Author: Carolina Rivas

LEÓN, Guanajuato, August 31, 2025.– The Dominican Republic survived a five-set battle to defeat Suriname 3-2 (25-13, 25-15, 23-25, 24-26, 15-11) and secure ninth place at the 18th Senior Men’s Pan American Cup, held at the Domo de la Feria in León, Guanajuato.

The Dominicans closed the tournament with a record of three wins and three losses, while Suriname finished with 1-4, settling for tenth place.

After dominating the first two sets with ease, the Dominican Republic endured Suriname’s push that forced a tight tie-break. Suriname took a two-point lead in the third set and, with great momentum, extended the match into a decisive fifth set, where the Dominicans finally prevailed thanks to their blocking and steadier performance.

The Dominican team made the difference at the net with a 19-8 blocking advantage, in addition to being more effective in attack (62-60), service (4-1), and committing fewer unforced errors (21-27).

Dominican Republic’s team captain Héctor Cruz was the top scorer of the match with 24 points (20 attacks, 3 blocks, and one ace). Ronny Molina added 20 points (19 attacks, one block), while Luther Molina contributed 15.

Four players of Suriname scored in double digits: Shemar Jameson with 19 points, Gianni Ritfeld with 13, Zefanio Breinburg with 12, and Keven Sporkslede with 11.

Dominican Republic’s head coach Alexander Gutiérrez said about the tournament: “This tournament was a gain for the boys who don’t have much experience and who must take responsibility. Consequently, that lack of experience causes complications against lower-level teams unnecessarily. We are going to keep working and pushing to be well prepared for the Central American Games.”

LEÓN, Guanajuato, August 21, 2025.- Guatemala concluded the 18th Senior Men’s Pan American Volleyball Cup with a 3-0 (25-10, 25-16, 25-17) victory over Antigua and Barbuda at the Domo de la Feria in León.

Guatemala finished in 11th place of the competition with a 1-5 record, while Antigua and Barbuda ended the tournament winless.

The Central American squad celebrated the victory by dominating in attacks 43-22, in blocks 8-5, and committing fewer errors (15-23). Both teams scored one direct service ace.

Andy Leonardo led all scorers with 15 points (13 attacks, one block, one ace), while Yeferson Zavala added 13 points (12 attacks, one block) for Guatemala.

On the other side, Adrian Constant stood out for Antigua and Barbuda with 9 points, all from attacks.

Guatemala’s coach, Reider Lucas, said: “We finished with a victory, a result that came after things didn’t go well for us yesterday. The previous match was a bad experience: things didn’t work out, we couldn’t use our captain due to injury in the last two matches, and the attitude wasn’t good. This was a very good competition for Guatemala, a high-level event, and progress has been made.”

LEÓN, Guanajuato, August 30, 2025.- Mexico advanced to the final of the 18th Senior Men’s Pan American Cup after defeating Canada 3-1 (25-21, 25-22, 22-25, 25-22) at the Domo de la Feria in León, Guanajuato.

The host team will play for the gold medal this Sunday against Venezuela, while Canada will face Colombia for the bronze.

The home crowd enjoyed a thrilling start in the opening set, as Mexico jumped ahead 20-12 thanks to the offense of Alexis Garay and Franky Hernández. Canada responded with a spectacular comeback led by Erik Siksna and Cole Duncanson, closing the gap to 23-21, but a blocking error and a stuff block from Axel Téllez sealed the set for the hosts.

The second set remained tight up to 17 points, when two Canadian errors opened the door for Mexico. In the final stretch, Cory Schoenherr extended the suspense, but a kill from Oziel Aguirre secured the 2-0 lead.

Canada controlled the third set with a comfortable 16-10 advantage and, despite a late push from Mexico, Jordan Canham led his side to force a fourth set.

In the decisive set, Mexico rallied from a three-point deficit with Yasutaka Sanay coming off the bench and the contribution of Brandon López. Two late errors from the home team made it dramatic, but captain Mauro Fuentes clinched the victory with a powerful hit off the block of Jonas Van Huizen.

Although Canada led the stats in attacks (48-40), blocks (8-7), and service points (5-4), their high number of errors (46 to Mexico’s 30) proved costly.

For Mexico, Axel Manuel Téllez and Yasutaka Sanay led with 9 points apiece. Three Canadians finished in double digits: Erik Siksna (21), Jordan Canham (11), and Jonas Van Huizen (10).

LEÓN, Guanajuato, August 30, 2025.– Venezuela secured a spot in the gold medal match of the 18th Senior Men’s Pan American Cup after edging Colombia in a thrilling five-set semifinal 3-2 (25-22, 28-26, 19-25, 15-25, 15-12) at the Domo de la Feria in León.

The Venezuelan team will battle for the gold medal against the winner of the other semifinal between defending champion Canada and Mexico, while Colombia will play for bronze against the loser of that clash.

The semifinal was a true battle, with a tight start, fast play, and plenty of highlights. In the opening set, Venezuela pulled ahead 23-20 with a key block from captain Willner Rivas, and after a dramatic finish, a Colombian net touch error sealed the 1-0 lead for Venezuela.

In the second set, Colombia staged a spectacular comeback from 19-24 to level at 24, saving seven set points along the way. Still, an attack from Rivas and a block by Moisés Vásquez against Andrés Piza gave Venezuela a commanding 2-0 advantage.

Colombia answered strongly in the third and fourth sets with lineup adjustments. Miguel Ramírez “Amaranto,” backed by Juan Castañeda and Daniel Aponza, took control offensively to close out 25-19 and 25-15, forcing a decisive fifth set.

In the tie-break, Venezuela surged ahead 10-6 thanks to the serving of Ronald Fayola and the attacking of Vásquez, with Rivas leading the charge. Colombia tried to rally with Amaranto and Marlon Mendoza, but a reception error after Fayola’s attack sealed Venezuela’s victory and celebration of their ticket to the final.

Venezuela benefited from 36 Colombian errors against 31 of their own and held the edge in service points (5-3), while Colombia led in attacks (60-57) and blocks (11-9).

Willner Rivas led Venezuela with 16 points, followed by Emerson Rodríguez with 15 and Moisés Vásquez with 11. For Colombia, Miguel Ramírez “Amaranto” and Juan Castañeda tallied 17 points each, Daniel Aponza added 13, and Marlon Mendoza, who came off the bench from the third set onward, chipped in 10.

After the match, Venezuelan captain Willner Rivas said: “We expected a tough match. Colombia is a very strong opponent, and every time we face each other it’s great volleyball. We never gave up, even when we were down in the fourth set. We achieved the victory because we came into the fifth set with a lot of energy and determination; we went out there to win.”

LEÓN, Guanajuato, August 30, 2025.– The United States defeated Puerto Rico 3-1 (28-26, 23-25, 25-18, 25-13) and will compete for fifth place at the 18th Senior Men’s Pan American Cup at the Domo de la Feria in León, Guanajuato.

The Americans will face Chile for fifth place, while Puerto Rico will meet Cuba for seventh.

The opening set was tightly contested. The U.S. came back from a three-point deficit to tie at 18, and after several exchanges, closed it 28-26 with a Nolan Flexen attack followed by a Michael Wright serve. Puerto Rico responded in the second, surging ahead 14-7 with the firepower of Jamal Ellis and Pelegrin Vargas. Despite U.S. pressure, a service error handed Puerto Rico the set 25-23.

Momentum shifted back to the U.S. in the third, opening with a 7-1 lead thanks to Flexen’s effective serving. Kyle Hobus led the attack to secure the set 25-18. In the fourth, the teams were tied at 21 when a spike from Andrew Deardorff and two Puerto Rican errors pushed the U.S. to match point. A service error by Kevin Rodríguez sealed the 25-13 victory.

The U.S. led in blocks (10-4), service points (4-2), and committed fewer errors (24-37). Puerto Rico held the edge in attacks (52-20).

