GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala, October 21, 2025.– Honduras defeated Panama 3-0 (25-22, 25-15, 25-12) to claim sixth place in the women’s volleyball tournament of the 12th Central American Games Guatemala 2025.
Honduras closed the event with a 2-3 record, while Panama finished in seventh place without victories. Both teams had previously met in the preliminary round, where Honduras also came out on top, though in four sets.
The Honduran squad benefited from 30 Panamanian errors, led in attacks 35-27 and in service points 4-2; both teams scored six points on blocks.
Honduras celebrates
Victoria Aparicio led Honduras with 12 points, followed by María Fernanda Merino with 11.
Honduran coach Marvin Ulloa said: “I had to speak a little harshly because I think the team relaxed too much yesterday, and we shouldn’t have lost that match. Yes, we’re missing some players, but those who are here and training must be strengthened. We brought four girls from the U19 category, and I expect good results for the upcoming AFECAVOL event in a few days. Fortunately, with some words, they managed to perform well.”
Panama’s coach Reynaldo Ortega said: “We didn’t achieve the results we expected; we came looking for a spot on the podium. I’m proud of the girls for their effort and hard work. If God allows, we’ll keep working for the future—there’s potential.”
GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala, October 20, 2025.– Nicaragua dominated Belize 3-0 (25-21, 25-21, 25-21) to advance to the gold medal match of the men’s volleyball tournament at the 12th Central American Games Guatemala 2025, where they will face Costa Rica.
Nicaragua had not reached the podium at the Central American Games since 1990, when they won the silver medal. The Nicaraguan team has never claimed gold, with one silver and one bronze in its history. Belize, meanwhile, will play for the bronze medal against Panama; their last podium finish was in 1997, also a bronze.
From the start, Nicaragua set the pace in the first set, with Axel Gutiérrez leading the offense, supported by Jonny Zeledón and Víctor Fonseca. The effort from Belizean Francis Hauze wasn’t enough to stop the Nicaraguan momentum. Zeledón closed the set with a powerful spike past Kyron Sutherland’s block.
Victor Fonseca-NCA
The second set was a close battle, with several ties on the scoreboard. From point 19 onward, Nicaragua built a two-point lead that they held to the end. With the score at 22-21, a spike by Gutiérrez that Michael Jenkins couldn’t control, followed by two Belize errors, gave Nicaragua a 2-0 set advantage.
In the third set, Nicaragua jumped to a comfortable 13-8 lead and stayed ahead until the end. Two strong kills by Zeledón and a service ace from Gutiérrez sealed the victory and a historic spot in the gold medal match.
Statistically, Nicaragua led in attacks (52-43), service points (2-0), and committed fewer errors (13-16), while Belize was superior in blocks (7-5).
Top scorers for Nicaragua were Axel Gutiérrez with 20 points, Jonny Zeledón with 18, and Víctor Fonseca with 10. Francis Hauze was the only Belizean in double digits, scoring 18 points.
After the match, Axel Gutiérrez said: “We came in focused on winning this match; we didn’t expect a straight-sets victory. The key was our hunger and desire to win. It’s a dream to have the chance to earn a gold medal for Nicaragua for the first time in Central American Games history. Now we’ll face a strong rival, Costa Rica, but it’s not impossible to come out with the win.”
GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala, October 20, 2025.– Costa Rica advanced to the gold medal match of the men’s volleyball tournament at the 12th Central American Games Guatemala 2025, defeating Panama in straight sets 3-0 (25-22, 25-21, 25-18) in the semifinals.
The last time both teams reached the podium was in 2013, when Costa Rica claimed silver and Panama bronze. This time, Costa Rica awaits the winner between Nicaragua and Belize for the gold medal match, while Panama will play for bronze against the loser.
The opening set was tight, with both sides trading points until 16-all, when Costa Rica began to pull away thanks to Ignacio Morales Sánchez and Gilberth Solano. A series of unforced errors from Panama allowed Costa Rica to widen the gap, reaching set point at 24-20 after a strong attack by Solano. Morales Sánchez sealed the set 25-22.
Costa Rica celebrates
In the second set, Costa Rica maintained control with a steady two to three-point lead. Stanley Grant pushed his team to a 19-16 advantage, and with a block from Jeremy Vanega, a Panamanian error, and another powerful hit from Grant, Costa Rica closed the set 25-21 to go up 2-0.
Costa Rica continued its dominance in the third set, jumping to a 4-0 lead and showing solid defense and fluid offense. Grant and Solano remained the main offensive weapons, and two consecutive kills from Solano sealed the match 25-18.
Costa Rica outperformed Panama in attacks (50-35) and blocks (5-3), while both teams registered one ace. Panama committed fewer errors (19 to 22).
Top scorers for Costa Rica were Stanley Grant with 24 points and Gilberth Solano with 16, while Gherson Ortiz led Panama with 14 points, the only player from his team in double digits.
Costa Rican captain Andrés Araya reflected on the team’s performance: “It was expected that the first set would be tense; there was a lot of anxiety within the team. We came well prepared to execute our tactical plan. After winning the first set, we felt more comfortable and got into our rhythm, following our strategy. It was a team effort. We’re undefeated, and our goal is to finish that way.”
GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala, October 20, 2025.– Guatemala closed its participation in the men’s volleyball tournament of the 12th Central American Games Guatemala 2025 in fifth place, after a solid 3-0 (25-13, 32-30, 25-23) victory over El Salvador.
With the result, Guatemala finished with a 1-2 record, securing fifth place in the standings. El Salvador will face Honduras on the final day of competition for 6th/7th place.
The home team came out strong in the opening set, jumping to an 8-0 lead led by José Pablo Pérez and Carlos López, who guided Guatemala’s offensive rhythm.
Carlos Lopez-GUA
El Salvador responded in the second set, taking a 15-7 advantage with solid performances from Rodrigo Chávez and Abner Cano, helped by Guatemalan errors. However, Guatemala rallied to tie at 23 points and won a thrilling 32-30 finish, with López attacking from the wing, Jason Hernández contributing through the middle, and a consistent blocking effort from multiple players.
In the third set, El Salvador came back from a six-point deficit (14-20) to tie the score at 20, but Guatemala maintained composure. Andy Blanco blocked Franklin Flores for set point, and a following attack error by Flores sealed the match for Guatemala.
Guatemala dominated in attacks (45-34) and had a wide advantage in blocks (17-6). In unforced errors, Guatemala committed 25 to El Salvador’s 20.
Top scorers for Guatemala were Carlos López with 14 points, José Pablo Pérez and Andy Blanco with 13 each, and Jason Hernández with 10. For El Salvador, Abner Cano scored 13 points and Rodrigo Chávez 12.
Guatemala’s captain Carlos López reflected after the match: “It was important to close with a victory and finish as high as possible. Things didn’t go our way in this tournament, but that’s sports. We have to keep our heads up and continue preparing for future competitions.”
GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala, October 20, 2025.– Nicaragua will play for the gold medal of the 12th Central American Games Guatemala 2025 against Costa Rica, after defeating Belize 3-1 (25-19, 25-14, 22-25, 25-18) in the women’s volleyball semifinals.
The final will be a rematch of the 2017 Central American Games, when Costa Rica triumphed over Nicaragua in five sets. This time, Nicaragua is determined to claim its first-ever gold medal in the regional tournament, having previously won four silver and three bronze medals.
Meanwhile, Belize will face Guatemala for the bronze medal, marking the first time in history that Belize will compete for a medal at the Central American Games.
Nicaragua celebrates
Nicaragua took control early in the match, jumping to a 7-0 lead in the opening set behind strong attacking and blocking from Dalia Calero, while Josafet Díaz sealed the set with a powerful spike. In the second set, Nicaragua maintained dominance, capitalizing on seven Belizean errors and displaying consistent blocking.
Belize extended the match by narrowly winning the third set, led by Nelissa Ramírez and Gareth Bruce, but Nicaragua closed the fourth with confidence, securing victory with a quick attack to the center by Lolette Rodríguez.
Statistically, Nicaragua led in attacks (55-46), blocks (14-10), and serves (3-1), while committing fewer errors (19-25).
Top scorers for Nicaragua were Dalia Calero with 25 points, including a match-high six blocks, and Josafet Díaz with 13 points. For Belize, Nelissa Ramírez scored 19 points, and Herdie Castillo added 10.
Middle blocker María José Rivera of Nicaragua said after the win: “We’re euphoric to reach the gold medal match. It’s an achievement that comes from teamwork — we stayed connected, persevered, and never gave up. We must now focus on our mindset to face Costa Rica, stay concentrated, and play a great final.”
GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala, October 20, 2025.– Costa Rica defeated hosts Guatemala 3-0 (25-23, 25-12, 25-12) in the semifinals of the women’s volleyball tournament at the 12th Central American Games Guatemala 2025, moving closer to securing its ninth title in the history of the regional event.
Costa Rica will play for the gold medal against the winner of the other semifinal between Belize and Nicaragua, while Guatemala will compete for the bronze medal, aiming to repeat its achievement from the previous edition, when it earned its third bronze in the history of the Games.
Costa Rica led throughout the first set, building a seven-point advantage (17-14) behind Ana Victoria Rojas and Tatiana Sayles. Guatemala, with María Andrea Santacruz leading the offense, capitalized on Costa Rican errors to tie at 23 points, but two mistakes by the hosts handed the set to Costa Rica.
Costa Rica and Guatemala battle the ball over the net
The second set was dominated by the Costa Ricans, with Tannia Carazo joining the attack and contributing key blocks to contain Guatemala, who couldn’t recover. Costa Rica took the set comfortably to go up 2-0. In the third, the ticas again built a solid lead (14-7), as Lakysha Thompson added her firepower. Despite Ada Villalobos’ efforts for Guatemala, Costa Rica maintained control and closed the match with a block by Sayles over Aury Álvarez.
Costa Rica outperformed Guatemala in attack (40-35), blocking (7-1), and serving (3-0), with a similar number of errors (Costa Rica 21, Guatemala 25).
Tannia Carazo-CRC
Top scorers for Costa Rica were Ana Victoria Rojas with 14 points, Tatiana Sayles with 12, and Tannia Carazo with 10. For Guatemala, María Andrea Santacruz scored 7 points.
Costa Rica’s head coach Braulio Godínez said: “I felt the players started a bit tense and nervous. Since Guatemala had scouting data on us, they thought it could affect them tactically. In the first set, we made many unforced errors, but from the second set on, they relaxed, played their game, and found their rhythm.”
Setter Yuliana González added: “We’ve been working on motivation and the desire to finish every match strong; that’s one of Costa Rica’s main strengths. We’re already in the final, and I’m very excited because the Central American Games hadn’t been played since 2017. Our goal is to bring home the gold again. Now we’ll focus and wait for our opponent.”
GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala, October 20, 2025.– El Salvador survived a five-set battle against Honduras, earning a 3-2 (22-25, 25-15, 19-25, 25-23, 15-8) victory to claim fifth place in the women’s volleyball tournament at the 12th Central American Games Guatemala 2025.
El Salvador finished in fifth position with a 1-2 record, while Honduras will face Panama on Tuesday for the 6th/7th place match.
The match was a true roller coaster, with both teams exchanging sets until El Salvador dominated the decisive fifth. Honduras lost one of its key offensive players, Cecille Johnson, who injured a finger during the first set, a setback that affected the team’s rhythm for the remainder of the match.
El Salvador 5th Places
El Salvador led in attack (64-47), blocking (11-8), and serving (4-1), but committed more unforced errors (40-27).
Top scorers for El Salvador were Adriana Flores with 27 points, Gabriela Funes with 22, and Evelyn Ramírez with 14. For Honduras, Sasha Kawas scored 14 points, while Victoria Aparicio and Dazly Durán added 11 apiece.
El Salvador’s coach Dany Calderón said after the match: “It was a very difficult tournament. The girls fought hard. The competition format doesn’t favor the teams. We were in the toughest group, with only three teams, and Honduras came from playing very long matches. There isn’t enough time for teams to recover and have better chances to advance.”
PUEBLA, Mexico, October 20, 2025.- USA’s Sally Perez & Avery Jackson travelled all the way from the qualifications to the top of the women’s podium at the 2025 FIVB Beach Volleyball U21 World Championships in Puebla. In their first tournament together, they dropped only two sets in nine matches played to triumph with the world title. It was the second time the junior women’s world title was won by an American team, after Tara Roenicke & Summer Ross claimed it in 2010.
Another US pair, Zoey Henson & Sarah Wood, took silver after conceding the all-American final in Mexico on Sunday afternoon. Two of these four Americans – Sally Perez, now 19, and Sarah Wood, now 17 – claimed bronze at the U19 World Championship last year together and now they have both built up on that achievement, but with different partners.
Another team that made their way from the qualifications to the medal matches, Brazil’s Marcela Barbosa & Maria Clara, claimed the bronze.
The first set of the gold medal showdown offered a great battle. In the money time, Henson & Wood broke away with a 19-16 lead, but Perez & Jackson reacted with four in a row to reach the first set point. The set was pushed deep into overtime with both sides failing to convert their opportunities to close it off. Finally, a monster block by Perez ended the set and gave her team the lead. With three points in a row, Perez & Jackson broke away with 14-11 advantage in the second set and never looked back. A pokey by Perez again ended the match at 2-0 (25-23, 21-15).
“It’s incredible! We’ve worked so far for this! Avery deserves this! She deserved the opportunity and I wanted to win it for her, so I am just super proud of us!” tearful Perez told FIVB.com right after the victory.
“This was such a competitive tournament, so just knowing that we were able to stick together (we never played with each other before and I am not a defender!), this is really awesome for us! We stuck through it and stayed positive,” Jackson added.
PUEBLA, Mexico, Octuber 20, 2025.- Antonio Lares & Carlos Andres Ayala captured the bronze medal of the 2025 FIVB Beach Volleyball U21 World Championships in home soil, Puebla.
Home heroes Antonio Lares & Carlos Andres Ayala stumbled in the semifinals for the first time in this tournament, but bounced back to claim the bronze, an important build-up on the fourth place they took at last year’s U19 World Championship in Shangluo, China.
Once again inspired by the fantastic home crowd that filled up the center court stands on this beautiful Sunday in Cholula, 19-year-old Lares & Carlos Andres hammered out an emphatic 2-0 (21-16, 21-13) shutout of last year’s U19 world champions Szymon Pietraszek & Jakub Krzeminski of Poland in the third-place match to secure Mexico’s third podium in the history of the competition, after Josue Gaxiola & Jose Luis Rubio’s silver in 2016 and Miguel Sarabia & Raymond Stephens’s bronze in 2019. For Lares & Carlos Andres themselves, it was the first world-level medal. They have not made a Beach Pro Tour podium yet, but this season they have collected four continental NORCECA Tour medals so far.
The semifinals of the U21 World Championship took place earlier on Sunday. In an all-Polish duel, 20-year-old Beta & Besarab were merciless for their slightly younger compatriots, 19-year-old Pietraszek & Krzeminski, and mastered a 2-0 (21-16, 21-15) sweep. After that, a much anticipated battle between two teams that had not lost a single set at the tournament that far went 2-0 (21-17, 21-19) the way of Auzins & Fokerots against Lares & Carlos Andres.
Gustavs Auzins & Kristians Fokerots of Latvia triumphed with the title. The silver went to Poland’s Szymon Beta & Artem Besarab and it was the first world-level medal for them as a pair.
GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala, October 19, 2025.– Belize defeated El Salvador 3-1 (23-25, 25-21, 25-16, 25-18), securing the last semifinal berth in the men’s volleyball tournament of the 12th Central American Games Guatemala 2025.
Belize returns to a Central American Games semifinal for the first time since 1997, the year they won their only medal in the history of the event (bronze).
With a 2-1 record, Belize finished second in Pool B and will face Nicaragua in the semifinals. El Salvador (1-2), third in the pool, will play for positions 5/7 against Guatemala.
Elton Anderson-BIZ
El Salvador took the first set after recovering from a four-point deficit (6-10), led by Abner Cano and Rodrigo Chávez, who managed to contain the attacks of Francis Hauze and Karym Coleman.
Belize leveled the match in the second set under the leadership of Kaelen Ingram, with Eleazar Mejía sealing the set with a powerful spike. The Belizeans dominated the third set by a wide margin and closed the match in the fourth with strong blocking from Kyron Sutherland and effective serving from Mejía and Ingram.
Statistics showed Belize’s superiority in attack (58-52), blocking (11-10), and especially in service (7-0). Belize committed 18 unforced errors to El Salvador’s 22.
Kaelen Ingram-BIZ-
Kaelen Ingram and Francis Hauze stood out for Belize with 22 and 21 points respectively. For El Salvador, Abner Cano led all scorers with 23 points, while Rodrigo Chávez added 15.
Albert Humes, head coach of Belize said about the win “To see both Belize teams going to the honor round is very important for a country and it’s a boost for our program. El Salvador always has given us problems but today we prevailed. The guys really worked hard and wanted this victory for the country”.
Kaelen Ingram, leading scorer of Belize expressed “We played with passion. We had all the energy on our side. We trusted each other and the passion just overflowed on the court. We executed well today”.
GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala, October 19, 2025.– Costa Rica advanced to the semifinals of the men’s volleyball tournament at the 12th Central American Games Guatemala 2025 unbeaten, after defeating Honduras 3-0 (25-17, 25-20, 26-24) at the Teodoro Palacios Flores Gymnasium.
Costa Rica finished first in Pool B with a perfect 3-0 record and will face Panama in Monday’s semifinals. Honduras, with a 0-3 record, placed fourth in the group and will compete for positions 6/7 on the tournament’s final day.
The Costa Ricans dominated the first two sets with authority. In the third, Honduras showed greater initiative following a rotation adjustment by both teams, managing to take the lead. However, Costa Rica rallied to tie at 23 points, and with an attack by Stanley Grant and a Honduran attack error, sealed the match in straight sets.
Blocking was key to Costa Rica’s victory, outperforming Honduras 11-4. Honduras led in attacks (41-38) and service aces (3-2), but Costa Rica capitalized on its opponent’s 25 unforced errors while committing only 13.
Ignacio Morales-CRC
Stanley Grant led Costa Rica with 15 points (11 attacks, 4 blocks), followed by Gilberth Solano with 14 (12 attacks, 2 blocks). Jeremy Vanega stood out with 5 blocking points, the highest in the match. For Honduras, David Villatoro was the top scorer with 16 points, the only player from his team reaching double digits.
Costa Rican coach César Salas highlighted his team’s consistency: “In the first two sets, we played aggressively at the net, both in blocking and attacking — we did it very well. The third set was harder to close because we decided to rotate the setter to keep Felipe active; we made some mistakes, and Honduras also made a rotation that confused us. In the end, our players’ experience allowed us to close the match with some strong blocks, and Nacho’s serve was decisive.”
Meanwhile, Honduras’ David Villatoro praised his team’s effort: “We finished the match strong. We’re done with the group stage and unfortunately didn’t get the result we hoped for. We’re a new team, with players still joining the roster. We’re happy with today’s performance against Costa Rica, a solid, strong team that’s on track to be champion.”
GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala, October 19, 2025.– Nicaragua earned an exciting five-set victory (25-27, 25-20, 25-17, 21-25, 19-17) over Panama, securing first place in Pool A of the men’s volleyball tournament at the 12th Central American Games Guatemala 2025.
Nicaragua closed the preliminary round with a perfect 3-0 record, while Panama finished second at 2-1. Both teams had already secured their spots in Monday’s semifinals and now await the outcome of Pool B to determine their opponents.
The match was a fierce battle from start to finish, with tight scores and constant ties. The opening set ended dramatically in extra points when a blocking error by Álvaro Solís on a powerful attack from Félix Williams handed Panama the lead.
Axel Gutierrez-NCA
Nicaragua bounced back in the second set, taking control after the 11-point mark and maintaining the advantage thanks to strong blocking, led by Axel Gutiérrez, who repeatedly stopped Panama’s top scorer Gherson Ortíz. Jonny Zeledón also stood out as one of Nicaragua’s most effective attackers.
In the third set, Nicaragua dictated the rhythm, building a 10-6 lead and closing the set confidently to move ahead 2-1.
Panama, forced to respond, came out strong in the fourth set (11-4), driven by Víctor Pérez and Róger Otton, successfully extending the match. A service ace from Astergio Díaz that Zeledón failed to receive sealed the set for Panama, sending the contest to a decisive fifth.
The tiebreak reflected the intensity of the entire match. Nicaragua came from behind after trailing 1-4 to tie the score at 6. With solid serving, they took an 8-6 advantage, but Panama fought back again. In a thrilling finish, Nicaragua claimed the victory 19-17 with a key block by Solís on Daniel Andrade, securing the top spot in the pool.
Statistically, Nicaragua held the edge in attacks (72-66) and blocks (15-7). Both teams scored one point from aces, while Nicaragua committed 32 errors to Panama’s 27.
Team captain Axel Gutiérrez delivered a stellar performance, scoring 35 points, the highest individual tally of the tournament so far. He was supported by Jonny Zeledón with 17 points, Víctor Fonseca with 15, and Emilio Andrews with 11. For Panama, Víctor Pérez and Gherson Ortíz led with 11 points apiece.
Nicaragua’s coach, Jorge Luis Mena, said: “Teamwork allowed us to finish the group stage undefeated. Today the substitutions worked exactly when we needed them. We could have closed it in four sets, but Panama managed to come back. Even when we were trailing in the fifth, the changes paid off. Our goal is to reach the gold medal match.”
Panama’s coach, Alexis Flórez, commented: “The guys played really well. Someone had to win. Now we have to prepare for the most important match of the event — the semifinal.”
Holyoke, Massachusetts, October 19, 2025 – Volleyball legends were honored at the 2025 International Volleyball Hall of Fame Induction Dinner and Ceremony, which took place on October 18, in Holyoke, Massachusetts, the birthplace of volleyball.
FIVB President Fabio Azevedo was among the distinguished guests at the 2025 ceremony, which celebrated the highest honors in volleyball. He was joined by NORCECA President Cristóbal Marte Hoffiz, NORCECA General Director Arateide Cáceres, and Volleyball World General Secretary Fernando Lima, along with FIVB Secretary General Hugh McCutcheon.
FIVB PRESIDENT, FIVB GENERAL SECRETARY, NORCECA PRESIDENT
Among the 2025 inductees are Kent Steffes (USA), star of Olympic beach volleyball, and Laura Ludwig (Germany), a five-time Olympian and gold medalist. Indoor volleyball icons Dimitar Karov (Bulgaria), Ivan Miljković (Serbia), Rosa García Rivas (Peru), and Francesca Piccinini (Italy) were also honored for their decades of international excellence.
Also joining the Hall are Jürgen Wagner, a coach known for transforming European beach volleyball; Barry Couzner, who led World ParaVolley for nearly a decade; and Guillermo “Willy” Paredes, a referee recognized for shaping officiating standards on the world stage.
Five special award winners were also recognized for their contributions to the IVHF or to the sport of volleyball itself: Joop Alberda (Mintonette Medallion of Merit); the Professional Association of Volleyball Officials (PAVO) (Court of Honor); Peter Diamond (Mayoral Award of Excellence); Paul Sunderland (Award for Media Excellence); and Elegant Affairs (William G. Morgan Award)
The ceremony was live streamed on IVHF.org and the Volleyball World YouTube channel.
GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala, October 19, 2025.– Guatemala advanced to the semifinals of the women’s volleyball tournament at the 12th Central American Games Guatemala 2025, after an exciting five-set victory over Honduras (25-22, 25-27, 22-25, 25-20, 15-13), setting up a clash against the defending champions, Costa Rica.
