Tag: Norceca

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

GUADALAJARA, Jalisco, September 21, 2025. – Canada claimed fifth place at the 2025 NORCECA Women’s Final Six with a commanding 3-0 (25-16, 25-22, 25-21) sweep over Cuba on Sunday at Unidad Deportiva López Mateos in Guadalajara.

Canada closed the tournament with a 2-4 record, while Cuba finished 1-5. The Canadians defeated Cuba twice in the event, also prevailing in a thrilling five-set battle during the preliminary round.

Despite Cuba’s impressive blocking trio of Brenda Nold, Laura Suárez, and Dayana Martínez, Canada controlled the first set behind Sydney Grills’ strong performance from the service line and in attack, with consistent support from Maryn Boldon.

The second set was closely contested, tied at 18 points apiece before Cuba surged ahead 20-18 thanks to the efforts of Dezirett Madan, Yensy Kindelán, and Evilania Martínez. Canada responded with a steady rally, capitalizing on opponent errors. Boldon capped off a long rally with a powerful swing and followed up with a key block on Suárez to regain the lead. Veronica Dickson then sealed the set with a block and a decisive kill.

In the third set, Canada jumped out to an 18-13 lead with a serving run from Isabella Noble that disrupted Cuba’s system. Whitney James led Cuba’s late offensive push, but Canada held firm and secured the match on a reception error following a serve from Dickson.

Canada dominated in blocks (10-6) and serves (6-3) while taking advantage of 19 Cuban errors compared to their own 9. Cuba had a slight edge in attacks (41-40).

Maryn Boldon led all scorers with 14 points for Canada, while Veronica Dickson and Sydney Grills contributed 10 points each. Whitney James topped Cuba with 12 points, followed by Evilania Martínez with 10.

Canada’s Head Coach, Mathew Krueger said to be proud of his team “It’s unbelievable to have beaten Cuba twice, they are an unbelievable team, and it was a very good battle. I am proud of our team, all what we worked during the whole summer came in tuition today. The team deserves this one”.

Dezirett Madan, captain of Cuba, said: “We were very desperate, we put too much pressure on ourselves to do things right and give our best. I think that’s not good; you don’t get what you want that way, and desperation led us to make too many mistakes. This is another experience, and we will keep preparing to come back next year with a better version of each of us and give it our all.”

GUADALAJARA, Jalisco, September 20, 2025. – Mexico delivered a thrilling five-set victory over Puerto Rico, 3-2 (18-25, 25-21, 19-25, 25-20, 15-12), to advance to the gold medal match of the 2025 NORCECA Women’s Final Six, held at Unidad Deportiva López Mateos in Guadalajara

With this victory, Mexico secures its second-ever appearance in the gold medal match, having previously earned silver in 2021. After falling to Cuba in the 2023 bronze medal match, Mexico rebounded in 2024 to claim bronze over Puerto Rico. This year, they will meet undefeated USA for the gold medal, while Puerto Rico will face the Dominican Republic for bronze. Puerto Rico’s best finish remains their bronze medal from 2022.

The match lived up to its billing as a classic rivalry showdown, echoing their five-set preliminary round battle earlier in the tournament.

Puerto Rico opened strong, never trailing in the first set, powered by Decelise Champion and Valeria Vázquez, and capitalizing on Mexico’s errors and a dominant blocking performance from Neira Ortiz.

Mexico struck back in the second set, overcoming an early deficit to tie at 19 before pulling away behind a 15-6 attacking advantage. Sofía Maldonado led the charge offensively, while Jocelyn Urías’ key block shifted momentum.

Puerto Rico regained control in the third, jumping to a 20-14 lead behind Ortiz’s defense at the net. Despite two late blocks from Urías, Puerto Rico held on to take a 2-1 match lead.

The fourth set was tightly contested, tied at 17 before Mexico’s dynamic duo of Maldonado and Melanie Parra powered the home side to force a tie-break. A massive block from Ortiz temporarily put Puerto Rico ahead, but Mexico responded with back-to-back points – a Maldonado kill followed by a Parra service winner – to seal the set.

In the decisive fifth set, Mexico jumped ahead 3-0 with Maldonado scoring all three points, but Puerto Rico stormed back to lead 9-7 with contributions from Paola Santiago, Champion, and Ortiz. Urías’ crucial block against Dariana Hollingsworth secured Mexico’s win.

Mexico led in attacks (60-48) and service points (8-5) but committed 33 errors to Puerto Rico’s 22. Puerto Rico had the edge in blocking (17-12).

Maldonado delivered a spectacular 26 points, supported by Melanie Parra’s 22. For Puerto Rico, Decelise Champion scored 21 points, followed closely by Neira Ortiz with 19 including an impressive 12 blocking points and Valeria Vazquez added 12 points.

Aimé Topete of Mexico said after defeating Puerto Rico: “We have all the emotions. From the first set to the fifth, it was very demanding. We had ups and downs, but we are celebrating a great victory. Our statistician has prepared everything for the next match, and it will be our responsibility to execute.”