Kyle Hobus was the top scorer for the U.S. with 16 points, supported by Flexen with 14, Matthew Gentry with 12 including a match-high six blocks, and Cameron Thorne with 10. For Puerto Rico, Ellis scored 17 points and Vargas added 13.

Andrew Deardorff and Mathew Gentry, both starters in their first international match with the U.S. national team, said:

Deardorff: “We worked well as a team and improving in each play. We worked out of every obstacle to win the game”.

Gentry: “Defensively I thought we were sound, we trusted each other to make the right moves and there was a lot of adjustment considering that we hadn’t played yet. There’s a lot for us to improve on”.

LEÓN, Guanajuato, August 30, 2025. Chile defeated Cuba in straight sets 3-0 (25-20, 25-21, 25-20) in a classification match for positions 5 to 8 at the 18th Senior Men’s Pan American Cup, held at the Domo de la Feria in León, Guanajuato.

Chile will play for fifth place against the winner between Puerto Rico and the United States, while Cuba will face the loser for seventh place.

The Chilean squad dominated the first set by capitalizing on Cuba’s errors. The second set was more balanced, with both teams trading points until 18-all, when a block from Dusan Bonacic and the attacks of Vicente Parraguirre gave Chile the edge. In the third, Chile’s dynamic offense allowed them to build a comfortable lead and secure the win.

Chile led in attacks 41-35 and service aces 3-0, committing 18 unforced errors. Cuba outperformed in blocks 8-4 but totaled 27 errors.

Vicente Parraguirre topped the Chilean scoring with 14 points, followed by Noe Aravena with 10. For Cuba, Endriel Pedroso, Lázaro Portes, and Carlos Charles each contributed 9 points.

After the match, Noe Aravena highlighted the team’s performance: “We knew how to stay calm, knowing that Cuba is a very strong team physically and jumps very high. We were able to take advantage of opportunities, had a good outside attacking performance, and kept our composure in reception. I think all of that gave us comfort to play, and we really enjoyed ourselves on the court, playing more freely.”

LEÓN, Guanajuato, August 30, 2025.- Suriname captured its first win at the 18th Senior Men’s Pan American Cup, defeating Guatemala 3-1 (25-21, 29-27, 17-25, 27-25) at the Domo de la Feria in León, Guanajuato.

With this victory, Suriname advanced to the 9th/10th place match against the Dominican Republic, marking its best historical performance in the competition. Guatemala, meanwhile, will face Antigua and Barbuda for 11th/12th place.

The Surinamese side displayed character in crucial moments, particularly in the second and fourth sets, where they denied Guatemala multiple set points thanks to the leadership of captain Keven Sporkslede, who switched from his usual libero position —where he had played throughout the tournament— to outside hitter.

Blocking proved decisive for Suriname, outscoring Guatemala by a wide margin (13-5). Although Guatemala held the edge in attacking (60-50) and serving (5-1), they committed more errors (34-28), which ultimately tipped the balance.

Sporkslede was the match’s top scorer with 18 points (14 attacks, 4 blocks), supported by Zefanio Breinburg with 13 (11 attacks, 2 blocks) and Anfernee Lee A Leong with 10.

For Guatemala, Andy Leonardo led with 17 points, followed by Gerardo González with 13, while Yeferson Zavala and Jason Hernández each contributed 11. Team captain Carlos López, a key player, was unable to compete due to an injury sustained in the previous match.

Keven Sporkslede said about the win: “The team effort was a lot better. We defended more and the reception was better so we could do the side out easier today. We made the libero change which worked out well. This is already the highest place we have finished in a Pan American Cup, so we are very satisfied”.

LEÓN, Guanajuato, August 30, 2025.- Dominican Republic cruised past Antigua and Barbuda 3-0 (25-17, 25-9, 25-10) at the 18th Senior Men’s Pan American Cup held at the Domo de la Feria in León, Guanajuato.

The Dominicans will play for ninth place against the winner of the match between Guatemala and Suriname, while Antigua and Barbuda will compete for eleventh place against the loser.

The Dominican squad faced no trouble in securing the win, dominating in attacks (38-20) and service points (5-0). Antigua and Barbuda held the edge in blocking (5-3), but the Dominicans capitalized on 23 opponent errors compared to their 10.

Dominican team captain Héctor Alexis Cruz led all scorers with 11 points, while Ronny Molina and Rafael Brugos added 10 points each in the triumph.

Adrian Constant topped Antigua and Barbuda’s offense with 10 points.

LEÓN, Guanajuato, August 29, 2025.- Mexico claimed its place in the semifinals of the 18th Men’s Pan American Cup after defeating the United States 3-1 (25-21, 18-25, 25-20, 25-23) in the quarterfinals at the Domo de la Feria in León, Guanajuato.

The Mexican squad will face defending champion Canada in the semifinals, while Venezuela and Colombia will battle in the other bracket. The United States, meanwhile, will play in the classification round for positions 5 to 8, starting against Puerto Rico.

The first set was tight up to an 11-point tie, when Mexico took control thanks to American errors and the attack of Alexis Garay. With Axel Téllez and Garay leading the offense, the home team maintained the edge. Franky Hernández, first from the service line and then with a back-row attack, pushed the score to 24-20. Ryan Barnett saved one set point, but Oziel Aguirre sealed the set for Mexico.

In the second set, the United States dominated from start to finish with a powerful attack led by Isaiah Preuitt, Nolan Flexen, and Parker Van Buren, leaving Mexico unable to catch up.

Parity returned in the third set until the 10-10 mark, when Mexico managed to pull ahead and hold the lead. Hernández’s serve proved decisive, complicating the U.S. reception and putting the hosts up 22-19. Daniel Wetter closed the gap with a kill, but Hernández struck again, and two U.S. errors handed the set to Mexico.

The fourth set saw the United States fighting to even the score, but Mexico held on to a slim advantage after taking a 15-13 lead. Although Kyle Hobus, Cameron Thorne, and Flexen tried to force a fifth set with consecutive points, it wasn’t enough. Aguirre, from the wing, sealed Mexico’s victory with the match-winning point.

Oziel Aguirre led all scorers with 17 points, followed by Hernández with 15 and Garay with 13. For the United States, Flexen tallied 16 points and Barnett added 11.

Franky Hernández explained Mexico’s strategy: “The United States is a high-level team with tall players. Our coach instructed us to play long defense and secure blocks, with a triple cross defense to stop their most effective player (Flexen). We are already in the semifinals, and we are going to fight to reach the final.”

LEÓN, Guanajuato, August 29, 2025. – Colombia survived a dramatic five-set battle to defeat Chile 3-2 (25-21, 25-22, 22-25, 23-25, 15-12) and secure its place in the semifinals of the 18th Senior Men’s Pan American Cup, being held at the Domo de la Feria in León.

Colombia built a two-set lead, but Chile fought back strongly to tie the match and force a decisive fifth set. In the semifinals, the Colombians await their opponent, either Venezuela or Canada, while Chile will play for positions five through eight.

The opening set was intense, with both teams exchanging points. Tied at 10, Colombia pulled ahead with the push of Andrés Piza and Chilean errors, before Leandro Mejía’s blocking stopped Dusan Bonacic from scoring comfortably to close the set.

The second set was equally tight, tied at 21 when Piza powered through the Chilean block, followed by Juan Felipe Castañeda who stopped Vicente Mardones. Mejía was once again crucial to bring Colombia to set point, and Ronald Jiménez denied Vicente Parraguirre to give Colombia a 2-0 lead.

Chile responded in the third set with Bonacic and Ibarra applying pressure from the start. Although Colombia cut the deficit, Chile held on and sealed the set 25-22 after an Ibarra attack and an Amaranto error.

The fourth set was just as close, reaching 23-23. Bonacic took advantage of a deflection off Colombia’s reception, followed by a block from Gabriel Araya and a Colombian mistake that leveled the match 2-2.

In the tiebreak, Colombia came out strong and built a 6-0 lead, but Chile refused to give in and rallied to within 13-9. It was Daniel Aponza who finally sealed the win with an attack for the 15-12 finish.