Guatemala finished the group stage in second place in Pool B and will face Costa Rica in Monday’s semifinals. In the other semifinal, group leader Belize will meet Nicaragua. Honduras will play El Salvador in the classification round for positions 5 to 7.
The match was a true emotional roller coaster. In the first set, Guatemala and Honduras traded the lead until point 15, when the hosts pulled ahead thanks to Honduran errors and solid blocking from Aury Álvarez, securing the opening set.
Honduras came back strong in the second set, led by Victoria Aparicio and Cecille Johnson. Guatemala tied the score several times and reached set point with a block by Andrea Mendizábal on Dazly Durán, but a powerful attack from Sasha Kawas and an error by María Santacruz allowed Honduras to even the match.
Jimena Castellanos-GUA
The third set was largely controlled by Honduras, who led by as many as seven points (14-7). Guatemala rallied behind Ada Villalobos, but Aparicio closed the set with a service ace for Honduras.
In the fourth set, Guatemala built a four-point advantage (15-11) and, despite Honduras’ resistance, managed to force a deciding fifth set with an attack from Villalobos.
The tiebreak mirrored the rest of the match — full of intensity and constant lead changes. Guatemala jumped ahead 6-3, but Honduras fought back. Tied at 13, a Santacruz scored a kill that Johnson couldn’t control, which gave the hosts match point, and a hitting error from Kawas sealed Guatemala’s victory.
Statistics reflected the tight contest: Guatemala led by one point in blocking (11-10) and committed fewer errors (30-36), while Honduras held a narrow edge in attacks (60-59) and service aces (7-6).
María Andrea Santacruz led Guatemala with 17 points, followed by Ada Villalobos with 15 and Aury Álvarez with 11. For Honduras, Victoria Aparicio topped all scorers with 26 points, supported by Sasha Kawas with 18 and Cecille Johnson with 11.
Buoyed by home support and the momentum of this dramatic win, Guatemala will aim to upset the defending champions in Monday’s semifinal.
Ada Villalobos, a key player in Guatemala’s victory, said: “I wanted the win to stay at home. It’s really emotional to see the house full. The team stayed united, and we knew how to respond when needed. Every substitution did their job — we’re a very connected team.”
Guatemala’s coach, William Fernández, said: “It was an amazing match. It was tough and very tactical. The game was extremely challenging both physically and mentally. The team played with a lot of heart.”
GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala, October 19, 2025.– Belize made history after defeating Panama 3-0 (25-23, 25-20, 25-18) in the women’s volleyball tournament of the 12th Central American Games Guatemala 2025, advancing for the first time ever to the semifinals of the regional event.
Belize finished pool-play undefeated (3-0) and on top of Pool B, securing their spot in the semifinals, where they will face Nicaragua, second place in Pool A, on Monday. Panama (0-3) will play for 6th/7th place on the final day of competition.
Team Belize not only achieved their first-ever qualification to the semifinals in the history of the Central American Games, but did so as pool leaders, maintaining a perfect record through the preliminary round.
Nelissa Ramirez-BIZ
Belize started strong, building a five-point lead (10-5) with Nelissa Ramírez leading the offense. Panama responded through Angela Evans and Anabel Mackenzie, tying the score at 22 points, but serving proved decisive for Belize to take the first set.
In the second set, Panama gained a three-point lead with Hashlyn Cuero’s blocking and Belize’s errors, but from point 15 on, Belize regained control. Ramírez remained unstoppable, while Gareth Bruce joined the attack to extend the advantage.
The third set was tight, with both teams showing great defense. After a long rally, Samantha Smith scored the attack that put Belize at match point, and they sealed the historic victory following a Panamanian error.
Belize held statistical advantages in attacks (38-33), blocks (9-5), and service aces (6-1). Both teams committed 22 unforced errors.
Nelissa Ramírez led Belize with 15 points, the only player on her team with double digits. For Panama, Hashlyn Cuero scored 13 points, while Angela Evans added 11.
Nelissa Ramírez spoke after the win: “We played tactically, we were able to give hard kills and overall, we played smart. Our blocking was very good today and that helped us get more free points – the more, the better”.
GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala, October 19, 2025.– Nicaragua advanced to the semifinals of the women’s volleyball tournament at the 12th Central American Games Guatemala 2025 after defeating El Salvador 3-1 (25-16, 19-25, 25-19, 25-14).
With a 2-1 record, Nicaragua finished second in Pool A and will play the semifinals against the first-place team from Pool B. Meanwhile, El Salvador (1-2) finished third in the pool and will compete for positions 5/7 against the third-place team from Pool B.
Nicaragua started strong, taking the first set thanks to the offensive effectiveness of Josafet Díaz, who led the scoring, and capitalizing on 11 errors made by El Salvador. Gilmary Smith and Dalia Calero also played key roles in the offense.
Lolette Rodríguez-NCA
In the second set, El Salvador turned things around, taking an eight-point lead (18-10) behind the solid performance of Adriana Flores. Although Nicaragua cut the deficit, El Salvador maintained control to even the match.
Nicaragua regained dominance in the third set with the attacks of Calero and Smith, maintaining a consistent five-point lead until closing the set. In the fourth set, the Nicaraguans once again showed their superiority to seal the victory and secure a spot in the semifinals.
The statistics reflected Nicaragua’s control of the main elements of the game: attacks (54-45), blocks (9-6), and aces (3-1). Nicaragua committed 22 unforced errors, while El Salvador had 28.
Dalia Calero and Josafet Díaz led Nicaragua’s offense with 18 and 17 points, respectively. Gilmary Smith added 12 points, while for El Salvador, Adriana Flores was the match’s top scorer with 19 points, followed by Gabriela Funes with 15.
Nicaraguan setter Lolette Rodríguez expressed her satisfaction: “We had to win this match no matter what to stay in the fight for the medals. It’s an honor to be on the court and defend our flag—it’s very emotional. I’m happy to share my experience with the younger players. Today our communication was better, and we listened more to our coaches’ instructions.”
Meanwhile, Adriana Flores, El Salvador’s top scorer, said: “Part of the team is quite young, and I think we lack the decisiveness that comes with experience. Generational changes take time, and we have to pay the price. We were strong on the outside, but not as much in the other areas.”
GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala, October 18, 2025. – Panama opened its campaign at the men’s volleyball tournament of the 12th Central American Games Guatemala 2025 with a dramatic five-set victory 3-2 (25-23, 25-16, 22-25, 16-25, 15-12) over Guatemala at the Teodoro Palacios Flores Gymnasium.
With the win, Panama secured a spot in the semifinals with a 1-0 record in Pool A and will face Nicaragua (1-0) on Sunday for first place in the pool. Guatemala, with a 0-2 record, was eliminated from medal contention.
In the opening set, both teams were tied at 18 points in a fierce offensive battle. Panama took the lead through the blocking and attacking efforts of Ludrik West, while Gherson Ortiz contributed defensively by containing Guatemala’s top scorer Andy Blanco.
Panama gained a comfortable five-point lead (17-12) in the second set, led by Ortiz, and capitalized on Guatemala’s errors to close the set with a wide margin.
Panama celebrates
The hosts came back in the third set determined to extend the match. Carlos López and Jerry Durán pushed Guatemala forward, while Panama remained focused and close in the score. Backed by their home crowd, Guatemala forced the match to go longer.
In the fourth set, Guatemala jumped to a four-point lead (15-11) behind Blanco’s powerful attacks, supported by Durán and Jason Hernández, to send the contest to a deciding fifth set.
In the tie-break, both teams battled point for point up to 5-all. Panama then built a three-point lead (8-5) with a block from Astergio Díaz over Durán and a hitting error from Blanco. Blocking proved to be the key factor for Panama’s victory, closing the set 15-12 and dominating 5-0 in blocks in the final frame.
Panama finished the match with advantages in blocks (15-5) and aces (4-2), while Guatemala led in attacks (68-56). Both teams committed a similar number of errors, Panama with 26 and Guatemala with 28.
Gherson Ortiz led Panama with 22 points, while Andy Blanco topped all scorers with 28 points for Guatemala.
Panama’s captain Róger Otton said after the victory: “It has been very hard and difficult for us. Tears, sacrifices, and to take this victory means so much. Advancing to the semifinals is incredible. The team connected and worked together. There were ups and downs, it was a roller coaster. Guatemala is an excellent rival. Today God gave us the opportunity to achieve the victory.”
GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala, October 18, 2025.– Costa Rica continued its dominant form in Pool B of the men’s volleyball tournament at the 12th Central American Games Guatemala 2025, sweeping Belize 3-0 (25-13, 25-22, 25-12).
With a 2-0 record, Costa Rica is one step away from securing a semifinal berth and will close the preliminary round against Honduras (0-2). Belize, now 1-1, will fight for a spot in the next round when it faces El Salvador, also 1-1.
Costa Rica jumped to a commanding 12-3 lead in the opening set and never looked back, closing it comfortably with at least four players contributing to the attack. Costa Rica’s blocking game was a major factor, outscoring Belize 5-0 in that category.
The second set was tighter, with both teams trading points. Costa Rica relied on Gilberth Solano and Stanley Grant, while Francis Hauze and Kaelen Ingram led Belize’s offense. Grant’s serve brought Costa Rica to set point, and Solano sealed the set 25-22 with a powerful attack.
Costa Rica celebrates
Costa Rica completely controlled the third set, using strong blocking to neutralize Belize’s hitters and disrupt their system. Ignacio Morales led the charge with seven points, guiding the team to a decisive finish.
Costa Rica held a clear advantage in attacks (41-29), blocks (8-2), and serves (5-2). Costa Rica committed only 14 errors compared to 21 from Belize.
Michael Jenkins-BIZ
Stanley Grant led Costa Rica with 14 points, followed by Ignacio Morales with 11, and Gilberth Solano and Jeremy Vanega with 10 each. For Belize, Francis Hauze and Kaelen Ingram were top scorers with 13 and 12 points, respectively.
Ignacio Morales, Costa Rica’s outside hitter, said: “I think since yesterday against El Salvador, we’ve had a great attitude and executed our K-1 system very well. We’re highly motivated after two strong wins and will keep working as a team, just like we’ve been doing so far.”
Francis Hauze, leading scorer of Belize expressed: “Costa Rica came out strong. We started a little bit slow with the reception which kept us out of system. We have one match left, we must work on receiving better, serving strong, blocking and defense, it’s important that we win”.
GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala, October 18, 2025.– El Salvador earned its first victory in the men’s volleyball tournament of the 12th Central American Games Guatemala 2025, defeating Honduras 3-0 (25-23, 25-20, 25-17).
El Salvador improved its record to 1-1 in Pool B and will close the preliminary round facing Belize. Honduras, still winless, will meet Costa Rica in its final match. The top two teams in each pool will advance to the semifinals.
El Salvador came back from a four-point deficit (8-12) in the first set, tying at 12 and taking control through the offensive efforts of Abner Cano and Rodrigo Chávez. Despite strong performances from David Villatoro and Jesús Montes, a service error from Honduras gave El Salvador the opening set.
ESA vs HON
In the second set, both teams were even at 11 points before El Salvador gained the upper hand with solid blocking from Diego Guidos. Although Arturo Durán pushed Honduras’ offense, El Salvador maintained its rhythm to go up 2-0.
El Salvador dominated the third set from the start, capitalizing on Honduras’ errors and with Guidos leading the attack at the net.
El Salvador led in attacks (40-32), while Honduras held the edge in serves (6-2). Both teams scored 8 points on blocks. El Salvador benefited from 25 opponent errors while committing only 14 of its own.
Rodrigo Chávez and Abner Cano led El Salvador’s offense with 14 and 13 points respectively. Diego Guidos contributed 10 points, including five blocks. For Honduras, David Villatoro and Jesús Montes each tallied 11 points.
Juan Carlos Vargas, setter of El Salvador, said after the win: “We have a mix of new players and veterans. After losing to Costa Rica yesterday, we went from less to more and finished strong. Today we started with that same energy and positive attitude to win 3-0. We’re going for more.”
Meanwhile, Honduras’ coach Osiel Vázquez commented: “The boys didn’t meet the goals set for the match. We didn’t block the corners as planned, and we didn’t put enough pressure with our serves to disrupt their first contact and gain rhythm. The players’ attitude was not the best.”
GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala, October 18, 2025.– Belize claimed a thrilling five-set victory 3-2 (23-25, 25-22, 25-21, 25-27, 15-12) over Guatemala to remain undefeated in Pool B of the women’s volleyball tournament at the 12th Central American Games Guatemala 2025.
Belize now holds a 2-0 record and is one step away from advancing to the semifinals. The team will close the preliminary round on Sunday against Panama (0-2), while Guatemala (1-1) will face Honduras (1-1) in a decisive match for a spot in the next round.
Guatemala controlled the first set with the offense of Aury Álvarez and María García, but Belize rallied to tie at 20 after recovering from a three-point deficit (17-20) with attacks from Nelissa Ramírez and two service aces by Herdie Castillo. After another tie at 22, two consecutive Belize errors handed the set to the home team.
Belize celebrates
Belize started strong in the second set, quickly building a 10-3 lead. Guatemala tried to close the gap with María Andrea Santa Cruz leading the attack and support from Ivana Sopegno, but Belize kept control. Their solid blocking, led by Castillo, Kevanna Sebastian, and Ziane Henderson, proved crucial to tie the match 1-1.
In the third set, the teams were tied at 12 before Belize took the lead for good. The Belizean side capitalized on 11 Guatemalan errors, while Gareth Bruce contributed 5 points and Ramírez added 4, giving them the 2-1 advantage.
Guatemala responded in the fourth, coming from behind to tie at 12 and later taking the lead through the efforts of Sopegno and Álvarez. In a dramatic finish, the home team extended the match with a tight 27-25 score to force a tiebreak.
In the deciding set, Belize took control (10-7) with momentum from Castillo and Sebastian. Castillo’s serve was key to widening the lead (13-8). Guatemala narrowed the gap with Sopegno and Santa Cruz (11-13), but a service error gave Belize match point. Though Santa Cruz scored once more (12-14), Sebastian sealed the victory for Belize with the winning point.
Belize held the edge in blocks (12-8) and service points (13-11), while Guatemala led in attacks (58-51). Belize also committed fewer errors (30-37).
Herdie Castillo led Belize with 18 points, followed by Shantell Arnold with 16 and Gareth Bruce with 14. For Guatemala, Ivana Sopegno led all scorers with 20 points, joined by Aury Álvarez with 19 and María Andrea Santa Cruz with 16.
Herdie Castillo, top scorer of Belize, expressed: “We tried our best not to extend to five sets. It was a neck-to-neck battle, we fought strong. Tomorrow, we want to finish pool-play strong. We want a medal, so we have got to fight for it”.
Ivana Sopegno, Guatemala’s top scorer, said: “We were always fighting, united, and giving our best effort. What we lacked was finishing. Belize was a tough opponent. We move forward and hope to earn our spot in the semifinals against Honduras, giving it our all.”
GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala, October 18, 2025.– Honduras claimed its first victory in the women’s volleyball tournament of the 12th Central American Games Guatemala 2025, defeating Panama 3-1 (25-23, 23-25, 25-10, 25-22) at the Teodoro Palacios Flores Gymnasium.
With this result, Honduras improved its record to 1-1 and will close Pool B on Sunday facing Guatemala. Panama, still in search of its first win, will finish pool-play against Belize. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals.
The opening set was tightly contested, with both teams trading points until 23-23. A Panama attack error gave Honduras the advantage, and Tessa Flores sealed the set with a powerful spike that Yileen Ng couldn’t return.
Honduras celebrates
The second set followed the same rhythm. Sofía Centella put Panama ahead 24-22, but an Ángela Evans error extended the set. Centella then blocked Sasha Kawas to even the match at one set apiece.
Honduras came out strong in the third set, racing to a 6-0 lead behind Cecille Johnson’s blocking, Telma Zelaya’s serving, and Victoria Aparicio’s attacks. Honduras maintained control throughout, widening the gap and comfortably taking the 2-1 lead.
The fourth set was once again close. Panama led 16-12, but Honduras rallied with a block from Zelaya against Anabel Mackenzie, strong serving from Dazly Durán, and attacks by Kawas, tying the score at 16. Although Honduras missed three match points, they closed out the win with determination to secure their first victory of the tournament.
Honduras led in attacks (48-33) and service points (8-2), while Panama dominated in blocks (14-3). Honduras committed 31 errors compared to Panama’s 39.
Top scorers for Honduras were Sasha Kawas with 18 points and Cecille Johnson with 12. For Panama, Hashlyn Cuero led with 16 points, followed by Sofía Centella with 11.
Tessa Flores, captain of Honduras, said: “It was a good win. We lost a set because we got comfortable and lost focus before the set wasn’t over, and that cost us. We managed to recover and pull away with a big difference in the fourth set. Tomorrow, we close against Guatemala; we have to give it our all since the crowd will be against us. We’ll stay focused and keep a positive attitude to beat the home team.”
Kariany Sáenz, setter of Panama, commented: “As a team, we need to adjust our reception and defense, as well as improve our communication. We’re trying to do our best. If we erase that third set, it was actually a great match.”
GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala, October 18, 2025.– Costa Rica defeated Nicaragua 3-0 (25-14, 25-13, 25-22), closing pool-play undefeated in the women’s volleyball tournament and securing a spot in the semifinals of the 12th Central American Games Guatemala 2025.
Costa Rica finished Pool A with a 2-0 record, guaranteeing their place in the semifinals. Nicaragua (0-1) will face El Salvador (0-1) on Sunday in the match that will determine the second semifinalist from the group.
Costa Rica took control from the opening set, building a six-point lead (12-6) with contributions from at least five different players. The team maintained their rhythm and comfortably closed the first set.
In the second set, Nicaragua briefly took the lead, but Costa Rica quickly regained control with the strong serving of Ana Victoria “Tori” Rojas, extending their lead to 20-8. The offensive trio of Tatiana Sayles, Tannia Carazo, and Lakysha Thompson powered the team to a 2-0 advantage.
Tatiana Sayles-CRC
The third set was tighter, with Nicaragua leading 12-10 thanks to María Belén Arcia’s efforts. However, Sayles and Rojas, combined with Nicaraguan errors, turned the score around (16-12). Late in the set, Nicaragua denied two match points with an attack and a block from Josafet Díaz, but Sayles sealed the victory with a block on Arcia.
Costa Rica outperformed Nicaragua in attacks (44-31), blocks (7-4), and serves (6-3), while committing fewer errors (11-18).
Top scorer Tatiana Sayles led Costa Rica with 19 points (16 attacks, 2 blocks, 1 ace), followed by “Tori” Rojas with 14 points (9 attacks, 1 block, 4 aces) and Tannia Carazo with 11 points (10 attacks, 1 block). For Nicaragua, María Arcia and Josafet Díaz finished with 7 points each.
Costa Rica celebrates
Ana Victoria “Tori” Rojas, opposite of Costa Rica, said: “Yesterday things didn’t go as we wanted, and that helped us come in today more focused and determined because Nicaragua is a very strong team, and our rivalry is also intense. Each of us came in to give our best, and the difference was that we worked as a team. You could see the unity, and everyone embraced their role.”
Josafet Díaz, captain of Nicaragua, expressed: “We lacked concentration and communication among ourselves. This is just the beginning, and we’ll work on those aspects. We’re in a group of three, and with a win tomorrow, we can secure a spot in the semifinals. Physically, we’re strong, but we need to improve the mental part of our game.”
GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala, October 17, 2025.– Nicaragua set the pace and displayed strong consistency to defeat Guatemala in straight sets (25-23, 25-17, 25-22) in their opening match in Pool A of the men’s volleyball tournament at the 12th Central American Games Guatemala 2025, held at the Teodoro Palacios Flores Gymnasium.
The Nicaraguan squad showed balance across all areas, starting with a tight first set that they managed to take thanks to their offensive power. Axel Gutiérrez sealed the set with an attack that the Guatemalan defense couldn’t control, proving to be the most effective player for his team.
In the second set, Nicaragua took an early lead (13-7), dominating with a strong blocking performance led by Víctor Fonseca, and maintaining control until the end.
Guatemala attempted to respond in the third set, led by middle blocker Jason Hernández, who was instrumental in keeping the score close. However, Gutiérrez’s relentless attacks, supported by Jonny Zeledón and Emilio Andrews, secured Nicaragua’s victory. A hitting error by José Samayoa sealed the match.
Nicaragua held the advantage in attacks (44-39), blocks (10-7), and service points (4-2), committing 14 unforced errors compared to Guatemala’s 17.
Axel Gutiérrez was the standout performer of the match with 27 points, supported by Jonny Zeledón with 13. For Guatemala, Jason Hernández scored 18 points and Andy Blanco added 10.
Nicaragua will rest on the second day of competition, while Guatemala (0-1) will seek to bounce back against Panama.
Axel Gutiérrez, Nicaragua’s captain: “We always work trusting in God. We came prepared because we still had that sting from losing to Guatemala at the Final Four, when we were up 2-0 and they came back to win the match. On Sunday we’ll face Panama, which I consider one of the toughest teams in the tournament. They’re a strong opponent, but we’ll take it step by step.”
GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala, October 17, 2025. – Belize opened the 12th Central American Games Guatemala 2025 with a convincing 3-0 (25-23, 25-20, 25-19) victory over Honduras in Pool B of the men’s volleyball tournament, held at the Teodoro Palacios Flores Gymnasium.
Belize (1-0) will face Costa Rica (1-0) in their second match of the event, while Honduras (0-1) will play against El Salvador (0-1).
The first set was tightly contested, with both teams trading points until the end, but Belize capitalized on 13 Honduran errors to take the early lead.
In the second set, Belize expanded its advantage thanks to the offensive efforts of Kaelen Ingram, Francis Hauze, and Kerwin Palacio, who kept constant pressure on the Honduran defense.
Francis Hauze-BIZ
Team Belize continued to dominate in the third set, controlling the pace of the game until Francis Hauze sealed the victory with a powerful spike.
Belize led in attacks (44-32) and committed fewer unforced errors (22-27), while Honduras had the edge in blocking (7-3). Both teams scored one direct service point.
Kerwin Palacio-BIZ
Francis Hauze was the top scorer of the match with 18 points, all from attacks, followed by Kaelen Ingram with 13 points. For Honduras, David Villatoro and Ornello Brown each contributed 10 points.
Elton Anderson, captain of Belize: “It was a wonderful victory. We’re all a little high from the second place in El Salvador (Final Four), so we are trying to continue an inch closer to a gold medal. We played well and a 3-0 victory is very important in this tournament”.
Luis Membreño, captain of Honduras: “After such a long time without competing, I think that despite the loss, we did a good job. The players performed well. We are a team with little experience, and I was able to contribute mine. This will help us gain rhythm and give our best in the next match.”
GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala, October 17, 2025. – Costa Rica opened with a solid straight-set victory 3-0 (25-17, 25-18, 26-24) over El Salvador, in the first match of Pool B in the men’s volleyball tournament of the 12th Central American Games Guatemala 2025, held at the Teodoro Palacios Flores Gymnasium.
Gilberth Solano and Jason Brown were instrumental in the first set, powering Costa Rica’s offense with strong attacks. El Salvador committed several consecutive errors that prevented them from stopping the Ticos’ momentum.
In the second set, Costa Rica once again imposed its rhythm, although Rodrigo Chávez and Abner Cano led a more organized and effective performance for El Salvador.
