BELIZE CITY, Belize, July 21, 2025. – Honduras opened its campaign at the 7th AFECAVOL U23 Central American Women’s Championship with a comfortable 3-0 (25-16, 25-11, 25-12) win over Panama on the tournament’s second day of action.
After resting on the first day of competition, Honduras secured its first win, while Panama suffered its second loss of the event.
With a stronger offensive display, Honduras asserted dominance by outperforming Panama in key areas: 37-15 in attack points, 6-4 in blocks, 6-2 in service aces, and committed fewer unforced errors (18 to 26).
Honduras
Sasha Kawas led the Honduran offense with 17 points, while Dazy Durán and Shantte Siliezar contributed eight points each. For Panama, Janeth Fuentes stood out with seven points.
Following Honduras’ successful debut, team captain Dazy Durán said: “We’re very happy to start this tournament on the right foot. This win helps us build some confidence heading into our second match, which will be tougher against Guatemala. Panama is a team that defends very well, but we stayed focused and worked well together.”
On Panama’s side, team captain Ruth Rivas reflected after the match: “We feel a bit frustrated because I truly believe we can do more than what we’ve shown. We always keep a positive attitude, even when we’re trailing, because letting our spirits drop completely would only make it worse. But we’re committed to pushing ourselves and giving our best in every match.”
ALAJUELA, Costa Rica, July 21, 2025. – This morning, the preliminary interviews for the participating teams of the U21 Women’s Pan American Cup were held in the Quetzal Room at the Hilton Garden Inn City Mall in Alajuela.
The head coaches of the seven participating teams shared their insights and expectations for the tournament, which will take place from July 22 to 27 at the Monserrat Sports Complex Gymnasium in Alajuela, Costa Rica.
This event brings together promising youth talent from across the continent, providing international exposure and continuing their development in high-performance competition.
Héctor Lozano, Head coach of Mexico said: “We come with very high expectations. We’ve had great preparation and worked hard over the past few days. The competition is tough, with many high-level teams. Our team has a mix of experience and newcomers, some have international exposure, while others play key roles in their clubs.”
José Ricardo Rivera Guinand, Head coach of Puerto Rico, commented: “As for our expectations, last year in Canada we won the silver medal. We hope to at least repeat that achievement. We’re going to make the most of this tournament as preparation for the World Championship coming up soon in Indonesia.”
Heather Olmstead, Head coach of USA stated: “We’re glad to be here in Costa Rica representing the United States. We’re going to come out to compete, fight, and play as a team, doing our best with the best style of volleyball we can. We’ll rely on each other as a new group and see if we can start shaping our identity throughout the week. We know we’re going to face great competition, starting tomorrow against Canada, so we’re excited to compete.”
Eduardo Guillaume, Head coach of Chile said: “This is a tournament with very strong teams. We are in the same group as Puerto Rico, Canada, and the United States. Costa Rica is our direct rival. After this tournament, we head to the World Championship in Indonesia, so this event and the opponents we face here are great preparation for us.”
Olivier Faucher, Head coach of Canada, expressed: “We are excited about the competition. We’ve been training with this group for a week and are looking forward to the opportunity to play against strong opponents in our group, which will help us gain momentum ahead of the World Championship next month. We want to step on the court every day to win, but also to improve and continue building our team.”
Alexandre Ceccato, Head coach of Dominican Republic stated: “I believe this is a very strong championship. We’re bringing a U19 team, it’s going to be tough, but we’re going to try to reach the semifinals. This tournament also serves as preparation for the World Championship next month in Indonesia, as we plan to take the same group of players currently here in Costa Rica.”
Braulio Godínez, Head coach of Costa Rica shared: “This is a great opportunity for Costa Rica to promote volleyball here in Alajuela. It’s a place where many neighboring cantons practice the sport, so they can come and support our players. I believe our team has performed well; at one point, they placed fourth in a NORCECA event in the previous age category. It’s a group we believe in and have great faith in for the future.”
Before the tournament, the Control Committee inspected the court and facilities where the event will take place, confirming that everything is in excellent condition.
PUEBLA, Mexico, July 21, 2025. – Puebla is ready to welcome top-level men’s volleyball as it hosts the fifth edition of the NORCECA Men’s Final Four tournament, set to take place from July 25 to 27 at the state-of-the-art Arena BUAP.
The competition will feature reigning champions Puerto Rico, along with Dominican Republic, Guatemala, and host nation Mexico, battling in a round-robin format across three days of high-level action.
In addition to the NORCECA Men’s Final Four title, teams will earn FIVB World Ranking points, contributing to their qualification campaigns for the 2026 FIVB Volleyball Nations League and the 2027 FIVB World Championship. Moreover, the tournament champion will secure a spot in the Senior NORCECA Men’s Olympic Continental Championship.
Teams are scheduled to complete preliminary inquiries and official preparations on the eve of the tournament that kicks off on Friday, July 25.
Competition Schedule:
Friday – July 25
6:00 pm Dominican Republic vs Puerto Rico
8:00 pm Mexico vs Guatemala
Saturday – July 26
6:00 pm Puerto Rico vs Guatemala 8:00 pm Mexico vs Dominican Republic
Sunday – July 27
5:00 pm Dominican Republic vs Guatemala 7:00 pm Mexico vs Puerto Rico
July 21, 2025.- The Volleyball Nations League (VNL) 2025 men’s competition will reach its conclusion in Ningbo, China, as eight national teams compete for the title in a five-day knockout tournament. The finals will be held at the Ningbo Beilun Sports and Art Centre from 30 July to 3 August, bringing together the top seven teams from the preliminary phase alongside host nation China.
This year’s preliminary round, which ran from 11 June to 20 July, introduced a revised format and spanned nine cities around the world, producing a tightly contested table from start to finish. The competition featured world-class volleyball across every match week, with little separating the teams vying for a place in the final eight.
The qualified teams are:
Brazil, Italy, France, Japan, Poland, Slovenia, Cuba, and China (host country)
The final stage of the competition in Ningbo will be hosted in a single-elimination format. Quarterfinals will be played on Wednesday and Thursday, with matches scheduled for 15:00 and 19:00 local time. Friday will serve as a rest day before the semifinals on Saturday, followed by the bronze medal match at 15:00 and the gold medal match at 19:00 local time on Sunday 3 August.
The quarterfinal matchups are:
Italy vs Cuba – 30 July at 15:00 local time
China vs Brazil – 30 July at 19:00 local time
France vs Slovenia – 31 July at 15:00 local time
Poland and Japan – 31 July at 19:00 local time
Now in its seventh edition, the VNL continues to evolve, with the 2025 men’s season seeing some of the best competition ever, with a number of matches decided by narrow margins.
MANATÍ, Puerto Rico, 20 de julio de 2025.- Wilma Rivera, setter of the Puerto Rico National Team, was recognized this Sunday as the Most Valuable Player of the NORCECA Women’s Final Four at Juan Aubin Cruz Abreu Coliseum in Manati, Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico’s setter contributed with 8 points, 4 aces and 4 kills, in the gold medal match against Mexico, and played a key role in securing the team’s third consecutive title and the ticket to the Senior’s NORCECA Women Olympic Continental Championship.
Also from Puerto Rico, Karla Santos was awarded as the first Best Spiker, alongside her teammates Neira Ortiz and Diana Reyes were named Best Blockers, Paola Santiago Best Scorer, Shara Venegas Best Digger and Decelise Champion Best Opposite.
From Mexico, Argentina Ung was awarded as Best Setter and outside hitter Samantha Bricio as Second Best Spiker.
Costa Ricans Lakysha Thompson was named Best Server while Maria Castro received the recognition of Best Receiver and Best Libero.
BELIZE CITY, Belize, July 20, 2025. – Belize delivered a dominant performance in their opening match of the VII AFECAVOL U23 Women’s Central American Championship, earning a convincing 3-0 victory (25-14, 25-6, 25-17) over Panama.
Belize showcased their powerful blocking and solid attacking game, leaving Panama with no chance to recover.
The home team controlled every aspect of the match, outscoring Panama in attack points 37-9, blocks 13-0, and service aces 5-2, although they committed more unforced errors, 26 to Panama’s 20.
Khaya Gordon led Belize’s offense with 16 points, followed by Nisaan Martinez with 12. For Panama, Ekaterina Ureña contributed 6 points and Janeth Fuentes added 5.
Commenting on the victory, Belize’s head coach José Fontes said, “A win is always important. We weren’t satisfied with our performance in the first set, but that’s normal for an opening match of a tournament. We improved significantly in the second set, and in the third, we had some good moments, although we slowed down a bit. We made some changes to give our younger players a chance, but the key takeaway is the win and getting the team into rhythm to achieve our ultimate goal.”