The statistics reflected the tightness of the match: Colombia led in attacks 65-64 and in blocks 8-7, while Chile held the edge in service points 3-1. Errors were also close, with Chile committing 36 and Colombia 31.

Leandro Mejía led Colombia with 16 points, followed by Juan Castañeda with 15 and Andrés Piza with 12. For Chile, captain Dusan Bonacic topped all scorers with 22 points, all on attacks, with Vicente Parraguirre adding 20 and Vicente Ibarra 15.

After the victory, Andrés Piza highlighted the value of the duel: “Chile is a very structured team, very disciplined, and we knew it was going to be a tough, long match. They showed that they never give up and it’s always difficult to play against them. It was an important South American battle and I’m happy we won it; I’ll enjoy this with my teammates,” he said.

LEÓN, Guanajuato, August 29, 2025. – Puerto Rico secured its place in the battle for positions 5 to 8 of the Senior Men’s Pan American Cup after defeating the Dominican Republic 3-0 (25-20, 25-18, 25-19) on Friday at the Domo de la Feria in León, Guanajuato.

The Puerto Ricans will continue fighting for fifth place in the tournament, while the Dominican Republic will compete between 9th and 12th.

Puerto Rico took control of the first set from point seven, with Jamal Ellis and Pelegrin Vargas leading the offense. In the second set, the lead grew to six points (13-7), thanks to contributions from Ellis and Pedro Molina, along with consecutive errors by the Dominican side. Although Ronny Molina responded with kills, Puerto Rico held on firmly to the advantage.

In the third set, the Dominicans rallied after trailing 13-16, cutting the gap to 15-16 with attacks from Rafael Burgos, Bryan Turbides, and Luther Rosario. However, Puerto Rico regained control with Vargas and Ellis, pulling ahead 23-17. After a long rally, Ellis put his team at match point, and Omar Hoyos sealed the victory with a spike that deflected off the Dominican defense.

Puerto Rico dominated in attack (43-30) and service (6-1), while the Dominican Republic held a slight edge in blocking (6-5). Errors were nearly even, 20 for Puerto Rico and 21 for the Dominicans.

Ellis led Puerto Rico with 18 points (14 attacks, 4 blocks), followed by Vargas with 13 (11 attacks, 2 aces). For the Dominican Republic, Luther Rosario scored 11 points (8 attacks, 3 blocks).

Puerto Rico’s middle blocker Angle Rivera said about the match: “We had a good level of play in the first and third sets; I feel we dropped it a little in the second. We go out to play hard no matter what position we are playing for or who our opponent is; we always give our best to represent our country.”

Dominican Republic libero Eliander Jiménez commented: “We had a good opponent in front of us, but I think the defeat was due to a problem of confidence in ourselves.”

LEÓN, Guanajuato, August 29, 2025.- Cuba defeated Guatemala 3-0 (25-23, 25-21, 25-23) in a classification match for positions 7 to 10 at the Senior Men’s Pan American Cup, held at the Domo de la Feria in León, Guanajuato.

With the victory, Cuba moves on to compete for positions 5 to 8, while Guatemala will play in the bracket for places 9 to 12.

The match was closely contested, with both teams staying within reach on the scoreboard. In the first set, Guatemala saved three set points (19-24) with the offense and blocking of Andy Leonardo, before an error and a kill by Carlos Yoandrys Charles sealed the set for Cuba.

In the second frame, Guatemala held a three-point lead (14-11) behind the blocking of Andy Leonardo and Gerardo González, but Cuba responded through the attacks of Thiago Suárez and Yusniel González, combined with errors from the Central American squad.

The third set remained tied until 13 points apiece, when Cuba gained a slight edge with the contribution of Endriel Pedroso. Guatemala caught up again at 19-all, but in another tight finish, the Cubans closed the match.

Cuba led in attacks 46-32 and in aces 4-2, while both sides were even in blocking with 6 apiece. Guatemala committed fewer errors (19 to Cuba’s 27).

Carlos Yoandrys Charles led Cuba’s offense with 19 points, followed by Thiago Suárez with 13 and Endriel Pedroso with 12. For Guatemala, Andy Leonardo was the top scorer with 18 points.

Cuban outside hitter Yusniel González said: “We didn’t play with the usual intensity because we came here with an objective and things didn’t work out as expected, so it’s hard to keep the spirit high. Still, we continue defending Cuba’s honor and will face every match with responsibility to achieve the best possible position.”

Guatemala’s libero Josué González stated: “We gave our best and I’m sad about the result. The opponent was very tough and knew how to close the sets. We managed to keep the score close all the time. We will keep working.”

LEÓN, Guanajuato, August 28, 2025. – Chile defeated Mexico in a thrilling five-set battle 3-2 (20-25, 25-16, 19-25, 25-23, 16-14) to claim first place in Pool C at the Men’s Senior Pan American Cup, being held at the Domo de la Feria in León, Guanajuato.

With a perfect 3-0 record, Chile secured the top spot in the pool, while Mexico (2-1) finished second. In the quarterfinals, Chile will face Colombia and Mexico will take on the United States.

Mexico started strong with Franky Hernández leading the offense, supported by Alexis Garay and Mauro Fuentes to take the opening set. Chile responded in the second with a comfortable lead, powered by Vicente Parraguirre and contributions from Vicente Ibarra, tying the match.

The third set was a tense exchange with long rallies that kept the crowd engaged. Mexico pulled ahead with Garay’s attack and a solid block from Hernández against Parraguirre, closing the set with authority.

Chile forced the tie-break after a tightly contested fourth set, sealed by a Mexican error and a decisive spike from captain Dusan Bonacic. In the deciding set, the South Americans took an 8-3 lead, but Mexico fought back with Oziel Aguirre closing the gap to 12-10 and later tying at 13. Finally, a block by Vicente Ibarra gave Chile the extended win.

Chile held the edge in blocking (13-10) and serving (3-1), while Mexico led in attacking (58-55). Both teams committed 34 unforced errors.

Vicente Parraguirre led all scorers with 21 points. Also contributing to the win, Vicente Ibarra added 15, while Bonacic and Vicente Valenzuela contributed 11 each, and Tomás Gago chipped in 10. For Mexico, Alexis Garay led with 19 points, Hernández added 16, and Axel Téllez scored 12.

Chile’s head coach, Daniel Nejamkin, said: “It was a very beautiful match. I think it has been the best game of the tournament so far. Both teams played with great intensity and the will to win. We are very happy to have won.”

Mexico’s libero, Said Bravo, commented after the loss: “Chile is a strong team and matches against them are always difficult. I feel that in the end we made too many errors that cost us the match. The tournament continues, we must keep working, push harder, and take this loss as a lesson.”

LEÓN, Guanajuato, August 28, 2025. – The United States advanced to the quarterfinals of the 18th Senior Men’s Pan American Cup after defeating Cuba 3-1 (25-20, 23-25, 26-24, 25-17) at the Domo de la Feria in León, Guanajuato.

The U.S. team closed the preliminary round with a 2-1 record to secure second place in Pool A and a spot in the next phase. Cuba, with a 1-2 record, finished third and will play for classification.

The United States came out strong in the opening set, jumping to a 5-0 lead and then 10-5, powered by the offense of Nolan Flexen, Kyle Hobus, and Daniel Wetter.

In the second set, Cuba responded with the efforts of Víctor Andreu and Carlos Charles. After a 20-point tie, U.S. errors gave the Caribbean team the advantage to even the match.

The third set was the most tightly contested, with both teams battling point by point. With the score tied at 19, the United States pulled ahead 23-19 thanks to a Cuban error and two blocks by Wetter against Yusniel González. Cuba fought back with attacks from Andreu, a serve from Thiago Suárez, and Endriel Pedroso’s offense to tie at 24. However, a block by Isaiah Preuitt against Pedroso and a Cuban error returned the advantage to the U.S., who took a 2-1 lead.