Ignacio Morales-CRC
El Salvador found its best rhythm in the third set, keeping a close contest with several ties. An attack by Douglas Gómez denied Costa Rica the chance to close the set, leveling the score at 24-24, but Ignacio Morales put Costa Rica back in front with a strong hit (25-24), and Stanley Grant sealed the victory with the final point.
Costa Rica outperformed El Salvador in attacks (47-30), blocks (13-6), and service points (4-0), though they gave away more points on errors (23-12).
Gilberth Solano and Stanley Grant led Costa Rica’s offense with 17 and 16 points respectively, while Jason Brown added 14 points, including 5 blocks. For El Salvador, Rodrigo Chávez topped the scores with 14 points, followed by Abner Cano with 11.
Costa Rica celebrates
On day two of the event, Costa Rica will face Belize, while El Salvador will look to bounce back against Honduras.
Andrés Araya, captain of Costa Rica: “The first match always comes with stress and anxiety. It was an exciting finish; El Salvador gave it their all, and it was a very close game. Thankfully, we kept a cool head and closed it with experience. We have a good mix in the team, with youth and experience, and that helped us finish strong.”
Rodrigo Chávez, captain of El Salvador: “I think we lacked a bit more fighting spirit. We tried different variations throughout the match. There are many young players on the team, and I think we missed that touch of experience. I’m surprised by Costa Rica’s level, even though they have quite a young team. Our players need to keep building more character.”
GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala, October 17, 2025.– Guatemala’s women’s team opened their campaign at the 12th Central American Games Guatemala 2025 with a convincing straight-set victory 3-0 (25-17, 25-19, 25-19) over Panama, in their first Pool B match of the volleyball tournament held at the Teodoro Palacios Flores Gymnasium.
The host team will face Belize (1-0) on day two, while Panama (0-1) will seek their first win against Honduras (0-1).
Guatemala controlled the match from the start, with María García and Aury Álvarez leading the offense and a solid blocking line that contained Panama’s attacks. In the second set, the home team quickly pulled ahead (5-1), maintaining their advantage despite a strong response from captain Hashlyn Cuero and Angela Evans, Panama’s main scorers.
Guatemala celebrates
The third set took a dramatic turn as Panama jumped to a 14-11 lead, but Guatemala rallied to tie at 15 points and regained control of the game, closing with three consecutive aces by Jessica Caal to seal the victory in front of their home crowd.
Guatemala outperformed Panama in every category: attacks (38-30), blocks (6-5), and service points (6-0), while committing fewer unforced errors (19-25).
Ruth Rivas-GUA
María García led Guatemala with 12 points, followed by Aury Álvarez with 10. For Panama, Angela Evans and Hashlyn Cuero each scored 12 points.
Aury Álvarez, captain of Guatemala: “Since the beginning of the year, we’ve been training hard. We’re a united, solid team and trust each other. The third set got complicated because we got a little overconfident, and Panama improved their performance — it was a mix of both. I think team unity will be key for the upcoming matches.”
Hashlyn Cuero, captain of Panama: “We knew how tough it would be to play against Guatemala at home. We improved as the match went on, but unfortunately, we couldn’t close the third set. Our reception got better, and that helped us in that set. Now we’ll analyze today’s mistakes, work on those areas, and come out more aggressive and determined from the start of tomorrow’s match.”
GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala, October 17, 2025. – Belize started strong with an important 3-1 (27-25, 25-17, 24-26, 25-23) victory over Honduras, in the opening match of Pool B in the women’s volleyball tournament at the 12th Central American Games Guatemala 2025, which kicked off this Friday at the Teodoro Palacios Flores Gymnasium.
The Belizean team took control early in the first set, although Honduras responded well after trailing 20-23, tying the score at 23 points with effective attacks from Cecille Johnson. The closing moments were dramatic, as both teams wasted set points before Herdie Castillo sealed it 27-25 for Belize.
In the second set, the story was similar, with Belize leading from start to finish, this time building a wider margin (22-14), powered by Castillo and Shantell Arnold, to take the set 25-17 and a comfortable 2-0 advantage.
Kaleigh Cardinez-BIZ
Honduras came back in the third, despite Belize rallying from 14-18 down to tie 20-20 behind the efforts of Clara Sabal and Nelissa Ramirez. Belize’s errors at key moments allowed Honduras to force a fourth set, as Sasha Kawas scored with a strong attack and Johnson blocked Gareth Bruce to close it 26-24.
The fourth set was tightly contested, featuring several ties and lead changes. Belize lost two match points due to an error and a kill point from Johnson but ultimately secured the win with a powerful attack from Shantell Arnold, claiming their first victory of the tournament.
Belize led in attacks (51-48) and blocks (12-9) while committing fewer unforced errors (27-33). Honduras held the edge in serving (7-5).
Honduras vs Belize
Herdie Castillo topped Belize’s scorers with 17 points, including impressive 7 stuff blocks. Nelissa Ramirez and Shantell Arnold added 16 and 10 points, respectively. For Honduras, Cecille Johnson and Sasha Kawas each scored 18 points, while Victoria Aparicio contributed 11.
In their next matches, Belize will face host nation Guatemala, while Honduras will look to recover against Panama.
Clara Sabal, Opposite of Belize: “It’s a great motivation for us starting off the tournament with a victory. It was a great hustle for us, we came out feeling strong. This was a team effort and the work from the bench gave us the push we needed”.
Tessa Flores, captain of Honduras: “We lacked concentration. It was hard for us to believe we could win. We started the match very anxious, because for most of us these are our first Central American Games. I think the pressure got to us, which I don’t understand — there was no reason to feel that way. We’re going to try to fight for a spot on the podium.”
GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala, October 17, 2025.– Costa Rica began the defense of their title on the right foot, defeating El Salvador 3-1 (25-21, 19-25, 25-13, 25-20) in their opening match in Pool A of the women’s volleyball tournament at the 12th Central American Games Guatemala 2025, held at the Teodoro Palacios Flores Gymnasium.
The first set was closely contested, with El Salvador dominating on attack, but Costa Rica managed to claim it by taking advantage of their opponent’s numerous errors (10-0). Costa Rican captain Tatiana Sayles led her team’s efforts in key moments.
In the second set, El Salvador took control with a seven-point lead (16-9) and closed strongly thanks to the offense of Gabriela Funes and Adriana Flores, leveling the match 1-1.
CRC vs ESA battle the ball over the net
Determined to regain control, the Costa Ricans dominated the third set from the start, opening a wide lead (14-4) and maintaining their rhythm to win 25-13. In the fourth and decisive set, Costa Rica stayed ahead 22-17, though El Salvador closed the gap with consecutive points from Adriana Flores (22-19). However, the pressure led to errors on the Salvadoran side, allowing Costa Rica to seal the victory with a five-point margin.
Costa Rica capitalized on 33 unforced errors by El Salvador (against just 13 of their own) and held the edge in blocking (13-5), while both teams scored 5 service points. El Salvador led in attacks (56-43) but could not overcome Costa Rica’s solid defense.
Ana Victoria Rojas led Costa Rica with 15 points, followed by Tatiana Sayles with 14. For El Salvador, Adriana Flores scored 18 points, Gabriela Funes added 16, and Evelyn Ramírez contributed 13.
Ana Victoria Rojas-CRC
On the second day of competition, Costa Rica will face Nicaragua, while El Salvador will have a rest day.
Tatiana Sayles, Captain of Costa Rica: “The first matches are always complicated, especially at the Central American Games, which is a big event. Only three of our players had previous experience in the Games. We tried to control our emotions. In the second set we got anxious because El Salvador was defending everything, and our blocking wasn’t consistent. After that, we focused on blocking and having patience to be effective on attack. We stayed focused and came out with the win.”
Carmen Chávez, Captain of El Salvador: “The scores were close, and we managed to play long rallies. We’ve improved in defense and blocking and have gained more confidence thanks to the analysis we did after the Final Four. We looked more solid; it was a more dynamic and entertaining match.”
GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala, October 16, 2025. – The coaches of the seven participating countries have expressed their determination to reach the podium in the men’s volleyball tournament of the 12th Central American Games Guatemala 2025, to be held from October 17 to 21 at the Teodoro Palacios Flores Gymnasium.
Albert Humes, Belize Coach: “Because of the good showing of our senior team at the Final Four, everyone is rooting for us, so our expectations are high. We are willing to represent our country as everyone expects.”
César Salas, Costa Rica Coach: “This is a very important event, a major tournament in the region, and we come full of joy and hope to perform well. We want to lift Costa Rica’s men’s volleyball to a higher level than where we currently stand. This event is about competing and aiming for the podium. Our group is determined to work hard toward that goal, always respecting our opponents and every participant in the event.”
Andrea Genova, El Salvador Coach: “We came with high expectations. We have a team with experience, and it will be a highly competitive tournament, as it’s one of the biggest in Central America. Our goal is to finish among the top four and thus qualify for next year’s Final Four, and from there hopefully achieve even more.”
Osiel Vásquez, Honduras Coach: “Our team has undergone a successful 15-month preparation for this major event, which we know is very important for both Central America and Honduras. We had three positive international warm-up matches. Our main goal is to be among the four finalists.”
Reider Lucas, Guatemala Coach: “We want to achieve a good result. We’ve prepared well, and the players arrive motivated and happy. We have a mix of young but experienced athletes. Our main objective is to achieve the best possible result in the competition.”
Jorge Luis Mena, Nicaragua Coach: “Our expectation in any tournament we play is to finish as high as possible. This is the most important championship in the Central American region, and we will give it our all. The team is well-prepared; we have excellent players, a mix of youth and experience. We’ll take it one game at a time.”
Alex Flores, Panama Coach: “Our main goal is to bring a medal home. We want to give Panama that joy in this sport of volleyball, which truly deserves it.”
GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala, October 16, 2025. – Just hours before the start of the women’s volleyball competition at the 12th Central American Games Guatemala 2025, coaches predict a close contest for the title.
From October 17 to 21, the Teodoro Palacios Flores Gymnasium will host intense matches in the quest for regional glory.
Bennett Lawrence, Belize Coach: “We came here with hopes of winning gold; hopefully we’ll reach that far, but bronze or silver will be fine too. We’re going to make sure the girls give their best. We hope to reach the top.”
Braulio Godínez, Costa Rica Coach: “We have high expectations for these Games. We’ve had some setbacks over the past two years, the competition has become very balanced, and we want to reclaim that first place here. That top position is very important to us, and we’ve come to fight with everything we have. We know we’ll face strong teams—Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, and Belize, which has recently dominated the youth categories—so I believe it will be a tough competition. I have faith that what we’ve prepared will allow us to reach first place.”
Dany Calderón, El Salvador Coach: “Our expectation is to fight and advance as far as we can. We have a very young team; we’re going through a generational change in the country.”
Marvin Ulloa, Honduras Coach: “We’re coming off two consecutive third-place finishes with the U23 team, as well as a third place in the Final Four. Some of the players here took part in those events, although we’re missing Ana and Rocío. Still, we hope to perform well as a team, put up a fight, and reach the podium.”
William Fernández, Guatemala Coach: “This is a very competitive event. We’re in a group of four teams, and our goal is to qualify for the semifinals and finish among the top four. We’ll give our best in every match.”
René Quintana, Nicaragua Coach: “We’ve brought a team that we hope will fight hard throughout the event and end up rewarded with a place on the podium when the championship concludes.”
Reinaldo Ortega, Panama Coach: “We’ve worked hard with the girls. We have players both from the capital and from the provinces, and we came to make a strong showing, aiming for one of the three podium spots. We know it won’t be easy, but we trust in God and in the potential of the girls to make it happen.”
GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala, October 13, 2025.– The Costa Rican women’s national volleyball team arrives at the 12th Central American Games Guatemala 2025 with its sights set on another historic milestone: capturing their ninth title in the history of the regional competition.
The Women’s Indoor Volleyball Tournament will take place from October 17 to 21 at the Teodoro Palacios Flores Gymnasium in Guatemala City, featuring three matches daily at 10:00, 12:00, and 14:00 hours, followed by the men’s tournament matches, held simultaneously.
In the previous edition, Costa Rica claimed the championship after an exciting five-set victory over Nicaragua, securing their eighth title and fourth consecutive gold, reaffirming their dominance in Central American volleyball.
The “Ticas” have built a legacy of consistency and success at the Central American Games. Panama was the first country to win the gold medal in 1973, but since then Costa Rica has dominated the competition. After claiming the title in 1977, 1986, 1990, and 1994, their streak was interrupted by Honduras in 1997. However, Costa Rica regained the crown in 2001 and went on to defend it in 2010, 2013, and 2017, remaining the most successful nation in the history of Central American women’s volleyball.
With a new generation of players blended with the experience of experienced leaders, Costa Rica heads to Guatemala determined to continue writing its golden legacy in regional volleyball.
GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala, October 13, 2025.– Guatemala’s men’s volleyball national team is gearing up to defend its crown at the 12th Central American Games Guatemala 2025, determined to make the most of its home advantage and retain the title won in the previous edition.
Guatemala claimed the championship in Managua 2017, ending a decade-long wait to return to the podium, after defeating El Salvador in straight sets in the final, repeating the gold medal performance last achieved in Honduras 1997.
Throughout the history of the Central American Games, Guatemala has stood as one of the region’s volleyball powerhouses, with a total of four gold medals (1977, 1986, 1997, and 2017), making it the most successful nation in the discipline. Panama follows with three titles (1973, 1994, and 2010); Costa Rica has captured two (1990 and 2001); and Honduras claimed one in 2013.
The Men’s Indoor Volleyball Tournament will be held simultaneously with the women’s event, from October 17 to 21 at the Teodoro Palacios Flores Gymnasium in Guatemala City. Each day will feature three women’s matches in the morning and early afternoon, followed by men’s matches scheduled for 16:00, 18:00, and 20:00 hours, promising thrilling days of action and excitement for Central American volleyball fans.
PONCE, Puerto Rico, October 12, 2025.- Outside hitter Patrick Rogers from the United States was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 2025 NORCECA Men’s Final Six held from October 6-12 at the Juan “Pachín” Vicéns Auditorium.
Patrick Rogers received the MVP recognition during the closing ceremony after the United States earn their third consecutive title at the tournament. Rogers contributed a total of 78 points over the seven matches his team played at the event on the way to the gold medal and was second best scorer of the USA in the championship match with 12 points (11 attacks and 1 ace).
Opposite Kyler Wade from the United States was named best server.
From Puerto Rico Pelegrin Vargas was distinguished with the award of 2 Best Spiker, Best Setter to Howard García and Best Received to Angel Cabrera.
Dominican Republic received six individual recognitions. José Adrián Figueroa was the Best Scorer and Best Opposite, Luis David Reinoso earned the award for Best Outside Hitter, Moisés Ortíz was selected 2 Best Blocker and Enger Miéses was selected as the Best Defense and Best Libero of the competition.
PONCE, Puerto Rico, October 12, 2025.- The United States defeated Puerto Rico in straight sets (27-25, 25-20, 25-21) to win their third tittle in a row in the NORCECA Men’s Final Six at the Juan “Pachín” Vicéns Auditorium.
This is the fifth overall medal for the United States in the NORCECA Final Six, Bronze in 2021 and 2022, and Gold in 2023, 2024, and 2025. For Puerto Rico, this marks their first-ever medal in the tournament.
The match started close, with both teams trading one-point leads. Consecutive errors from Puerto Rico gave the United States a 15-13 lead through the first set, but Puerto Rico fought back and tied the score at 20-20. It was a tight finish, but the United States prevailed 27-25.
Dominican Republic Silver Medal
Puerto Rico gained a slight advantage at the start of the second set (5-3), but the United States gained momentum, tied the score (7-7), and later pulled ahead by four points (12-8). The USA maintained the lead through the remainder of the set, winning 25-20.
Puerto Rico took an early lead in the third set (6-4) and built a 5-point advantage midway through the set (15-10), prompting the United States to call a timeout to regroup. The USA came from behind and tied the score at 17-17. They kept up the pressure with strong serves and won the set 25-21, earning the gold medal.
The United States outplayed Puerto Rico in attacks (35-34), blocks (8-5) and serves (8-5) and committed fewer unforced errors (22) than Puerto Rico (29).
Opposite Kyler Wade with 13 points (8 attacks, 1 block and 4 aces) and outside hitter Patrick Rogers with 12 points (11 attacks and 1 ace) led the offensive for United States. For Puerto Rico, outside hitter Pedro Molina was the top scorer with 14 points (10 attacks, 3 blocks and 1 ace) followed by opposite Jamal Ellis with 11 points.
DOM Silver, USA Gold and PUR Bronze
Luka Slabe, assistant coach of the United States: “We are extremely proud of this group, we just had one practice together prior the beginning of the event and everyday we got better and better and we got pushed but we did not back down. We came out with big statement; to compete against more mature and experienced teams and we came out with a nice win.
Sebastiano Sani, captain of the United States: “It is an awesome feeling to win the gold medal. Credits to Puerto Rico, a really strong team. We just got better during the week with the limited time we got together, and it was pretty special what we did here in the last match, we did a really awesome job. Shout-out to my teammates, it was an awesome experience this weekend and can’t wait to do it again with this team.”
Jamille Torres coach of Puerto Rico: “We set a goal: to win this tournament, but we fell a little short. They hit us hard on serve, and we couldn’t get the side out. I think losing the first set cost us in the long run. It’s a process of growth, and we’re happy with what we’re doing. This medal makes me very happy, it’s our first medal in the tournament, for the program because it tells us we’re on the right path for the future.
PONCE, Puerto Rico, October 10, 2025.- Dominican Republic won the Bronze Medal at the NORCECA Men’s Final Six after a straight set win over Mexico (25-23, 25-21, 25-22) at the Juan “Pachín” Vicéns Auditorium.
Dominican Republic finished in third place with a 3-4 win-loss record, to win their first medal in the tournament’s history. Mexico ended with a 4-3 record and fourth place.
The Dominican Republic started strong in the first set (6-3) and maintained a six-point lead until mid-set (17–11). Mexico came from behind and tied the score at 22–22. Two consecutive errors from Mexico gave the Dominicans set point, and they ultimately won the set 25–23.
The Dominican Republic kept its momentum with a 9-5 margin at the start of the second set, maintaining a comfortable 17–12 lead. Mexico pushed back, and two consecutive points from Ridl Garay tied the action at 20–20. The Dominican offense prevailed, winning the set 25–21.”
Wilfrido Hernandez DOM
With great defense and assertive attacks, the Dominican Republic led all the way through the third set. Mexico gained momentum and tied the score at 20–20, but the Dominicans ultimately won the set 25–22 and the Bronze Medal.
Dominican Republic led in attacks 38-37 and blocks 7-5 while Mexico dominated in serves 6-2. Dominican Republic committed 18 unforced errors and Mexico 28.
Adrian Figueroa, opposite of the Dominican Republic, was the top scorer of the match with 19 points (17 attacks and 2 blocks). For Mexico, opposite Ridl Alexis Garay scored 16 points (13 attacks, 1 block and 2 aces).
Wilfrido Hernandez, captain of the Dominican Republic: “It means a lot to us because we arrived with a reduced roster, and it was a great sacrifice but thank God we finished on the podium. I’m very proud of my team; they played a great game. They’re young, still lacking experience and maturity, but they had an excellent tournament.”
José Gutiérrez, head coach of Dominican Republic: “We came with a reduced squad, young players, and we didn’t train as a team. I think we were able to build connections and advance game by game. This is our first medal at the Final Six. We still have a lot to improve and to develop in our players. We have experienced players, but the technical side of our entire team paid off in the end.”
PONCE, Puerto Rico, October 12, 2025.- Canada defeated Suriname in straight sets (25-19, 25-18, 25-15) to finish in fifth place of the NORCECA Men’s Final Four at the Juan “Pachín” Vicéns Auditorium.
Canada Finished the tournament with a 2-4 win-loss record and fifth place while Suriname ended in sixth place with 0-6.
The Canadians started strong with an early 4-1 advantage. Suriname got close (7-8), but three consecutive points from Canada gave them an 11-7 lead. Canada continued the dominance mid-set with a comfortable margin (20-15). An ace from Matthew Siebenga closed the set 25-19.
Canada’s pressure with their serves was key to maintaining the lead throughout the second set, building a 10-point advantage mid-set (19-9). Suriname tried to close the gap, but Canada sealed the set 25-18.
Ethan Baraniuk CAN
The same tactic was used in the third set, this time supported by Canada’s blocking. They won the set 25-15, securing fifth place in the tournament.
Canada outscored Suriname in attacks (30-24), blocks (6-2) and serves (11-1) and committed fewer unforced errors than Suriname (25-28).
Matthew Siebenga, Canada’s middle blocker was the top scorer of the match with 11 points (7 attacks, 3 blocks and 1 serve) with 58 % success in attacks. For Suriname, Gianni Ritfeld led the offensive with 7 points.
Wilson Grant, Canada’s head coach: “It was tremendous experience. We are a young team; we have a lot to learn but I think that we grew up a lot as a team during the course of the tournament. We were not sure what to expect on the court, but the goal was to focus on us and get better as a team. Puerto Rico was a great host, and we just enjoyed the whole experience.
Carlos Orta, Suriname’s head coach: “I’m really happy and satisfied with the boys’ performance, considering the technical level of this event. We’re a group of young guys who’ve raised their level as we’ve played. I think my team made a great effort; they improved day by day and gained experience, which was one of our goals.
GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala, October 12, 2025. – Guatemala is preparing to host, for the fourth time as the sole venue, the 12th edition of the Central American Games, to be held from October 18 to 30, 2025. The event will bring together athletes from Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, and the host country, who will compete in 41 sports and 55 disciplines, including Volleyball and Beach Volleyball.
The Central American Games represent the region’s premier multi-sport event and mark the beginning of the Olympic Cycle for the athletes of the Isthmus. Created by the Central American Sports Organization (ORDECA) and endorsed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the event has not been held since 2017, when Nicaragua hosted the last edition.
The NORCECA Volleyball Confederation is responsible for the supervision of Volleyball and Beach Volleyball, in collaboration with the Organizing Committee and the National Volleyball Federation of Guatemala.
The Indoor Volleyball tournament will take place at the Teodoro Palacios Flores Gymnasium in Guatemala City from October 17 to 21, while Beach Volleyball will be held at the Jalapa Sports Complex from October 24 to 28.
In the previous edition, Costa Rica claimed the women’s volleyball title after an exciting five-set victory over Nicaragua, securing its eighth championship and fourth consecutive gold medal.
In the men’s category, Guatemala was crowned champion after a decade off the podium, defeating El Salvador in straight sets in the Managua 2017 final, repeating the gold medal they had last won in Honduras 1997.
In women’s beach volleyball, Costa Rica also holds the title thanks to the duo of Karen Cope and Natalia Alfaro, who were crowned champions in Managua 2017 after defeating El Salvador’s Kathya Vásquez and María Fernanda Vargas. For Alfaro, it was her second consecutive gold, following her 2013 triumph in Costa Rica alongside Ingrid Morales.
Meanwhile, Nicaragua is the reigning men’s beach volleyball champion, thanks to the victory of Rubén Mora and Dany López on home soil, defeating Guatemala’s Andy Leonardo and Luis García, thus reaffirming the title won by Henry Hernández and Gerald Umaña in Costa Rica 2013.
PONCE, Puerto Rico, October 10, 2025.- Puerto Rico defeated Dominican Republic in an epic five-set battle (25-27, 32-30, 31-33, 25-22, 15-11) to book a ticket to the championship match of the NORCECA Men’s Final Four at the Juan “Pachín” Vicéns Auditorium.
This will be Puerto Rico’s first appearance in the tournament’s gold medal match.