On the other side, Panama’s coach Eric Lucero shared, “The girls were a bit nervous; most of them have very little international experience. Belize’s blocking surprised us more than we expected. We knew we were up against a team with good height, strong blocking, and a powerful attack, and I think that had a psychological impact on our players due to their lack of experience.”
MANATÍ, Puerto Rico, July 20TH, 2025.- Puerto Rico secured a three-peat victory defeating Mexico in an exciting five-set thriller (25-19, 24-26, 25-18, 20-25, 15-13) in NORCECA Women’s Final Four celebrated in Juan Aubin Cruz Abreu Coliseum at Manati, Puerto Rico.
With the win, Puerto Rico books a direct ticket to the 2026 Senior’s NORCECA Women Olympic Continental Championship.
This is the third gold medal in a row for Puerto Rico in this event and 5 medals overall since they won silver in 2019 and bronze in 2022. For Mexico this is their second consecutive silver medal, in the past edition of 2024 they also fell to Puerto Rico. They have a bronze medal won in 2019 and a gold medal winning the championship to Puerto Rico in 2022.
Puerto Rico finished the NORCECA Women’s Final Four undefeated with 3-0 record and Mexico with 2-1.
Decelise Champion PUR
Puerto Rico opened strong, taking the first set 25–19 behind the sharp execution of their outside hitters. It was a battle throughout the second set and answered with resilience, capitalizing on back-to-back Puerto Rican errors to steal the set in extra points 26–24. Puerto Rico surged with aggressive attacks and blocks for a 25–18 win, but Mexico held firm in the fourth, using tough serving and blocking to push the match to a tie-break. It was a nail-biting match, but Puerto Rico prevailed to clinch their third championship in a row.
Puerto Rico led 65-61 in attacks, 11-10 in blocks and 6-5 in serves, Mexico committed 27 errors and Puerto Rico 25.
Opposite Decelise Champion topped Puerto Rico scorers with 22 points (20 attacks and 2 blocks) joined by outside hitter Karla Santos with 19 points.
Mexico’s leading attackers were outside hitter Samatha Bricio with 18 points and opposite Sofia Maldonado with 16.
Juan Carlos Núñez, Puerto Rico’s coach: “We knew the match was going to be intense; they brought out their best talent. We played at home seeking qualification for the 2026 VNL, and in every match where we have the opportunity to earn points, we have to play to win. Offensively, we were at their level, and defensively, we played well. Now we have two days of rest, and then we begin training for the Pan American Cup.”
Decelise Champion, opposite of Puerto Rico: “It’s an honor and a great feeling because we’ve worked hard to get here. The match was very close, we had our ups and downs, but in the end, we were able to play together and get the win. We kept going point by point. Now it’s time for a lot of hard work and preparing for the upcoming competitions.”
Samantha Bricio, outside hitter of Mexico: “Puerto Rico clearly has a very good block; we have to work on how to improve. Today they were better than us. Our goal now is the Pan American Cup, which will help us prepare for the World Championship and perform at our best.”
Nicola Negro, head coach of Mexico: “First and foremost, congratulations to Puerto Rico for the victory. It was a very intense match that ended in five sets, but I always have great respect for Puerto Rican volleyball. I want to congratulate my players because we are in a new process of growth, and it was a match we played point by point.”
BELIZE CITY, Belize, July 20, 2025. – Guatemala got off to a strong start at the VII AFECAVOL U23 Central American Women’s Championship with a comfortable 3-0 (25-19, 25-11, 25-16) victory over El Salvador in the opening match of the tournament.
It was a one-sided affair, with Guatemala in full control throughout, although El Salvador showed brief flashes of promise at the start of the match.
For Guatemala, María Santa Cruz led the offense with nine points, including seven kills and two aces. Jimena Castellanos and Annika Graniolati added eight points each.
Guatemala celebrates
El Salvador’s top scorer was Paola Juárez, who tallied six points in the match.
Guatemala dominated in attack points (34-12) and aces (11-6), while both teams were even in blocks with three apiece.
Following the win, Guatemala’s head coach William Fernández said, “The first match is always tough for any team. Congratulations to El Salvador for their performance, and especially to our team for earning the victory in three sets. The key to our success was our setting and finishing, even though we had some issues with our serve early on that we later corrected.”
Meanwhile, El Salvador’s coach Efraín Calderón commented, “We need to work more on our reception and be more consistent in finishing sets. For many of our players, this is their first tournament, and that has an impact. Guatemala has many experienced players in the U23 category, and that really helps them maintain their rhythm throughout the match.”
MANATÍ, Puerto Rico, July 19th, 2025.- Costa Rica swept Trinidad and Tobago (26-24, 25-14, 25-15) to win the Bronze Medal at the fifth edition of NORCECA Women’s Final Four on Sunday at Juan Aubin Cruz Abreu Coliseum in Manati, Puerto Rico.
Costa Rica finishes the event in third place with 1-2 record and Trinidad and Tobago in fourth with 0-3. This is Costa Rica’s second medal in the history of the event after they finished in second place in 2023.
Trinidad and Tobago held strong in a tightly contested first set, but Costa Rica’s serving proved decisive in a 26–24 extra-point win. Costa Rica made some changes, but Trinidad and Tobago put up a fight. Costa Rica gained control supported by Lakysha Thompson’s offense and won set two 25-14. The Costa Ricans continue pressuring with serve and attacks to claim the third set 25-15.
Costa Rica led 41-30 in attacking points and serves 8-4 while Trinidad and Tobago held a slight 4-3 margin in blocks. Costa Rica committed 15 unforced errors and Trinidad and Tobago 24.
Lakysha Nicolle Thompson CRC
Lakysha Thompson, middle blocker of Costa Rica: “I’m very happy with the match. Participating in this event is motivating and inspiring, allowing me to continue growing. We prepared very well mentally as a team. We worked very hard on blocking and attacking and set goals to win every set. Now it’s time to train hard and support my teammates for our upcoming events.”
José Miguel Briceño, coach of Costa Rica: “We achieved our goal with this bronze. It was an event that demanded a lot from start to finish. The first set was a battle, but we prevailed. Our player, Lakysha, was instrumental and made a significant difference in the second set. Now we need to continue working with the national teams to prepare for future events.
Delicia Pierre, outside hitter of Trinidad and Tobago: “In my opinion today’s match was one of the better games that we’ve played during the tournament. I think there’s room to improve in every game we play and again it wasn’t too bad since we worked on some of the things we needed to improve. I’m pleased with the things that we were able to work on. Now we go back home to do a lot of work and improve some of the skills to get stronger for our next competitions”.
Stewart Daymian, coach of Trinidad and Tobago: “We really had a very high expectations, it was a reality check for us. Some things we did achieve and some others we need to work on. It’s a little disappointing but we will be back. In the first set I noticed the other team made adjustment and we did not, they put pressure on the serve affecting our passing and that is something we needed to work. Next, we have our players playing some important tournaments and our main goal is to do a good job at the Caribbean Championship in August”.
July 20, 2025 .– Despite losing to China, the Cuban Men’s National Team secured a spot in the 2025 Volleyball Nations League (VNL) Finals thanks to a series of favorable results that placed them seventh in the final standings. Among the teams that helped Cuba’s cause was the United States, whose loss to Japan worked in Cuba’s favor. Meanwhile, Canada closed the tournament with a win, spoiling Ukraine’s hopes of advancing to the Finals.
Cuba Falls to China but Still Clinches Finals Berth
The Caribbean side fell to China but managed to qualify for the Finals in seventh place due to the outcomes of other matches.
Cuba had the chance to seal its qualification without depending on other teams but failed to capitalize on it and had to wait until the end of the day to find out whether they would be traveling to Ningbo, China, for the Finals from July 30 to August 3.
Cuba would have secured its spot in the final round by defeating China in Gdańsk but instead suffered a five-set loss, 2-3 (25-20, 23-25, 25-15, 22-25, 17-19).
The team finished the preliminary round with six wins and 20 points.
Despite a spectacular 31-point performance from star outside hitter Marlon Yant, who tallied 29 kills and two blocks, Cuba couldn’t clinch the victory. Team captain and fellow outside hitter Miguel Ángel López added 17 points (14 kills, two blocks, and one ace).
“China did a great job today,” said José Massó. “They fought for every point, all the time. We didn’t apply enough pressure to win the match. We fought, but I think we also need to improve in that area, because sometimes we don’t do enough.”