In the fourth set, the United States dominated from the start, opening a six-point lead (14-8) and maintaining control until the end. Ryan Barnett applied service pressure in the final stretch, and an attack from Parker Van Buren, followed by two Cuban errors, sealed the victory.

The United States held the advantage in attacks (43-39), blocks (11-6), and aces (9-4). Cuba committed one fewer error (36-37).

Nolan Flexen led all scorers with 18 points (16 attacks, 2 aces), followed by Ryan Barnett with 11 (6 attacks, 2 blocks, 3 aces). For Cuba, Víctor Andreu tallied 13 points (11 attacks, 2 blocks), while Yusniel González added 12 (10 attacks, 2 blocks).

Parker Van Buren spoke about what USA did to overcome Cuba: “We kept them on their feet with a lot of service pressure, I think that was the main thing. Our passers did a great job of fighting off their service pressure and our servers, particularly Ryan Barnett, did a fantastic job getting them out of system and acing them, and putting very fast balls on them. Maybe Cuba was a little uneasy coming off from a loss, while we came off of a win”.

Ryan Barnett said about the pressure he put on Cuba in the final stretch of the game “I just focused on hitting my serves in. It was great. Going into this game was playing our version of volleyball, the USA volleyball way. We will continue focused on ourselves in the next round”.

LEÓN, Guanajuato, August 28, 2025.– Canada swept Colombia 3-0 (28-26, 25-23, 25-23) in an intense battle that decided the top spot in Pool B of the 18th Senior Men’s Pan American Cup, held at the Domo de la Feria in León, Guanajuato.

The defending champions closed pool play undefeated with a 3-0 record, awaiting confirmation whether they advance directly to the semifinals or will compete in the quarterfinals. Colombia finished second in the pool with a 2-1 record and moves on to the quarterfinal round.

The opening set was tightly contested, tied at 23 points. A Colombian service error gave Canada set point, but a Canadian error from the service line tied it again. Erik Siksna once more put Canada ahead, though Juan Castañeda answered with a kill for Colombia. Andrés Piza followed with an attack to earn Colombia a set point, but Jordan Canham delivered two consecutive points to seal the set for the Canadians.

In the second set, Colombia held a 23-20 advantage, but Canada responded with Cole Duncanson’s offense, including an ace, and leveled the score thanks to a Colombian service error. Two mistakes by Miguel Martínez handed the set to Canada, who went up 2-0 in the match.

The third set, much like the previous ones, was decided in the closing moments. Colombia led 23-20, but Canada rallied once again with a kill and an ace from Duncanson, plus two Colombian errors, to clinch the victory.

Canada had the edge in kills (44-37) and committed fewer unforced errors (23-26). Colombia led in blocks (6-4) and aces (6-4).

Jonas Van Huizen topped all scorers with 15 points, all on kills. Jordan Canham added 11 points and Erik Siksna chipped in 10.

For Colombia, Miguel Martínez “Amaranto” led with 13 points, followed by Juan Castañeda with 12 (including a match-high 4 aces) and Andrés Piza with 10.

Mason Greves, setter of Canada, said after the win: “It was a very tight match, and it came down to the serve-pass game. The guys have been working so hard this week to keep the ball on our side and give us a chance, I think their job was amazing. We’ve been training for the past two months together, and it feels like a finished product here in Mexico”.

Miguel Martínez “Amaranto” said about the match: “It was a very tight game. The set closings cost us. Step by step we are improving for Colombia. Now we are going to focus on the next round, we are already in the quarterfinals.”

LEÓN, Guanajuato, August 28, 2025.– Puerto Rico wrapped up the preliminary round of the Senior Men’s Pan American Cup with a 3-1 (25-21, 21-25, 25-20, 25-17) victory over Guatemala, in the final day of pool play at the Domo de la Feria in León, Guanajuato.

With a 1-2 record, Puerto Rico secured third place in Pool B, while Guatemala finished fourth with a 0-3 record. Both teams will move on to classification matches, awaiting their opponents once pool play concludes.

Puerto Rico controlled the first set, although Guatemala managed to save two set points with a service error and an attack from Gerardo González, until Omar Hoyos closed the set with a kill. Guatemala responded in the second set, driven by middle blocker Jason Hernández and outside hitter Andy Leonardo, who kept the Central Americans ahead to level the match 1-1.

In the third set, after a 17-point tie, Puerto Rico took control with the performances of Jamal Ellis and captain Pedro Molina. The Puerto Ricans maintained the pressure and raised their level of play in the fourth set to secure the win.

Puerto Rico outperformed Guatemala in the main scoring categories: attacks (55-48), blocks (10-6), and service points (4-0). Errors were almost even, with Puerto Rico committing 29 to Guatemala’s 27.

Opposite hitter Jamal Ellis led all scorers with 19 points (13 kills, 5 blocks, one ace). Captain Pedro Molina also contributed 17 points (14 kills, one block, 2 aces), along with Omar Hoyos who added 13 (11 kills, one block, one ace).

For Guatemala, captain Carlos López led with 16 points, all on kills. Andy Leonardo and Jason Hernández chipped in 10 points each.

Jamal Ellis said about the match: “Puerto Rico has a lot of potential on the bench, and today there was an opportunity to make changes in the lineup, everyone knows how to do their job. We lost a set because of a lack of focus, sometimes we let emotions control us. We couldn’t find our rhythm until the third set, and the finish was good, but we’ve shown that we have a higher level of play.”

Guatemalan setter Adolfo Rivas said: “We tried to fight, but we dropped our intensity in the third set. I think the good attitude we showed in the first two sets was fundamental, but then we turned it off. We need to maintain that attitude for the upcoming matches.”

LEÓN, Guanajuato, August 28, 2025.- The Dominican Republic earned its first win at the Senior Men’s Pan American Cup by defeating Suriname 3-0 (25-16, 25-14, 25-20) in the final day of pool play at the Domo de la Feria in León, Guanajuato.

The Dominican Republic closed Pool C in third place with a 1-2 record, while Suriname finished fourth at 0-3. Both teams await the completion of all preliminary matches to learn their opponents in the classification round.

The Dominican side controlled the match with advantages in attacks (40-33), blocks (12-3), and service points (3-1), while committing fewer errors than Suriname (13-20). The third set was the most contested, with stronger resistance from the Surinamese squad.

Luis Reinoso led all scorers with 15 points on 10 kills, 2 blocks, and 3 aces. Héctor Cruz added 13 points, all on kills, and Ronny Molina contributed 10, also all from attacks.

For Suriname, Shemar Jameson stood out with 13 points, all on kills.

Dominican Republic outside hitter Ronny Molina said after the match: “It usually happens to us that we get too confident against teams that don’t put us under much pressure, and that’s why the last set was tighter. We were able to finish the group stage with a win, and we hope to stay focused in the upcoming matches and win them all.”

Leonel Mahabali, setter of Suriname, spoke about the match: “The closing set was a hard-fought set, but we are still not happy with our performance. We are getting better each time, but we need to fight harder”.

LEÓN, Guanajuato, August 28, 2025.– Venezuela closed the group stage with its third consecutive straight-set victory, defeating Antigua and Barbuda 3-0 (25-15, 25-16, 25-8) to secure first place in Pool A of the Men’s Senior Pan American Cup, held at the Domo de la Feria in León, Guanajuato.

With a perfect 3-0 record and without dropping a single set, Venezuela claimed the group lead and now awaits the outcome of the remaining matches to see if it advances directly to the semifinals. Antigua and Barbuda (0-3) will play in the classification round for placement matches.

The South American squad rotated its lineup, with the reserve players sealing the victory with a dominant third set (25-8), the largest margin recorded so far in the tournament.

Statistics showed Venezuela’s superiority in attacks (42-18), as well as in blocks (7-5) and service points (6-0). Venezuela conceded 16 points from errors, compared to 20 from Antigua and Barbuda.

Three Venezuelan players finished in double digits: Jesús Gómez (15), Iván Fernández (14), and José González (19). For Antigua and Barbuda, Cairon Davis once again led his team with 9 points.