GUADALAJARA, Jalisco, September 20, 2025. – The United States booked its ticket to the gold medal match of the 2025 NORCECA Women’s Final Six after defeating the Dominican Republic 3-1 (25-20, 16-25, 25-18, 25-22) in the semifinals at Unidad Deportiva López Mateos in Guadalajara.

This marks the fourth consecutive appearance for Team USA in the gold medal match, having earned silver in 2022, gold in 2023, and silver again in 2024. In the inaugural edition in 2021, the Americans claimed the bronze medal.

For the Dominican Republic, this is their first time competing for bronze since the event’s inception. The three-time champions had always contested the gold medal match until now.

The two teams had already met in the preliminary round, where USA also prevailed in four sets.

Statistically, the Americans held a narrow edge in blocks (11-10) and service points (4-3). The Dominican Republic outscored the USA in attacks (54-48) but committed more unforced errors (28-18), which proved costly.

Reagan Cooper led the U.S. offense with 14 points, all on kills. Samantha Francis followed with 13 points, including six kills, six blocks, and one ace. Khori Louis and Skylar Fields chipped in with 10 points apiece.

Four Dominican players reached double digits: Massiel Matos led all scorers with 17 points, followed by Madeline Guillén with 15, Alondra Tapia with 13, and Geraldine González with 11.

USA team captain Kamerynn Miner praised her team’s performance, saying: “We really just had to get into our rhythm offensively, and defensively we made some really good adjustments, especially blocking our pins, which made it easier for us to get great touches. It was an all-around team effort tonight and I am very proud of our team. I am super excited to have the opportunity to compete for a medal — we’ve been training for this and I’m happy to implement it. Hopefully, we can get into our rhythm a little bit faster.”

GUADALAJARA, Jalisco, September 19, 2025. – Mexico bounced back to defeat the Dominican Republic 3-1 (21-25, 26-24, 26-24, 25-23) in the final match of the preliminary round at the 2025 NORCECA Women’s Final Six in Guadalajara, Jalisco.

With the win, Mexico closed the preliminary phase in second place with a 4-1 record and will face Puerto Rico (third place) in the semifinals. The Dominican Republic, finishing fourth, will face the United States.

The Dominican Republic’s powerful attacking, led by Madeline Guillen, Florangel Terrero, and Alondra Tapia, set the tone early, jumping to a 17-13 lead and taking the opening set 25-21.

The Caribbeans once again led the way in the second set, ahead 16-12, before Mexico rallied. Sofía Maldonado scored two key kills, Aime Topete added a strong swing, and Dominican errors allowed the home team to even the score at 16. Mexico reached set point 24-23 thanks to Melanie Parra’s offense, but the Dominican Republic extended the set with a block from Terrero. A crucial service error from Tapia and a block by Arleth Márquez on Terrero sealed the set for Mexico, tying the match.

In the third set, Mexico held a 24-18 advantage thanks to Topete and Samantha Bricio, but the Dominican Republic fought back with kills from Angélica Hinojosa, Guillen’s attacks, and Samaret Caraballo’s strong serving, closing the gap to just two points. Bricio finally ended the set with a powerful spike off Hinojosa’s block, putting Mexico ahead 2-1.

Mexico kept their composure in the fourth set, building a 20-15 lead. Márquez’s block on Hinojosa gave the hosts a 23-19 edge, but Natalia Martínez’s back-to-back kills kept the Dominican Republic close. Mexico reached match point on a Dominican attack error and secured the victory on a Dominican service error.

Mexico led in attacks (52-47), while the Dominican Republic had the edge in serves (5-4). Both teams scored seven points on blocks. Mexico committed 37 errors compared to the Dominican Republic’s 35.

Aime Topete led Mexico’s scoring with 14 points, followed by Samantha Bricio with 10. Madeline Guillen topped all scorers with 19 points for the Dominican Republic, and Geraldine González added 11 points.

Samantha Bricio of Mexico commented on the game: “Our team has enough talent to make changes in the lineup. Today, three players from the younger categories came in as substitutes and did an amazing job. I think this is the first match where all three of them played with us at the same time. They performed without fear, did their job, as if we had always played together. It worked for us. Now we face Puerto Rico in the semifinals; we need to recover energy and try to do our best. I think in the end it will come down to who wants to win more.”

Marcos Kwiek, Coach of the Dominican Republic, stated: “It was a good match. Both teams had difficulties. We were already qualified for the semifinals with Cuba’s loss, so it was good for other players to get on the court, test some rotations; it was interesting. Tomorrow is what really matters.”

GUADALAJARA, Jalisco, September 19, 2025. – The United States completed the preliminary round of the 2025 NORCECA Women’s Final Six undefeated after sweeping Puerto Rico 3-0 (25-22, 25-21, 25-13) on Friday night at Unidad Deportiva López Mateos in Guadalajara.

