2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic GamesJul 27, 2016 by Megan Kaplon
2016 Olympics Rankings: #10 Argentina (Women)
2016 Olympics Rankings: #10 Argentina (Women)
The Argentina women's volleyball team clocks in at No. 10 in our 2016 Olympics Rankings.
By Bev Oden
The FloVolleyball Olympics Rankings will count down to the start of the indoor volleyball competition in Rio by highlighting one team per gender each day. Today, 10 days before the first serve, we profile the No. 10-ranked Cuba men and Argentina women.
COUNTRY: Argentina
TOP PLAYERS
Emilce Sosa, Middle Blocker
Fourth-best server and Argentina's leading hitter in Grand Prix Group 2
Yael Castiglione, Setter
Best server and third-best Setter in Grand Prix Group 2
RISING STAR TO WATCH
Josefina Fernandez | 24 | Outside Hitter
This 24-year-old outside hitter was the team's second-best scorer, hitter, digger and receiver at World Grand Prix. At just 5-9, she finds ways to score, and adds ball control to the starting lineup.
SYNOPSIS
Argentina earned a ticket to its first-ever Olympic Games at the South American qualifier, where they went undefeated, and lost only one set in the tournament. That high note was followed by a disappointing performance in the World Grand Prix in June. The team finished fifth in Group 2 with a 2-4 record. Losses to lower-ranked teams Puerto Rico, Bulgaria and Poland will shake the Argentine women's confidence for Rio, where they will be outmatched and outsized.
PREDICTION
If the Argentine women can get their game back together in time for pool play, they could advance to the quarterfinals. They should easily beat Cameroon and if they can best Korea they will move on. But as one of the lower-ranked teams coming out of the preliminary round, they will get an unfavorable matchup in the quarters and have little chance to move on to the medal round.
FloVolleyball Women's 2016 Olympics Rankings
12. Cameroon
11. Puerto Rico
The FloVolleyball Olympics Rankings will count down to the start of the indoor volleyball competition in Rio by highlighting one team per gender each day. Today, 10 days before the first serve, we profile the No. 10-ranked Cuba men and Argentina women.
COUNTRY: Argentina
TOP PLAYERS
Emilce Sosa, Middle Blocker
Fourth-best server and Argentina's leading hitter in Grand Prix Group 2
Yael Castiglione, Setter
Best server and third-best Setter in Grand Prix Group 2
RISING STAR TO WATCH
Josefina Fernandez | 24 | Outside Hitter
This 24-year-old outside hitter was the team's second-best scorer, hitter, digger and receiver at World Grand Prix. At just 5-9, she finds ways to score, and adds ball control to the starting lineup.
SYNOPSIS
Argentina earned a ticket to its first-ever Olympic Games at the South American qualifier, where they went undefeated, and lost only one set in the tournament. That high note was followed by a disappointing performance in the World Grand Prix in June. The team finished fifth in Group 2 with a 2-4 record. Losses to lower-ranked teams Puerto Rico, Bulgaria and Poland will shake the Argentine women's confidence for Rio, where they will be outmatched and outsized.
PREDICTION
If the Argentine women can get their game back together in time for pool play, they could advance to the quarterfinals. They should easily beat Cameroon and if they can best Korea they will move on. But as one of the lower-ranked teams coming out of the preliminary round, they will get an unfavorable matchup in the quarters and have little chance to move on to the medal round.
FloVolleyball Women's 2016 Olympics Rankings
12. Cameroon
11. Puerto Rico
10. Argentina
9. Korea
