Armoa helps UPCN end Ciudad’s unbeaten run in Argentina

The absence of Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist Federico Pereyra didn’t stop UPCN San Juan from ending Ciudad Voley’s unbeaten run in the 2021-2022 Argentinean League when the teams met on Sunday in Tucuman.

Without their star opposite, the defending champions UPCN relied on their outside hitter duo of Manuel Armoa and Brian Melgarejo and they responded well, leading the team to a hard-fought five-set (25-23, 25-19, 17-25, 29-31, 15-13) victory in the match that took down the last undefeated team in the tournament.

The 19-year-old Armoa, who was selected for the Dream Team of last year’s FIVB Volleyball U21 Men’s World Championship, led the team with 21 points (18 kills, two blocks, one ace) while the 26-year-old Melgarejo, who played for Ciudad last season, added 19 (18 kills, one block), including the game-winning point. Setter Sebastian Brajkovic, the 39-year-old UPCN captain, received the Player of the Match award.

Ciudad, however, had the match’s top scorer, Chile national team outside hitter Vicente Parraguirre, who tallied 30 points (25 kills, three blocks, two aces). The team also got good production from Brazilian opposite Rodrigo ‘Alemao’ Telles, who registered 21 (18 kills, three blocks).

Despite the upset, Ciudad continue at the top of the standings with 21 points (seven wins and one loss), followed by Policial Voley, with 20 (seven wins, two losses). Eight-time national champions UPCN, who were fifth in last year’s FIVB Volleyball Men’s Club World Championship, have improved to fifth with 14 (five wins, three losses).

The tournament continues on Tuesday with five matches set to take place in Tucuman.