USA finished pool play with a perfect 5-0 record, while Puerto Rico closed with a 2-3 mark. Both teams secured spots in Saturday’s semifinals, awaiting their opponents based on final standings.

Puerto Rico started strong, building a 17-14 lead in the opening set with Decelise Champion driving the offense. The Americans responded with a Kendall Kipp kill and an Emily Thater block on Champion to tie the score at 17. From there, USA pulled away with key points from Skylar Fields and a crucial block by Samantha Francis to close the set.

Puerto Rico again took an early 9-4 lead in the second set, paced by Paola Santiago, but the United States quickly recovered. Claire Chaussee and Thater powered the offense, while both teams stayed close in blocking and serving. USA’s consistency at the net allowed them to take control late and earn the two-set advantage.

In the third set, the United States dominated from start to finish, jumping ahead 21-9 behind a strong blocking performance from four different players, and sealing the sweep with a convincing finish.

USA led in attacks (40-36), blocks (12-5), and aces (4-3), while committing fewer errors (12 to Puerto Rico’s 19).

Samantha Francis and Claire Chaussee led the American scoring with 12 points each, followed by Skylar Fields with 10. For Puerto Rico, Paola Santiago scored 13 points and Decelise Champion added 11.

Claire Chaussee said about their execution: “We had the game plan of serving at their outsides and we stuck to it. In the past we were serving just anywhere on the court, and today we were really focused on directing our serves and getting them out of system. Our block did a lot better job of getting in front of them or head on or on their left shoulder, wherever it needed to be. Our passing was consistent the entire match and that helped us, it got our middles going”.

Juan Carlos Nuñez, head coach of Puerto Rico, reflected on the preliminary round: “We had very good matches, but we were inconsistent. Today against the United States, we were able to play offensively in the first two sets. We need to go toe-to-toe offensively with every opponent. We must get ready for tomorrow, as we are already in the semifinals.”

GUADALAJARA, Jalisco, September 19, 2025 .– Canada pulled off an impressive reverse sweep to capture their first victory at the 2025 NORCECA Women’s Final Six, defeating Cuba 3-2 (14-25, 14-25, 27-25, 25-19, 15-11) on Friday night at Unidad Deportiva López Mateos in Guadalajara.

Both Canada and Cuba concluded the preliminary round with a 1-4 record and will face each other once again on Sunday in the match for fifth place.

Cuba dominated the opening two sets with a powerful net presence, led by Yailin De La Peña, Laura Suárez, and Whitney James. Strong blocking and aggressive serving helped the Cubans control the pace, taking the first set with a 6-0 block advantage and repeating their dominance early in the second with Dayana Martínez contributing back-to-back blocks. Canada responded with spirited attacks from Lauren Attieh and Sydney Grills, but Cuba remained steady, closing the set with an ace from Lisania Grafort.

The third set saw a major shift as Canada jumped to an early 7-3 lead behind Emma Boyd’s kills and blocks, with Grills adding pressure from the service line. Canada surged ahead 17-8 before Cuba fought back to tie the set at 23 and even reached match point with a De La Peña ace. Boyd delivered a clutch kill to level the score, and Canada capitalized on a Cuban error to extend the match.

Canada kept their momentum in the fourth, rallying from a three-point deficit to tie at 14-all. A late surge, highlighted by an Attieh kill and a Grills block over Evilania Martínez, gave Canada set point. Grills blocked Yanisleidis Sánchez to force a tie-break.

The decisive fifth set was closely contested until 5-5, when Canada pulled away for good. Attieh and Isabella Noble anchored the block, while Boyd sealed the win with a final kill.

Canada benefited from 34 Cuban errors (while committing 24) despite Cuba leading in attacks (57-45), blocks (13-10), and aces (11-6).

Canadian star Emma Boyd topped all scorers with 19 points (14 kills, 3 blocks, 2 aces). Sydney Grills added 14 points to the win (10 kills, 2 blocks, 2 aces). Cuba’s Whitney James led her team with 16 points (11 kills, 2 blocks, 3 aces), while Yailin De La Peña contributed 14 (10 kills, 2 blocks, 2 aces). Dayana Martínez and Claudia Tarín chipped in 13 points each, and Laura Suárez added 12.

Emma Boyd, captain of Canada said about the win: “We came back from losing the first two sets focusing on taking care on our standards on our side of the net. Didn’t focus on Cuba was doing because we knew that if we improved and cleaned up our execution, things would probably start to go our way. All the subs brought different energy to the court, and it was a beautiful win”.

GUADALAJARA, Jalisco, September 18, 2025. – The United States defeated Mexico 3-1 (25-15, 25-15, 20-25, 25-20) to secure its place in the semifinals of the 2025 NORCECA Women’s Final Six, taking place in Guadalajara, Jalisco.

With a perfect 4-0 record, the Americans have already clinched a spot in Saturday’s semifinals, with one preliminary match still to play, which they will close against Puerto Rico (2-2). Mexico, with a 3-1 record, remains in strong position and will face Dominican Republic (2-2) in its final match of the round.