Venezuela’s setter for this match, Kevin Delgado, said: “We came from two victories against the United States and Cuba, and we wanted to finish the group stage in the best way possible. We closed strong and move on to the next round as group leaders.”

Antigua and Barbuda team captain, Erwin Mathurin said about the preliminary round: “We didn’t intend to win a game because most of the teams here are superior. One thing we can take out from the first round is that we can compete and fight. This was the only game that we had a set under 10 points and that for us is a win, it’s positive that Antigua volleyball is on a rise”.

LEÓN, Guanajuato, August 27, 2025. – Mexico defeated the Dominican Republic 3-0 (25-20, 25-19, 25-19) to earn their second straight-set victory at the Men’s Pan American Volleyball Cup, being held at the Domo de la Feria in León, Guanajuato.

The top spot in Pool C will be decided on Thursday in the clash between Mexico and Chile, both undefeated so far in the tournament. Meanwhile, the Dominican Republic will close the preliminary round against Suriname, with both teams still seeking their first win.

Mexico took the lead in the opening set with powerful attack from Franky Hernández and a solid block by Axel Téllez against Dominican captain Héctor Cruz, securing the early advantage.

In the second set, the home team doubled their rivals in points (10-5) thanks to consecutive attacks from Alexis Garay, supported by Mauro Fuentes, effectively containing the efforts of Luis Reinoso and Luther Rosario.

The Dominican Republic came out strong in the third set, going up 6-3 behind solid blocking from Rafael Burgos and Cruz. However, Mexico turned the score around and, with an effective performance from Téllez, extended the gap to four points (20-16). With Garay leading the offense and Téllez dominant at the net, the hosts sealed the win after a Dominican error.

Mexico’s superiority in attack (47-29) was crucial to the victory. The home side also held the edge in serving (4-0) and had a slight advantage in blocking (5-4). The Dominican Republic committed fewer unforced errors (19 to Mexico’s 25).

Alexis Garay led Mexico with 14 points, all from attacks. Téllez contributed 11 (6 attacks, 2 blocks, 3 aces), while Hernández added 10. For the Caribbean team, captain Héctor Cruz was the only player in double digits with 10 points.

After the victory, Alexis Garay said: “We were able to analyze the Dominican Republic in our stats session and focused on the details our coach pointed out – like adjusting our blocking to the lines. Tomorrow, we finish againstChile; they are a great team, we know each other well, and we expect a great match.”

LEÓN, Guanajuato, August 27, 2025. – Colombia defeated Puerto Rico 3-1 (18-25, 25-18, 25-18, 25-20) to remain unbeaten at the Men’s Pan American Volleyball Cup, taking place at the Domo de la Feria in León, Guanajuato.

Colombia and Canada both hold perfect records (2-0) and will face each other on Thursday to decide the top spot in Pool B. Puerto Rico, meanwhile, will play against Guatemala, with both teams still searching for their first win.

Puerto Rico controlled the first set comfortably. At set point (24-14), Colombia responded with three kills from Ronald Jiménez and a block by Juan Castañeda against Jamal Ellis, before Ángel Rivera sealed the set with a powerful spike, 25-18.

Colombia answered back in the second set, taking a five-point lead (10-5), with Castañeda, Andrés Piza, and Jiménez effective on offense, and Leandro Mejía contributing at the net with blocks. Puerto Rico pushed back and denied three set points, but Piza leveled the match with a decisive attack.

In the third set, Colombia maintained a three-point lead throughout. Mejía’s blocking was key down the stretch, while Puerto Rican errors allowed Colombia to close the set in their favor.

The fourth set followed a similar pattern, with Puerto Rico committing 11 errors and Colombian middle blocker Daniel Aponza dominating at the net to secure the win.

Colombia held the edge in all aspects of the game: 52-49 in kills, 10-5 in blocks, and 5-4 in service aces. Errors were nearly even, with Colombia committing 23 and Puerto Rico 26.

Five Colombian players scored in double figures: Ronald Jiménez, Leandro Mejía, and Juan Castañeda with 13 points each, and Daniel Aponza with 10. Puerto Rico’s Pelegrin Vargas was the top scorer of the match with 15 points, followed by Pedro Molina and Jamal Ellis with 14 apiece.

Colombian libero Roosvuelt Ramos said: “It’s not easy to be in a high-level tournament with so little preparation, and beating Puerto Rico is a big step because they have a Professional League, unlike us. We had great focus and strong determination to go out and win. We gave everything, we took risks, because if you don’t take risks, you don’t win.”

Puerto Rican setter Kevin Rodríguez commented on his team’s loss: “I think Colombia improved their serve, they adjusted, and we couldn’t execute ours. They stayed calm, while we got a little desperate because we knew this was a very important match. You learn from this loss, and there will always be another opportunity.”

LEÓN, Guanajuato, August 27, 2025. – Venezuela earned a solid 3-0 (25-23, 25-17, 25-21) victory over Cuba at the Men’s Pan American Volleyball Cup, being held at the Domo de la Feria in León, Guanajuato.

Venezuela remains perfect in Pool A with a 2-0 record, while Cuba drops to 1-1. In the final day of pool play, Venezuela will face Antigua and Barbuda (0-2) and Cuba will go up against the United States (1-1).

Cuba started strong in the opening set, taking a 4-0 lead with the attack of Alejandro González. However, Venezuela responded steadily, led by Willner Rivas and Emerson Rodríguez, building a comfortable advantage. Although Cuba tried to rally, closing the gap to 21-23, consecutive errors cost them the set.

The second set was completely dominated by Venezuela, with a huge lead and consistent pressure from the service line through Ronald Fayola, Jean Herrera, and Emerson.

In the third set, the score was tied at 15 points before Venezuela pulled away with the offense of Rivas and Emerson, along with José Carrasco’s blocking at the net. Two consecutive kills from Emerson sealed the Venezuelan victory.

Venezuela capitalized on 32 Cuban errors and was superior from the service line (9-2). Cuba held a slight edge in attacking (31-30) and blocking (5-4).

Emerson Rodríguez led all scorers with 15 points (12 kills, 3 aces). For Cuba, Alejandro González contributed 13 points (12 kills, 1 block).

After the match, Emerson Rodríguez said: “Thanks to God the work we have been doing for a long time finally paid off. Also, we weren’t at a good level due to the lack of international competition, but we came back strong in this tournament. We showed more attitude than Cuba and a greater desire to win.”

LEÓN, Guanajuato, August 27, 2025. – Canada had to work hard to overcome Guatemala 3-1 (26-24, 25-19, 26-28, 25-19) and remain unbeaten at the 18th Men’s Pan American Cup, held at the Domo de la Feria in León, Guanajuato.

The defending champion now holds a 2-0 record in Pool B and will close the preliminary round on Thursday against Colombia. Guatemala, still seeking its first win, will face Puerto Rico in its next match.

The match turned out to be tougher than expected for the Canadians. In the first set, Guatemala surprised by staying ahead until reaching set point (24-23), with Andy Leonardo and Gerardo González leading the offense. However, Erik Siksna tied the score with a spike and then scored on a block to give Canada the advantage, eventually taking the set 26-24.

In the second frame, Canada showed more control, building a five-point lead (17-12) and maintaining it thanks to the effectiveness of Siksna and Jonas Van Huizen, securing the set 25-19.

Guatemala bounced back in the third set, taking a 20-17 lead with Leonardo at the front. The Central Americans forced a fourth set after edging Canada 28-26, with José Samayoa also contributing to the effort.

Canada closed the match in the fourth (25-19), capitalizing on its opponent’s errors and spreading the offense among Kristjanson, Canham, Van Huizen, and Duncanson.

Statistically, Canada outperformed Guatemala in attacks (54-35), blocks (10-3), and service points (7-3), though committed more errors (49-31).

Canadian Liam Kristjanson led all scorers with 17 points (10 kills, 2 blocks, and a match-high 5 aces). He was supported by Cole Duncanson with 13 points (10 kills, 3 blocks), Erik Siksna with 12 (8 kills, 3 blocks, 1 ace), and Jonas Van Huizen with 11, all on attacks.

