Peruvian volleyball player Paola Villegas has declared that representing the national team remains her top priority despite her omission from the squad for the upcoming South American Volleyball Championship.
The 27-year-old libero recently completed a high-profile transfer to Brazilian club Esporte Clube Pinheiros after a standout campaign with Olva Latino in the Peruvian Volleyball League. Despite her move abroad, national team head coach Antonio Rizola did not include her in the Peruvian squad selected for the regional tournament, where the team aims to secure qualification for the FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship.
In an interview with Peruvian sports station Radio Ovación, Villegas revealed that she remains in close communication with Rizola despite her absence from the latest squad. She emphasized that playing for her country will always take precedence in her career and noted that she has accepted every national team call-up she has received in the past.
Villegas explained that Rizola expressed strong support for her move to the Brazilian league. According to the libero, the national team head coach congratulated her on signing with Pinheiros and urged her to continue working hard to maximize the competitive opportunity in Brazil.
Adaptation to Brazilian volleyball
Villegas has already begun making an impact in South America's most competitive domestic circuit. Since arriving at Pinheiros, a historic multi-sports club based in São Paulo, she has gained valuable match minutes in the Campeonato Paulista, competing against top state rivals Renasçe Sorocaba and Paulistano/Barueri.
Reflecting on her transition to Brazilian volleyball, Villegas described the move as a major personal and professional challenge. She acknowledged that competing in the Superliga Femenina would be exceptionally tough, but stressed that she is fully focused on giving her maximum effort to support her new club.
The Peruvian defender highlighted the technical benefits of competing in Brazil, stating that the higher level of play will significantly accelerate her development. She also noted that the libero role, a specialized defensive position focused on serve reception and digging rather than net play, allows athletes to extend their careers over many years. Villegas expressed a desire to remain in international leagues for several seasons before eventually returning to finish her career in Peru.
Peru South American Championship debut
Before her transfer to Pinheiros, Villegas established her reputation in the Peruvian Volleyball League through spells with Olva Latino and Universidad de San Martín de Porres. Her move to Brazil marked a major step forward for Peruvian volleyball representation abroad as national squad members seek high-level competition ahead of international qualifiers.
The South American Volleyball Championship serves as the premier continental tournament organized by the South American Volleyball Confederation. Known affectionately to fans as Las Matadoras, the Peruvian national team is striving to earn a place at the next World Championship under Rizola's leadership.
Peru will begin its South American Championship campaign with a fixture against Argentina on Tuesday, September 8. The match, which pits Rizola's team against an Argentine squad led by head coach Facundo Morando, is scheduled to start at 3:00 p.m.