The United States jumped to a big lead in the first set (10-3) behind a powerful offense led by Madison Kubik, Reagan Cooper, and Skyler Fields. Cooper and Claire Chaussee were key from the service line, putting pressure on Mexico’s reception. Although Mexico scored through Sofía Maldonado and Melanie Parra, the U.S. kept control to take the set.

In the second set, Mexico showed a better rhythm, but the U.S. maintained control, taking the set by the same score as the first with Kendall Kipp and Khori Louis leading the offense.

Mexico had its best performance in the third set, taking the lead for the first time in the match (7-3) and holding it until the U.S. tied at 12-12. The set saw several lead changes, with Melanie Parra as the key offensive figure, combining powerful attacks and a tough serve to make it 21-17. With support from Uxue Guereca, Mexico forced a fourth set.

In the fourth, the U.S. regained control, leading 16-11 and extending the gap to 18-11 with Kipp and Cooper at the helm. Mexico fought to stay close with Maldonado and Parra, but a Fields with a swing that Uxue Guereca could not handle, followed by another from Samantha Francis, sealed the victory for the Americans.

The U.S. held the advantage in attacks (54-46), blocks (7-4), and aces (7-6), while committing fewer errors (19-27).

Four U.S. players finished with double-digit scoring: Madison Kubik (14), Reagan Cooper (13), Khori Louis (12), and Kendall Kipp (11). Mexico’s Melanie Parra led all scorers with 18 points, followed by Sofía Maldonado with 14.

Erik Sullivan, Head Coach of the United States said after the win: “I’m very happy with the way we played. I thought Mexico maybe didn’t have their best stuff for the first two sets, but they showed us how they compete in sets three and four. I’m very proud of how our girls hung in there, I felt like we were kind of losing momentum a little bit, but we did a good job in making some adjustments and pushing back a little bit. It’s a nice growing moment for us”.

Nicola Negro, Mexico’s Head Coach, said about the match: “The United States came out with great aggressiveness in the first two sets, their serving and attacking killed us. It’s a good lesson for us because we must understand that if we want to grow, we must earn respect; we can’t think that playing is something easy. I hope we learn from the lesson that the United States gave us today.”

GUADALAJARA, Jalisco, September 18, 2025. – At the 2025 NORCECA Women’s Final Six, legendary player and International Volleyball Hall of Fame inductee Paula Weishoff is making her mark off the court, serving as assistant coach for Team USA. The three-time Olympian — silver medalist in Los Angeles 1984 and bronze medalist in Barcelona 1992 — spoke about her transition from player to coach, her vision of today’s game, and what it means to once again represent her country, this time in a technical role.

Weishoff, considered one of the most complete players in volleyball history, enjoyed a prolific professional career in Italy, Brazil, and Japan, earning multiple Most Valuable Player honors. After retiring as a player, she found in coaching a new way to give back to the sport that has given her so much.

“I never thought I would get into coaching. But destiny led me there. Lisa Love, coach at USC, gave me the opportunity to coach in college, study the game, and discover my passion for coaching,” she explained.

For Weishoff, the shift from playing to coaching required a deep learning process:

“Not all great players become great coaches. You have to learn how to transfer your knowledge and help players understand what’s happening on the court when you can’t be out there yourself. I had great mentors and studied the game in depth. That has helped me tremendously in my coaching role.”

After working with several USA Volleyball development programs and coaching various age groups, Weishoff returned to the national team for the quad leading up to the London 2012 Olympic Games. Since then, she had dedicated herself exclusively to coaching at the collegiate level — until this recent return to the national team staff.

“I needed a break after 2012. I was doing double duty — USA practices in the morning and my college team in the evening. Now I’m back with renewed energy. I’m here to support Erik Sullivan’s staff, help wherever I’m needed, and contribute with the experience I’ve gained.”

Regarding her work with the new generation of players, Paula is optimistic:

“This generation is exceptional. They’re very receptive to feedback and understand their roles, whether they are on the court or not. They’re engaged and striving to get better, which makes our job so much easier.”

Weishoff also shared advice for young players with dreams of reaching the highest level:

“Every player is different. Some you need to push, others you need to explain why, and many are very visual and need to see video. The most important thing is helping them understand the purpose of what they are doing.”

Finally, Paula expressed her joy at being back on the international stage:

“I love volleyball. I’m happy to be here and to have this opportunity. Volleyball has been so good to me, and I feel blessed to give something back to the sport.”

Team USA is determined to remain a top contender in the region, and this tournament in Guadalajara marks a key step in their preparation for the next Olympic cycle. With leaders like Paula Weishoff on the staff, the legacy of U.S. volleyball continues to inspire new generations.

GUADALAJARA, Jalisco, September 18, 2025. – Dominican Republic secured a valuable 3-1 (25-20, 21-25, 25-20, 25-22) victory over Canada on day four of the 2025 NORCECA Women’s Final Six in Guadalajara, Jalisco.