Puerto Rico will face defending champion the United States in the gold medal match while Dominican Republic will take on Mexico for bronze.
Dominican Republic started strong, taking a 7-3 lead before coach Jamille Torres from Puerto Rico called a timeout to adjust the tactics. Puerto Rico gained momentum and closed the gap to 13-14, keeping the set tight and forcing extra points. The Dominican Republic sealed the set with a solid block, winning 27-25.
It was a battle in the second set, with both teams trading the lead throughout. Two attacks from Adrian Figueroa gave the Dominican Republic the first set point, but Jamal Ellis of Puerto Rico took charge and tied it at 24-24. Both teams kept fighting, but two consecutive errors from the Dominican Republic handed the set to Puerto Rico, 32-30.
Pedro Molina PUR
The game continued with high adrenaline and outstanding offensive performances from both teams. The third set was tied 22 times, but the Dominican Republic ultimately prevailed, winning in extra points, 33-32.
As in the previous sets, the score remained close during the early stages of the fourth. It was tied at 17-17 when two powerful attacks from Puerto Rico’s Pedro Molina gave the home team a two-point edge. Puerto Rico maintained the lead to win the set 25-22 and force a fifth set.
Puerto Rico took an early 3-0 lead in the tiebreak, and although the Dominican Republic tried to keep up, the Puerto Ricans didn’t hold back and maintained their advantage midway through the set (8-4). The host team stayed focused despite the Dominicans closing the gap to 10-9. Puerto Rico closed the match with a 15-11 win.
Puerto Rico led in attacks (74-71) and serves (10-2), but the Dominican Republic was more effective in blocks (14-10) and committed fewer unforced errors (34) than Puerto Rico (36).
Jamal Ellis led Puerto Rico’s offense with 30 points (25 attacks, 2 blocks, and 3 aces) and a 62% success rate in attack, followed by outside hitter Pedro Molina with 28 points. Opposite Adrian Figueroa of the Dominican Republic was the match’s top scorer with 32 points (28 attacks, 3 blocks, and 1 ace), posting a 56% success rate in attack, while his teammate Luis Reinoso added 21 points.
Jonathan Rodriguez, middle blocker of Puerto Rico: “It was a long match, the Dominican Republic came out with a very clear offense. We had difficulty stopping their attackers, but we managed to come back and close out the match. We showed great perseverance, despite the long rallies that kept us from winning the point, but we managed to recover and win in the fifth set. Tomorrow we must practice, improve our blocking skills, and impose our serves. We must prepare well with a view to beating the United States.”
Jamal Ellis, opposite hitter of Puerto Rico: “We knew the Dominican Republic was an opponent that always gave us a fight, and we knew we couldn’t let our guard down. In the end, we did what was necessary to close out the sets, keeping our heads high and staying united. Now we need to rest and come back focused and ready for tomorrow’s match against the United States.”
Enger Miéses, libero of Dominican Republic: “We knew it was going to be a great game. We’re teams that play each other in every competition, and we know each other very well. From the start, we knew we were going to put on a good performance. The unity with which we’ve maintained ourselves throughout the competition has made a difference. Even though our team doesn’t have all its regular players, the unity and dedication with which we decided to take the field made the difference. Now we need to rest. Tomorrow will be a mental game against Mexico, and just like today, what will decide the game for us is minimizing our errors.”
PONCE, Puerto Rico, October 11, 2025.- The United States earned a chance to defend its NORCECA Final Six title, advancing to the gold medal match after a thrilling five-set victory over Mexico (22-25, 25-22, 19-25, 25-23, 15-13) at the Juan “Pachín” Vicéns Auditorium.
The first set was highly competitive. Both teams were tied at 12-12, but Mexico gained momentum and pulled ahead with a 5-point lead at 20-15. However, two aces from Kyler Wade closed the gap to 21-23. Despite the late push, Mexico’s consistent attacking secured the set, 25-23.
The United States started strong in the second set, but Mexico found their rhythm, narrowing the gap from 8-4 to tie it at 8-8. The United States regained control and maintained the advantage despite Mexico’s pressure. A monster block by Cameron Thorne sealed the set for the United States, 25-22.
The United States took an early lead at 11-6 on the third set Mexico responded with pressure and tied the score at 15-15. The teams were level again at 18-18, but a combination of attacks from Yasutaka Sanay and Ridl Garcia guided Mexico to win the set 25-19.
Ryan Merk USA libero
The United States didn’t give up and came out focused, building a solid 11-5 lead. Mexico tried to close the gap, narrowing the score to 16-18, but the USA remained stronger and forced a tiebreak after winning the set 25-23. The tiebreak was evenly matched until the United States gained a four-point advantage at 8-4. Mexico pushed back to tie the score at 9-9, but the USA held firm and closed the match with a 15-13 win in the fifth set.
Mexico outperformed the United States in attacks (54-49), but the USA committed fewer errors (37-40). Both teams were even in blocks (9-9) and serves (8-8).
Kyler Wade, the United States’ opposite, led their offense with 20 points, followed by team captain Sebastiano Sani with 13. For Mexico, Ridl Alexis Garay was the top scorer with 20 points, while teammate Yasutaka Sanay added 18.
Cameron Thorne, middle blocker of the United States: “it was our second five-setter in a row, a long but great match and it is a team win. We have everybody in the game but had some blocking trouble and our coaches were guiding us through that. We are an energetic team, so we really show passion. There are some small mistakes that we must fix up to face either the Dominican Republic or Puerto Rico tomorrow but is going to be a fun game. Now, we are going to rest, watch a lot films and bring our best game because what matter is tomorrow, tomorrow is the biggest game.
Luis Ordoñez, setter of Mexico: “We knew it was going to be a tough, long game, and whoever made the fewest mistakes at the end would take the win. In this case, we missed key points at the end, and the game slipped away from us. Tomorrow is the bronze medal match, and We have to work a little on closing the sets. We have to prepare mentally and come here with the desire to win, with the goal of earning that third place.”
DOHA, Qatar, October 11, 2025.- Scribner & Grimes strung together nine wins without dropping a set to win the gold medal as another American pair, Avery & Addison Junk, settled for silver.
USA have retained the FIVB Beach Volleyball Under 18 World Championship title. The pair of Jordyn Scribner & Ella Grimes beat the Junk twin sisters, Avery and Addison, in straight sets in an all-American final on Saturday to ensure USA retained the title won by Myriah Massey & Lily Davis in Shangluo, China last year when the competition was played in Under-19 age-group. Belgium’s Lente Thant & Simone Vervloet settled for bronze after a three-set victory over Esmee Radstake & Jara Both of the Netherlands in the third-place playoff.
Scribner & Grimes’ gold medal brings USA joint level with Brazil as the most successful nation in this age group on the girls’ side, with four titles each.
The all-American girls’ final unfolded in three sets with Jordyn Scribner & Ella Grimes emerging 2-0 (21-13, 24-22) winners over the Junk sisters to win the gold medal unbeaten and without dropping a set in 9 matches, including 2 games in the qualification phase.
“Since we started out in the qualification, we told ourselves that we are not going down without a fight. We pushed for every single point and I’m so happy with how it went down. We came here to win and that’s what we did,” said Scribner.
“I feel like both of us worked so hard to get here. They are our friends but we had to turn it on once we got on the court. We worked so hard together, pushed for every point and I’m super glad that we won,” added Grimes.
The Junk sisters had stormed the final on a 6-0 win-loss record including their 2-1 win over Esmee Radstake & Jara Both of the Netherlands in Saturday’s semifinal. However, they tasted their first loss of the competition at the hands of their compatriots in the fiercely contested final.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to play in the final of a tournament like this but we weren’t at our best today. They were the better team and we are happy that USA still defends the title,” said Addison.
PONCE, Puerto Rico, October 10, 2025.- The United States is heading to the semifinals of the NORCECA’s Men Final Six after a five-set thriller win against host team Puerto Rico at the Juan “Pachín” Vicéns Auditorium (19-25, 25-23, 25-18, 23-25, 15-11).
The United States (4-1) will face Mexico (4-1) in the semifinals, meanwhile Puerto Rico (4-1) will take on Dominican Republic (2-3).
It was a close first set, with both teams battling for the advantage. Puerto Rico gained momentum through assertive attacks and went on to win the set 25-19.
Puerto Rico opened the second set with a narrow 8-5 lead, but the United States began improving their reception and using their middle blockers to level the score at 11-11. Three consecutive errors from Puerto Rico allowed United States to pull ahead 16-13, a lead they held onto to close the set 25-23.
The third set remained tightly contested until the United States gained momentum with a series of strong attacks, pulling ahead 18-16. Puerto Rico’s three consecutive errors allowed the United States to extend their lead to 22–16 and eventually close out the set 25–18.
Puerto Rico came out determined in the fourth set, applying pressure with strong serving and organized defense to take a 14-11 lead. Even though the United States pushed and closed the gap, Puerto Rico prevailed and won the set 25-23, forcing a tiebreak.
Kellen Larson USA
The host team started strong in the fifth set, jumping to an 8-5 advantage, but the United States came from behind to tie it at 9–9 and eventually won the set 15-11.
The United States led in attacks (51-49) and blocks (16-8). Both teams were tied with 6 aces each, but Puerto Rico committed fewer unforced errors compared to the United States (34-39).
Outside hitter Patrick Rogers of the United States led all scorers with 24 points (19 attacks, 2 blocks and 3 aces) spiking at a 42% success rate. For Puerto Rico, opposite Jamal Ellis led the offensive registering a 57% success rate to finish with a total of 19 points.
Patrick Rogers, outside hitter from the United States: “it was a lot of fun, playing with a big crowd in front of Puerto Rico is the way you want to play against them. We did not have a lot of practice together and we are trying different lineups right now and we just adapting to it and just playing out of it. Now we rest, we got a lot people playing a lot of days in a row so we need some rest and keep us healthy.
Pelegrin Vargas, outside hitter from Puerto Rico: “Although we didn’t win, we took away many positive things in terms of the group’s character. We still have a lot to learn while playing. I liked that we didn’t give up in the face of adversity, and that’s something we must continue to work on. This group has undergone many changes, and in many ways we’re getting to know each other. Now, we need to look at what happened today as a lesson learned and we have to keep going. In the end, anyone can beat anyone and we need to use this as an experience to keep improving.”
DOHA, Qatar, October 10, 2025.- USA’s title defense received a significant boost on Friday after their two girls’ duos qualified for the semifinals of the ongoing FIVB Beach Volleyball Under 18 World Championship in Doha, Qatar.
A total of 40 matches—16 Round of 24, 16 Round of 16, and 8 quarterfinals–were played on Friday to determine the four semifinalists in each gender.
The semifinals and medal matches will be played on Saturday to determine who will eventually be crowned the world champion.
The USA pair of Jordyn Scribner and Ella Grimes stretched their unbeaten run to seven matches without losing a set from the qualification phase to the quarterfinals. On Friday, they defeated Puerto Rico’s Itzamar Arana Martinez & Anabella Isabelle Valentin Miranda 2-0 (21-13, 21-15) in the Round of 16 before sweeping aside Brazil’s Isabela Sallaberry Cavalcanti & Ana Beatriz Sanches Francelino 2-0 (21-19, 21-12) in the quarterfinals.
“Every game is important so we have to keep working, play hard and fight for every point. We are fired up and ready to bring it home,” said USA’s Ella Grimes.
Their compatriots, the Junk twin sisters, Avery and Addison, had to dig deep to reach the last four. After beating Hungary’s Emese Kiss-Bertók & Réka Pádár in straight sets (21-15, 21-15) in the Round of 16, the Junk sisters faced their first real test of the competition in the quarterfinals against Germany’s Anna-Chiara Reformat & Rika Dieckmann, rallying from a set down to edge them out by 2-1 (19-21, 24-22, 15-13).
In the other two quarterfinals, both Belgium and The Netherlands battled from a set down to advance to the semifinals. While Belgium’s Lente Thant & Simone Vervloet overcame Italy’s Sofia Bruzzone & Micol Lafuenti 2-1 (18-21, 21-19, 15-09), the Netherlands’ Esmee Radstake & Jara Both emerged 2-1 (20-22, 21-17, 15-10) winners over Canada to lose their first set of the competition.
In Saturday’s semifinals, the Junk sisters will take on Radstake & Both of the Netherlands while USA’s Scribner and Grimes will face off with Belgium’s Thant & Vervloet
In the men’s competition, NORECA teams concluded their campaign, with USA’s Smithe/Essert defeating Canada’s Panasiouk/Kim 2-0 (21-19, 22-20) to advance to the Round of 16 where they fell to Ukraine’s Skrypnychenko/Lunkan in a battle to three sets 1-2 (21-19, 17-21, 13-15). Mexico’s Escoto/Bojorquez lost to Latvia’s Silavs/Liepins B. 1-2 (18-21, 21-19, 10-15).
PONCE, Puerto Rico, October 10, 2025.- The Dominican Republic swept Canada (25-23, 26-24, 25-23) to claim a semifinal spot in the NORCECA Men’s Final Six at the Juan “Pachín” Vicéns Auditorium.
It was a very close match. The Dominican Republic opened the set strong, holding firm against Canada’s resilient efforts to maintain a steady lead and close out the set 25-21. Canada returned focused in the second set, applying pressure on the Dominican Republic through strong blocking. However, the Dominicans continued to push forward. The score remained tight toward the end of the set, but two aces from Wilfrido Rodriguez sealed the victory for the Dominican Republic in extra points, 26-24. The match remained tight in the third set, with both teams battling for the lead. Midway through the set, the Dominican Republic began to gain momentum and closed it out 25-23.
Dominican Republic outperformed in attacks (39-34) but Canada led in blocks (10-3). Both teams were tied with 5 aces each. Dominican Republic committed 21 unforced errors compared to 29 from Canada.
Dominican Republic celebrates
Dominican Republic’s offense was led by opposite Adrian Figueroa, registering a 53% success rate in offense to finish with 15 points. For Canada, outside hitter Thomas Friesen was the top scorer with 14 points (13 attacks and 1 block).
Dominican Republic awaits for the result between Puerto Rico and USA, which will determine their final position while Canada will face Suriname for 5 place on Sunday.
Moises Ortiz, middle blocker from Dominican Republic: “It was a really good match. We adjusted well today, came prepared and stayed focused. We continued working as a team, and I’m hopeful that everything will be positive moving forward. We stayed united, supporting each other through mistakes and moments of frustration, always maintaining a positive attitude. Now, we need to stay focused and keep moving in the same direction to succeed.”
Thomas Friesen, outside hitter from Canada: “It was a really close match. They played very well, and we played slightly less well. They were a tough team to stop offensively and served effectively. It was a fun match to play, but unfortunately, we didn’t find a way to win. I like our attitude, always staying aggressive and with energy. Now, we’ll get a little rest, review some video of what we’ve done and what Suriname has done, and work on fixing our mistakes. I know we have a good chance against them, and we’ll give it our best.”
PONCE, Puerto Rico, October 10, 2025.- Mexico beat Suriname in straight sets (25-21, 25-14, 25-18), securing a spot in the semifinals of the NORCECA Men’s Final Six at the Juan “Pachín” Vicéns Auditorium.
Mexico started strong and dominated throughout the first set, gaining a 21-17 advantage. Suriname attempted to fight back but ultimately lost the set 25-21. Mexico maintained a solid lead in the second set and secured a 25-14 win. Suriname came out strong in the third set, jumping to an early 6-2 lead. Mexico responded by adjusting its lineup and gradually closed the gap, leveling the score at 13-13. Ultimately, Mexico took control of the set with an 18-15 lead and closed it out 25-18.
Mexico led in attacks (40-26), blocks (5-3) and serves (14-2) while Suriname committed fewer unforced errors (16-22).
Leonardo Maldonado MEX
Leonardo Maldonado, Mexico’s outside hitter, topped all scorers with 18 points (14 kills, 1 block, 3 aces). He was followed by Juan Salvador Garcia and Daniel Cravioto Ross, who each contributed 8 points.
For Suriname, Javier Nasibdar and Gianni Ritfeld led the way with 9 points each.
Leonardo Maldonado, Mexico’s outside hitter: “I think we could have done better, been more stable, but in the end, we won in straight sets, which is what we wanted. I feel good about my performance individually and I’m happy with what we did today. Overall, I think we lacked some things; things we need to improve, but we were confident we could win. We need to improve our consistency. I think we have enough talent to win, but we must be consistent and always focus on the game.”
Timothy Lambert, Suriname’s Middle Blocker: “I think the match went really well. It’s a new experience for us and we are working to get stronger while in the tournament so I’m really happy with the growth of the team. My team is a really young but we fight and always count and depend on each other. For our next match, we are going to train really hard, re-watch some matches and hopefully we will get a good result.”
October 10, 2025. – The Paraguayan capital won the bid with 28 votes against the 24 obtained by Rio–Niterói. The election took place during the Extraordinary General Assembly held in Santiago, Chile.
In an Assembly filled with emotion and unity among the Panam Sports member countries, the continent chose the host city for the 2031 Pan American Games.
Asunción, Paraguay emerged victorious with 28 votes to 24 over Rio–Niterói, out of a total of 52 ballots. It should be noted that Dominica was the only country absent from the Assembly, so the remaining 40 nations were able to cast their votes and take part in the decision.
“I am very happy. Our dreams, thanks to God and with everyone’s support, are coming true. We are going to work hard for this, and we are very happy. We truly appreciate the people’s support, and we will never let them down. I dedicate this victory to the entire Paraguayan people and to all the efforts made across the Americas to move forward,” said an emotional Camilo Pérez, President of the Paraguayan Olympic Committee.
“I know that sometimes it’s very difficult to press the little button to support David — it takes a bit more courage. We always want to go with Goliath. That’s why I’m so happy. We had great competition, and I thank the President of the Brazilian Olympic Committee, Marcos La Porta. I thank all my friends, and especially my president, President Santiago Peña,” concluded the Paraguayan IOC member.
For the first time in history, Asunción, Paraguay will host the continental event and will become the thirteenth country to organize the greatest sporting celebration of the Americas.
Doha, Qatar, October 9, 2025.- The two USA duos and Canada qualified for the girls’ Round of 16 with a perfect record as the Main Draw of the FIVB Beach Volleyball Under 18 World Championship concluded on Thursday in Doha, Qatar to determine the 24 teams in each gender that will participate in the elimination round.
A total of 48 matches were played at the Al Gharafa courts on Thursday as the pool phase came to a close with all the 32 boys and 32 girls teams in action.
The top three teams in each of the eight pools qualified to the elimination rounds – the eight pool winners go directly to the Round of 16, while the teams that finished second and third play in the Round of 24. Both rounds and the quarterfinals will be held on Friday, with the semifinals and the medal matches concluding the event on Saturday.
Five girls’ duos from the USA, Switzerland, Canada and the Netherlands cruised through the pool phase unbeaten and without dropping a set to qualify directly for the Round of 16 set for Friday.
The two USA pairs of Jordyn Scribner & Ella Grimes and Avery Junk & Addison Junk won their matches in straight sets on Thursday to finish top of Pool A and Pool B respectively with six points.
Canada’s Ruby Cochrane & Sophie Hancock in Pool H, along with Switzerland’s Anja Gähwiler & Noemi Eugster in Pool E and The Netherlands’ Esmee Radstake & Jara Both in Pool C —also maintained their flawless run to storm the Round of 16 with maximum six points from a 3-0 win-loss record.
In the boys’ competition, Mexico’s Eduardo Escoto & Jose Luis Bojorquez, USA’s Spencer Smith & Cash Essert and Canada’s Misha Panasiouk & Bryce Kim advanced to the Round of 24 and still have a shot to make it to the next round.
PONCE, Puerto Rico, October 9, 2025.- Puerto Rico swept Canada (25-15, 25-17, 25-16) to maintain their undefeated record at the NORCECA Men’s Final Six, held at the Juan “Pachín” Vicéns Auditorium, clinching a ticket to the semifinals.
Puerto Rico started the match strong jumping to a quick 3-0 lead. The home team kept the pressure on, controlling the tempo and forcing Canada into early errors winning the set 25-15. Puerto Rico made some changes in the line-up and displayed a high level of the game guided by their setter Howard García, who organized the offensive with fast paced sets to the middle blockers. The Puerto Ricans continued their dominance, closing out the next two sets 25-17 and 25-11.
Puerto Rico outperformed Canada in attacks (36-20), aces (7-4), and blocks (6-3), also made fewer errors than Canada 21-26.
Luzgardo Liciaga PUR
Opposite Jamal Ellis was the top scorer for Puerto Rico with 9 points (8 attacks and 1 block), spiking at an 80% success rate. He was followed by teammate Pedro Molina with 7 points (5 attacks and 2 blocks). Ryden Hargreaves led Canada’s offense with 10 points (7 attacks, 2 blocks, and 1 ace).
On the final day of the Round Robin, Puerto Rico will face the United States, while Canada will take on the Dominican Republic.
Howard Garcia, setter of Puerto Rico: “We knew we had to come out and play hard, and obviously we’re respecting all our opponents. We minimized our mistakes that were key for our victory today. The interesting thing about this group is that there are no egos, and everyone is available and willing to play and accept their role. For the game against the United States, we have to prepare mentally first, go to practice, establish a game plan, and hope that everything we planned goes well.”
Matt Lefebvre, setter of Canada: “It was tough. Puerto Rico hasn’t lost a match yet. We played with a different lineup that we’re not used to, but I liked the challenge. This wasn’t the outcome we wanted, but it’s good to face a team of that caliber, and overall, it was a valuable experience. We committed a lot of errors, but we always reset after every point. We have a great leader in Liam Kindle, who didn’t let us give up. Our next match is really important, and we’ll be doing our best to prepare for it.
PONCE, Puerto Rico, October 9, 2025.- The United States defeated Suriname in consecutive sets (25-13, 25-17, 25-11) on day four of the NORCECA Men’s Final Six at the Juan “Pachín” Vicéns Auditorium.
The United States started the match by putting pressure with their serves, gaining a solid 16-10 advantage. Suriname was unable to recover and dropped the set 25-13. Suriname gained momentum in the second set, but the United States maintained control and closed it out 25-17. The United States continued to dominate throughout the fourth set, securing a 25–11 win.
Keoni Thiim, outside hitter of the United States, was the top scorer of the match with 14 points (11 attacks and 3 aces). Suriname’s top scorer was outside hitter Gianni Ritfeld with 5 points.
Keoni Thiim USA serve
United States finished the match with a huge advantage in attacks (41-19) and serves (10-1). They also led in blocks (5-0). Suriname conceded fewer points on errors (19-21).
The United States will play host team Puerto Rico, while Suriname will face Mexico on the final day of the round-robin.
Keoni Thiim, outside hitter of the United States: “It was a good match. We tried a new lineup and did our best to stay disciplined, and I think we did a good job. We were experimenting, and we gave them everything we had, showing our respect by playing hard. Now we’re going to rest and prepare our game plan for Puerto Rico, watch some film, and give it everything we’ve got.”
Javier Nasibdar, outside hitter of Suriname: “The match wasn’t bad, considering we were facing a very tough opponent, and I think we did well. There are some areas to improve, but overall we played okay. I liked our fighting spirit—we didn’t give up and kept pushing. Now we have to prepare for tomorrow, improve our reception, and keep fighting.
PONCE, Puerto Rico, October 9, 2025.- Mexico defeated Dominican Republic 3-1 (25-15, 26-28, 25-21, 25-18), improving their record to 3-1 at the NORCECA Men’s Final Six, held at the Juan “Pachín” Vicéns Auditorium.
Mexico is one step closer to reaching the semifinals and will face Suriname on the final day of round-robin play, while Dominican Republic will take on Canada.