Marlon Yant CUB
Japan Advances to VNL Finals After Sweep Over USA
Japan became the sixth team to clinch a spot in the Men’s Volleyball Nations League Finals, joining Brazil, Italy, France, Poland, and host China, after a dominant 3-0 (25-21, 25-19, 25-23) victory over the United States.
With a new lineup, the U.S. team put up a fight, especially in the third set. Their offensive effort was led by outside hitter Jordan Ewert, who scored 13 points on attacks with an impressive 68% efficiency. Opposite Gabriel García (Gabi) contributed 10 points, including the team’s only two aces.
The U.S. ended the preliminary phase in 11th place with a 6-6 record, tied in wins and losses with Cuba (the last team to qualify), Iran, Ukraine, and Bulgaria.
USA vs Japon
Canada Upsets Ukraine, Ends Europe’s Finals Hopes
Canada closed its 2025 VNL campaign with a valuable 3-1 win over Ukraine (25-21, 25-27, 31-29, 25-21) in Ljubljana, a result that eliminated the Europeans from contention for the Finals in Ningbo and indirectly helped Cuba qualify.
With this performance, Canada wrapped up its campaign showing competitive grit and dashing the dreams of one of the tournament’s revelation teams.
Outside hitter Skyler Varga was the standout performer of the match, delivering a stellar offensive performance with 27 points (24 kills, two blocks, and one ace), a match-high. Opposite Jordan Canham also made his presence felt with 14 points (13 kills and one block).
Although Canada was not in the race for a Finals berth, the North Americans left a strong impression in the final stretch of the tournament, overcoming a rival that controlled its own fate. The team displayed depth, determination, and solid overall performance in a high-stakes match.
MANATÍ, Puerto Rico, July 20, 2025. – A historic moment in continental volleyball will unfold this Sunday at 5:00 p.m. at the Juan Aubín Cruz Coliseum, as two Puerto Rican referees will take the court for the opening match of the NORCECA Women’s Final Four between the senior national teams of Costa Rica and Trinidad & Tobago.
For the first time at this competitive level, the Puerto Rican duo of Eric Quirindongo (First Referee – R1) and Maricela Candelaria (Second Referee – R2) will officiate an official senior-level national team match in a NORCECA tournament. The only previous instance of two Puerto Rican referees working together in this capacity was at the U17 level, making this appointment an unprecedented milestone for Puerto Rican officiating.
“In the first match, Maricela Candelaria and Eric Quirindongo will be officiating. I believe this is the first time two Puerto Rican referees serve as R1 and R2 in a NORCECA senior national team match. It had happened before, but only at the U17 level,” said Arnaldo “El Abuelo” Piñero, referee supervisor, with clear excitement.
Meanwhile, Dr. César Trabanco, President of the Puerto Rican Volleyball Federation, celebrated the historic assignment as a testament to the quality and professionalism of Puerto Rico’s officiating corps. “This is a proud moment for our federation. The presence of local referees in such leading roles reaffirms our commitment to the technical development of the sport at every level,” he stated.
With this recognition, the FPV continues to demonstrate its leadership in the comprehensive development of both athletic and technical talent, raising Puerto Rico’s name across the international volleyball stage.
MANATÍ, Puerto Rico, July 19th, 2025.-Puerto Rico swept Trinidad and Tobago (25-17, 25-9, 25-) to extend their winning streak at the NORCECA Women’s Final Four at the Juan Aubin Cruz Abreu Coliseum.
Trinidad and Tobago started strong with a three-point lead (11-8) forcing Puerto Rico to call for their first time out. The set was leveled but Puerto Rico prevailed 25-17. After making changes for set two, Puerto Rico kept their dominance in attacks and serves for a straight set win.
Puerto Rico held a huge 41-17 advantage in kills, 7-2 in blocks and 9-0 in aces, while committing 16 unforced errors against 18 from Trinidad and Tobago.
Outside hitter Paola Santiago led the offense for Puerto Rico with 12 points while Valeria Vazquez contributed with 9 points. Destiny Leon was the best scorer for Trinidad and Tobago with 8 points.
Puerto Rico attack
Paola Santiago, outside hitter from Puerto Rico: “It feels incredible to play in front of the Puerto Rican fans; representing Puerto Rico in Puerto Rico is a dream come true. We always come to every match with the mentality of winning and giving our best performance, and we were all taken by surprise by Trinidad and Tobago’s intensity until the 17th point on the first set, but we managed to capitalize on those last points. We must prepare our serves better and play hard. Mexico is a great team, and it’s going to be a great battle.
Destiny Leon, middle blocker from Trinidad and Tobago: “We tried our best and did a very good job on the first set and I think once we get more training, and we can watch films and the other teams that will be able to come against them and perform better. Once we take the time and practice tomorrow and really focus, we can come against Costa Rica and put up a fight.”
Puerto Rico is looking for a three-peat and will play for the championship of the NORCECA Women’s Final Four against Mexico while Trinidad and Tobago will face Costa Rica for the third place.
Participating teams will be awarded FIVB World Ranking points valid for the qualification process to the 2026 FIVB Volleyball Nations League and the FIVB World Championship 2027. Additionally, the champion team will earn the qualification to the Senior’s NORCECA Women Olympic Continental Championship.
MANATÍ, Puerto Rico, July 19th, 2025.- Mexico remains unbeaten at NORCECA Women’s Final Four with a straight-set victory over Costa Rica (25-15, 25-13, 25-18) at the Juan Aubin Cruz Abreu Coliseum.
Costa Rica fought the beginning of the match keeping the score close, but Mexico put pressure with the serve and adjusted the defense to win 25-15. The Mexicans came strong with a 9-1 lead in the second set, Costa Rica tried to comeback but lost the set 25-13. Mexico started set three trailing by three points (4-7) and had to make adjustments to overcome Costa Rica.
The Mexican team was dominant in the attack points 38-19, blocking 7-4 and service aces 11-2 but committed more errors than Costa Rica 21-19.
Melanie Parra led Mexico with 11 points followed by Grecia Castro with 8 points. For Costa Rica, Tamara Espinosa and Tatiana Sayles finished with 6 points each.
Melanie Parra, outside hitter of Mexico: “I’m very happy to be back on the national team, starting over, and being with this group of girls. I feel very happy to be able to represent Mexico again. It was a good match. The Costa Ricans played very well, and I think we played better, but there’s no easy match, and for the next match, we need to improve our serve and reception, which are our weaknesses.”
Tamara Espinosa, outside hitter of Costa Rica: “I think it was a pretty tough match at the start. As the match progressed, we improved as a team. In the end, we gave opportunities to some of the U-23 girls who are training for the Junior Pan American Games. I’m very happy because today’s match against Mexico we saw a lot of progress. When we started enjoying the match and letting go of that fear, everything flowed better. For tomorrow, we need a lot of concentration and focus on what we can do. Stay calm and trust in ourselves.
Tomorrow, Mexico (2-0) will play for the championship of the NORCECA Women’s Final Four against host team Puerto Rico, while Costa Rica (0-2) will play for third place against Trinidad and Tobago.
Participating teams will be awarded FIVB World Ranking points valid for the qualification process to the 2026 FIVB Volleyball Nations League and the FIVB World Championship 2027. Additionally, the champion team will earn the qualification to the Senior’s NORCECA Women Olympic Continental Championship.
BELIZE CITY, Belize, July 19, 2025. – The national teams of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, and Belize have declared themselves ready for the VII AFECAVOL U23 Women’s Central American Championship, an event that brings together the region’s rising volleyball talents.
Despite the notable absence of Nicaragua and Costa Rica, the tournament promises an exciting battle for the title. Two matches will be played each day from July 20 to 24 at the Belize City Civic Center.
Regarding the event, Belize’s head coach José Fontes said: “We have a well-balanced team, with some experienced players and some very young ones. We hope the team improves with each match. We know the level of these tournaments has grown a lot; we respect all teams, and the one that performs best will win the championship.”
Belize
Guatemala’s head coach William Fernández stated: “Our goal is to play the best we can and reach the final match undefeated. There are five teams in this competition, so the fight will be very intense. Guatemala is well-prepared—we trained hard for six months.”
Guatemala
Honduras’ head coach Marvin Ulloa explained: “We’re coming with a mostly young team, but with a certain level of experience. We hope to have a good tournament. We know the participating teams are well-prepared and of good level, so it will be a very competitive event. Our goal is to win a medal.”