With this result, the Dominicans improve their record to 2-2, the same as Puerto Rico, while Canada remains winless (0-4). Dominican Republic will close the preliminary round facing Mexico and Canada playing Cuba.

Madeline Guillen’s offense was key for Dominican Republic to recover from a difficult start, overcoming a five-point deficit in the first set. Florangel Terrero contributed with blocking and attacking to secure the set win.

Canada tied the match in the second set thanks to their solid work at the net with Grace Calnan, Emma Boyd, Raya Surinx, and Isabella Noble, successfully slowing down the Caribbean offense and capitalizing on Dominican reception errors.

In the third set, the Dominicans took the lead after an 8-all tie and stayed in control despite strong plays from Surinx and Boyd. The balanced attack and blocking on both sides were ultimately decided by Canada’s unforced errors.

The fourth set was also closely contested, with Canada coming back from 18-23 to 22-23, led by Sydney Grills, but Terrero and Tapia sealed the Dominican victory with powerful attacks.

The Caribbean team led in attacks (57-40), while Canada held a slight edge in blocks (9-8). Both teams scored 5 aces, but Dominican Republic gave away more points on errors (33-26).

Madeline Guillen was the top scorer of the match with 29 points. Florangel Terrero followed with 10 points for the Dominicans. For Canada, Raya Surinx and Maryn Boldon scored 14 each, while Emma Boyd added 11.

Dominican Republic’s captain, Camila De La Rosa, commented on her team’s performance: “It was a very balanced match; it wasn’t an easy match. We lost focus and gave away a set by making too many mistakes; we struggled in reception and serving. We are one step away from the semifinals.”

Mathew Krueger, Head Coach of Canada said “I’m very proud of team today. We’ve been talking about what it’s going to take for us to get to the next level and about the decision making when we attack, I believe we implemented that perfectly – we saw when we needed to tip. I’m very proud of the girls and how they’re battling throughout this tournament”.

GUADALAJARA, Jalisco, September 18, 2025. – Cuba earned its first victory at the 2025 NORCECA Women’s Final Six, defeating Puerto Rico 3-1 (18-25, 25-21, 25-16, 25-22) on Thursday night at Unidad Deportiva López Mateos in Guadalajara.

Cuba now stands at 1-3, while Puerto Rico drops to 2-2. In their final matches of the preliminary round, Cuba will face Canada, and Puerto Rico will take on the United States. The top four teams from the round-robin advance to Saturday’s semifinals.

Puerto Rico opened the match strong, pulling away from an 8-8 tie to lead 14-8 behind consecutive kills from Decelise Champion, key blocks on Evilania Martínez, and offensive contributions from Alba Hernández and Paola Santiago. Cuban opposite hitter Yalain De la Peña kept her team close with powerful attacks, but Puerto Rico held firm to take the opening set.

Set two was a rollercoaster battle. Puerto Rico held a three-point edge (13-10) with a block from Hernández on Laura Suárez and a strong push from Paola Vázquez. Cuba evened the score at 15 with solid offense from Dayana Martínez and De la Peña. The turning point came late when Cuba capitalized on Puerto Rican errors and Martínez sealed the set with a huge block over Diana Reyes, evening the match 1-1.

Cuba carried the momentum into set three, racing to a 10-5 lead with strong blocking from Martínez and back-to-back kills from Whitney James and De la Peña. Puerto Rico’s errors mounted, allowing Cuba to pull away and take a commanding 2-1 lead.

In the fourth set, Cuba jumped to an 11-6 lead before Puerto Rico fought back to tie at 11 thanks to three straight points from Champion (two kills and a block) and a block from Santiago on Lisania Graforth. The teams traded points down the stretch until Cuba closed out the match, taking advantage of two reception errors by Santiago and an attack error by Paulina Pérez.

Cuba dominated in attacks 58-40, while Puerto Rico led in blocks 13-7. Both teams finished with six aces and similar error counts, Cuba with 25 and Puerto Rico with 22.

Yailin De la Peña led all scorers with 24 points, followed by Dayana Martínez and Whitney James with 12 points apiece, and Claudia Tarín added 11 points. Decelise Champion led Puerto Rico with 14 points, while Alba Hernández contributed 11 points.

Luizomar De Moura, Head Coach of Cuba, said about the victory: “Today was a great win. The girls are gradually understanding the new work philosophy, and this victory is very good to solidify what we are communicating to them every day.”

Wilmarie Rivera, Setter of Puerto Rico, commented on the loss: “I believe we need to be more consistent with our game, manage the highs and lows a little better, and be able to close sets when we are ahead. We must continue adjusting our game plan, be a bit more disciplined, and improve what we need to improve.”

GUADALAJARA, Jalisco, September 17, 2025. – Host nation Mexico kept their undefeated record intact with a commanding 3-0 (25-20, 25-10, 25-22) victory over Cuba at the 2025 NORCECA Women’s Final Six at Unidad Deportiva López Mateos in Guadalajara.