Mexico took early control of the match, establishing a comfortable 16-8 advantage and closing the first set with a decisive 25–15 win. It was a battle in the second set, with Dominican Republic gaining a small advantage 16-14 when Mexico requested a time out to regroup. Both teams kept pushing but at the end Dominican Republic held firm to win 28-26. Dominican Republic came out strong at the start of the third set, but Mexico responded and closed the match with a 25–21 victory. Mexico dominated the fourth set with powerful attacks from their opposite Ridl Alexis Garcia, winning 25-18.
Ridl Alexis Garay Nava MEX
Mexico outperformed their opponents in attacks (61-46) and serves (11-2), while both teams were even in blocks (7–7). Dominican Republic committed fewer unforced errors (22) than Mexico (27).
Mexico’s victory was supported by an outstanding performance of their opposite Ridl Alexis Garay Nava, who scored 31 points (28 kills and 3 aces). For Dominican Republic, outside hitter Wilfrido Hernández was the top scorer with 14 points (12 kills, 1 block and 1 ace).
Juan Salvador García, middle blocker of Mexico: “It was a match where we did our job and didn’t let our guard down, because we know the Dominican Republic is a strong team. We face each other in every tournament and know their game well, but we also know that at some point they’ll give their all, and that could hurt us. Staying united is important, and in the end, this is a team effort with one shared goal. We’ll come back determined to do our job tomorrow.”
Luis David Reinoso, outside hitter of Dominican Republic: “It was a very competitive match. Mexico came out with very good serves in this match, which made the reception difficult for us, and we couldn’t use our middle blockers, who are the team’s main weapons. For our next match, which will be the most important as it could put us in the semifinals and compete for a medal, we’re going to come with the same intensity and give it our all.”
October 9, 2025.- The stage is now set for the 2025 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships, with the official Drawing of Lots completed and the pools unveiled for one of the sport’s most anticipated global events.
Adelaide will welcome the world’s elite beach volleyball athletes from 14-23 November 2025, with competition to be held across The Drive and Pinky Flat/Tarntanya Wama, in the heart of the city.
The official draw allocated the 96 qualified teams (48 men’s pairs and 48 women’s pairs) into their initial pools, starting the tournament’s pathway to the podium. The draw followed FIVB’s standard procedure, balancing seeding, ranking, and geographic diversity to ensure competitive fairness.
WOMEN POOLS ADELAIDE 2025
The full match schedule (pool play, elimination brackets, and finals) will be released next Tuesday 14 October, to allow fans, media, and teams to get in early to secure their tickets.
Jenny Mann, CEO, Adelaide 2025 Beach Volleyball World Championships said: “With the draw now confirmed, the energy and anticipation around this global sporting event continues to build. We are ready to welcome the world to Adelaide and deliver an innovative and unforgettable experience for athletes and fans alike.”
Fabio Azevedo, FIVB President said: “The Drawing of Lots is a key milestone on the journey to the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships, setting the stage for what promises to be an unforgettable event. We are so excited to host the World Championships in Australia for the very first time and to showcase the passion, talent and energy of beach volleyball on one of the world’s most iconic sporting stages.”
Tickets on sale now and available via Ticketek. For international fans, ticket purchase requests can be submitted via this Ticketek Form. Fans are encouraged to secure seats early, with the Green and Gold Super Sessions on Opening Night 14 November already selling fast.
Key Event Details Dates: November 14–23, 2025 Location: The Drive and Pinky Flat/Tarntanya Wama, Adelaide, South Australia
This event will be the largest beach volleyball event ever held in Asia or Oceania.
The Championships open with a “Green & Gold Super Session” on 14 November, a special evening showcase featuring Australia’s Men’s and Women’s teams alongside Olympic medallists. For full event information go to www.adelaide2025.volleyball.org.au
PONCE, Puerto Rico, October 8, 2025.- With an outstanding 11-0 advantage in serves, host team Puerto Rico dominated Suriname 3-0 (25-16, 25-13, 25-9) in the NORCECA Men’s Final Six, currently being played at the Juan “Pachín” Vicéns Auditorium.
Puerto Rico remains undefeated (3-0) and will play Canada next, and Suriname (0-3) will face the United States.
The Puerto Ricans dominated on the court throughout the match and outperformed Suriname in all scoring categories: 35-8 in spike kills, 11-0 in aces, and 9-5 in kill blocks. Although Suriname committed fewer unforced errors (20-25).
Puerto Rico celebrates
With a new lineup by coach Torres, Puerto Rico dominated Suriname from the start of the first set, building a comfortable 17-7 lead, led by opposite Sebastián Negrón, closing the set 25-16. Puerto Rico applied pressure with strong serves and committed fewer unforced errors to take the second set 25-13. The host team maintained the same tactic throughout the third set, with no response from Suriname, and won 25-9.
Middle blocker Jonathan Rodriguez and opposite Sebastian Negron led Puerto Rico’s offense with 13 points each. Middle blocker Gyles Black from Suriname finished with four points.
Axel Melendez, outside hitter of Puerto Rico: “I’m grateful for the opportunity to play in Puerto Rico for the first time. It was a super important match in this tournament, and we came here to do our job and keep winning, since the goal is to win the gold medal. I really liked our energy and good vibe before the match started, and everything went as we wanted. We had a plan, and we executed it as best we could.
Gianni Ritfeld, outside hitter of Suriname: “Even though we knew they were stronger than us, we just came to play, giving our best. Not everything was right, but we tried, and we just played to see what we could do against them. I like the team spirit of our team. Now we are going to train, work on some aspects that we are not that good like strong service and improve our blocking.
PONCE, Puerto Rico, October 8, 2025.- Mexico overcame the pressure from Canada to defeat them in straight sets (25-18, 25-19, 25-19) and secured their second victory at NORCECA Men’s Final Six.
After a very tight start to the first set, Mexico managed to break Canada’s pressure and secured an advantage in the closing moments with three aces from their middle blocker Juan Salvador García, closing the set 25-18. Canada kept pushing at the start of the second set, but Mexico prevailed and won 25-19. Mexico maintained control throughout the third set and sealed the match with a 25-19 win.
Mexico dominated in attacks 38-24, but Canada outperformed in blocks 4-3 and serves 7-6. Mexico scored 28 points from Canada’s unforced errors while giving up 21 points.
Mexico celebrates
Opposite Ridl Alexis Garay and outside hitter Yasutaka Sanay from Mexico were the match leaders with 11 points each, while outside hitter Liam Pauls was Canada’s top scorer with 10 points.
Next, Mexico will play Dominican Republic while Canada will face host team Puerto Rico.
Matthew Siebenga, middle blocker of Canada: “It was awesome playing against Mexico, it was a good match. They’re a big and strong team. I thought our captain did really well, and we had good energy throughout the entire match, even when we were trailing. I think we did a good job overall. We just need to improve our serve and reception. We have to correct a couple of errors, but other than that, I thought we played really well. We just need to minimize their service runs and strengthen ours.”
Ridl Alexis Garay, opposite of Mexico: “We knew Canada always brings strong teams to these events, and we wanted to win. I think the team came out with that desire and thank God we got the result and we’re happy. We made some mistakes, but we managed to recover, and that’s very important because there are more games ahead. We have to keep improving overall. The team needs to continue growing and give its all in every match.”
DOHA, Qatar, October 8, 2025.- The two USA girls’ duos of Avery Junk & Addison Junk and Jordyn Scribner & Ella Grimes, and Canadians Ruby Cochrane & Sophie Hancock booked an early ticket to the elimination round after winning their first two matches of the pool phase at the FIVB Beach Volleyball U18 World Championship in Doha.
The Junk sisters beat Brazil’s Kiara Vitoria Ernesto Jeronimo & Leticia Schwalb Machado by 2-0 (21-15, 21-09) in the first match of the day before easing past Paraguay’s Sofia Martinez & Agustina Velazquez in straight sets (21-12, 21-13) to reach the knockout phase with a match to spare. They will complete their Pool B action against the winless Moroccan pair of Marwa Chalhaoui & Hafsa Bouysfi on Thursday.
On the other hand, Scribner & Grimes begun their Pool A campaign with a 2-0 (21-07, 21-02) sweep of Qatar’s Penda Fatima Gadiaga & Meriem Mouhoub and followed it up with a 2-0 (21-12, 21-17) rout of Mexico’s Angela Perez Araujo & Melina Román Hernández. Victory over Malaysia’s Mohammad Noor Aizuddin Nur Azwa Qariesya & Goh Yu Heng on Thursday will earn them top spot in the group and a Round 16 slot.
Canadians Ruby Cochrane & Sophie Hancock won two matches in Pool H, confirming their place in the elimination round. Cochrane/Hancock took a solid 2-0 (21-11, 21-6) victory over Hoja Njie & Mariama Sambou of Gambia, followed by another dominant performance against Ekete Moseka & Matatanu Mayala of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Gambia’s Bakari Ensa Kanyi & Abdallah Bah produced the biggest upset yet of the, after defeating USA’s 2-1 Spencer Smith & Cash Essert by 2-1 (22-20, 14-21, 15-12) in their opening Pool F match on Wednesday in the boys’ field.
The Main Draw will conclude on Thursday with the 32 teams in each gender all in action. The top three teams in each of the eight pools advance to the elimination rounds – the eight pool winners go directly to the Round of 16, while the teams that finished second and third play in the Round of 24. Both rounds will be held on Thursday, with the quarterfinals and semifinals following on Friday and the medal matches concluding the event on Saturday.
PONCE, Puerto Rico, October 8, 2025.- The United States bounced back after dropping the first set to the Dominican Republic, winning 3-1 (22-25, 30-28, 25-17, 25-20) to record their second victory on Day 3 of the NORCECA Men’s Final Six at the Juan “Pachín” Vicéns Auditorium.
Dominican Republic started dominating the match wining the first set 25-22. The United States started the second set with momentum, taking an early 7-4 lead. It wasn’t until point 11 that the Dominicans leveled the score, starting a back-and-forth battle for the lead until the United States pulled away by two points to claim the set 30-28. The United States then took control in the next two sets. Team USA closed out the third set 25-17 and maintained momentum through the fourth to win 25-20.
The United States outscored the Dominican Republic in attacks (60-45), blocks (9-5), and serves (8-4), but the Dominicans committed fewer unforced errors (25–36).
Sebastiano Sani USA
Opposite hitter Kyler Wade of the United States led all scorers with 21 points (16 attacks, 1 block, and 4 aces), followed by his teammate, outside hitter Sebastiano Sani, who contributed 16 points (14 attacks and 2 blocks). For the Dominican Republic, captain Wilfrido Hernández led the offense with 14 points (13 attacks and 1 block).
On day four of the NORCECA Men’s Final Six, The United States will play Suriname and Dominican Republic will face Mexico.
Kyler Wade, opposite of the United States: the first set we started a little slow, during the beginning of the second we started our momentum, and we serve very well throughout the match and did our business. Our serve and pass got better after the first set and it was a big difference for us. Now we need a good rest for the next match. If we play our game no one can beat us.
Adrian Figueroa, opposite of the Dominican Republic: We started the first and the second set well. We came out strong and eager to win. We could have won the second set, but it got away from us. The rest of the sets, we let our guard down and couldn’t get back into the game. Now we have to move on and come back more prepared and stronger.
PONCE, Puerto Rico, October 7, 2025.- Puerto Rico beat Mexico 3-1 (25-20, 18-25, 25-16, 25-19) to remain undefeated in the NORCECA Men’s Final six taking place at the Juan “Pachín” Vicéns Auditorium.
In the first set, Puerto Rico dominated with ease, relying on outside hitter Pelegrin Vargas. Mexico came back determined and won the second set 25-18 to even the score. Puerto Rico played a well-balanced third set, building a comfortable 8-2 advantage and using tactical serving to close the set 25-16. The action was even at the beginning of the fourth set, but the Puerto Ricans rallied to win it 25-19.
Puerto Rico held advantage in attacks (48-44), blocks (12-3) and serves (7-1) but Mexico committed fewer unforced errors (26-32).
Puerto Rico Win
For Puerto Rico, the offensive was led by opposite Jamal Ellis with 17 points (13 attacks and 4 blocks) and outside hitter Pedro Molina with 15 points (10 attacks, 1 block and 4 aces); meanwhile outside hitter Franky Hernandez Milantony was the best scorer for Mexico with 17 points (15 attacks, 1 block and 1 ace).
In the third day of competition Puerto Rico (2-0) will face Suriname (0-2) and Mexico (1-1) will play Canada (1-1).
Jamal Ellis, opposite of Puerto Rico: “We knew it was going to be a tough match from the start, but we made sure to prepare properly for this team. We know we have the potential to win a medal, so we’re more than ready for this. For the upcoming matches, we have to keep our heads high, stay positive, not dwell on our mistakes, and keep moving forward, as in these events we need to be united as a team.”
Franky Hernandez Milantony, outside hitter of Mexico: “It was a very good match, despite losing in four sets. We were hoping to push it to five. We know Puerto Rico is a very strong team, and in this tournament, they’re the team to beat. We started off a little pressured and rushed, but in the second set, we began to calm down, doing what we know, and we were able to win the set. Our next match is against Canada, another fairly strong team, and we must keep moving forward.”
DOHA, Qatar, October 7, 2025.- The FIVB Beach Volleyball Under 18 World Championship is underway in Doha, Qatar with over 50 nations vying for supremacy at the Al Gharafa Beach Courts.
This is the first FIVB Beach Volleyball U18 World Championship in more than 20 years and it’s the first time that the competition is being hosted in the Middle East.
A total of 32 boys’ pairs and 32 girls’ duos drawn from 55 countries will vie for the medals from 7 to 11 October.
The Junk twins, Avery and Addison, will look to add another medal to their growing collection when they fly USA’s flag in Doha. Cash Essert and Spencer Smith are in the main draw for boys.
USA’s Jordyn Scribner & Ella Grimes advanced to the main draw after putting up a dominant display, winning their two qualifying matches in straight sets on Tuesday. Scribner & Grimes will now join compatriots Avery Junk and Addison Junk in the pool phase set to begin on Wednesday.
Pool-play runs from 8 to 9 October, elimination rounds on 10 October and medal matches on 11 October.
The 32 teams will be split into 8 pools of 4 teams each, with the top 3 ranked teams in each pool (a total of 24 teams) advancing to the next phase of single elimination which will be played until the bronze and gold medal matches.
NORCECA teams:
Women: CANADA – Ruby Cochrane/Sophie Hancock; MEXICO – Angela Perez Araujo/Melina Román Hernández; PUERTO RICO Itzamar Arana Martínez/Anabella Isabelle Valentín Miranda; USA – Avery Junk/Addison Junk & Jordyn Scribner/Ella Grimes.
Men: CANADA – Misha Panasiouk/Bryce Kim; GUATEMALA Fredy Ronaldo Luna/Robin Jean Carlos Oliva Véliz; MEXICO – Eduardo Escoto Castro/Jose Luis Bojorquez Bojorquez; USA – Spencer Smith/Cash Essert.
PONCE, Puerto Rico, October 7, 2025.- The Dominican Republic defeated Suriname in straight sets (25-4, 25-17, 25-11) to record their first win in the NORCECA Men’s Final Six at the Juan “Pachín” Vicéns Auditorium.
Opposite Adrian Figueroa was the top scorer of the match with 18 pts (13 attacks, 3 blocks and 2 aces). For Suriname, middle blocker Gyles Black was the top scorer with 8 points (4 attacks, 3 blocks and 1 ace)
In the next matches of the round robin Dominican Republic (1-1) will face the United States (1-1), while Suriname (0-2) takes on Puerto Rico (1-0).
Dominican Republic celebrates
The Dominican Republic started the first set with overwhelming superiority against Suriname, with Captain Wilfrido Hernández applying pressure with strong serves, helping secure the set 25-10. Suriname began to push back, but the Dominicans prevailed, winning the second set 25-17. Dominican Republic kept the same tactic with a serve-block combination, to win the third set 25-11.
The Dominicans led the attack 35-17, the blocking 11-4 and the service 6-1, taking advantage of 23 errors by Suriname against 10.
Francisco Arredondo, setter of Dominican Republic: “It was a good match. I think the Suriname’s team is young and inexperienced, and we were able to take advantage. I really liked our team’s energy; we always stayed united, supporting each other in every play. Our challenge is to stay healthy so we can give our all in every match.”
Arav Debisarun, setter of Suriname “I think our boys did what they could. It’s a fairly new team, and despite the inexperience, we fought hard, and I really liked our fighting spirit. Even though we were down by so many points, we were still laughing and enjoying the match. There’s still work to do, and we need to shift our mindset for the next match. Tomorrow, we’ll come back stronger and try even harder than we did today.”
PONCE, Puerto Rico, October 7, 2025.- The United States secured its first victory at the NORCECA Men’s Final Six, defeating Canada 3-1 (25-18, 25-10, 23-25, 25-18) on the second day of the tournament taking place at the Juan “Pachín” Vicéns Auditorium.
The United States maintained control over the first two sets of the match, with aggressive serves and fluid attack combinations. Canada gained momentum in the third set, winning 25-23. The beginning of the fourth set was very tight, but the United States prevailed and won 25-18
United States earned their first victory with a 38-20 advantage in attacking points, 9-6 in blocking points, and 14-12 lead in points from serves. Unforced errors were similar, with United States committing 33 and Canada 37.
USA celebrates
Justin Todd from the United States was the top scorer of the match with 17 points (9 attacks, 5 blocks and 3 aces); Captain Liam Pauls led the offensive for Canada with 11 points (7 attacks and 4 aces)
Justin Todd, Middle Blocker from the United States: “We maintained strong service pressure throughout the match. Once we had the lead and they started putting pressure on us, we handled it well and turned it back around. We need to improve our passing—I think we can do a little better. When we know a good serve is coming, we should respond immediately.”
Ethan Baraniuk, Outside hitter from Canada: “I think it was a really good game. The start was a little rough, but by the end we were working hard and everything came together. We brought discipline in the third set, and that made the difference. We started digging and being aggressive, that was exactly what we needed to play our best. For the next match, we just need to come out and play our game. If we start strong, we have a great shot against any team here.”
PONCE, Puerto Rico, October 6, 2025.-Puerto Rico won a five-set thriller match against the Dominican Republic (25-23, 25-19, 19-25, 26-28, 15-7) in their opening match at the NORCECA Men’s Final Six at the Juan “Pachín” Vicéns Auditorium.
The Dominican Republic took an early lead in the first set by six points (11–4), but Puerto Rico gradually gained control and won the set 25–23. Puerto Rico dominated the second set, winning 25–19. The Dominicans held a three-point advantage in the third set (16–13) and went on to win it 25–19. They continued their momentum in the fourth set, edging out Puerto Rico 28–26 to decide the match in a tie-break. Puerto Rico responded strongly, taking the fifth set 15–7
Puerto Rico led the Dominican Republic in attacks (67-51) and serves (8-2), but the Dominicans controlled the blocking (10-6) and committed fewer unforced errors than Puerto Rico (29-39).
Puerto Rico’s offense was led by outside hitter Pelegrin Vargas, who scored 29 points (27 attacks, 1 block, and 1 ace), followed by team captain Pedro Molina with 19 points (15 attacks, 1 block, and 3 aces). For the Dominican Republic, opposite hitter Adrian Figueroa and middle blocker Moises Ortiz were the top scorers with 18 and 17 points, respectively.
Puerto Rico celebrates
Pedro Molina, captain of Puerto Rico: “It’s always good to start our first match of the tournament well. We know the Dominican Republic always gives us a great game, and we expected nothing less. It was a very long match but thank God we took the win. It’s a new season, we have some veterans helping us with experience and leading us, and it’s a great combination. For tomorrow, we need to make fewer mistakes, close out the sets, and not rely on the other team.”
Wilfrido Hernández, Captain of Dominican Republic: “First, I want to congratulate Puerto Rico for the victory. It was a hard-fought match, and in the end, the team that was more consistent and made fewer errors won. They were much better with their aggressive serve, and I think that was the difference, although in the end, I believe we performed quite well regardless of the result. We just have to keep moving forward and try to do well on the next matches.”
On the second day of the NORCECA Men’s Final Six, Puerto Rico will play Mexico, and the Dominican Republic will face Suriname.
Before the match, a small inauguration ceremony took place with the presence of the Mayoress of Ponce, Marlese Sifre; Ponce’s Senator, Marially González; First Executive Vice-President of NORCECA, Ariel Sainz; and the President of the Puerto Rican Volleyball Federation, Dr. César Trabanco.
The Mayoress welcomed the fans and teams, stating that they were very happy and proud to host this international event at the Juan “Pachín” Vicéns Auditorium. She also thanked NORCECA and the Puerto Rican Federation for selecting Ponce as the host of such an important tournament.
PONCE, Puerto Rico, October 6th, 2025.- Mexico opened NORCECA Men’s Final Six with a reverse sweep over the United States (22-25, 21-25, 25-19, 25-22, 15-11) at the Juan “Pachín” Vicéns Auditorium.
It was a very tight first set, but the United States closed it out with a 25–21 win. Mexico recovered, taking control of the second set from the start with a comfortable five-point lead (12–7). However, the United States made adjustments to their blocking, regained the lead, and ultimately won the set 25–21. The Mexicans came back strong, winning the third set 25–19. The United States fought hard, but Mexico prevailed 25–21 to force a tiebreak. Mexico sealed the match with a 15–11 win in the fifth set.
The United States led in attacks (57-51) and blocks (12-8) while Mexico held advantage in service points (8-6). Mexico committed 27 unforced errors and the United States 40.
Mexico celebrates
Opposite Ridl Alexis Garay from Mexico was the top scorer of the match with 24 points (19 attacks, 3 blocks and 2 aces) and opposite Kyler Wade was the top scorer for the United States with 20 points (17 attacks, 1 block and 2 serves).
Sebastiano Sani, Captain of the United States: “We started out pretty strong in the first two sets and played really good volleyball. Then we pulled back a little in the last three sets. I think Mexico got better and played really well after the first two sets, making big plays. Now we just have to bounce back tomorrow. We only had one practice, and we still need to learn our volleyball style since we haven’t played much together. We’re just trying to get better every day.”
Yasutaka Sanay, outside hitter of Mexico: “We’re responding to our game, as most of the starters are experienced players, but we have new players as well and we are developing as the match progresses. We had a slow start, but we made changes starting in the third set, where there were improvements and our serve was working well, compromising their passing. Now, we need to correct some details from today and prepare for the next match.”
Tomorrow, Mexico will face host team Puerto Rico while United States will play Canada.
PONCE, Puerto Rico, October 6th, 2025.- Canada outplayed Suriname 3-0 (25-13, 25-18, 25-16) on their opener match at the NORCECA Men’s Final Six at the Juan “Pachín” Vicéns Auditorium.
Suriname kept it close early in the first set at 7–9, but Canada held the advantage throughout and went on to win the set 25–13. In the second set, Canada quickly jumped to an eight-point lead (16–8), maintaining a comfortable margin to secure a 25–18 victory. Canada continued their dominance in the third set, although Suriname gained momentum by scoring four consecutive points (14–21), the Canadians ended closing out the match with a 25–16 win.
Canada held advantages in kills 45-22, 4-1 in blocks and 10-0 in points from serves while Suriname committed fewer errors than Canada (16-24).
Monster block of Canada
Captain Liam Pauls, outside hitters Ethan Baraniuk and Thomas Frieses, led Canada’s offensive with 12 points each. Outside hitter Ethan Asimia was the top scorer from Suriname with six points.