Honduras
Gabriela Funes, assistant coach of El Salvador, mentioned: “Our team is well-prepared. It’s a squad full of young talent looking to perform at their best. Our goal is to finish among the top three. This event is a stepping stone before the senior category, so we hope our athletes give their best and apply what they’ve learned.”
El Salvador
Panama’s head coach Eric Lucero pointed out: “With this participation, we want to start a new process in Panamanian women’s volleyball. We’re bringing a very young team, with many players below the age limit for this event. We’re thinking about the future, looking for players with good physical profiles to reach the highest level in Central America. We know our Central American neighbors are more developed in this category, especially Belize, which has a very tall team. That’s why our main focus is on developing our players.”
July 19, 2025. – The United States and Canada suffered defeats in their respective matches on Saturday in the Men’s Volleyball Nations League (VNL), complicating their chances of qualifying for the tournament finals.
USA Falls to Germany in Five Sets
In a hard-fought, back-and-forth match, Germany earned a 3-2 (25-22, 22-25, 17-25, 25-15, 15-12) victory over the United States on Saturday in front of over 5,000 fans in Chiba, Japan.
The United States dropped to 10th place with a 6-5 record, tied with Cuba, Ukraine, Slovenia, and Bulgaria, still holding onto a mathematical chance of making the Finals. In their final match on Sunday, July 20, they will face powerhouse Japan, currently in 5th place with a 7-4 record.
Even if the U.S. wins, they will have to wait for the outcome of all remaining matches to determine which teams will secure the five remaining spots, as Brazil and Italy have already qualified for the Finals regardless of their results, and China is also through as the host nation.
Germany moved up to 11th place in the current VNL standings with a 5-6 record and 17 points, and they too remain in contention for a quarterfinal berth.
For the U.S., opposite Kyle Hobus was the top scorer of the match with 18 points. Outside hitter Ethan Champlin added 14, while his fellow outside Nolan Flexen recorded three aces and finished with 12 points.
Erik Shoji USA
Canada Falls to Serbia
Canada started strong but couldn’t hold their lead, eventually losing 1-3 (25-15, 22-25, 18-25, 22-25) to Serbia, missing a key opportunity to keep their Finals hopes alive.
Brodie Hofer led Canada’s offense with 15 points, including 14 kills, while Isaac Heslinga added 14 points, including 2 blocks.
Canada outperformed Serbia in blocking, 8-4, but the Europeans had the edge in attacking (53-50) and serving (4-3).
Final Day of Preliminary Round
In Japan, the United States will face the home team at 19:20 local time. In Slovenia, Canada takes on Ukraine at 13:00 local time. In Poland, Cuba will close out the round for NORCECA with a match against China at 13:30 local time.
ALAJUELA, Costa Rica, July 19, 2025. – The stage is set for the 2025 edition of the U21 Women’s Pan American Cup, which will take place from July 22 to 27 at the Montserrat Multisport Complex in Alajuela, Costa Rica.
The tournament will feature seven national teams competing in two pools. Pool A includes the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and host nation Costa Rica, while Pool B consists of the United States (reigning champions), Canada, Chile, and Puerto Rico.
The United States enters as the two-time defending champion after winning the 2022 and 2023 editions, bringing their total to three gold medals, including the first one in 2017. The Americans will aim to make history by claiming a third consecutive title this year.
Matches begin on Tuesday, July 22, with the finals scheduled for Sunday, July 27.
MANATÍ, Puerto Rico, July 19th, 2025.- Puerto Rico started on a high note beating Costa Rica 3-0 (25-12, 25-10, 25-7) in their opening match of NORCECA Women’s Final Four at the Juan Aubin Cruz Abreu Coliseum in Manati, Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico and Costa Rica fought at the beginning of the first set but Puerto Rico’s experience prevailed blocking away the Costa Ricans to win 25-12. Supported by their powerful serve and consistency in blocking, Puerto Rico dominated the rest of the match winning in straight sets.
The Puerto Ricans were dominant, leading 42-16 in attacks, 13-0 in blocks, and 7-0 in service points. Puerto Rico gave away 12 points from unforced errors compared to 13 from Costa Rica.
Puerto Rico
Shara Venegas, captain of Puerto Rico: “I’m very happy with our first match in our first tournament of the summer. We have many new players, and I think the veterans and the new players complemented each other well, and I’m very satisfied with today’s match. We must continue improving the consistency and serves in our individual game to reach the goals we want.”
Juan Carlos Núñez, coach of Puerto Rico: “For us, this is our first match. We didn’t have any preparation games, and we were evaluating our game and how we played. It was a match where I was able to see all the players in action and prepare for tomorrow’s match. We have to continue aligning as a group since half of the players are new, and we have to continue working to be more aggressive on our serves.”
María Castro, captain of Costa Rica: “It was a tough match. We knew Puerto Rico was going to go all out since they were at home, and we came in with the goal of doing a good job. In the end, things didn’t go as we thought. They had a great block and a very good serve. We tried to follow our coach’s instructions, and some things went well for us, others didn’t, but they helped us prepare for tomorrow’s match.”
José Briceño, coach of Costa Rica: “We knew it was going to be a very tough match emotionally, technically, tactically, since we were going to face the host and had the crowd on their side. At times, we had good rallies, but Puerto Rico’s block was quite overwhelming for our hitters, and their setter’s serve greatly affected our reception. I think we’ll get better and better, and we want to give all the players plenty of practice so they can get into their rhythm and develop.”
Costa Rica will play versus Mexico on day two of the tournament while Puerto Rico will face Trinidad and Tobago.
Before the match, a small inauguration ceremony took place with the presence of Manati’s Mayor Mr. José Sánchez González, Secretary of State Madam Rosachely Rivera Santana, President of NORCECA Mr. Cristóbal Marte Hoffiz, the Director of Recreation and Sports Madam Pamela Rosado and the President of the Puerto Rican Federation Mr. César Trabanco.
The mayor of Manati expressed the importance of this tournament in the municipality for the sport, to help develop tourism and the economy. Also, he said to be honored that this event was brought to the city which will open the door to bring more high-level volleyball competitions at the international level.
The Secretary of the State was very excited for this tournament taking place in Manati: “This event is very important for Puerto Rico to develop the tourism and the sport. We thank the mayor for his support and for having this event celebrated here. I’m very happy to have the opportunity to host all these countries and witness the support of fans.
MANATÍ, Puerto Rico, July 18th, 2025. Mexico kicked off the NORCECA Women’s Final Four with a dominant 3-0 (25-8, 25-11, 25-14) win over Trinidad and Tobago at the Juan Aubin Cruz Abreu Coliseum in Manati, Puerto Rico.
Mexico quickly jumped to a 6-0 lead with a block from Karina Flores. Trinidad and Tobago tried to keep up, but Gloria Ung’s tactical serving led them into a nine-point advantage. In the second set Mexico took full advantage of Trinidad and Tobago mistakes taking a 11-3 lead thanks to the offense of Sofia Maldonado. Trinidad and Tobago fought at the beginning of the third set with Mexico’s new rotation, but the Mexicans gained their rhythm and won the set 25-14.
Mexico outperformed Trinidad and Tobago in attacks (39-15), serves (4-1) and blocks (8-1). Trinidad and Tobago capitalized on 24 errors while Mexico finished with 16.
Mexico celebrates
Middle Blocker Karina Angelica Flores was the top scorer for the winning team with 11 points followed by the opposite Sofia Maldonado with 10 points. For Trinidad and Tobago, Delicia Pierre finished with 5 points and middle blocker Destiny Leon with 4 points.
Nicola Negro, head coach of Mexico: “For us, it was a good match, only affected by the serve errors in the final set. It was a match we played in an orderly fashion, doing what we had to do. We must improve a lot for tomorrow. It’s the first game of the season, and it was a good match for the first game, but there’s always room for improvement.”
Jocelyn Urias, Captain of Mexico: “It’s great to be able to return for another year with the national team and play here representing Mexico. I feel like we’re confident in doing our job. Before we go in and play, I tell the girls to work on our own game with a lot of respect for the opponent, but at the same time, we have a lot of room for improvement. The idea is to give everyone a chance to get into rhythm and prepare for tomorrow’s game.”
Daymian Stewart, coach of Trinidad and Tobago: “First, I’m happy for all the girls as we said this tournament is the first of the season and give us an idea where we are and there are some things we need to work on, but I’m satisfied with the overall performance of the girls. For tomorrow’s match we need to make an adjustment at blocking; the girls were playing a little timid at times looking for more control and power but at this level we need to hit the ball”
Kaylon Cruickshank, captain of Trinidad and Tobago: “It was a very good game. I’m really happy with the performance of my team. This was the first time we played at this level and I’m happy that even though we were down in points, we fought till the end. I think that in the third set we improved in our passing, and we adjusted our defense, and we were able to make more points. For tomorrow we need to work a little more in defense and in confidence.”