Mexico will face the United States on Thursday in a clash of undefeated teams (3-0). Cuba will go up against Canada as both teams look for their first victory. The top four teams at the end of pool play advance to the crossover semifinals.

Mexico came from behind to take control of the opening set, jumping ahead 11-9 thanks to three consecutive blocks by Jocelyn Urias on Evilania Martínez. Offensively, Sofia Maldonado and Samantha Bricio led the charge, while Cuba’s Whitney James put up a strong effort but could not slow Mexico’s momentum.

The home team cruised through the second set with dominant play. Melanie Parra added firepower with powerful spikes to build an 18-7 lead. Karina Flores’ strong defense and blocking neutralized Dezirett Madan and Martínez as Mexico closed the set convincingly.

Cuba fought hard to stay alive, taking a 12-9 lead behind James and Laura Suárez. Yalain de la Peña extended Cuba’s advantage to 14-10. Mexico responded with composure, rallying from a six-point deficit (14-20) behind Urias’ blocking and service aces, combined with key kills from Flores and late Cuban errors. Bricio sealed the sweep with a powerful kill followed by an attack error from Cuba.

Mexico outperformed Cuba in every skill category, leading in attacks (31-28), blocks (12-4), and aces (7-2). Mexico committed 18 errors compared to Cuba’s 25.

Sofia Maldonado once again led Mexico’s offense and was the only player to reach double digits, finishing with 17 points. Karina Flores added 9 points, including a match-high 5 blocks. Whitney James led Cuba with 9 points.

Mexico’s captain Jocelyn Urías spoke about the comeback in the third set: “I stayed calm, I knew what I had to do on the court and that I needed to stay focused. We were very solid. It feels great to come from behind and win. As a team, we made a mental shift.”

Cuba’s top scorer Whitney James said: “In the third set we focused on minimizing errors and tried to extend the match. Mexico stayed technically sound, they did a good job with their serving and took advantage of our struggles.”

GUADALAJARA, Jalisco, September 17, 2025. – Puerto Rico swept Canada 3-0 (25-14, 25-12, 25-19) to capture their second victory at the 2025 NORCECA Women’s Final Six in Guadalajara, Jalisco.

Puerto Rico improved its record to 2-1, while Canada remains winless at 0-3. The top four teams will advance to the crossover semifinals. On day three of the tournament, Puerto Rico will face Cuba and Canada will take on the Dominican Republic.

Puerto Rico was dominant from start to finish. In the first set, they built an 18-9 lead with key blocks from Alba Hernández. Decelise Champion, Valeria Vázquez, and Paola Santiago were also instrumental in giving the Caribbean side a strong start.

In the second set, Puerto Rico kept their momentum, with Diana Reyes and Dariana Hollingsworth joining the offense. On Canada’s side, Emma Boyd responded with a couple of powerful swings.

Canada fought hard in the third set, taking an 11-9 lead with Gabrielle Attieh and Grace Calnan joining Boyd to stop Puerto Rico’s offense. Willmarie Rivera and Champion blocked Maryn Boldon to even the score at 12. Canada regained a two-point lead (17-15) with Raya Surinx on the attack, but Puerto Rico responded once again, tying the set at 17. The closing points went Puerto Rico’s way: Adriana Rodríguez blocked Boyd, Hollingsworth added a kill and another block over Boyd, and Rodríguez sealed the sweep with a final attack.

Puerto Rico’s blocking advantage (13-3) proved decisive, along with 24 Canadian errors compared to just 9 of their own. Puerto Rico also led in attacks (34-30) and edged Canada in service points (4-3).

Decelise Champion led Puerto Rico with 12 points, while Emma Boyd scored 10 for Canada – the only two players reaching double figures.

Decelise Champion said about the win: “We were really determined in the first two sets; we had a good rhythm of play. I believe in the third set our rhythm was lower because we were a bit too confident, but we bounced back to get the win. Today we did well in defense, we scored on good attacks and our blocks did good”.

Attieh Gabrielle, outside hitter of Canada said about leading the third set: “In the third set we were very determined to finish the game giving our all and our heart, no matter what the score was. In that set we saw the true versions of ourselves. We’re hoping that next time we can begin like that from the beginning, because we showed a lot of good things; we just need to be consistent. Our blocking definitely put Puerto Rico out of system”.

GUADALAJARA, Jalisco, September 17, 2025. – The United States continued its winning streak at the 2025 NORCECA Women’s Final Six, defeating defending champions Dominican Republic 3-1 (25-12, 21-25, 25-20, 25-13) on Wednesday night at Unidad Deportiva López Mateos in Guadalajara.

USA improves to 3-0 and sits atop the standings, while the Dominican Republic falls to 1-2. The top four teams from the round-robin phase will advance to the semifinals. On Thursday, the USA will face Mexico, while the Dominican Republic will meet Canada in a crucial matchup.