Liam Pauls, captain of Canada: “it was really good, we learned a lot. It is the first time our team is playing at this level, and I think there are a lot of areas to improve, a lot of areas that we struggle with that we can do better on the rest of tournament. I think we need to make adjustments in the defense and in communication, that is going to be a big challenge since we are facing really tough teams”
Carlos Orta, Suriname’s head coach: “Our goal is to compete in this tournament, gain experience and skills to participate in other events in the region. Canada is strong and has a high-level volleyball, but I think my boys did their best to achieve the best result.”
Faiq Lobo, captain of Suriname: “I found that this was a really good first match. The players needed to get used to the environment. It was a little bit rough but after a while we kind of got into the game. We did not win but I’m very proud of my team”
On day two of competition, Canada will face United States and Suriname will play the Dominican Republic.
October 3, 2025.- The FIVB and representatives from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) met this week with the Cuban Olympic Committee (COC) and the Cuban Volleyball Federation (FCV) to discuss long-term strategies for boosting volleyball development in the country.
The meeting brought together COC President Roberto León Richards Aguiar and Secretary General Ruperto Herrera Tabío, FCV President Osvaldo Idel Martínez Arias, and FCV Vice President Mireya Luis Hernández, a Cuban volleyball legend and three-time Olympic champion who also serves as FIVB Executive Vice-President.
Representing the FIVB were President Fabio Azevedo and FIVB Department Heads, alongside representatives of the IOC. NORCECA President Cristóbal Marte Hoffiz also joined the discussions.
The meeting highlighted the importance of Cuba’s historic volleyball legacy and underlined a shared commitment to restoring the national teams to that level through sustainable development projects. Cuban volleyball’s “golden age” during the 1980s and 1990s saw the women’s national team – nicknamed “”Las Morenas del Caribe” – dominate the world. Their reign included Olympic golds at Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000, and World Championship titles in 1978, 1994 and 1998.
Key discussions centred on how the FIVB and IOC can further support the vision of the COC and FCV through initiatives such as the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment programme which provides coach support, knowledge transfer and equipment provision.
The Cuba women’s national team is already benefitting from the programme, with an investment of more than 160,000 USD. As part of this support, the team is currently led by experienced Brazilian head coach Luizomar de Moura, alongside additional technical staff provided to strengthen the Cuban programme.
The meeting also explored extending support to the men’s national team, particularly through further knowledge transfer and equipment provision. To date, the men’s team has received two six-month coaching projects, one in 2023 and another ongoing in 2025, representing a total investment of 35,000 USD.
Both the FIVB and the Olympic Movement reaffirmed their dedication to ensuring Cuban volleyball once again shines on the international stage, through the support of a long-term, sustainable project.
PONCE, Puerto Rico, October 5th, 2025.- The Juan ‘Pachín’ Vicéns Auditorium is ready to host the fifth edition of the NORCECA Men’s Final Six, as head coaches from Canada, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Suriname, and the United States share their expectations for the event, which runs from October 6th to 12th.
Renato Soares, Mexico’s Head Coach: “For this event, we couldn’t bring our complete team, as some athletes are currently with their clubs. However, we have a core group from the main squad who have already gained experience with the national team this year, along with the return of a couple of athletes who had been absent for some time. We’re here to earn FIVB ranking points, which are highly beneficial for us and our Olympic Games project. We’ve brought a strong team to compete for the top spots, that remains our primary objective.
Mexico Uniform
Jamille Torres, Puerto Rico’s Head Coach: “We’re coming with a roster very similar to the one we used in the Pan American Cup. We have two players who are out due to injury, and part of the process we had this summer was to try out young players. We have very high expectations and we’re coming to win. Playing in Puerto Rico creates a little more pressure for us because we have to compete in front of our fans in the stands. We don’t get many opportunities to play at home, so when we come here, we want to give the best performance possible, without detracting from our main goals: to continue growing and improving for the future.”
Puerto Rico Uniform
Karch Kiraly, United States’ Coach: “We are excited to have put together a young team for this tournament. Almost all of the guys are enrolled in college and are student-athletes competing in the American College Volleyball season. It’s a really fun group. Although we didn’t have much time to practice together, we look forward to the challenge of seeing how strong a team we can build in just a few days. Our main objective, for them and for all of us, is to continue learning and improving, and hopefully we’ll be better at the end of the tournament than we are today.”
USA Uniform
José Gutiérrez, Dominican Republic’s Coach: “At the beginning of the year, we had hoped to have a full roster for this tournament, but for reasons beyond our control, that wasn’t possible. We have a group of experienced players, though they haven’t had the opportunity to practice together. As the tournament progresses, we’ll be adjusting a few things. We hope to take it step by step and improve with each match. To the extent possible, we’ll aim to advance with this group, and that’s exactly what we’re going to try to do: go out, deliver the best performance we can within our limitations, and keep our eyes on 2026 and the Central American Games.”
Dominican Republic Uniform
Grant Wilson, Canada’s Head Coach: “Our team is made up of university players who are excited to be here. We’re a young and relatively inexperienced group, but we’re looking forward to participating in this event. We’ve been training since September 1st and also played an exhibition match last weekend, so we’re glad we had the opportunity to practice and play together. Our main goal is to enjoy this experience and continue improving. We’re looking forward to competing against some of the best teams from NORCECA, seeing how this challenges us as a group, and helps us grow.”
Canada Uniform
Suriname is expected to arrive later.
The NORCECA Men’s Final Six tournament awards world ranking points to teams not competing in the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) and serves as part of the qualification process for the Central American and Caribbean Games, awarding continental ranking points to all participating teams.
PONCE, Puerto Rico, October 1, 2025.- The city of Ponce, Puerto Rico, is preparing to host the NORCECA Men’s Final Six tournament, scheduled to take place from October 6 to 12 at the Juan “Pachín” Vicéns Auditorium.
The event will bring together the men’s national teams of Canada, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Suriname, the United States, and Puerto Rico.
This will be the fifth edition of this prestigious tournament, which awards world ranking points to teams not competing in the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) and serves as part of the qualification process for the 2026 NORCECA Men’s Pan American Cup and the 2026 NORCECA Men’s Continental Championship.
At a press conference, the Puerto Rican Volleyball Federation (FPV) presented the tournament details, with the participation of the Honorable Mayor of Ponce, Marlese Sifre González, and FPV President, Dr. César Trabanco.
Mayor Sifre expressed her excitement: “We feel extremely pleased, proud, and happy that this tournament will be held in our city, a city that we are rebuilding with soul, life, and heart. I thank Dr. Trabanco for always putting Ponce first.”
Dr. Trabanco highlighted the significance of the tournament within the Olympic cycle: “We started the year ranked 29th or 30th and today we are at 23. If we win the matches that count for the world ranking, we could finish at 22, which is key for the 2027 World Championship in Poland. The games against the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Suriname are the ones that add points. Although the United States and Canada do not affect the ranking, defeating them always has a special flavor.”
The United States enters the competition as two-time defending champion, having won the last two editions (2023 and 2024). The Americans also hold two bronze medals (2021, 2022). Mexico won the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2021 and has earned two bronze medals (2023, 2024), while Cuba captured gold in 2022. Canada has finished as runner-up in every edition.
The competition format includes a preliminary round-robin phase, with the top four teams advancing to the crossover semifinals (2nd vs. 3rd and 1st vs. 4th) on October 11. The teams finishing fifth and sixth will play on the final day to determine their position, followed by the bronze and gold medal matches.
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, September 28, 2025.- Opposite player Lisa Casimie of Saint Lucia stood out as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) after her team won the Gold Medal of the 2025 ECVA Women’s Final 4 Tournament that concluded in St. John’s, Antigua, on Sunday.
Casimie also received the awards for Best Opposite and Best Scorer. Saint Lucia also picked up other awards: Amalia Louis was honored as Best Spiker and Best Receiver, while Tenayestlgin Joseph earned the awards for Best Libero and Best Digger for her defensive action.
Host Antigua received the award for Second Best Blocker thanks to Alliyah Smith.
From Bermuda, Natalia Gazzard was recognized as Second Best Spiker, Amber Simmons as Best Blocker, Kaylee Trott as Best Setter, and Megan Hands as Best Server.
ST JOHN’S, Antigua and Barbuda, September 28, 2025 – In a thrilling showdown that showcased the best of Caribbean volleyball, Saint Lucia triumphed over Bermuda to clinch the gold medal at the 2025 ECVA Women’s Final 4 held at the YMCA in St. John’s, Antigua.
The match was a rollercoaster of emotions, with Bermuda demonstrating fierce determination. However, Saint Lucia’s powerful performance ultimately led them to victory with a final score of 3-1 (23-25, 25-20, 25-18, 25-21). This remarkable win marks the fourth consecutive championship for Saint Lucia, solidifying their dominance in the tournament.
Head coach Kendell Charlery expressed his elation after the match, stating, “We are elated, happy; we did it again! That’s four times in a row. This team is representing themselves and their country. It’s a great feeling to do it again.”
Saint Lucia came out swinging, earning an impressive 55 points off attacks compared to Bermuda’s 39. While Bermuda excelled in blocking, registering 8 points to Saint Lucia’s 5, the latter led in service aces, 10-5, and committed fewer errors (28 to Bermuda’s 32).
The standout player of the final was opposite Lisa Casimie, who delivered an exceptional performance, scoring a remarkable 25 points. Megan Hands led Bermuda with 12 points, showcasing her skills in a commendable effort.
In the bronze medal match, the host nation, Antigua, secured victory over Grenada, adding to the excitement of the day.
PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic, September 28, 2025 – Puerto Rican duo María González/Allanis Navas defeated Americans Geena Urango/Mariah Whalen (USA1) in a thrilling three-set victory 2-1 (19-21, 21-17, 15-10) to win the gold medal at the ninth stop of the NORCECA Continental Beach Volleyball Tour, which concluded successfully at Los Corales Beach in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
This is the seventh medal the Puerto Ricans have won on this year’s Tour, accumulating six gold medals and one bronze.
Podium Womens
To advance to the final, González/Navas defeated Marcela Araya/Eugenia Ramírez of Costa Rica 2-0 (24-22, 21-10) in the semifinals, while Urango/Whalen defeated Canadian pair Alison McKay/Darby Dunn (CAN1) 2-0 (21-15, 21-13) in the semifinals.
The bronze medal went to Canadians Alison McKay/Darby Dunn (CAN1), who easily defeated Marcela Araya/Eugenia Ramírez of Costa Rica 2-0 (21-12, 21-10) in straight sets.
In fifth place were Americans Katherine Reilly/Clara Stowel (USA2), who needed three sets to defeat Cubans Kailin Garrido/Maykelin Drik 2-1 (17-21, 23-21, 15-12).
All winners
In the seventh-place match, Dominicans Julibeth Payano/Azmabeth Infante (DOM1) defeated Socorro López/Norma Brenes of Nicaragua 2-0 (22-20, 21-12), while Susana Torres/Atenas Gutiérrez (MEX1) took ninth place by defeating Canadians Kaylee Glagau/Abbey Thorup (CAN2) 2-1 (21-14, 11-21, 15-9).
Eleventh place went to Keiry Guzmán/Karla Tovar of El Salvador after defeating Angélica Torres/María Ramírez (MEX2) due to injury. Thirteenth place went to Dominicans Bethania Almanzar/Crismil Paniagua, who defeated Oriana Granadilla/Darlin Rodríguez of Venezuela 2-1 (21-23, 21-19, 15-10).
Vernecia and Verneeci Caines of the Virgin Islands finished in fifteenth place.
Other results of the day were: CUB Garrido/Drik vs. DOM1 Payano/Infante 2-0 (21-13, 21-12); USA2 vs. Reilly/Stowel vs. NCA López/Brenes 2-0 (21-13, 21-17).
SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica, September 28, 2025. – Nicaraguan setter Lolette Rodríguez was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Second Edition of the AFECAVOL Women’s Final Four Championship, held at the San Francisco de Dos Ríos Gymnasium, where her team claimed the regional title.
Rodríguez became the driving force for Nicaragua, leading with her offensive strength and experience in the most high-pressure moments. Her performance was key for the Nicaraguans to secure the championship ahead of Costa Rica and Honduras.
All awards
In addition to the MVP award, awards were presented to the tournament’s standout players.
Costa Rica took home key awards, including Best Server for María Alfaro, Best Receiver for María José Castro, Best Setter for Yuliana González, Best Opposite for Ana Victoria Rojas, Best Spiker for Tania Carazo and Lakisha Thompson as Second Best Blocker.
Honduras shined with Sasha Kawas as Second Best Spiker, Ana Marcellin as Best Blocker and Top Scorer, and Andrea Zúñiga as Best Libero. Nicaragua also celebrated Juny Aguilera, who was honored as Best Digger.
The final podium crowned Nicaragua as the new back-to-back Central American champion, reaffirming their regional dominance, with Costa Rica finishing as runner-up and Honduras taking third place.
SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica, September 28, 2025. – Nicaragua claimed the title of the Second Edition of the AFECAVOL Women’s Final Four Championship, held at the San Francisco de Dos Ríos Gymnasium, after winning its final match and waiting for the outcome of the last game of the day.
In the first match of the final day, Nicaragua swept El Salvador 3-0 (25-13, 25-20, 25-15). The Nicaraguans dominated with strong performances from Gilmary Smith (14 points) and Ericka Calero (13), along with the leadership of their setter, Lolette Rodríguez. El Salvador fought hard in the second set with contributions from Gabriela Funes (10 points) and Pamela Andrade, but their 19 unforced errors tipped the balance in Nicaragua’s favor.
Later, in a thrilling conclusion, Honduras defeated Costa Rica 3-2 (18-25, 26-24, 20-25, 28-26, 15-10), a result that ultimately handed the title to Nicaragua based on a superior set ratio. Costa Rica had controlled much of the match with the efforts of Tannia Carazo, Tatiana Sayles, and Victoria Rojas, but the Hondurans mounted a comeback led by Ana Gabriela Marcellin, the match’s top scorer with 31 points, and Sasha Kawas, who added 23.
Final Podium
The final podium was completed with Nicaragua as Champion, Costa Rica as Runner-up, and Honduras in third place, while El Salvador went winless.
The tournament’s standout performer was Lolette Rodríguez, who was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) for her decisive contribution to Nicaragua’s championship.
Individual Awards
• Most Valuable Player MVP: Lolette Rodríguez (NCA)
SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica, September 28, 2025.– Honduras defeated Costa Rica 3-2 (18-25, 26-24, 20-25, 28-26, 15-10) in a dramatic finish to the AFECAVOL Women’s Final Four Central American Championship, held at the San Francisco de Dos Ríos Gymnasium. The result allowed Nicaragua to be crowned back-to-back champions of the tournament.
Costa Rica started strong and took the first set 25-18 with contributions from Tannia Carazo and Tatiana Sayles, but Honduras responded in the second set, closing 26-24 to tie the match thanks to the power of Ana Gabriela Marcelin and Sasha Pamela Kawas. In the third set, the Costa Ricans regained control with a 25-20 win led by Krystel Vargas and Victoria Rojas, but the Hondurans refused to give up and forced the tiebreak with a dramatic 28-26 fourth set.
In the fifth set, Marcelin was once again decisive and, along with Kawas, guided Honduras to a 15-10 victory that left Costa Rica without championship hopes.
Marcelin was the top scorer of the match with 31 points, followed by Kawas with 23 and Rocío Duron with 13. For Costa Rica, Sayles and Rojas scored 23 points each, while Carazo added 22.
The statistics reflected how close the match was: Honduras led in attack points 75 to 73 and in service aces 7 to 5. Costa Rica was superior in blocking, 12 to 9, and committed fewer unforced errors, 15 to 20.
The result placed Costa Rica second with two wins and one loss, while Nicaragua, with a better set ratio, was crowned 2025 Final Four champion, confirming its regional dominance. Honduras finished third.
Marvin Ulloa, Honduras’ head coach: “It’s been many years since we beat Costa Rica at the senior level. The team has been growing; unfortunately, we had a bad start, but starting yesterday, we began to really play, and the players gave everything. They are happy. It was a beautiful spectacle; for those who love volleyball, having a packed gym with the crowd cheering for the home team is wonderful. This win is for my old man.”
Braulio Godínez, Costa Rica’s head coach: “Today was a match that maybe we thought Honduras wouldn’t be so strong in, but they went from less to more, and today they played very well. Honduras outperformed us in every aspect; they were more focused. Maybe after beating Nicaragua yesterday, the girls thought today might be a bit easier. We struggled to get into our rhythm; we played at their pace, and it took a lot to get back to our level. We could have won the fourth set—we had several set points—but we lacked the calm needed to close it. This tournament shows that the Central American Games will be very competitive, where small details will make the difference.”
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua and Barbuda, September 28, 2025. – In a thrilling display of skill and determination, Antigua and Barbuda has made history by winning its first-ever medal at the 2025 ECVA Women’s Final 4, clinching the bronze with a stunning victory over Grenada. The match, held on Sunday at the YMCA in St. John’s, saw Antigua dominate with a decisive 3-0 victory (25-11, 25-21, 25-14).
From the outset, Antigua showcased remarkable prowess, taking early control of the match and quickly establishing their dominance in the first set. Despite Grenada’s spirited comeback in the second set, Antigua maintained their composure and executed their game plan flawlessly, closing out the match in straight sets.
Antigua and Barbuda vs Granada
The Antiguan team’s offensive strategy was particularly effective, boasting a remarkable 31-16 advantage in attacks. Antigua also excelled in serving, racking up 13 service aces compared to Grenada’s 5. Both teams recorded three blocks, but it was Antigua’s disciplined play and tactical execution that made the difference.
Leading the charge for Antigua was opposite Jahzara Donovan, who scored an impressive 12 points. Outside hitter Faith Gibson and middle blocker Alliyah Smith each contributed critical 8 points, demonstrating the depth of talent on the team. Grenada’s top scorer, Xenia Collins, put forth a valiant effort with 9 points.
Team Captain Rosemarie Simon expressed her pride in the team’s achievement, stating, “We played our best and executed our game plan as we discussed. We are thrilled to have come out with a medal at this tournament. This victory is not just for us, but for all of Antigua and Barbuda!”
SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica, September 28, 2025.- Nicaragua convincingly defeated El Salvador 3-0 (25-13, 25-20, 25-15) at the San Francisco de Dos Ríos Gymnasium, at the Central American Women’s Final Four Championship.
In the first set, the Nicaraguans set the pace with strong serving and Gilmary Smith’s attacks, closing with a comfortable 25-13 win.
In the second set, El Salvador showed its best version with contributions from Gabriela Funes and Pamela Andrade, but setter Lolette Rodríguez’s pressure and Ericka Calero’s offensive finish made the difference, taking the set 25-20 and moving ahead 2-0.
Nicaragua block
The third set confirmed Nicaragua’s dominance. El Salvador’s 19 unforced errors made it easier to close the set 25-15 and complete the sweep.
The statistics reflected Nicaragua’s superiority, as they recorded 42 attack points, 4 blocks, and 8 aces, while committing 13 unforced errors.
Smith was the top scorer with 14 points, followed by Calero with 13 and Rodríguez with 7 points. For El Salvador, Funes scored 10 points, while Andrade and Ramírez added 6 each.
With this result, Nicaragua finished the tournament with two wins and one loss, while El Salvador ended winless. Nicaragua awaits the result between Costa Rica and Honduras to know their final standing.
Lolette Rodríguez, Nicaragua’s setter: “We have felt very good in this tournament. We knew it was going to be a very tough event, all the teams are preparing well, and we see this as preparation for the upcoming Central American Games. We’ll go back home, make adjustments, and try to be as well-prepared as possible.”
Marisol Sánchez, El Salvador’s setter: “We are very happy to have been able to participate in this Final Four. We have a very young team, with many girls still part of the U19 category, and the goal is to achieve better results for future national teams.”
PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic, September 28, 2025 – Americans James Drost and Troy Field defeated Cuban duo Damián Gómez and Eblis Veranes in a nail-biting three-set match 2-1 (19-21, 21-18, 15-10) to win the gold medal in the ninth leg of the NORCECA Continental Beach Volleyball Tour, which concluded this Sunday in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
Drost/Field (USA) defeated Mexico’s Antonio Lares/Carlos Ayala 2-0 (21-16, 21-17) in the semifinals to advance to the final, while Cuba’s Gomez/Veranes defeated Nicaragua’s Ruben Mora/Dany Lopez 2-0 (21-16, 23-21) in the semifinals.
Mexico’s Lares/Ayala took the bronze medal, defeating Nicaragua’s Mora/Lopez 2-0 (21-16, 21-18).
In seventh place were Dominicans Hayerling de Jesús/Jorge Matos (DOM1), who defeated their counterparts Melvin de Jesús/Ramón de Jesús (DOM2) 2-0 (21-13, 21-16), while Justin Solano/Victorio González finished in ninth place, defeating Sean Tucker/Benjamin Barnett of Bermuda 2-0 (21-14, 21-18).
Eleventh place went to José Izaguirre/Santiago Penagos of Guatemala, who defeated Jared Brown/Colem Sommer of the Virgin Islands 2-0 (21-10, 21-13). In 13th place was Rafael Vargas/Fernando Ortiz of El Salvador, who defeated Joel Theodore/Stephen Enile of Trinidad and Tobago 2-1 (21-16, 18-21, 15-7).
In fifteenth place were Aiden Hazzard/Da’Qwan Fredericks of Anguilla.
Other results of the day were: CAN Rahvanard/Devecseri in DOM2 M. de Jesús/R. de Jesús 2-0 (21-16, 21-15); VEN Vargas/Delgado in DOM1 H. de Jesús/Matos 2-0 (21-17, 21-13).
ST JOHN’S, Antigua, September 27, 2025.- Antigua and Barbuda achieved a significant milestone today by securing their first victory at the 2025 ECVA Women’s Final 4, sweeping Grenada 3-0 with set scores of 25-13, 25-20, 25-9. The match took place at the YMCA in St John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, on the second day of the tournament.
The Antiguan team demonstrated remarkable skill and cohesion from the outset, particularly in the first set where they established a commanding twelve-point lead. Although Grenada attempted to rally in the second set, reaching a score of 20, Antigua ultimately maintained their composure to clinch the set and the match.
Block
Antigua’s performance was characterized by dominance in several key areas. They outperformed Grenada with 11 service points compared to Grenada’s 6, executed 2 blocks to Grenada’s 1, and committed fewer errors (22 to 25). However, Grenada led in attack points with a margin of 37 to 13.
Jahzara Donovan stood out as Antigua’s top scorer, contributing 14 points, while Middle Blocker Nayota Peters followed closely with 11 points. This victory brings Antigua’s record to 1-2 in the tournament.
Antigua will conclude their tournament play on Sunday against Grenada, who remains winless. Meanwhile, Bermuda (3-0) is set to face Saint Lucia (2-1) in a crucial match that will determine eligibility qualifications for the 2026 Pan American Games.
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua and Barbuda, September 27, 2025.- In a nail-biting encounter that showcased the spirit and determination of both teams, Bermuda emerged victorious over Saint Lucia in a hard-fought match during the 2025 ECVA Women’s Final 4. The final score of 3-2 (25-16, 25-19, 23-25, 25-27, 15-11) reflects the intense competition that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
Bermuda dominated the attack with a total of 51 points to Saint Lucia’s 42, while also edging in blocks (6-5). The standout performer for Bermuda was outside hitter Natalie Gazzard, who delivered 13 points, leading her team to this exhilarating victory.