On the second day of the event, Mexico will face Costa Rica while Trinidad and Tobago will play host team Puerto Rico.
July 19, 2025.- The United States earned their second win in Week 3 of Men’s VNL 2025 on Friday, while Canada got their first win and moved away from relegation. Cuba broke their winning streak and lost their first match of the week.
USA beat Argentina and surpass them in race for VNL Finals
Robinson leads the Americans to victory despite an impressive 30 points from Kukartsev.
USA made an important step in the race for the spots in the men’s Volleyball Nations League Finals. In Friday’s opening game in Chiba, Japan, they beat one of their direct rivals for qualification – Argentina – in four sets and rose to ninth place in the current VNL standings, on a 6-4 win-loss record and 16 points. In the heated race for the quarterfinal vacancies, the Americans are one of the five teams with six wins each, lined up in the places from fifth to ninth. Argentina, on the other hand, dropped to 11th place on 5-5 and 14, but are still well in contention for the tickets to Ningbo.
USA capitalized mostly on the many unforced errors by their South American opponents to earn a 3-1 (25-23, 20-25, 25-20, 25-23) victory. 22-year-old outside hitter Cooper Robinson led the way to success with 20 points to his name, including the match winner. To his 18 kills in attack, he added one ace and one kill block. Middle blocker Merrick McHenry impressed with a 79% success rate in attack. He authored two of USA’s six aces in the match to finish with 13 points. So did opposite Kyle Ensing.
“This was super fun! We had some great energy on the court. It was really great to play with some of the guys again, so I had a blast! It was a very important win. We needed to win this one. If we had lost, we would have been out of contention, so this was a huge win,” Robinson told VBTV. “The crowd here is amazing! I love all these fans. They are so energetic and passionate about the game of volleyball, so I can’t wait to play here next year.”
Cooper Robinson USA
France stop Cuba in Gdańsk
In Gdańsk, defending champions France showed strength to hand Cuba their first upset at the Ergo Arena after back-to-back victories this week, winning the match between the teams 3-2 (20-25, 25-15, 23-25, 25-21, 15-9).
The victory took the reigning Olympic champions to third place in the VNL standings, with seven wins and 20 points. Cuba continue inside the qualification zone, in sixth place, with six victories and 19 points.
Opposite Théo Faure topped all scorers, with 20 points (19 kills, one ace) registered, two more than outside hitter Trévor Clévenot, who left the court with 14 kills, three aces and one block to his name.
“We’re very happy because it was a very difficult and important match,” outside hitter Mathis Henno said. “We know Cuba have a great team and we tried to push against them. It was not easy, but we got the result and we’re proud of it.”
Opposite Jose Masso, who delivered 17 points (13 kills, three aces, one block), and outside hitters Marlon Yant and Miguel Ángel López, who scored 16 and 14, respectively, were Cuba’s most productive offensive weapons.
Cuba attack
Canada defeated the Netherlands
Canada earned a 3-0 victory (25-22, 25-20, 25-15) over the Netherlands this Friday, securing their first win of the week and fourth overall in the tournament. With the result, Canada moved further away from the relegation zone and climbed to 14th place.
The Canadians outperformed the Europeans throughout the match. They led in attacks (43-35), dominated in blocks (5-1), and had the edge in service points (2-0). It was a closely contested match with few unforced errors, Canada committed 21, while the Dutch made 25.
Xander Ketrzynski was Canada’s top offensive player, scoring 16 points, 15 of them from attacks. Isaac Heslinga contributed 12 points (11 from attacks), while team captain Fynnian McCarthy added 10 points (7 attacks, 1 block, and 2 aces).
Canada celebrates
Schedule of matches on Saturday July 19
Cuba has the day off. In Japan, the U.S. plays against Germany at 7:30 PM (local time). In Slovenia, Canada faces Serbia at 4:30 PM (local time).
July 18, 2025.- The FIVB and Volleyball World have officially confirmed the Netherlands as the host nation for the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships 2027.
The decision follows a highly competitive bidding process, with three shortlisted countries submitting strong proposals. While all bids were recognized for their quality and potential to contribute to the sport’s global growth, the Netherlands presented the most ambitious and wide-reaching concept built around four cities.
The Dutch National Federation (Nevobo) has significant experience in delivering major volleyball events, such as the Volleyball Nations League and the FIVB Volleyball World Championships and has proven ability to engage communities across different regions.
Speaking about the confirmation of the 2027 Beach Volleyball World Championships host, FIVB President Fabio Azevedo commented:
“The Beach Volleyball World Championships 2027 in the Netherlands marks both a comeback and a bold step forward, in line with the FIVB Strategic Vision 2032 aiming to strengthen the Global Volleyball Movement. We are confident this championship will set new standards for excellence, innovation, sustainability and community engagement, and we look forward to working with NEVOBO (the Dutch Volleyball Federation) and local partners to make it an unforgettable celebration, on and off the sand. With a passionate fanbase and a proven track record, including the highly successful 2015 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships hosted across four cities, the Netherlands is ready to deliver a great World Championships once again.”
Volleyball World Chief Business Officer Guido Betti added:
“The Netherlands’ approach to the World Championships goes beyond hosting a tournament, it’s about building a lasting legacy for beach volleyball across the entire country. We are seeing beach volleyball, and its competitions growing rapidly, and the Netherlands’ approach is exactly what we want to see shaping the future of the sport.”
President of Nevobo, Peter Sprenger noted:
“Hosting the 2027 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships is not just about a single tournament, it’s about planting a seed for sustainable growth and lasting social and economic benefits. Building on our 15-year strategy of organizing international indoor and beach volleyball events, we have seen firsthand how the sport can inspire communities and attract new fans. As beach volleyball’s popularity continues to rise worldwide as well in the Netherlands, this event will attract many new sport enthusiasts, inspiring new generations and strengthening community bonds. We believe it will create a thriving legacy that elevates beach volleyball across the country and the world for years to come.”
July 18, 2025.- The Volleyball Nations League (VNL) 2025 women’s competition is heading to its thrilling conclusion in Łódź, Poland, where the top eight teams will battle it out for the title over five high-stakes days.
From 23 to 27 July, the renowned Atlas Arena will be the stage for the final round of the tournament, in a knockout format that promises non-stop world-class volleyball.
Emerging from a competitive preliminary phase that stretched from 4 June to 15 July, the seven highest-ranked teams will join host nation Poland in the final phase.
The eight teams that have secured their spots in Łódź are:
Italy, Brazil, Japan, Poland, Türkiye, China, USA and Germany
The quarterfinal round will take place across the opening two days of the Finals. Two matches will be played each day, beginning at 16:30 and 20:00 local time on both Wednesday and Thursday.
The quarterfinal matchups are:
Italy vs USA – 23 July at 16:30 local time (14:30 GMT)
Poland vs China – 23 July at 20:00 local time (18:00 GMT)
Japan vs Türkiye – 24 July at 16:30 local time (14:30 GMT)
Brazil vs Germany – 24 July at 20:00 local time (18:00 GMT)
Friday will serve as a crucial recovery and preparation day before the semifinals take centre stage on Saturday. The first semifinal will begin at 16:00 local time (14:00 GMT), with the second following at 20:00 local time (18:00 GMT).
The final day of competition, Sunday 27 July, will see the bronze medal match held at 16:00 local time (14:00 GMT), followed by the grand finale for gold at 20:00 (18:00 GMT).
Now in its seventh season, the VNL has continued to bring even more excitement to international volleyball, and the 2025 women’s edition has proven to be one of the most tightly contested to date.
All matches from the Finals in Łódź will be streamed live and on-demand on VBTV, with thousands expected to pack Atlas Arena to witness the world’s best in action.
BELIZE CITY, Belize, July 18, 2025. – Excitement is building as Central America prepares for the seventh edition of the AFECAVOL U23 Women’s Championship, set to take place from July 20 to 24 at the Belize City Civic Center, where a new champion will be crowned.
The tournament will feature five national teams: El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, and host nation Belize.
The absence of defending champions Nicaragua paves the way for a new regional titleholder. In the previous edition, held in 2024 in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Nicaragua ended Costa Rica’s dominance, as they were aiming for a sixth consecutive title.
The competition will follow a round-robin format, with two matches played daily, promising excitement from start to finish.