The Americans started the match on fire, building a commanding 14-6 lead thanks to the offensive trio of Norah Sis, Kendall Kipp, and setter Ella Powell. Middle blocker Emily Thater anchored the defense with key blocks, while the USA capitalized on Dominican errors to comfortably take the opening set. Alondra Tapia and Madeline Guillén led the Dominican offense but were unable to close the gap.

The Caribbean squad responded in the second set, showcasing improved blocking from Florangel Terrero and taking a 19-15 lead behind the attacking power of Massiel Matos. Tapia blocked Claire Chaussee, and Guillén fired a decisive kill to put the Dominicans ahead 23-19, eventually sealing the set to even the match 1-1.

The third set was tightly contested up to16-all before the USA surged ahead with two Chaussee kills and a pair of Dominican errors. Khori Louis added to the offense, and Chaussee brought up match point at 24-17. Despite a late rally by the Dominicans with a kill and block from Geraldine González, Skylar Fields closed the set with a powerful kill for a 2-1 USA lead.

The Americans dominated the fourth set, opening an eight-point advantage (18-10) with contributions from Louis, Kipp, and Thater at the net. Maintaining control throughout, the USA closed the match in commanding fashion to stay undefeated.

Dominican Republic’s 33 unforced errors proved decisive in the outcome, compared to just 10 by the United States. The Americans also held a slight edge in attacks (48-46) and service points (5-4), while both teams were even with 10 points from blocks.

Kendall Kipp led the U.S. offense with 18 points, followed by Khori Louis with 16 and Claire Chaussee with 11. Madeline Guillén topped all scorers with 22 points for the Dominican Republic, supported by Massiel Matos with 13 and Alondra Tapia with 12.

After the match, Kendall Kipp praised her team’s resilience, saying, “Dominican Republic put up a really good fight and challenged us in a lot of ways. We struggled with a few things at times, but we made adjustments on the block – we started reacting better to where they were attacking and tightened up our defensive plays. Those little adjustments made the difference.”

GUADALAJARA, Jalisco, September 16, 2025. – Mexico rallied after dropping the opening set to defeat Canada 3-1 (21-25, 25-11, 25-17, 25-20) and remain unbeaten at the 2025 NORCECA Women’s Final Six at Unidad Deportiva López Mateos in Guadalajara.

Mexico now stands at 2-0, while Canada falls to 0-2. On day three of the event, Mexico (2-0) will face Cuba (1-1) and Canada (0-2) will take on Puerto Rico (1-1).

Canada jumped to an early 10-4 lead in the first set behind Emma Boyd’s offense and Veronica Dickson’s tough serving. Despite Mexico’s efforts, including a late surge led by Sofía Maldonado and Uxue Guereca, Canada held firm and sealed the set with a kill from Isabella Noble.

Mexico responded with a commanding performance in the second set, racing to a 6-1 lead and never looking back. Arleth Márquez was dominant at the net, while Aime Topete contributed crucial points as Mexico evened the match in emphatic fashion.

The third set saw a tight start, but Mexico surged ahead 11-6 by finding gaps in Canada’s defense. Middle blocker Karina Flores joined Maldonado and Topete to keep Mexico in control. Despite a late Canadian rally led by Maryn Boldon, Gabrielle Attieh, and Boyd, Mexico closed the set with strong plays from Topete and Michelle Lizárraga.

Canada once again took the lead early in the fourth set (10-6), with Noble, Attieh, and Sydney Grills powering the offense. Mexico fought back with Maldonado and Topete to tie the score at 10. Samantha Bricio came off the bench and delivered a crucial ace to give Mexico a two-point edge (20-18). Flores added a key attack, and two Canadian errors sealed the victory for the home team.

Mexico dominated in attacks (50-35) and aces (8-3), while Canada led in blocks (10-8). Mexico handed out 25 points on unforced errors compared to Canada’s 30.

Sofía Maldonado once again led Mexico with 15 points (11 kills, 3 blocks, 1 ace), followed by Aime Topete with 13 (12 kills, 1 ace) and Uxue Guereca with 12. Canada was led by Emma Boyd and Maryn Boldon with 11 points each.

Emma Boyd , Canada’s team captain and leading scorer: “In the first set we answered well from yesterday focusing on our details and executing on our game plan and I think we did a really good job at that. We knew the crowd was going to be super loud and that was energizing tonight. It was really fun volleyball. The last set was tight up to the end and then a couple of unfortunate errors ended it. It was wonderful competition tonight”.

Sofía Maldonado, Mexico’s top scorer: “At the beginning, we didn’t follow the coach’s instructions that well. We recovered from losing the first set by being more organized and improving our communication. The second set was very solid; we were all on the same page. Now we face Cuba, we need to stay mentally strong, and we will prepare for that.”

GUADALAJARA, Jalisco, September 16, 2025. – Puerto Rico earned its first victory at the 2025 NORCECA Women’s Final Six with a dominant 3-0 (25-16, 25-16, 25-22) sweep over defending champions Dominican Republic on Tuesday night at Unidad Deportiva López Mateos in Guadalajara.