For Guatemala, Andy Leonardo stood out with 16 points (13 kills, 1 block, 2 aces), while team captain Carlos López added 10 points, all on attacks.

Liam Kristjanson said about the match: “It was an exciting match. We created a lot of stress for ourselves. We give credit to Guatemala, they have some great players, and we knew they were going to battle hard. I was happy that our team was able to deal with the adversity they showed us. We’re happy to come out with the win and with some lessons in what we can improve. We’re 2-0 and that’s a good place to be and carry that record against Colombia”.

After the match, Andy Leonardo said: “We have great unity, we’re a group that has worked together for many years and that shows on the court. What we lack is more international experience to face stronger opponents. We are doing an excellent job; we’ve trained hard and given our best effort. We performed well today and yesterday too. We’ll keep moving forward because the competition continues. I support all my teammates; I’m one of the most experienced players here.”

LEÓN, Guanajuato, August 27, 2025. – The Chilean National Team kept its perfect record at the 18th Men’s Pan American Volleyball Cup, defeating Suriname in straight sets 3-0 (25-15, 25-13, 25-14) at the Domo de la Feria in León, Guanajuato.

Chile now holds a 2-0 undefeated record in Pool C, while Suriname is still searching for its first win (0-2).

The pool stage will conclude on Thursday with Chile facing Mexico and Suriname taking on the Dominican Republic. Afterward, the two best pool winners will move directly into the semifinals.

Chile’s attacking power and serving were key factors in the victory. The South Americans dominated in kills (41-23), service aces (9-0), and blocks (8-2). Both teams handed out 17 points apiece through unforced errors.

Vicente Parraguirre, Chile’s opposite, topped all scorers with 13 points (10 kills, 2 blocks, 1 ace). Followed by Noe Aravena with 12 points (10 kills, 1 block, 1 ace) and Tomás Gago with 10 (6 kills, 2 blocks, 2 aces).

For Suriname, Shemar Jameson led the way with 6 points.

Vicente Parraguirre on the victory said: “Today against Suriname we came in strong to keep our undefeated record. They are a developing team, and we were able to maintain our intensity from start to finish. Since the beginning of the tournament, our goal has been to win our pool. Yesterday against the Dominican Republic it was a very tight match, and it was important to start with a victory. Tomorrow, we close against Mexico, and I hope we keep the same intensity in our game.”

Shemar Jameson said “We can play better because we have a lot of potential, but the level of competition here is higher for us. We are trying every match to improve”.

LEÓN, Guanajuato, August 26, 2025.- The United States earned its first victory in Pool A of the Men’s Pan American Cup after beating Antigua and Barbuda 3-0 (25-12, 25-11, 25-17) at Domo de la Feria in Guanajuato, León.

The U.S. with 1-1 record will close pool-play against Cuba, while Antigua and Barbuda (0-2) will face Venezuela.

The top place in the pool will have to wait until the results are complete to learn if they advance directly to semifinals or they will go through the quarterfinals alongside the second place in each pool.

USA sealed the win with advantage in every skill: attacks  (43-20), blocks (5-2) and service aces  (8-1). They committed a similar number of errors, the United States with 19 and Antigua and Barbuda with 17.

Kaleb Jenness of USA was the only player with double digits, with 14 points, as the U.S. used all its players.

Kaleb Jenness said after the win: “It was a really good comeback after yesterday’s loss. We had a lot of talking going on and we really wanted to play a good solid match, and I thought we did that. I am very proud of our team and our coaches. Tomorrow we played Cuba, we’re going to do the same things we played today, keep that high-level of volleyball, keep our communication going, just be really good at first contact – our passing and our receiving – the little stuff be really good”.

Cairon Davis of Antigua and Barbuda expressed: “Today we started off a little bit slow but overall, it was good. We started to pick up during the match, it’s still working progress. We were more confident today and more organized”.

August 27, 2025.- Canada lost to undefeated Türkiye today at the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.

The pool E winners beat Canada 3-0 (25-21, 27-25, 25-13), leading by 49-35 in attack points and 10-5 in blocks. Canada had a slight edge on ace serves (3-2) and errors were even at 16. Opposite Melissa Vargas led the way for the winning side with 16 points.

Middle blocker Nyadholi Thokbuom led scoring with 12 points (8 kills, 2 blocks & 2 aces) for Canada. The Canadian team was playing without opposite Anna Smrek, who is under observation after a hit to the head during the previous match with Spain.

“I think today we played two very good sets and a very bad third,” said Giovanni Guidetti, Canada’s head coach and a former Türkiye head coach. Canada did hold the lead for much of the second set, missing out on two set points to the more experienced Turkish squad.

“Türkiye is a very strong opponent, and we have to accept the result. Now one day of rest and then we focus on USA, another very strong opponent. What I’m asking of the team before the match against the United States is to play like Canada – that means we will never give up!”

Canada finished second in the pool with a 2-1 record and both Canada and Türkiye move to the round of 16. Canada meets its North American neighbors and Pool D winners USA on September 1 in Bangkok, while Türkiye plays Slovenia.

LEÓN, Guanajuato, August 26, 2025. – Host team Mexico got off to a strong start in the 18th Senior Men’s Pan American Volleyball Cup, defeating Suriname 3-0 (25-18, 25-14, 25-17) at the Domo de la Feria in León.

Mexico (1-0) will face the Dominican Republic (0-1) in its next Pool C match, while Suriname (0-1) will meet Chile (1-0).

The opening set was evenly matched, tied at 7 points, until Mexico pulled ahead with Brandon López leading the offense and two consecutive aces from Isaías Aguirre to make it 12-8. Despite efforts from Shemar Jameson and Anferney Schmeltz to close the gap, a spike from Franky Hernández off the Surinamese block sealed the set for Mexico.

From there, the hosts controlled the match from start to finish, cruising through the next two sets.

Mexico outperformed Suriname in attack (39-25), blocking (5-1), and service points (4-1), while also committing fewer unforced errors (22-27).

With a rotated lineup, Mexico’s top scorers were Mauro Fuentes, Ridl Garay, and Franky Hernández, each with 8 points. On Suriname’s side, Zefanio Breinburg stood out as the leading scorer with 16 points.

After the victory, Mexican captain Mauro Fuentes said: “We had a solid attack, we were consistent in reception, and with good passes we were able to attack comfortably. Suriname had a better presentation than in previous occasions, I think they’re on the right path. We need to improve our aggressiveness and consistency from the service line.”

Suriname’s captain Keven Sporkslede commented: “This is not the level of play in our area; we come from the CAZOVA zone. It wasn’t bad for the first match. We had good moments, but higher-level teams can sustain momentum for longer. We hope to stay consistent to put up a better fight and will try to improve for the next match.”

LEÓN, Guanajuato, August 26, 2025.– Cuba opened the Men’s Senior Pan American Volleyball Cup with a strong performance, defeating Antigua and Barbuda 3-0 (25-19, 25-10, 25-12) on the first day of Pool A action at the Domo de la Feria in León.

The match was quick paced, with the Cubans showing absolute dominance in all aspects of the game, sealing the victory in just 49 minutes.

Cuba controlled the fundamentals in attack (41-15), blocking (6-2), and serving (11-2). Antigua and Barbuda committed fewer errors than Cuba (17 to 27) but could not counter the power of their opponents.

To close the match, the Cubans needed four match points, after a service error and two consecutive reception mistakes following powerful attacks from Cairon Davis briefly extended the finish.

Cuba’s top scorers were Víctor Andreu and Endriel Pedroso with 11 points each, while Davis led Antigua and Barbuda with 6 points.

Cuba (1-0) will face Venezuela (1-0) in their next match, while Antigua and Barbuda (0-1) will meet the United States (0-1).