Bermuda celebrates
Saint Lucia’s Lisa Casimine shone brightly for her team, contributing a remarkable 25 points. Despite the loss, her captain, Cindy Wilson, remained optimistic. “I find we played the game without much effort; we played a low-level game,” she stated. “Heading into the finals tomorrow, we are going back to the drawing board. We need to stick to the game plan and execute.”
As the excitement builds, Bermuda will now prepare to face Saint Lucia once more in a thrilling championship match for 1st place, while Antigua will battle Grenada for 3rd place. The medal matches are set to take place on Sunday, June 28, at the YMCA, St. John’s Antigua, promising an electric atmosphere as teams vie for glory.
Join us as we celebrate the passion and talent of these incredible athletes and witness the culmination of this exhilarating tournament
SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica, September 27, 2025.– In an exciting five-set battle, Costa Rica defeated defending champions Nicaragua (25-17, 20-25, 20-25, 25-19, 15-5) and is now one step away from claiming the AFECAVOL Women’s Final Four Championship being held at the San Francisco de Dos Ríos Gymnasium.
The duel was a true clash of power. The Costa Ricans took a tight first set (25-23), but Nicaragua came back strong in the second and third, with identical scores (25-20), to take the lead. Costa Rica never gave up and, with the support of their home crowd, evened the match with a solid 25-19 in the fourth set. The fifth set showed the hosts at their best: focus, organized defense, and effective attacking to seal the victory with a convincing 15-5.
Individually, Tania Carazo shined as Costa Rica’s top scorer with 17 points, supported by Tatiana Sayles with 16 and Victoria Rojas with 15. The team totaled 52 attack points and 9 blocks.
Costa Rica Win
For Nicaragua, captain Ericka Calero led the offense with 15 points, followed by Josafat Díaz with 15 and María Belén Arcia with 14. The Nicaraguans tallied 7 blocks and 55 attack points but committed 35 unforced errors compared to Costa Rica’s 28.
With this win, Costa Rica remains unbeaten and sits atop the standings. Nicaragua, who also won their first match, now faces a challenge in defending their title.
The decisive day will be played tomorrow, with Costa Rica looking to clinch the title in front of their home fans against Honduras at 6:30 p.m., while Nicaragua will face El Salvador at 4:00 p.m.
Tatiana Sayles, Costa Rica’s Captain: “We just finished a very close match against Nicaragua; they are a very strong team. We knew this was going to be a very tough match, but we managed to get the win today. We know this Final Four is very important for us ahead of the Central American Games. We know they are not the same, but this helps us as preparation. Today the team focused on the game plan, and we are very happy about the victory. Now we must focus on tomorrow’s match against Honduras.”
Dalia Calero, Nicaragua’s Outside Hitter: “We knew it was a very tough match, and we clearly wanted to win it and keep the title. The tournament is not over yet, and I think we can give more of ourselves.”
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, September 27, 2025. – In an exciting matchup at the 2025 ECVA Women’s Final 4, Bermuda showcased their strength by defeating Antigua and Barbuda 3-1 (25-23, 26-24, 20-25, 25-17). This marks Antigua’s second defeat in the tournament.
Bermuda started strong, dominating the first set, but Antigua made a commendable effort to tighten the competition, especially during the second set. The third set saw Antigua leading, demonstrating tenacity and skill. However, Bermuda’s young squad rallied to secure the victory.
Bermuda
Bermuda’s Head Coach, Rick Bevis, praised his team’s collective effort: “For me as the coach, the biggest takeaway was how much effort it was a team effort and a team win. You saw that I made a lot of substitutions and almost maxed out my substitutions in every set. That’s how we build our team; everybody contributes and has a job to do. It was really gratifying to see everybody make a strong effort as a team.”
Antigua’s captain, Rosemarie Simon, expressed her disappointment: “I am a little bit disappointed because I came here as the captain of this team to win the game. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy because technically, Bermuda is a strong team. They may not be power hitters, but their technique is pretty good in passing, setting, and placing the ball, where persons are not. We broke down defensively in this game, but we are looking forward to going forth and playing Grenada.”
Bermuda led in attack points (53-41) and blocking (6-4), while Antigua, on opponent errors, 34 points compared to Bermuda’s 23.
The tournament is being held at the YMCA in St. John’s and will continue until September 28.
SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica, September 27, 2025. – Honduras earned their first victory in the AFECAVOL Women’s Central American Final Four Championship by defeating El Salvador 3-1 (25-19, 25-23, 20-25, 26-24) in a thrilling duel at the San Francisco de Dos Ríos Gymnasium.
The start was favorable for the Catrachas, who, with an organized game, took control of the first set 25-19. In the second set, El Salvador tightened up and forced a close finish, but Honduras prevailed again 25-23.
El Salvador responded in the third set, extending the match with a 25-20 win. The final set was a nail-biter, with Honduras resisting the pressure and closing it 26-24 to secure the victory.
The statistics reflected Honduras’ superiority in attack with 57 points to 45 and in blocking with 10 to 5. El Salvador compensated with power from the service line, recording 10 aces compared to Honduras’ 3.
The standout player of the match was Gabriela Marcelin, unstoppable with 25 points (20 on attacks and 5 on blocks). She was supported by Sasha Pamela Kawas with 17 points and Rocío Durón with 8. For El Salvador, Blanca Colato stood out with 14 points, followed by Adriana Flores with 11.
With this victory, Honduras earns their first points in the standings and puts themselves back in contention to improve their position.
Tomorrow, they will finish their participation by facing Costa Rica at 6:30 p.m., while El Salvador will play against Nicaragua at 4:00 p.m.
The final day will be decisive, as Honduras seeks to overtake El Salvador in the standings and the matches will determine the Central American champion.
Tessa Flores, Captain of Honduras: “It was quite a tough match because we know El Salvador digs up everything. We stepped up our game in blocking and serving, we stayed focused, and we pulled it off. The last set was very close, but we trusted our attackers and our blocking, and that’s how we were able to take the match.”
Adriana Flores, Captain of El Salvador: “This match was very close, and the victory was going to go to the team that made fewer mistakes. In our case, we struggled to close in the moments when we needed to be decisive. That happened even though we managed our defense better, but unfortunately, the overall set of things we needed to do well at the end didn’t come together, but we fought hard.”
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, September 27, 2025. – In an impressive display of skill and teamwork, Saint Lucia swept Grenada 3-0 (25-17, 25-10, 25-15) in their second match of the 2025 ECVA Women’s Final 4 at the YMCA, St. John’s Antigua.
From the very beginning, Saint Lucia asserted control over the match, showcasing their dominance with a staggering 36-18 lead in attacks and a 2-1 advantage in blocks. Despite committing 25 errors, their performance far outpaced Grenada, which struggled to find its rhythm throughout the game with 21 errors.
Saint Lucia
Lisa Casimie emerged as the standout player for Saint Lucia, scoring an impressive 18 points. The team’s cohesion and strategic play were evident as they capitalized on Grenada’s challenges, which have unfortunately led to a winless record thus far in the tournament.
Cindy Wilson, Captain of Saint Lucia: “We stuck with, and executed our game plan effectively and maintained our focus throughout the match. It feels great to contribute to our team’s success, and we’re looking forward to facing Bermuda next.”
Jahmirah Beadle, Captain of Grenada: “We’ve been struggling to find our footing in this tournament. We need to regroup and focus on improving our performance as we prepare for our next match against Antigua and Barbuda.”
Looking ahead, Saint Lucia will face Bermuda in their next match, while Grenada seeks to turn their fortunes around against the host nation, Antigua and Barbuda.
PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic, September 27, 2025.- The women’s teams from Puerto Rico, the United States, Canada, and Costa Rica advanced this Saturday to the semifinals of the ninth leg of the NORCECA Continental Beach Volleyball Tour, which is being held on the sand courts at Los Corales Beach in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
Puerto Ricans María González and Allanis Navas defeated the Cuban duo Kailin Garrido/Maykelin Drik 2-1 (21-18, 17-21, 15-13) in the Quarterfinals and will play in the Semifinals against Marcela Araya and Eugenia Ramírez of Costa Rica, who defeated Julibeth Payano/Azmabeth Infante (DOM1) 2-1 (21-17, 19-21, 15-8).
Geena Urango and Mariah Whalen (USA1) defeated their counterparts Katherine Reilly/Clara Stowel (USA2) 2-0 (21-19, 21-17) in the Quarterfinals and will face Canadians Alison McKay/Darby Dunn (CAN1) in the Semifinals, who defeated Socorro López/Norma Brenes (NCA) 2-0 (21-18, 21-13).
USA
In the qualifying matches for positions 9/12:
CAN2 Kaylee Glagau/Abbey Thorup of ESA Keiry Guzmán/Eugenia Ramírez 2-0 (21-1, 21-6)
MEX1 Susana Torres/Atenas Gutiérrez of MEX2 Angélica Torres/Mariah Ramírez due to injury from the B team.
The competition begins on Sunday at 8:00 am (local time) with the semifinals and the position matches. The bronze medal match and final will be played in the afternoon.
Other results of the day were: DOM Payano/Infante d NCA López/Brenes 2-0 (24-22, 21-17); CAN1 McKay/Dunn d CRC Araya/Ramirez 2-0 (21-19, 21-12); MEX2 Angélica Torres/María Ramírez d ISV Vernecia Caines/Verneeci Caines 2-0 (21-2, 21-7); USA1 Urango/Whalen d MEX1 Susana Torres/Atenas Gutiérrez 2-1 (21-14, 22-24, 15-10); CUB Kailin Garrido/Maykelin Drik d DOM2 Bethania Almanzar/Crismil Paniagua 2-0 (21-12, 21-16); PUR González/Navas d VEN Oriana Granadilla/Darlin Rodríguez 2-0 21-15, 21-18); USA2 Reilly/Stowel d CAN2 Kaylee Glagau/Abbey Thorup 2-1 (21-23, 21-17, 15-12).
PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic, September 27, 2025 – The men’s teams of Nicaragua, Cuba, the United States, and Mexico advanced to the semifinals of the ninth stage of the NORCECA Continental Beach Volleyball Tour, being played at Los Corales Beach in Punta Cana.
Nicaragua’s Rubén Mora and Dany López defeated Dominicans Melvin de Jesús/Ramón de Jesús (DOM2) 2-0 (22-20, 21-15) in the quarterfinals and will face the Cuban duo of Damián Gómez/Eblis Veranes in the semifinals, who defeated Canadians Rouzbeh Rahnavard/Dylan Devecseri 2-0 (21-14, 21-13).
Americans James Drost/Troy Field defeated Venezuela’s Juliangel Vargas and Enyenser Delgado 2-0 (21-12, 21-15) in the quarterfinals and will play in the semifinals against Mexicans Antonio Lares/Carlos Ayala, who defeated Hayerling de Jesús/Jorge Matos (DOM1) 2-0 (21-11, 21-15).
USA
In the 9th/12th place qualifying matches:
CRC Justin Solano/Victorio González d GUA José Izaguirre/Santiago Penagos 2-0 (21-18, 23-21)
BER Sean Tucker/Benjamin Barnett d ISV Jared Brown/Cole Sommer 2-0 (21-12, 23-21)
In the 13th/16th place qualifying matches:
ESA Rafael Vargas/Fernando Ortiz d AGU Aiden Hazzard/Da’Qwan Fredericks 2-0 (21-7, 21-8)
TTO Joel Theodore/Stephen Enile -BYE
The competition begins on Sunday at 8:00 a.m. (local time) with the semifinals and the position matches, and the bronze medal match and final will be played in the afternoon.
Other results of the day were: NCA Mora/López d DOM1 De Jesús/Jorge 2-0 (21-18, 21-17); MEX Lares/Ayala d ESA Vargas/Ponce 2-0 (21-4, 21-11); DOM2 M. de Jesús/R. de Jesús d BER Sean Tucker/Benjamin Barnett 2-0 (21-13, 21-17); VEN Vargas/Delgado d CAN Rahnavard/Devecseri 2-1 (19-21, 21-19, 17-15); ISV Jared Brown/Cole Sommer d AGU Aiden Hazzard/Da´Qwan Fredericks 2-0 (21-14, 21-13); USA Drost/Field d CRC Solano/González 2-0 (21-5, 21-16); CUB Gómez/Veranes d TTO Theodore/Enile 2-0 (21-9, 21-12).
September 26, 2025 – USA Volleyball, Volleyball Canada, the FIVB and Volleyball World, today announced that the 2027 FIVB Women’s World Championship, the world’s premier women’s volleyball event, will be co-hosted by the United States and Canada, with the final rounds staged at Honda Center and OCVIBE in Anaheim, California, while four more host cities are to be awarded for the pool phase and round of 16.
This marks the first time the Women’s World Championship will take place on U.S. and Canadian soil. The joint bid reflects volleyball’s surging popularity across both countries at the youth, collegiate and professional levels and builds on the sport’s momentum heading into the LA28 Games, where men’s and women’s volleyball competitions will take place at Honda Center.
The tournament will feature the best teams from 32 different countries coming to the U.S. and Canada to battle for supremacy in the world of women’s volleyball. All 32 teams will be featured in four pool play sites, two in Canada and two in the U.S. Each of the four host cities will stage the first round of 16 in the knockout phase before the surviving eight teams will gather in Anaheim to play for the Championship.
“Volleyball Canada and its potential host cities are thrilled with the FIVB and Volleyball World’s confidence in this unique partnership that will see the 2027 Women’s World Championship hosted in Canada and the United States.
“The growth of volleyball and interest in women’s sports creates an ideal environment to bring this display of the highest level of our sport to North American fans for the first time ever. We’re very excited to build on our knowledge of hosting major events, such as Volleyball Nations League, and take the athlete and spectator experience to the next level!” Mark Eckert, President and CEO of Volleyball Canada
FIVB President Fabio Azevedo, said: “Our goal has always been to put athletes and fans at the heart of everything we do and with both the USA and Canada being first-time hosts of our flagship competition, we hope to provide new experiences for the Global Volleyball Movement. It is even more special that the competition will serve as a qualification event for LA28, which at that point will be less than a year away! I am confident that both hosts will deliver an unforgettable celebration of our sport.”
“The FIVB 2027 Women’s World Championship is an exceptional opportunity to partner with FIVB, Volleyball World, OCVIBE, and Volleyball Canada to showcase the very best of our sport,” said John Speraw, President and CEO of USA Volleyball. “This event goes beyond competition. It’s about inspiring future athletes, building momentum toward the Games, and celebrating women’s sports on a global stage. Fans can expect electric energy, a festival-like atmosphere, and a legacy that will take our love of the game to new heights.”
“Hosting the final phase of the 2027 FIVB Women’s World Championship at Honda Center at OCVIBE reflects our ongoing commitment to elevating volleyball and creating meaningful experiences for our local community,” said Bill Foltz, CEO of OC Sports & Entertainment, which is developing OCVIBE. “We’re proud to play a part with USA Volleyball and Volleyball World to not only showcase the best in women’s sports but also deliver lasting benefits to Anaheim and the region.”
The event will offer unparalleled opportunities for broadcast, sponsorship and fan engagement, ensuring the sport reaches more North American households and inspires more young athletes than ever before.
Further details about host cities, ticketing and event programming will be announced at a later date.
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, September 27, 2025. – In a thrilling opening match of the 2025 ECVA Women’s Final 4 tournament, Saint Lucia emerged victorious with a hard-fought 3-2 win against the host country, Antigua and Barbuda. The match, held at the YMCA, ended with set scores of 25-16, 25-17, 19-25, 18-25, and 15-7.
Despite a strong start from Saint Lucia, who took the first two sets, Antigua and Barbuda showcased remarkable resilience by rallying back to win the third and fourth sets. The Antiguan team improved their defensive reads and offensive execution, demonstrating their determination to compete on home soil. However, Saint Lucia regrouped effectively in the decisive fifth set, executing a strategic game plan that secured their victory.
Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia led in key statistics, including attacks (51-33) and blocks (6-4), while also committing fewer unforced errors—31 compared to Antigua’s 50. The standout performer for Saint Lucia was opposite Lisa Casimine, who scored 19 points with 14 kills, 2 blocks, and 3 aces. Outside hitter Lucy Chenoa also made significant contributions, adding 16 points to the team’s total.
Antigua and Barbuda’s Middle Blocker, Nyota Peters, led her team with 12 points, while Opposite Jahzara Donavan added 11 points to the effort.
Reflecting on the match, Saint Lucia Team Captain Cindy Wilson stated, “The game plan was executed as expected; we only faltered in the third set when Antigua and Barbuda managed to break our reception line and gained a lead. In the fifth set, we made the necessary adjustments, which gave the team the stability to move forward.”
The 2025 ECVA Women’s Final 4 tournament continues, with Saint Lucia looking to build on this momentum in their upcoming matches.
ST JOHN, Antigua and Barbuda, September 26, 2025.- Bermuda delivered a strong performance in the opening match of the 2025 ECVA Women’s Final 4, defeating Grenada 3-0 (20-14, 25-10, 25-15) at the YMCA in St. John’s. The tournament runs from September 26 to 28 and features the top female teams in the Eastern Caribbean.
In a thrilling contest, Bermuda showcased their dominance, particularly in attack points, where they outscored Grenada 73 to 53. Despite Grenada’s efforts, including a notable performance in blocking with a 16-12 advantage, they struggled to maintain pressure throughout the match.
Bermuda defense
Amber Simmons, Bermuda’s standout middle blocker, was instrumental in the victory, scoring a match-high 14 points, which included 7 kills and 5 blocks. Teammate Megan Hands contributed significantly as well, adding 11 points to the scoreboard.
Grenada’s outside hitter, Xenia Collins, led her team with 3 points, but it was not enough to change the outcome of the match.
Looking ahead, Bermuda will face Antigua in their next match, while Grenada will go up against Saint Lucia.
Team captain Bermuda, Sharri Weldon and coach Rick Bevis both expressed the excitement on this first win at the tournament. Sharri: “This win sets the tone for the rest of the tournament” while coach Rick said, “We will keep focusing on what the team does well and work on our side of the net”.
Team captain Grenada, Jahmirah Beadle: “I felt that we played ok but could have done better. We have been playing very good in Grenada ahead of this tournament and our strategy ahead of our other games is to work on our passes”.
SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica, September 26, 2025.- Costa Rica got off to a strong start in the AFECAVOL Women’s Central American Final Four Championship, defeating El Salvador 3-0 (25-15, 25-13, 25-20) at the San Francisco de Dos Ríos Gymnasium.
The home team controlled the first set with a comfortable margin (25-15). In the second, Costa Rica’s offense kept setting the pace to extend the lead with a clear 25-13. In the third, El Salvador improved and forced a tighter finish, but Costa Rica stayed composed to close the win 25-20.
The stats reflected Costa Rica’s dominance, with 44 points on attacks compared to El Salvador’s 27, along with a 7-2 advantage in blocks and 6-0 in aces. El Salvador only capitalized on 18 points from Costa Rica’s errors, not enough to offset the home team’s offense.
Individually, middle blocker Mariela Rojas led with 14 points, 11 from attacks and 3 from blocks. Also standing out were outside hitter Tania Carazo with 12 points, opposite Lakisha Thompson with 12, and outside hitter Tatiana Sayles with 11. For El Salvador, middle blocker Evelyn Ramírez led with 12 points, followed by outside hitter Gabriela Funes with 7.
On the second day, Saturday 27, Costa Rica will face Nicaragua at 6:30 p.m., while El Salvador will look to bounce back against Honduras at 4:00 p.m.
Braulio Godínez, Costa Rica’s coach: “The first match is to break the ice. We managed the first and second sets more solidly. The middle part of the match was more challenging. Some changes were made in the third set to give some players minutes, and that complicated things a bit; it was more even. El Salvador played a bit more freely, but I think we always kept control of the match, and this helps us for tomorrow’s game.”
Dennisse Rogel, El Salvador’s assistant coach: “In this match against Costa Rica, we had the lead in the last set, but we missed a couple of plays to close it out. We are developing as the tournament progresses, and we are watching how our players perform.”
SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica, September 26, 2025.- Nicaragua started their campaign at the AFECAVOL Women’s Final Four Central American Championship with a convincing 3-0 victory over Honduras (25-18, 25-18, 25-10) at the San Francisco de Dos Ríos Sports Complex in San José, Costa Rica.
Nicaragua took control midway through the first set and closed strong to claim it 25-18. In the second, they raced to a 5-1 lead and never looked back, holding off Honduras late in the set to secure another 25-18 win.
The defending champions dominated the third set, powering to a 25-10 finish that sealed the straight-sets victory. Despite Honduras’ strong defensive efforts that forced several long rallies, Nicaragua maintained their offensive rhythm to stay in control.
Statistically, Nicaragua held the edge in attacks (42-30) and serves (5-2), while the teams tied in blocks (4-4). Additionally, Honduras committed 24 errors, which were well capitalized on by Nicaragua, who committed only 10.
Outside hitter Dayana Arcia led Nicaragua with 12 points, all from attacks. She was followed by Dania Calero with 11 points (eight kills, one block, two aces) and Josafat Diaz, who also reached double figures with 10 points.
For Honduras, opposite Rocío Durón and middle blocker Ana Gabriela Marcelin were the top scorers with 10 points each.
On Saturday, September 27, Honduras will face El Salvador at 4:00 p.m., while Nicaragua will take on hosts Costa Rica at 6:30 p.m.
Nicaragua’s head coach René Quintana said: “The team really managed to dominate the game. We were able to take away Honduras’ initiative, and that gave us the victory.”
Honduras coach Marvin Ulloa commented: “It was a difficult match; we did not expect it to go this way. What we worked on did not come through, and our game plan didn’t work—maybe because the foreign players joined us at the last minute. But the tournament continues, and we hope to do better tomorrow.”
PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic, September 26, 2025 – The teams from Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico won their respective matches on the first day of competition at the ninth stop of the NORCECA Continental Beach Volleyball Tour, at Los Corales Beach in Punta Cana.
In Group A, Dominicans Julibeth Payano/Azmabeth Infante defeated Keiry Guzmán/Karla Tovar (ESA) 2-0 (21-6, 21-7) and earned a BYE, while Socorro López/Norma Brenes (NCA) defeated Guzmán/Tovar 2-0 (21-16, 21-12) and also earned a BYE.
In Group B, two pairs remained undefeated: Marcela Araya/Eugenia Ramírez (CRC), who defeated Vernecia Caines/Verneeci Caines (ISV) 2-0 (21-7, 21-11) and Angélica Torres/María Ramírez (MEX2) 2-0 (21-17, 21-17), while Alison McKay/Darby Dunn (CAN1) defeated Torres/Ramírez (MEX2) 2-0 (21-13, 21-11) and Vernecia and Verneeci Caines (ISV) 2-0 (21-8, 21-10).
Canada
In Group C, Susana Torres/Atenas Gutiérrez (MEX1) defeated Cubans Kailín Garrido/Maykelin Drik 2-0 (21-19, 21-18) and Bethania Almanzar/Crismil Paniagua (DOM2) 2-0 (21-11, 21-13).
In Group D, María González/Allanis Navas (PUR) defeated Katherine Reilly/Clara Stowel (USA2) 2-0 (21-17, 21-16) and Kaylee Glagau/Abbey Thorup (CAN2) 2-0 (21-15, 21-10).
The tournament continues this Saturday with the regular round, the quarterfinals, and the losers’ round.
Other results of the day were: USA1 Urango/Whalen d DOM2 Almánzar/Paniagua 2-0 (21-15, 21-19); CUB Garrido/Drik d USA1 Urango/Whalen 2-0 (21-19, 21-18); CAN2 Glagau/Thorup d VEN Oriana Granadilla/Darlin Rodríguez 2-0 (21-16, 21-10); USA2 Reilly/Stowel d VEN Granadilla/Rodríguez 2-0 (21-7, 21-10).
PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic, September 26, 2025 – The teams from the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Mexico, Venezuela, Canada, and Cuba finished undefeated the first day of competition of the ninth leg of the 2025 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Continental Tour undefeated, held at Los Corales Beach in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
In Group A, the pairing of Hayerling De Jesús and Jorge Matos (DOM1) defeated José Izaguirre/Santiago Penagos (GUA) 2-0 (23-21, 21-13) with a bye. In the same group, Nicaraguans Rubén Mora and Dany López defeated Izaguirre/Penagos (GUA) 2-0 (21-13, 21-17) and also earned a bye.
Mexicans Antonio Lares and Carlos Ayala defeated in group B yhe pair of Melvin De Jesús/Ramón De Jesús (DOM2) 2-0 (21-17, 22-20) and Sean Tucker/Benjamin Barnett (BER) 2-0 (21-12, 21-11).
Mexico
In Group C, Venezuelans Juliangel Vargas/Enyenser Delgado defeated Jared Brown/Cole Sommer (ISV) 2-0 (21-5, 21-7) and Aiden Hazzard/Da’Qwan Fredericks (AGU) 2-0 (21-8, 21-9), while Canadians Rouzbeh Rahnavard/Dylan Devecseri also won against Hazzard/Fredericks (AGU) 2-0 (21-9, 21-13) and Brown/Sommer (ISV) 2-0 (21-5, 21-5).
Cubans Damián Gómez/Eblis Veranes, in group D, defeated the American duo James Drost/Troy Field (USA) 2-0 (21-15, 23-21) and Justin Solano/Victorio González (CRC) 2-0 (21-15, 21-10).
The competition continues this Saturday with the continuation of the preliminary round, the quarterfinals, and the losers’ bracket.Other results of the day were: BER Tucker/Barnett d ESA Rafael Vargas/Fernando Ortiz 2-0 (21-18, 21-12); DOM2 M. De Jesús/R. De Jesús d ESA Vargas/Ortiz 2-0 (21-13, 21-6); CRC Solano/González d TTO Joel Theodore/Stephen Enile 2-0 (21-12, 21-12); USA Drost/Field d TTO Theodore/Enile 2-0 (21-7, 21-11).
PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic, September 25, 2025.– A total of 15 countries will see action in the ninth stop of the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Continental Tour, which kicks off this Friday on the sand courts set up at Los Corales Beach in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
Fifteen pairs per gender confirmed their participation in the event during the preliminary meeting held on Thursday.
Pool play begins this Friday at 8:00 a.m. (local time). On Saturday, pool play will continue, followed by the quarterfinals and the losers’ bracket. On Sunday morning, the semifinals will be played, followed by placement matches, with the bronze medal match and the Final taking place in the afternoon.
MEN’S TEAMS
VEN (Juliangel/Esyenser) – Juliangel Zaid/Enyenser Delgado; MEX (Lares/Carlos Andrés) – Inés Antonio Vargas/Carlos Andres Ayala; NCA (Mora/López) – Ruben Mora/Dany López; CUB (Gomez/Veranes) – Damian Gomez/Eblis Veranes; USA (Drost/Field) – James Avery Drost/Troy Field ; TTO (Theodore/Enile) – Joel Issac Theodore/Stephen Enile; GUA (Izaguirre/Penagos) – José Miguel Izaguirre/Santiago Penagos; CAN (Rahnavard/Devecseri) – Rouzbeh Rahnavard/Dylan Devecseri; BER (Tucker/Barnett) – Sean Tucker/Benjamin Barnett; CRC (Solano/Esteban) – Justin Solano/Esteban González; DOM (De Jesús/De Jesus) – Melvin Antonio de Jesús/Ramon Francisco De Jesus; DOM (De Jesús/Jorge) – Hayerling Francisco De Jesús/Yasser Antonio Jorge; ESA (R Vargas/Ponce) – Rafael Vargas/Fernando Ortiz; ISV (Brown/Sommer) – Jared Brown/Cole Sommer; AGU (Hazzard/Fredericks) – Aiden Hazzard/Da’Qwan Fredericks
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts and Nevis. September 23, 2025. St. Kitts and Nevis’ own St. Clair Hodge has been selected as a member of the inaugural cohort of the FIVB (International Volleyball Federation) Volleyball Athletes’ Commission’s “Beyond the Sport” Program.
The prestigious initiative, which runs from October 6–10 in Lausanne, Switzerland, is designed to support volleyball and beach volleyball players as they transition from elite competition into the next stage of their professional journey.
The week-long seminar targets athletes who are nearing retirement or are recently retired, offering them practical tools, expert insights, and networking opportunities to build meaningful and lasting careers beyond the court.
Hodge, who is also representing the Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association (ECVA), describes the program as a rare and invaluable opportunity. “It’s an opportunity for retiring and retired volleyball players, whether beach or indoor, to network, upskill, and learn new things. This opportunity is incredible because it’s a selection from a global set of volleyball players. The process involved an application, a shortlist, and then an interview before the final participants were chosen.’ He explained
Ahead of the program, participants have already received preparatory coursework focusing on personal branding, reputation, daily routines, and career accomplishments. Hodge believes the early exercises highlight the program’s commitment to helping athletes understand their strengths and position themselves for success. Beyond personal development, Hodge is eager to leverage the experience for the benefit of sport in St. Kitts and Nevis and the rest of the ECVA.
“This is a perfect opportunity to advance my understanding of global operations, make international connections, and see how things are done on the global stage. The goal is to bring back ideas that can be applied not only in volleyball, but across different sporting disciplines in our Federation.” Hodge outlined.
In addition to his selection, Hodge continues to play an influential role in the advancement of local and regional sport. He currently serves as Chairman of the St. Kitts and Nevis Olympic Committee (SKNOC) Athletes’ Commission and sits on the executive of the St. Kitts and Nevis Amateur Volleyball Association (SKAVA).
His involvement in the “Beyond the Sport” Program is an invaluable opportunity that places him among a pioneering group of global volleyball leaders preparing to shape life after playing.
September 25, 2025. Bulgaria are back among the best four of an FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship for the first time since 2006. In front of well over 10 thousand fans on the stands in Pasay City on Thursday, they mounted a sensational comeback from two sets down in their quarterfinal against the United States to pick up the last semifinal vacancy at Philippines 2025. Bulgaria will take on Czechia in one of the two semifinal matches set to take place on Saturday, September 27.
American opposite’s Gabriel Garcia’s powerful serving made the big difference in the first set. It gave them a substantial advantage early into the set. Bulgaria leveled the play, but never quite leveled the score as USA stepped in front. The Europeans took a small lead in set two, but practically refused to break further way with the overwhelming number of mistakes they made from the serving line. USA took advantage and, with middle blocker Merrick McHenry on fire, opened a wide gap. It was McHenry that put the final touch with a monster block to get the US lead in the match doubled.
BUL vs USA
Bulgaria finally found their rhythm in set three. With middle Iliya Petkov’s solid contribution both in offense and from the serving line, they were unstoppable on the way to taking the set by a wide margin. Things heated up as the fourth set offered an even battle throughout. In the money time, however, the Bulgarians remained more focused to edge forward and win the set on a kill block by opposite Asparuh Asparuhov.
Bulgaria’s first four points in the tie-breaker were personally delivered by 21-year-old outside hitter Aleksandar Nikolov. The next two came from the hands of his younger brother, 18-year-old setter Simeon Nikolov. In fact, Aleks produced as many as eight points on the way to a 12-9 Bulgarian lead. 22-year-old sub-in outside Georgi Tatarov killed the next two to bring Bulgaria to a quadruple match point. The first three opportunities to close the game were denied, but on the fourth, Iliya Petkov hammered the match winner for 3-2 (21-25, 19-25, 25-17, 25-22, 15-13).
Merrick McHenry USA
The Bulgarians did slightly better than the Americans on all scoring counts – 61-57 in attack kills, 7-5 in serving aces and 7-6 in kill blocks. Aleks Nikolov was above all with a match-high 29 points, including two aces and a block. Asparuhov contributed another 12, including two blocks, while Petkov aced twice and registered a 73% success rate in offense to finish with 10 points.
USA made fewer unforced errors than Bulgaria, 30 against 34. Outside hitters Ethan Champlin and Jordan Ewert were their leading scorers with 17 and 15 points, respectively. McHenry registered an impressive 83% success rate in attack. He put away an ace and a kill block to finish with 12 points.
“In the moment, it’s not great, but when you look at the big picture, we came into this tournament ready to learn a lot, and I think we did. It’s served its purpose for us. This experience is wonderful for a lot of us, including myself,” USA’s star setter and captain Micah Christenson commented. “Obviously, it stinks. I hurt for these guys who put in so much. They are such incredible people – not only volleyball players, but teammates and people. But that’s how sports goes sometimes. So, we are going to learn from it, but we are proud of the battle. We are excelling in an accelerated rate and I am really proud of us.”
SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica, September 25, 2025.- The four participating countries of the II AFECAVOL Women’s Final Four are already ready and this Thursday successfully went through the preliminary interview.
Costa Rica was the first national team to go through the preliminary inquiry, followed by Honduras, Nicaragua and El Salvador.
For this September 25, the teams also had scheduled the court recognition at the San Francisco de Dos Ríos Gymnasium, where starting this Friday the 26th until next Sunday the 28th they will compete for the title.
Teams also had their first official training session at the San Francisco de Dos Ríos Gymnasium, where they will compete for the title starting this Friday 26th and until next Sunday 28th.
Nicaragua arrives determined to defend the crown in an all-against-all format with two matches per day.
Just like in the men’s tournament, the Women’s Final Four will award points for the FIVB world ranking, which raises even more the importance of each match.
The coaches commented
Costa Rica
José Miguel Briceño, assistant coach Costa Rica: “We are happy to play at home, we want to make a good presentation so that the fans leave happy and hopefully fight for first place.”
Honduras
Marvin Ulloa, coach Honduras: “We bring a team between young and some players with experience, and we hope to remain on the medal podium, as in the previous events.”
Nicaragua
René Quintana, coach Nicaragua: “We know that the championship is very tough but the expectation is to achieve the title again.”
El Salvador
Denisse Rogel, assistant coach El Salvador: “Our expectations for this tournament are a worthy representation of our country, to have the best of success and performance, and to achieve first place like the rest of the teams. For this competition we bring a team with experienced players and also with new players that we hope to develop throughout the tournament.”
SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica, September 23, 2025. – Nicaragua is determined to defend its crown at the second edition of the AFECAVOL Women’s Central American Final Four Championship, set to take place September 26–28 at the Polideportivo Gymnasium in San Francisco de Dos Ríos, San José, Costa Rica.
The reigning champions will once again face the same rivals as the inaugural edition: Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Honduras, in an exciting round-robin format.
As in the men’s tournament, the Women’s Final Four will award valuable points toward the FIVB World Ranking, further raising the stakes for every match.
The delegations will arrive in Costa Rica on September 24; the preliminary inquiry will be held on the 25th, and the competition will kick off on the 26th with two matches per day through the 28th, when the champion will be crowned.
ST JOHN’S, Antigua, September 22, 2025.- Antigua and Barbuda won gold and Cairon Davis stood out at MVP in St John’s, Antigua, as the 2025 ECVA Men’s Final 4 Tournament concluded.
Yashid Auguiste won two awards – Best Libero and Best Digger for his defensive action with the Antiguan team.
Antigua also picked four additional awards Cairon Davis (2nd Best Spiker), Collin Thomas (Best Setter), Dwight Bonnie (2nd Best Blocker and Best Server).
Dominica’s Yahn Florent won two awards, Best Opposite and Best Scorer; while his teammate Larian Tulloch won Best Receiver.
From Saint Lucia, Clercent Joseph received the recognition for 1st Best Spiker and Tevin St. Jean for 1st Best Blocker.
September 22, 2025.- Gabriel Garcia was on fire as he spearheaded the United States into the quarterfinals of the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship in the Philippines.
In Monday’s eighthfinal match in Pasay City, the Americans came back from a set down to beat Slovenia in four. USA will take on Bulgaria in one of the two quarterfinal matches set to take place on Thursday, September 25.
On Thursday, they will meet Bulgaria in a duel for a spot in the semis
In the first set, Slovenia broke away with an 11-6 lead after six points in a row and managed to stay ahead and close the set by a six-point margin. In set two, USA fought back to open a wide lead. In the epilog, Slovenia denied three set points before outside hitter Jordan Ewert squeezed the ball between the block and the net to convert the fourth.
USA celebrates
Riding the momentum and mostly outblocking the opponents, the Americans stayed well in control of the third set and it was Ewert again who delivered the set winner, this time with a pipe shot. USA continued dominating in set four until opposite Gabriel Garcia fired a blistering ace to end the game at 3-1 (19-25, 25-22, 25-17, 25-20).
Garcia showed some magnificent serving throughout the match and authored seven of the team’s 12 aces, the element that made the biggest difference towards the outcome of the game, as Slovenia produced only two direct serving points. USA also outperformed their opponents in net defense by 10-7 in kill blocks, with Garcia taking credit for four, and in attack by 53-49 in spike kills, with Garcia delivering 15 towards a match-high 26 points. Outside hitter Ethan Champlin chipped in with three aces and a kill block towards a 15-point tally, while Ewert finished with 13 points, all in swings.
“How can you not be pleased? We are staying alive, going to the next round. I think that’s kind of the heartbeat of this team, just find a way to win! It didn’t always look pretty tonight, but we got it done when it counted, and there is a ton of credit to the guys for staying mature, staying focused in those big moments,” USA’s star setter and captain Micah Christenson told VBTV. “They are playing lights out! It’s awesome just to be in the moment. We’ve got no expectations of getting to a certain place. We are just taking it day by day, so we are going to go and enjoy this tonight, and then, prepare for our next round.”
Slovenia showed better precision in their game than USA, committing fewer unforced errors. They made 19 of those, while the Americans gifted them 26 “free” points. Opposite Toncek Stern was Slovenia’s leading scorer with 18 points. 20-year-old outside Nik Mujanovic hammered the team’s two aces to finish with a total of 13 points. Star middle blocker Jan Kozamernik raised four kill blocks and reached the double digits in scoring with a total of 10 points.
ST JOHN’S, Antigua and Barbuda, September 22, 2025.- Antigua and Barbuda swept Saint Lucia to claim gold at the 2025 Men’s Final Four Tournament at YMCA in St. John’s, Antigua on Sunday evening.
Despite the determination of Saint Lucia, the powerful Antigua squad won the final 3-0 (23-25, 19-25, 15-25) and qualifies to the NORCECA 2026 Pan American Cup.
Head coach of Antigua, Carl Williams, said: “It’s well deserving, the guys would have worked hard for the past five, six months and going to Mexico prepared them for this tournament and its only fair to them to come execute infront of their home crowd”.
Antigua came out swinging and earned 38 points off attack, compared with 36 from Saint Lucia. Antigua also had more blocking points (33-32) and also led in aces 7-1. Saint Lucia made fewer errors (17-22).
Top scorer of the match was outside hitter Cairon Davis with 17pts. Clercent Joseph led Saint Lucia with 13 points.
ST JOHN’S, Antigua and Barbuda, September 21, 2025. – Dominica captured the Bronze Medal in the ECVA Men’s Final 4 tournament, defeating Grenada in straight sets 3-0 (25-19, 28-26, 26-24) at the YMCA, St. John’s Antigua and Barbuda.
Dominica came out strong, taking early control of the match by dominating the first set. Grenada responded with intensity, especially in the second set, but Dominica remained focused and closed the match in three sets to secure the bronze medal.
A dominant attacking performance gave Dominica the edge, with a 40-34 advantage in kills. Dominica recorded eight blocks, and both teams tied in service aces (4-4). In errors, the count was Dominica committing 27 and Grenada 24.
Yahn Florent led the scores with 13 points for Dominica followed by the Middle Blocker Nester James contributing 12. Grenada’s top scorer was Darron Oxford with 15 points.
Dominica’s head coach Ithoma James reflected on the significance of the moment: “I am satisfied because at least we are going home with something”. ‘I am still disappointed because of our losses, and we could have won the silver or at least get into the finals”. The Bronze Medal is something and I am happy that the guys came back after two losses”. “They were a little down and they picked themselves up”. “ I am proud of them, they came up to fight and show that they deserve something”.
Grenada’s assistant coach, Javin Noel was disappointed that the team lost all four matches. “I feel disappointed for the team and coaching staff`”. ‘We struggled to execute our game plan, however, we came out to dig deep”. “We came out tonight and put everything on the line and I believe this was one of our better matches, however, Dominica got the better of us at the end of the game”.
GUADALAJARA, Jalisco, September 21, 2025. – USA outside hitter Reagan Cooper was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2025 NORCECA Women’s Final Six that ran from September 16-21 in Guadalajara, Jalisco.
Cooper was a consistent offensive force for the American squad. Cooper’s performance was pivotal in guiding the United States to their second-ever gold medal at the event, following their first title in 2023.
Individual Awards
Dominican Republic’s Madeline Guillén stood out as the tournament’s Best Spiker and Best Scorer. Whitney James of Cuba earned the honor of Second Best Spiker for her attacking efficiency throughout the competition.
Defensive strength was highlighted by Neira Ortiz of Puerto Rico, who claimed Best Blocker, while Samantha Francis of the United States was named Second Best Blocker. The Americans also celebrated Ella Powell, who earned Best Setter honors.
Mexico’s star outside hitter Sofía Maldonado was recognized as Best Opposite and Best Server. The Dominican Republic’s Yaneirys Rodríguez dominated the backcourt awards, taking both Best Libero and Best Digger.
Rounding out the awards, USA’s Norah Sis was named Best Receiver, showcasing her consistency in serve reception and transition play.
GUADALAJARA, Jalisco, September 21, 2025. – The United States captured the gold medal at the 2025 NORCECA Women’s Final Six, defeating Mexico 3-0 (25-19, 25-17, 25-19) on Sunday at Unidad Deportiva López Mateos to finish the tournament as the undefeated champion.
The U.S. closed the event with a perfect 7-0 record, while Mexico finished 5-2 – their only two losses coming against the Americans. This marks the United States’ second gold medal in the history of the event, having first won in 2023, to go along with two silver medals (2022, 2024).
For Mexico, it was their second silver medal (the first in 2021) after earning bronze last year. Mexico also made significant progress in the world ranking, starting the event in 29th place and finishing at 19th, gaining valuable points.
MEXICO-SILVER
The opening set was tightly contested. Mexico came from behind to tie the score at 9 and briefly led after a Jocelyn Urias block on Kamerynn Miner. The teams were leveled again at 14, 16, and 18 before the United States pulled away. Skylar Fields delivered a key kill against the block of Melanie Parra, followed by Samantha Francis blocking Sofía Maldonado to make it 20-18. Kendall Kipp reached set point with a block on Parra, and Norah Sis sealed it with a serve that resulted in a reception error from Parra.
The U.S. came out firing in the second set, with Reagan Cooper and Khori Louis leading the offense to a comfortable 20-12 lead. Despite efforts from Maldonado’s kills and Urias’ blocks, Mexico could not close the gap, and three late errors gave the Americans a 2-0 advantage.
Mexico kept the score close early in the third set, trailing 15-12 behind the offensive efforts of Maldonado and Parra. However, the U.S. pulled away with strong swings from Louis, Fields, and Sis to reach 20-14. Kendall Kipp’s block on Karina Flores brought up match point (24-18). Parra briefly denied the win with a kill, but Louis sealed the gold medal with a powerful cross-court spike.
REAGAN COOPER USA
The United States led in every statistical category: attacks (40-30), blocks (7-6), and aces (6-3). The Americans committed 16 errors compared to Mexico’s 21.
Outside hitter Reagan Cooper led the U.S. with 16 points, followed by Khori Louis with 11. Sofía Maldonado led Mexico with 12 points, while Melanie Parra contributed 10 and Jocelyn Urias posted a match-high five blocks.
Erik Sullivan, Head Coach of the United States said: “I’m very happy with how we played. I thought today was one of our most consistent and even matches. We put a lot of pressure on a very good Mexico team. A lot of plays went our way; I really liked the way we performed”.
Mexico’s Head Coach, Nicola Negro, said: “We faced a very strong United States and my team struggled. We are happy with the silver medal. Overall, it was a very good tournament for us – we only lost to the United States. We reached 19th place in the world ranking (two months ago we were 29th), and that is a huge result, the outcome of the work our team has put in. The girls showed dedication and performed well. We are growing technically and tactically, and now we need to work on developing our mentality to reach a higher level.”
GUADALAJARA, Jalisco, September 21, 2025. – The Dominican Republic captured its first-ever bronze medal at the NORCECA Women’s Final Six, outlasting Puerto Rico in an epic five-set clash 3-2 (25-22, 20-25, 19-25, 25-23, 15-13) on Sunday at Unidad Deportiva López Mateos in Guadalajara.
This result adds to the Dominican Republic’s impressive Final Six history, which already includes three gold medals (2021, 2022, 2024) and a silver in 2023. The Dominicans closed the tournament with a 3-4 record, while Puerto Rico finished 2-5.
Puerto Rico had swept the Dominican Republic in the preliminary round, but the rematch proved to be a battle of wills.
Madeline Guillen-DOM
The Dominicans stormed to a 5-0 lead in the opening set behind the offensive firepower of Massiel Matos and Alondra Tapia, taking advantage of Puerto Rico’s early errors. Puerto Rico responded with solid blocking from Neira Ortiz and Decelise Champion and sharp hitting from Paola Santiago to level the score at 12-12. From there, the teams traded points until Matos delivered a key kill and Geraldine González stuffed Santiago at the net to secure the first set.
Puerto Rico controlled the second set from start to finish, with Valeria Vázquez and Ortiz effectively shutting down Matos and Tapia at the net. Champion and Santiago maintained the offensive pressure, and Champion’s final kill sealed the set, tying the match at one apiece.
The third set saw Puerto Rico jump to a 5-1 lead, with Alba Hernández joining the scoring and Champion continuing her strong offensive run. The Dominicans clawed back to even the score at 14-all, but Puerto Rico regained control with Ortiz’s blocking and Vázquez’s attacks to take a 2-1 match lead.
Dominican Republic wins Final 3-4
Puerto Rico built a 12-8 advantage in the fourth set, with Ortiz and Hernández scoring two key blocks over Matos and Guillen. Champion and Santiago kept the pressure high, but the Dominicans refused to back down. Samaret Caraballo delivered a crucial block on Ortiz to tie the set at 23-23, followed by a big kill from Florangel Terrero and another from González to force a decisive fifth set.
In the tiebreak, the Dominican Republic earned match point at 14-12 with a kill from Guillen that rebounded off Ortiz’s block. Ortiz denied the first match point with a block on Matos, but González finished the job with a clever tip in the middle, clinching the bronze medal for the Dominican Republic.
The Dominican Republic held a slight edge in attacks (63-61), while Puerto Rico led in blocks (15-12) and aces (6-3). Both teams committed 26 errors.
Madeline Guillén led the Dominican Republic with 24 points, followed by Alondra Tapia with 17 and Massiel Matos with 13. Decelise Champion of Puerto Rico topped all scorers with 25 points, while Valeria Vázquez added 17, Paola Santiago 16, and Neira Ortiz contributed 14 points, including a match-high nine blocks.
Marcos Kwiek, Head Coach of the Dominican Republic, said after the victory: “It was a good match. The players need to get used to this level of play and pressure. It’s good for their growth. It’s good that they go through these situations so they can grow as players and understand that nothing comes easy.”
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