Pereyra and Armoa lead UPCN to ninth Argentinean title

UPCN San Juan became the winningest men’s volleyball team in Argentinean volleyball after they won their ninth national title on Saturday. The club have now passed Bolivar, who triumphed eight times and haven’t fielded a team in the last two seasons.

The team coached by Fabian Armoa fed from the energy of the 3,000 fans that packed their recently-inaugurated stadium in San Juan to defeat Ciudad Voley 3-1 (25-21, 26-24, 17-25, 27-25) and end the best-of-five final series of the Argentinean League with three wins to one. The club has won nine of the last 11 editions of the tournament.

The encounter was a repeat of last season’s final, which also saw UPCN come out on top. The teams met in the final of the Argentinean Cup last November as well, but Ciudad were the winners on that occasion.

Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist Federico Pereyra played a key role in UPCN’s decisive victory. The 33-year-old opposite scored 24 points (21 kills, two aces, one block) and led the team’s offence. The biggest signing of an Argentinean club this season, Pereyra produced 83 points across the four matches of the final series.

Outside hitter Manuel Armoa, who made it on to the Dream Team of last year’s FIVB Volleyball U21 World Championship, produced 13 points (12 kills, one ace) and received the MVP award of the Final Round in Argentina.

Ciudad’s Chilean outside hitter Vicente Parraguirre led all scorers in the final match of the season with 26 points (all in kills), but was unable to help his team win the match and push the series to a fifth and final duel.

UPCN also dominated the Argentinean League’s Dream Team, with four players selected. Joining Pereyra and Armoa were setter Sebastian Brajkovic and libero Nicolas Perren. Parraguire and middle blockers Ramses Cascu (Policial Voley) and Joaquin Layus (Once Unidos) completed the formation.