Cuban captain Víctor Andreu said: “We came from a long trip, arriving just last night, so starting with a match that didn’t demand much from us was good, because we are still uncoordinated and making many mistakes. We don’t underestimate any opponent; the ending was exciting for both teams. This match worked as a good practice for us ahead of tougher challenges, like Venezuela and the United States.”

Erwin Mathurin, captain of Antigua and Barbuda said: “For us, coming from a small island in such a big tournament is absolutely incredible. Maybe we anticipated a little bit more from ourselves in this match, but we enjoyed it. We hope to do better going into the other games”.

LEÓN, Guanajuato, August 26, 2025.– Defending champion Canada opened with a victory in the Senior Men’s Pan American Volleyball Cup, defeating Puerto Rico in a hard-fought match 3-1 (25-21, 25-18, 22-25, 25-20) at the Domo de la Feria in León, Guanajuato.

On the second day of action in Pool B, Canada (1-0) will face Guatemala (0-1), while Puerto Rico (0-1) will go up against Colombia (1-0).

From the start, Canada set the tone with an effective offense and the blocking of opposite hitter Jordan Canham, who led his team both offensively and defensively. Puerto Rico, led by captain Pedro Molina, battled with intensity and stayed in the fight, but could not contain Canada’s rhythm.

In the second set, the offensive duo of Erik Siksna and Cory Schoenherr extended the lead for the North Americans, while Puerto Rico responded with a powerful spike from Omar Hoyos, before a service error handed the set to Canada.

Puerto Rico came back in the third, supported by the serving of Klistan Lawrence and the attacking power of Hoyos and Molina, jumping to a six-point lead (15-9). Despite a Canadian rally, the Puerto Ricans forced a fourth set thanks to Molina’s decisive play.

In the fourth, Canada regained control with a strong 4-0 start, highlighted by two consecutive blocks from Cole Duncanson. With sharp attacks and the effective contribution of Kaden Schmidt, Canada secured the win, sealed by Canham.

Canada was superior in attacks (50-37) and blocks (12-3), while Puerto Rico led in service aces (4-2). In errors, Canada committed 40 to Puerto Rico’s 33.

Jordan Canham led all scorers with 19 points (15 attacks, 4 blocks), followed by Cole Duncanson with 12 (9 attacks, 3 blocks). For Puerto Rico, captain Pedro Molina led his side with 13 points (11 attacks, 2 aces).

Canadian team captain Darian Picklyk said: “We knew Puerto Rico had that fight in them and they came out strong in the third set. As for us, we are coming together after every point with a couple of new guys at the international scene, so we just had to stay composed. We focused on our side, our receive and serve, and our blocking”.

After the match, Molina said: “Our team is quite similar to the one that won the Final Four recently here in Mexico. Canada is a tremendous team. We have to keep working; we made too many errors. It was a good match for both teams.”

LEÓN, Guanajuato, August 26, 2025.- Venezuela opened its campaign with a straight-set victory 3-0 (25-21, 28-26, 31-29) over the United States in the first match of Pool A at the Men’s Senior Pan American Cup, held at the Domo de la Feria in León, Guanajuato.

In their next outing, Venezuela will face Cuba, while the United States will take on Antigua and Barbuda.

The South American squad was boosted by the offense of Moisés Vásquez, Emerson Rodríguez, and captain Willner Rivas, who helped secure control of the opening set despite the efforts of Kyle Hobus and Nolan Flexen on the U.S. side.

The second set was tighter, with multiple ties and narrow leads. The U.S. moved ahead 14-12 thanks to Venezuelan errors and a block by Daniel Wetter, but Venezuela regained the edge with attacks from Jean Herrera and eventually closed the set on an Emerson Rodríguez spike.

In the third set, the United States built an 18-15 advantage with points from Flexen and Hobus, but Venezuela fought back to tie at 23 and, after saving five set points, sealed the win with back-to-back serves from Rodríguez.

Statistically, the match was balanced; Venezuela held the edge in attacks (43-40) and serves (5-2), while the U.S. was superior in blocking (8-7). Venezuela also committed fewer unforced errors (26-29).

Captain Willner Rivas led Venezuela with 17 points, including two aces. Opposite hitter Emerson Rodríguez added 14 points with three aces, and middle blocker Moisés Vásquez contributed 10. For the U.S., Nolan Flexen topped with 15 points, followed by Kyle Hobus with 13 and Daniel Wetter with 10.

Willner Rivas said about his team’s victory: “The United States is a great opponent; they have a good team. We had the opportunity to arrive a week before the competition and play four preparation matches against Mexico, which helped us a lot, and the result was seen today. We stayed focused to come back and turn the game around in the third set.”

Team captain Kyle Hobus of the United States said: “The match could have been better for us in a lot of areas. Venezuela played really well, served really strong and we did not, that was the difference”.

LEÓN, Guanajuato, August 26, 2025.- Chile opened the Senior Men’s Pan American Volleyball Cup with a 3-1 victory (25-19, 23-25, 25-17, 25-23) over the Dominican Republic in the first match of Pool C, held at the Domo de la Feria in León, Guanajuato.

The Chilean team showed a strong start, taking an early 11-5 lead with attacks from different positions and forcing Dominican errors, closing the first set with an ace by Vicente Valenzuela.

The Dominican Republic reacted in the second set with a tighter game and longer rallies. With blocks from Rafael Burgos and Héctor Cruz, the Caribbean side took a 17-12 advantage. Chile responded through captain Dusan Bonacic and contributions from Vicente Parraguirre and Valenzuela, but Cruz led the Dominican offense and a kill by Luis Reinoso sealed the set to even the match 1-1.

The third set was even in the early stages until Chile pulled ahead 15-11 with a block by Tomás Gago, effective attacks from Bonacic, and Dominican errors. From there, the South Americans extended their lead to take control of the match.

In the fourth set, Chile led by as many as six points, but the Dominican Republic staged a dramatic comeback, saving a match point with a block by Burgos against Bonacic (22-24). In the end, Vicente Parraguirre scored the decisive point to secure the Chilean victory.

Statistics favored Chile in attacks (55-53) and service (3-1), while the Dominican Republic led in blocking (8-7). Chile also benefited from 33 Dominican errors, committing 23 of their own.

Vicente Parraguirre topped Chile’s scoring with 19 points, followed by captain Dusan Bonacic with 15 and Vicente Valenzuela with 14. For the Caribbean team, captain Héctor Cruz was the leading scorer of the match with 29 points, supported by Ronny Molina with 16.

In their next Pool C matches, Chile will face Suriname, while the Dominican Republic will meet Mexico.

Chilean captain Dusan Bonacic said after the win: “I’m happy to start the Pan American Cup with a very important victory for us because the Dominican Republic has always been a tough opponent. I’m satisfied with our team’s performance because this victory opens up the championship a bit for us. It was a close finish, with some differences of opinion, but with humility and respect we fought every point.”

Dominican captain Héctor Cruz said: “It was an exciting finish, but we lost focus on blocking. We will keep working hard; this was only the first match, and we still have opportunities.”

LEÓN, Guanajuato, August 26, 2025. – Colombia made a victorious debut in the opening match of the Senior Men’s Pan American Volleyball Cup, sweeping Guatemala in straight sets 3-0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-23) at the Domo de la Feria in León, Guanajuato.

Colombia’s next opponent in Pool B will be Puerto Rico, while Guatemala will face Canada.

The match began evenly, with Guatemala taking a slight 9-6 lead behind Gerardo González’s serving. Colombia quickly responded, tying the score at 10 with a block from Daniel Aponza. From point 12 onward, the South Americans never gave up the lead and closed the set with a block by Leandro Mejía against Carlos López.

The second set had the same intensity. Guatemala went up 12-10 with a block by Jason Hernández and a powerful attack from captain Carlos López. However, the offensive push of Andrés Piza and Miguel Ángel Martínez turned the score in Colombia’s favor (19-16), and once again the South Americans sealed the set with the strength of their blocking.

The third remained tight until 16-16. Colombia pulled ahead thanks to opponent errors, but Guatemala forced a tie at 23 with an attack from Andy Leonardo. Two consecutive mistakes by the Central Americans gave Colombia the victory.