July 17, 2025. – The Caribbean downed the FIVB World Ranking leaders in front of 9,000 Polish fans. Cuba headed to Gdańsk for the third and last week of the Volleyball Nations League 2025 Preliminary Phase aware that they’d need to score big wins in order to qualify for the tournament’s Finals.
On Thursday, the Cubans delivered for the second day in a row. After outlasting direct rivals Bulgaria in a thrilling five-set match on Wednesday, they shocked FIVB world number one Poland in front of over 9,000 home fans at the Ergo Arena, claiming a 3-1 win (22-25, 25-19, 25-21, 26-24). It was Cuba’s first victory over Poland since 2010, significantly boosting their hopes of reaching the Finals.
Miguel Angel Lopez CUB
The three points earned with the victory were vital for Cuba to remain in the qualification zone — they currently sit in seventh place with six wins and 18 points. They trail France (fifth) and Ukraine (sixth) only due to a lower set ratio. Poland ranks fourth with seven wins and 20 points.
Outside hitter Marlon Yant once again led Cuba’s offense, scoring 18 points (15 kills, two aces, and one block). Opposite José Massó added 15 points, outside hitter Miguel Ángel López had 12, and middle blocker Javier Concepción contributed 10.
“It wasn’t a surprise for us because we always fight hard,” said Concepción. “Our goal today was to maintain a high level the entire time, and we’re very happy with the win — there was a lot of emotion at the end. But this is just a small step; we still have a long way to go. We’re happy, but this isn’t over yet.”
Poland’s top scorers were opposite Kewin Sasak (11 points, all from kills) and outside hitter Tomasz Fornal, who tallied seven kills, two aces, and one block.
Friday, July 18 Match Schedule:
In Japan, the United States faces Argentina at 3:30 PM (Local Time). In Poland, Cuba plays against France at 4:30 PM (Local Time). In Slovenia, Canada plays the Netherlands at 8:00 PM (Local Time).
MANATÍ, Puerto Rico, July 17th, 2025.- Coaches of the teams at the NORCECA Women’s Final Four taking place at Manatí, Puerto Rico from July 18-20 commented about their expectations ahead of the competition during the preliminary inquiry expecting a high-level competition and to gain experience for their future events.
Juan Carlos Núñez, Head coach of Puerto Rico: Our first home tournament begins with high expectations, with our goals this summer is to have a strong representation and earn points in pursuit of qualification for the 2026 FIVB Volleyball Nations League.
My team is a mix of veteran and young players. It’s an interesting mix, and it’s important for these young players to gain experience. We have several training sessions before tomorrow’s match to get off to a good start. It’s a deeper team than last year’s because we have more experienced players to take on the challenge of the summer.
Puerto Rico
Nicola Negro, Head coach of Mexico: This is our first event of the season where we have a young group, and we’ve been making a lot of changes. It’s the beginning of an Olympic cycle, and the goal is to start building our game. Prior this event, we had a training camp at the high-performance center in Mexico, as well as several friendly matches with teams from the United States, all with the goal of having a strong season.
We have a stable roster, the addition of about four athletes coming from college, and the return of Samantha Bricio, a very important player for our team, and we are very positive.
Mexico
José Miguel Briceño Torres, Head coach Costa Rica: We begin our national team participation phase with an eye toward this year’s regional tournaments, which include the Final Four and the Central American Games.
We have an experienced team and young players, and we want to prepare them to develop their game in this event. Since the beginning of the year, we’ve been training twice a week and have also used the national tournament to give the players a rhythm. Our goal is for the players to experience what it’s like to play against teams that will demand technical and tactical demands from them, expecting a progressive performance in this event.
Costa Rica
Daymian Stewart, Head coach Trinidad and Tobago: We are honor to be here and play at this level and for us is a big initial of our international season. Our main goal is the Caribbean championship in the Bahamas, so this is part of our preparation. We will face very tough opponents, but we expect Costa Rica to be the closes to our level and give them a challenge and to put our best foot forward against Puerto Rico and Mexico.
It is a new team. We are transitioning from the team that qualified from the world championship in 2018. We have some young players as young as 15 years old so this is an opportunity to give them exposure at this level, and this will really prepare us to continue dominating in our zone.
Trinidad and Tobago
Participating teams will be awarded FIVB World Ranking points valid for the qualification process to the 2026 FIVB Volleyball Nations League and the FIVB World Championship 2027. Additionally, the champion team will earn the qualification to the Senior’s NORCECA Women Olympic Continental Championship.
July 16, 2025. – Cuba’s victory over Bulgaria and USA’s win against Türkiye boosted both teams’ chances of qualifying for the 2025 Men’s VNL Finals. Meanwhile, Canada fell further behind in the standings after losing to Slovenia.
Cuba tops Bulgaria and stays alive
Deep in the battle for a spot in the Finals, Cuba secured the first of several victories it will need this week to earn a ticket to Ningbo in thrilling fashion.
The Caribbean squad came from behind twice before edging out Bulgaria in a five-set thriller, 3-2 (23-25, 25-16, 23-25, 27-25, 15-13), and is now within the qualification zone.
Cuba jumped from ninth to seventh place with five wins and 15 points, putting them in a stronger position to advance. The loss to a direct rival dropped Bulgaria to 12th place, with four wins and 12 points.
Cuban star outside hitter Marlon Yant led all scorers with 23 points (18 kills, three blocks, and two aces), returning to the top of the VNL scoring charts with 172 points. Making his first appearance in this edition of the tournament, middle blocker Robertlandy Simón was on fire, contributing 19 points (13 kills and six blocks). Opposite José Massó (16), middle blocker Javier Concepción (15), and outside hitter José Miguel Gutiérrez (11) also reached double digits.
“We’re happy with the win because Bulgaria is a good team,” said Simón. “They’re younger, but they can compete with anyone. Tomorrow, we have another tough match against Poland, and we’re going to fight again.”
Marlon Yant Herrera CUB
USA sweeps Türkiye and climbs the standings
The United States delivered a solid performance in their first match of the week in Chiba, defeating Türkiye in straight sets 3-0 (26-24, 25-21, 25-19), a result that helped them leapfrog Germany in the VNL standings.
The win lifted the Americans to 10th place with five victories and 13 points, holding the same 5-4 record as Cuba, Slovenia, and Argentina. Türkiye, on the other hand, sits in 16th place with two wins and six points and remains at risk of relegation.
Opposite Gabi García led Team USA with 15 points, including 13 kills and two aces. Ethan Champlin added 13 points, one more than fellow outside hitter Cooper Robinson.
“It was a great win against a tough team,” said García. “We need every point we can get to make it to the Finals, and it was a big day for us. Now we have to keep it going. I think we played really well as a team, and I’m excited to see where this takes us.”
USA celebrates
Canada falls to Slovenia
Canada couldn’t hold on to its first-set lead and ended up falling to host team Slovenia 1-3 (25-21, 21-25, 19-25, 21-25).
While the Canadians out-blocked Slovenia 10-6, it was the Europeans who prevailed in attacks (51-44) and service aces (6-4). Slovenia also capitalized on Canada’s 33 unforced errors, compared to just 28 of their own.
Outside hitter Brodie Hofer was Canada’s top scorer with 11 points (8 kills and 3 blocks), while Xander Ketrzynski added 10 points, all from kills.
Fynnian McCarthy – Brodie Hofer CAN
Thursday, July 17 Match Schedule
USA and Canada will rest. Cuba faces Poland at 20:00 local time in Gdańsk, Poland.
MANATÍ, Puerto Rico, July 16th, 2025.- Puerto Rico is set to defend its title at the fifth edition of the NORCECA Final Four Women’s tournament taking place from July 18 to 20 in Manati, Puerto Rico.
Four national teams, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Mexico and Trinidad and Tobago, will compete in pursuit of the championship, following Cuba’s withdrawal due to unexpected travel complications.
Participating teams will be awarded FIVB World Ranking points valid for the qualification process to the 2026 FIVB Volleyball Nations League and for the qualification to the FIVB World Championship 2027.
As the back-to-back reigning champion, Puerto Rico is one of the top contenders aiming to defend their title. In the last tournament held in Puerto Rico, the host team finished first, Mexico second and Cuba secured the third seed.
The competition will feature three days of round-robin matches starting this Friday at the Juan Aubin Cruz Abreu Coliseum, which is set to accommodate up to 8,000 spectators.
MALONEY, AROUCA, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, JULY 13, 2025: Trinidad and Tobago’s Opposite Hitter Jahreef Miguel was named the ‘Most Valuable Player’ of the Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) Under-23 Men’s Championship hosted by the T&T Volleyball Federation (T&TVF) at the Maloney Indoor Sports Arena on Sunday.
