 (21-25, 25-19, 25-17, 25-13) victory and get a step closer to participating in the big global event next year.
The CSV qualification is a three-way tournament taking place from August 30 through September 2 in the Argentinean cities of Jujuy and Salta. In addition to the hosts and Chile, Venezuela will also be vying for the single South American vacancy at Italy-Bulgaria 2018 that is still available. The tournament winners will join Brazil, the 2017 South American champions, to complete in the continent’s contingent for the World Championship finals, scheduled to take place from September 10 through 30, 2018.
In a late Wednesday night encounter, in front of fully packed tribunes, the visitors from neighbouring Chile showed some high-level defensive skills that helped them win the first set. To the home crowd’s delight coach Julio Velasco’s squad started setting the pace from the second set on and cruised to a comfortable 3-1 (21-25, 25-19, 25-17, 25-13) win.
Bruno Lima, who came in as a substitute for Argentina, became the top point-maker of the match. He scored 15 times, including a powerful blast with which he scored the victorious point of the game.
Dusan Bonacic was Chile's top scorer with 14 points. Argentina’s Santiago Darraidou and Nicolas Bruno and Chile’s Tomas Parraguirre were the next best scorers with 12 points each.
The action will now move to Salta, where Chile will play against Venezuela on September 1 at 21:00 local time. Also, in Salta, on Saturday, September 2, at 17:00, Argentina and Venezuela will close the tournament.