Colombia’s blocking (10-3) proved decisive, along with their slight edge in attacking (38-33). Guatemala dominated from the service line (4-3), while errors were similar (21 by Colombia and 24 by Guatemala).

Opposites Miguel Ángel Martínez (COL) and Andy Leonardo Blanco (GUA) led all scorers with 12 points each. For Colombia, Juan Castañeda also stood out with 11 points, while middle blocker Leandro Mejía added 10. On the Guatemalan side, in addition to Leonardo, captain Carlos López contributed 10 points.

After the match, Colombia’s captain Leandro Mejía said: “It’s the first match and we’re just getting into rhythm. We did a good job staying focused and following the coach’s instructions. We’ve been training in cold weather, and now we need to adapt to the heat, but we did everything great.”

Meanwhile, Guatemala’s captain Carlos López admitted: “We always started strong in all three sets, but Colombia controlled the second half better. Our mistakes cost us the match; we need to work on that.”

LEÓN, Guanajuato, August 25, 2025.– The Senior Men’s Pan American Volleyball Cup awards important ranking points for qualification to the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games.

The competition, to be held from August 26 to 31 at the Domo de la Feria, features twelve teams aiming to collect as many points as possible to boost their chances of qualifying for Santo Domingo 2026. The qualification system will be completed next year.

Augusto Sabbatini, Head Coach of Antigua and Barbuda: “The team has been training for sixty days. We’re bringing up a young team with a mix of experienced players. We are looking to improve for our next competition, the ECVA Final Four, which will be held in Antigua. This tournament is very important for us to showcase what we’ve been training in order to strengthen the team.”

David Preston, Head Coach of Canada: “We’ve had a very good training block. We have nine new members of our team that have limited international experience, so like most teams in their first year of their quad, we’ve made some good transitions. We do have some guys with some experience, so it could be a little bit different. Our senior team is preparing for the World Championship, so it’s been two agendas as we’ve been getting the guys ready. We are looking forward to seeing our young guys and how they handle this international event, so there’s a lot of excitement”.

Daniel Nejamkin, Head Coach of Chile: “We have never experienced a Pan American Cup with twelve teams, so we are very happy to be able to compete with everyone. We are glad to see so many teams from South America and NORCECA.”

Paolo Montagnani, Head Coach of Colombia: “We didn’t have a long preparation because I had to make a preselection and know all the players from Colombia, it’s my first year in Colombia. We did our best, unfortunately we had no friendly matches nor international events. I think we will be competitive and ready, we expect to have fun”.

Alexander Gutiérrez, Head Coach of Dominican Republic: “We will try to put on a good show because we are coming with practically a ‘B’ team due to multiple international commitments. Four players competed in Asunción, in Mexico for the Final Four, and in Guatemala for the U23 Pan American Cup, in addition to senior players who are just coming in and will have the opportunity to test themselves ahead of the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games. This tournament is for testing and preparing ourselves for the Final Six, where we will have our full roster. We will give the responsibility to the players so they can embrace their role in the national team project.”

Reider Lucas, Head Coach of Guatemala: “This is a high-quality event with a good level of competition, and we are very happy to be here. We came with the objective of earning the ranking points necessary to qualify for the 2026 Central American Games. We will aim to compete well and show a good image.”

Carlos Eduardo Schwanke, Head Coach of Mexico:  “This competition will bring us a lot of strength because we will be playing in front of our home crowd, and we will rely heavily on them to play in our favor. We had a good week of preparation matches. We are focused on this tournament. By playing match by match, we will be able to improve and achieve a good position for Mexico.”

Jamille Torres, Head Coach of Puerto Rico: “We are highly motivated after winning the Final Four here in Mexico; it was a goal achieved because last year we won in Puerto Rico and now here. Last year in the Men’s Pan American Cup we won the bronze medal, and the goal is to improve or at least repeat last year’s performance.”

Keven Sporkslede, Team captain Suriname: “We just finished playing a CAZOVA tournament, which didn’t go as expected for us, but that’s volleyball, this time it was not our time to win.  We got to play some games to prepare for the Pan Am Cup which was very good”.

Andy Read, Head Coach of the United States: “The U.S. team is very excited to be here. We have prepared for several weeks, we had several guys that were training with VNL players during the summer and some others that just got in, and some players of our U23 team. We think we have a very strong team to compete in the most important tournament in our hemisphere this year. We are ready to play”.

Rubén Wolochin, Head Coach of Venezuela: “Our main goal is qualifying for the Central American and Caribbean Games. The second goal is to collect as many points as possible for the world ranking and to compete again after Venezuela’s five-year absence from international competitions. We will go step by step, seeing where we stand, and trying to put on the court what we’ve been able to train.”

Cuba is scheduled to arrive later at night.

LEÓN, Guanajuato, August 23, 2025. – Defending champions Canada will aim for a three-peat at the 18th edition of the Men’s Senior Pan American Volleyball Cup, set to take place from August 26 to 31 at the Domo de la Feria in León, Guanajuato.

Canada enters the tournament with back-to-back titles (2023, 2024) and stands as one of the top favorites among the twelve national teams competing in León. The United States and Puerto Rico completed the podium in the last edition held in the Dominican Republic.

Teams are divided into three pools, with the top two pool leaders advancing directly to the semifinals. The third-best first-place finisher from the group stage along with the second-place teams will contest the quarterfinals.

Pool A consists of Antigua & Barbuda, Cuba, the United States, and Venezuela. In Pool B, defending champions Canada are joined by Colombia, Guatemala, and Puerto Rico. Finally, Pool C includes Chile, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Suriname.

The United States has won the Pan American Cup five times, Cuba four, Brazil three, Argentina twice, and Mexico once.

The 2025 Men’s Pan American Cup is part of the qualification pathway for several major events: the 2026 Men’s Pan American Cup, the 2026 NORCECA Men’s Continental Championship, the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo, and the 2027 Pan American Games. In addition, the tournament awards points toward the FIVB World Ranking.

Schedule Preliminary Round

Ausgus 26

10:00    Colombia vs Guatemala

12:00    Chile vs Dominican Republic

14:00    United States vs Venezuela

16:00    Canada vs Puerto Rico  

18:00    Cuba vs Antigua and Barbuda

20:00    Mexico vs Suriname

August  27

10:00    United States vs Antigua and Barbuda

12:00    Chile vs Suriname

14:00    Canada vs Guatemala

16:00    Cuba vs Venezuela  

18:00    Colombia vs Puerto Rico

20:00    Mexico vs Dominican Republic

August 28

10:00    Venezuela vs Antigua and Barbuda

12:00    Dominican Republic vs Suriname

14:00    Puerto Rico vs Guatemala

16:00    Colombia vs Canada

18:00    United States vs Cuba

20:00    Mexico vs Chile

HISTORIC MEDALS MEN’S PAN AMERICAN CUP

YEAR	GOLD	SILVER	BRONZE
2006	USA	DOM	CAN
2007	MEX	PUR	CUB
2008	USA	CAN	DOM
2009	USA	CAN	DOM
2010	USA	ARG	PUR
2011	BRA	USA	CAN
2012	USA	ARG	DOM
2013	BRA	MEX	ARG
2014	CUB	USA	ARG
2015	BRA	ARG	VEN
2016	CUB	ARG	CAN
2017	ARG	PUR	CUB
2018	ARG	BRA	CUB
2019	CUB	ARG	MEX
2022	CUB	CAN	USA
2023	CAN	BRA	CHI
2024	CAN	USA	PUR

 MEDAL COMPOSITION

COUNTRY	GOLD	SILVER	BRONZE	TOTAL
USA	5	3	1	9
CUB	4	0	3	7
BRA	3	1	0	4
ARG	2	5	2	9
CAN	2	3	3	8
MEX	1	1	1	3
PUR	0	2	2	4
DOM	0	1	3	4
VEN	0	0	1	1
CHI	0	0	1	1