Miguel also collected the ‘Best Opposite’ award after helping his team to a 21-25, 25-20, 30-28, 23-25, 15-10 win over Suriname in the final.
Individual Awards CAZOVA U23 Men
In addition to Miguel, his team-mates Jerome Morrison “Best Setter”, Rayon Dickson “Best Libero” and ‘Best Digger’, and Michael Burkett ‘Best Receiver’
Despite the loss in the final, Suriname players also collected a number of individual awards with Shemar Jameson “First Best Outside Hitter” and ‘Best Scorer’. Anfernee Lee Aleong ‘Second Best Outside Hitter’, and captain Faiq Lobo ‘First Best Middle Blocker’.
Martinique’s Kenan Melinard “Second Best Middle Blocker’ and Guadeloupe’s Crane Zackary “Best Server’ collected the other awards.
MALONEY, AROUCA, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, JULY 13, 2025: As was expected Martinique captain Maelyss Melinard-Chanteur was deservedly named the ‘Most Valuable Player’ of the Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) Under-23 Women’s Championship hosted by the T&T Volleyball Federation (T&TVF) at the Maloney Indoor Sports Arena on Sunday.
Melinard-Chanteur captured the award, one of two on the night after firing her team too 23-25, 25-15, 25-21, 25-19 triumph over Suriname in the tournament decider while she was also named the ‘Second Best Outside Hitter’.
Women Individual Awards CAZOVA U23
Not to be left out, Martinique’s Dorianne Chadet, Emeline Kalt and Alice Budon were all award winners as well copping the ‘Second Best Middle Blocker’, ‘Best Setter’ and ‘Best Libero’ accolades respectively.
Suriname’s Shaniva Balkaran was named ‘First Best Outside Hitter 1’, while her teammate Cailynn Griffith nabbed both the ‘Best Digger’ and ‘Best Opposite’ awards.
Curacao’s Phelipa Giovienelly copped the ‘First Best Middle Blocker 1’ and Trinidad and Tobago trio Natassia Baptiste ‘Best Server’, Jordanne Hutchinson ‘Best Receiver’ and L’fe Roberts ‘Best Scorer’ awards.
July 15, 2025. – The final week of Preliminary Round matches for the Men’s Volleyball Nations League (VNL) begins this week, with teams battling for a spot in the quarterfinals. The Final Round will be held in Ningbo Beilun, China, starting on July 30.
As the host nation, China has already secured a place in the quarterfinals, leaving the remaining 15 teams to compete for the seven remaining spots.
Cuba sits in 9th place with a 4-4 record (13 points)
USA is in 13th place, also with a 4-4 record (10 points)
Canada is in 14th place with 3 wins and 5 losses (11 points)
Brazil tops the standings with 7 wins and 1 loss, followed by Poland and Italy, both with 6 wins and 2 losses.
Given the standings, USA, Cuba, and Canada must aim to win their remaining matches to have a chance at qualifying for the single-elimination Final Round.
NORCECA Teams’ Match Locations:
USA plays in Chiba, Japan, alongside Argentina, Brazil, Türkiye, Germany, and Japan.
July 14, 2025.– The three-week Preliminary Round of the 2025 Women’s Volleyball Nations League came to an end this Sunday, with the United States clinching the last spot for the Finals in 8th place. Meanwhile, the Dominican Republic and Canada finished in 12th and 16th place, respectively.
USA Falls to China in Thrilling Five-Set Match
The United States couldn’t hold onto its two-set lead and eventually lost to China in a thrilling five-set battle, 2-3 (25-18, 25-19, 21-25, 16-25, 16-18), concluding the Preliminary Round in 8th place with 7 wins and 5 losses.
In a tightly contested match, the U.S. led in blocks (10-9) and aces (4-1), while China held a slight edge in attacks (67-64) and capitalized on 28 American unforced errors, compared to their own 25.
Outside hitter Sarah Franklin was phenomenal, leading all scorers with 32 points, including 29 kills and 3 blocks. Taylor Mims added 10 points (9 kills and 1 block).
The quarterfinals begin on July 23, followed by the semifinals on July 26, and the championship match on July 27. The eight teams advancing to the Final Round in Łódź, Poland, are: 1. Italy, 2. Brazil; 3. Japan; 4. Poland; 5. China; 6. Türkiye; 7. Germany; 8. United States.
Matches will be held in Łódź, Polonia.
Sarah Franklin USA (1)
Canada wraps up 2025 VNL with a solid performance against Thailand and secures its place in VNL
Canada’s women’s national team closed out their 2025 Volleyball Nations League campaign with a hard-fought 3-2 win (17-25, 25-23, 30-28, 23-25, 15-13) over Thailand on Sunday in Arlington. Although Canada had already secured its spot in the VNL 2026 before the match, the team showed determination to end on a high note, finishing in 16th place with three wins and ten points.
Outside hitter Hilary Johnson was the standout performer with 25 points (22 kills, 2 blocks, 1 ace), while middle blocker Emily Maglio had a strong two-way game with 19 points, including 10 kills, 8 blocks, and 1 ace.
“It feels amazing to finish with a win,” said Johnson after the match. “We worked really hard throughout the tournament. Wins didn’t come easily, so ending like this is a big reward. I’m proud of my team. Now we rest and then get back to the gym with new teammates to keep growing together.”
Despite the loss, Thailand achieved their goal of remaining in the 2026 VNL by taking two sets, which gave them the single point needed to avoid relegation—sending Korea to the bottom spot. Thailand closed the tournament with a 2-10 record and 6 points.
For Canada, this victory serves as a morale boost ahead of upcoming international competitions. While they fell short of qualifying for the Finals, the team showed clear improvement and promising development, with a mix of rising talent and experienced leaders forming a strong foundation for the program’s future.
Korea, who had competed in every VNL edition since its inception, is now relegated. Their best result was 12th place in the inaugural 2018 edition. Korea will be replaced in the 2026 VNL by the highest-ranked national team in the FIVB World Ranking that did not compete in 2025.
Canada
Dominican Republic Ends 2025 VNL in 12th After Loss to Germany
The Dominican Republic wrapped up its 2025 VNL campaign with a 3-1 (25-20, 25-13, 21-25, 25-21) loss to Germany on Sunday in Arlington, closing the Preliminary Phase in 12th place.
The “Caribbean Queens” finished with five wins and 13 points, missing out on a place in the Finals in Łódź but displaying competitiveness against some of the world’s top teams.
In the final match, opposite Gaila González led the Dominican offense with 15 points (12 kills, 3 aces). Despite taking the third set and showing fight throughout the match, the team couldn’t match the European side’s pace in key moments.
July 14, 2025. – The U.S. Girls U19 National Team earned the silver medal at the 2025 Girls U19 World Championship after falling in the final to Bulgaria, 3-1 (21-25, 25-16, 25-17, 29-27) on Sunday in Osijek, Croatia.
The U.S. has medaled in the last four World Championships for the age group. The 2023 World Championship, where the team won gold, was the first one contested as a U19 championship. Previously, FIVB held Worlds as a U18 event, and the U.S. won bronze in 2021 and gold in 2019.
The match was close statistically as the U.S. finished with a one-point advantage in kills (46-45) and blocks (11-10), while Bulgaria served eight aces compared to five for the U.S. The key statistic was Bulgaria committing 14 fewer errors (37-23).
Henley Anderson USA
Outside hitter Suli Davis, who was named Best Outside Hitter, led the U.S. in points (17), kills (13), aces (3), digs (16) and successful receptions (4). Libero Lily Hayes finished with 14 digs.
Outside Cari Spears totaled 12 points on 10 kills and two blocks, while middle blocker Jordan Taylor shared match-high honors with four blocks to go with seven kills for 11 points. Henley Anderson was named Best Opposite and had seven points on five kills and two blocks in the final.
Suliane Davis USA
11th-Place Match
Chinese Taipei secured 11th place with a 3-1 (25-21, 30-28, 17-25, 25-15) victory over Mexico at the Trstenik Gymnasium, dominating the offensive battle with 70 successful attacks to Mexico’s 48. Sixteen-year-old opposite Xu Zhen-Xuan led the Asian team with 20 points (18 kills, 1 block, 1 ace). Mexico’s top scorers were middle blocker Aitana Rettke Tanguma (10 kills, 1 ace, 5 blocks) and outside hitter Angélica Jazmín Torres (15 kills, 0 aces, 1 block), both finishing with 16 points.
