Fernando Romero Nuñez 
Argentina’s men’s national volleyball team achieved a historic victory against Brazil on its home turf in straight sets to win the South American Volleyball championship, claiming the title after 59 years.
The Albiceleste, who won the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics two years ago, beat Brazil in Recife by 25-19, 29-27 and 25-22.
The tournament is played as a round robin. With Argentina and Brazil sitting at three wins each, the game was effectively a final.
Argentina began the match dominating the first set. The team led by Marcelo Méndez kept the Brazilians always 3 points away or more and ended up closing 25-19.
The second set was a closer fight, and it had to go to 29-27 before Argentina could secure it on its fourth set point, with great performances from middle blocker Nicolás Zerba and opposites Luciano Vicentín and Bruno Lima.
The third set was again a tougher challenge, with neither team managing to control. In the end, Argentina prevailed thanks to a great performance by setter Luciano De Cecco. The match point came from a serve by outside attacker Jan Martínez Franchi, which brushed the net and touched the ground to wrap it up 25-22 to Argentina.
Vicentin was elected the MVP, while De Cecco and middle blocker Nicolás Zerba were chosen as part of the tournament’s ideal team.
This is the second time that Argentina wins the South American Volleyball Championship. The first win came in 1964 when the tournament was played in Buenos Aires and Brazil, who had won all five competitions played until then, did not participate.
Argentina has once again broken the Brazilian streak, as the Verdeamarelha had won all 28 titles played since then. Argentina now has 2 gold medals, 19 silvers and 8 bronzes.
The tournament’s podium was completed by Colombia in third place. This result qualified all three for the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship. This historic win for Argentina’s men’s volleyball comes on the heels of a victory for the women’s team, who won its first ever Copa Panamericana title earlier this August.