With the win, Puerto Rico evened its record to 1-1, while Dominican Republic also stands at 1-1. The top four teams at the conclusion of round-robin play will advance to the crossover semifinals. Next, Puerto Rico will face Canada and the Dominican Republic goes against the United States.

Puerto Rico’s well-balanced offense, led by Diana Reyes, Valeria Vázquez, and Decelise Champion, powered them to a comfortable first-set win. Strong blocking and aggressive serving disrupted the Dominican system, keeping the reigning champions under pressure from the start.

In the second set, Puerto Rico jumped to a commanding 16-9 lead, fueled by Champion’s blocking presence and timely kills. Despite strong attacking from Florangel Terrero and Alondra Tapia, Puerto Rico held firm, with Alba Hernández’s block on Tapia and Reyes’ attack against Angélica Hinojosa closing out the set.

The third set remained tight until 5-all, when Puerto Rico pulled ahead with a combination of Santiago’s tip, a setter kill from Wilmarie Rivera, and a Dominican error to lead 8-5. Terrero’s blocking and a late surge from Madeline Guillén kept the Dominican squad close, but Vázquez and Paola Santiago pushed Puerto Rico to a 22-19 advantage. Vázquez sealed the win with a decisive kill against Samaret Caraballo’s block.

Puerto Rico led in every scoring category: attacks (36-33), blocks (9-6), and aces (4-1), while also capitalizing on 26 Dominican errors compared to just 14 of their own.

Valeria Vázquez and Decelise Champion topped Puerto Rico’s scoring with 11 points each, including four blocks from Champion. Diana Reyes added 10 points. Madeline Guillén was the only Dominican player in double figures, leading all scorers with 16 points.

Valeria Vázquez, Puerto Rico’s top scorer: “Against Mexico yesterday we didn’t have a good serve, and today that was the key to our victory. Everyone who stepped up to the service line focused on putting pressure on the Dominican Republic. Winning in three sets gives us greater confidence. Tomorrow we can’t let our guard down.”

Madeline Guillén, Dominican Republic’s top scorer: “The coach had to make changes to our lineup because we had poor reception. We tried to do our best to get a good result. We improved in some aspects, but it wasn’t enough. We need to train our serve and reception better for the upcoming matches.”

GUADALAJARA, Jalisco, September 16, 2025. – The United States overcame a tough challenge from Cuba, earning a five-set victory 3-2 (25-20, 16-25, 25-18, 22-25, 15-10) to move to 2-0 at the 2025 NORCECA Women’s Final Six, taking place at Unidad Deportiva López Mateos in Guadalajara, Jalisco.

The match was a roller-coaster battle, featuring powerful swings and strong blocking from both squads, with momentum shifting throughout the contest.

In the opening set, two monster blocks from Laura Suárez and a strong start by Dayana Martínez gave Cuba early momentum. The score stayed tight until key blocks from Emily Thater and late Cuban errors allowed the U.S. to close out the set.

Cuba responded in the second set, overcoming a three-point deficit (10-13) thanks to Whitney James’ efforts, taking a 17-14 lead and eventually leveling the match 1-1 behind Suárez’s offensive production.

The U.S. regained control in the third set, building a four-point advantage (13-9) with attacks by Samantha Francis and dominating from the service line (3-0 in aces for the set). Despite strong kills from Lisania Grafort, Team USA stayed ahead to go up 2-1.

Cuba fought back in the fourth, surging to a 20-14 lead behind Grafort’s blocking and strong serving from Lysbeysis Hernández. The U.S. cut the deficit to one point (22-23) with Madison Kubik and Claire Chaussee scoring, but two decisive plays from Suárez – a kill and a block on Fields – forced a fifth set.

Cuba started strong in the tie-break, leading 5-1 with Yalian De La Peña playing a key role. The U.S. fought back to tie the score at 8-all behind Francis and Kubik’s net defense. Ella Powell’s serving pushed the U.S. to an 11-9 lead, and with a kill from Fields and a Cuban error, USA sealed the victory.

USA held the advantage in blocking (13-7) and service points (8-6), while Cuba led in kills (59-56). Both teams committed 26 unforced errors.

Madison Kubik and Skylar Fields led the U.S. scoring with 20 points each. Samantha Francis and Emily Thater added 10 apiece, with Thater registering a match-high five blocks. For Cuba, Yalain De La Peña scored 15 points, all on kills, followed by Suárez with 11 and Grafort with 10.

Next up, the United States faces the Dominican Republic, while Cuba takes on host Mexico.

Madison Kubik, Top scorer of USA: “I’m so proud of our fight, it was a great team win and maybe we didn’t play our best volleyball, but to win was really good for us. Cuba played a great match, they got very emotional, very passionate and they took a lot of great swings, so we definitely got a great battle”.

Aidachi Agüero, Cuba’s Libero: “Today there was more fighting spirit, more aggressiveness. There were moments when we lacked organization, but the most important thing is that we fought and gave our best until the very last minute.”