USA part of Dream Team: Suliane Davis (Second Best Outside Hitter) and Henley Anderson (Best Opposite).
Final Standings – FIVB U19 Women’s World Championship 2025:
MALONEY, AROUCA, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, JULY 13, 2025: Host Trinidad and Trinidad were crowned the first champions of the Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) Under-23 Men’s Championship hosted by the T&T Volleyball Federation (T&TVF) at the Maloney Indoor Sports Arena on Sunday.
This was after the Calypso Spikers led by captain Nicholas Williams defeated Suriname in a sometimes heated but enthralling contest 21-25, 25-20, 30-28, 23-25, 15-10 with the captain rightfully sinking the match winning point for the host off a failed block by Suriname.
The win avenged a loss also in five sets to the same opponents in their final round-robin match on Saturday night and secured the lone qualification spot to the Junior Pan American Cup next year.
Commenting on the win, Trinidad and Tobago Head Coach Sean Morrison the win was a result of hard work, total effort and sacrifice by his players and coaching staff.
Williams added, “We faced a really good Suriname team, and we had to dig deep to get the win and credit to my teammates for pulling it off.”
Cuban-born Suriname coach, FIVB Development Coach, Carlos Orta, Suriname was quick to admit that he felt the Trinidad and Tobago was a much more complete team than his.
Orta said, “Player for player, I believe Trinidad and Tobago has the best team in the competition, but my team is also a good team, which made for a very good contest.”
“We fought a good game today, and we were fighting and giving our all and both teams played well, but in the end, I think Trinidad and Tobago was better.
Faiq Lobo, Captain of Suriname, said, “I hate being second, but it was a good game and Trinidad and Tobago played better.”
“We fought hard, and they also fought hard, but it just wasn’t our day today.”
MALONEY, AROUCA, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, JULY 13, 2025: Martinique lifted the title in the Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) Under-23 Women’s Championship hosted by the T&T Volleyball Federation (T&TVF) when they dethroned Suriname (3-1) at the Maloney Indoor Sports Arena.
Inspired by France-based captain Maelyss Melinard-Chanteur, Martinique was made to work hard for their victory by a stubborn Suriname team who won the first set, 25-23, before the eventual champions prevailed 25-15, 25-21, 25-19 to seal their ticket to the Junior Pan American Cup next year.
The win was similar to their round-robin meeting on the opening night of the tournament which Martinique also won in four sets.
An elated Eddy Erialc, Head Coach of Martinique women’s team said he was very happy for the win by his team but also thanked Suriname for a very good match.
“In our first match against Suriname, we had a much easier time, but today, they lifted their game as champions do and made it a very good level contest and a hard game to play.”
Melinard-Chanteur added, “I’m very happy that my team won, as my last time in Trinidad at the youth level I ended up with the silver medal, so to win this time is a really good feeling.”
MALONEY, AROUCA, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, JULY 13, 2025: Host Trinidad and Tobago ended their campaign in the Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) Under-23 Women’s Championship on a high with a win over Curacao for the bronze medal.
Winners over the same opponents on Thursday’s first day of competition in five sets, the Deon Hutchinson-coached ‘Calyspo Spikers’ won 25-12, 25-13, 25-20 inspired by another solid outing from captain L’fe Roberts.
Speaking after the win, Hutchinson credited his players for battling against the odds throughout the tournament to come away with the win.
He said, “We had a tough loss to Suriname on Saturday night which resulted in us missing the chance to play the gold medal match. But the girls came back today very strong and determined to get the bronze medal and they did just that.”
“Credit to Curacao for their strong effort as well, but today the girls were determined to finish on a high,’ stated Hutchinson.
MALONEY, AROUCA, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, JULY 13, 2025: Martinique took home the bronze medal in the Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) Under-23 Men’s Championship hosted by the T&T Volleyball Federation (T&TVF) when they came from behind to beat Guadeloupe 3-1 at the Maloney Indoor Sports Arena.
Winners over the same opponents in their final round-robin pool match on Saturday night in straight sets, Martinique found themselves trailing at the end of the first set, 18-25.
However, in the second set Martinique managed to battle to a 25-22 win and kept the momentum to win the next two sets 25-19, 25-21 to secure the bronze medal, ending the tournament with two wins on the trot after losing their first two matches against Trinidad and Tobago, and Suriname, respectively.
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, July 13, 2025.- Andy Leonardo of Guatemala was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Second AFECAVOL Senior Men’s Final Four, held successfully from July 11 to 13 at the FESAVOL Gymnasium.
Leonardo also earned the award for Best Server of the event. Guatemala collected multiple individual honors, with Adolfo Rivas named Best Setter, and Carlos López awarded Second Best Spiker.
From Nicaragua, Miguel Castillo stood out by earning Best Digger, Best Libero, and Best Receiver, while Axel Gutiérrez claimed the honors for Best Opposite and Best Scorer.
Francis Hauze of Belize was recognized as Best First Spiker, and his teammate Hakan Godoy received the award for Second Best Blocker. Representing El Salvador, Diego Guido Guidos was named Best First Blocker.
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, July 13, 2025. – Guatemala was crowned undefeated champion of the Second Senior Men’s Final Four organized by AFECAVOL, after comfortably sweeping El Salvador 3-0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-19) in the final match of the competition.
Guatemala finished the tournament with a perfect 3-0 record, while El Salvador was unable to secure a single win. Belize claimed second place, and Nicaragua took third.
The match against El Salvador was the only one where Guatemala could breathe easily, as their previous encounters against Nicaragua and Belize went the full five sets before they emerged victorious.
Andy Leonardo led Guatemala’s offense with 13 points, supported by Carlos López with 11 and José Pérez with 10. On the Salvadoran side, Ricardo Navarro finished with 11 points.
Reider Lucas, head coach of Guatemala, commented after the title win: “We had prepared well for this event, and it also serves as an important step for us on the road to the Central American Games. Our goal was to perform well, especially because last year we were left with a bitter taste after losing at home”.
Andrea Genova, head coach of El Salvador, stated: “We knew this tournament would be of a very high level. The teams came well-prepared, especially Belize, who surprised everyone in this event. For our part, injuries affected us a lot and hurt us at the start of the tournament, but overall, the players showed some improvement in each match”.
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, July 13, 2025. – With a relentless attack and a solid, nearly impenetrable block, Belize defeated Nicaragua 3-0 (25-16, 25-19, 25-21) to secure the silver medal at the Second Senior Men’s Final Four organized by AFECAVOL.
Belize finished the tournament with a 2-1 win-loss record, guaranteeing them second place, while Nicaragua concluded with a 1-2 record, placing them in third.
It was a one-sided match, with Belize leading in every statistical category: attacks (41-31), blocks (10-2), and aces (5-1). Despite conceding more points on unforced errors (22-19), it had no impact on the final outcome.
On offense, Francis Hauze led Belize with 17 points, followed by Ernest Broaster with 14. For Nicaragua, Axel Gutiérrez was the only player to reach double digits, scoring 14 points.
Elton Anderson, team captain for Belize, shared after the match: “We are very excited about this victory. We had lost our previous match, but this time we stayed organized and overcame our mistakes. We played with more strategy and managed to control our emotions. This was one of our best matches, especially against Nicaragua. I’m very happy and emotional because this is my last tournament; I’m getting a bit old, so I say goodbye with this win”.
Jorge Mena, head coach of Nicaragua, reflected: “We needed to train harder before the event, and the players needed to understand what they were up against. Now it’s time to reflect and accept that we need to work much harder if we want to win a medal at the Central American Games”.
CUERNAVACA, Morelos, July 13, 2025 – Blake Fahlbusch of the United States was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 2025 U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup after leading his team to an undefeated championship run at the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM) Gymnasium.
USA clinched their third consecutive U19 Pan Am Cup gold medal, sweeping Mexico 25-20, 25-21, 25-18, with a dominant team performance throughout the tournament. Mexico, backed by a passionate home crowd, proudly took the silver medal, while Canada captured its first-ever bronze at the event with a straight-sets win over Venezuela.
USA
Blake Fahlbusch was joined by teammates who also collected multiple awards: Isiah Powell earned 1st Best Blocker, Benjamin Bayer was recognized as Best Receiver, and Dante Cayaban claimed Best Server honors.
Mexico’s Carlos Grajeda and Emi Diaz were recognized as the 1st and 2nd Best Spikers, respectively, after strong performances throughout the tournament.
Fernando Castello of Puerto Rico earned the award for 2nd Best Blocker, highlighting his defensive contributions at the net.
Chile had a standout showing in individual awards, with Juan Pablo Espinoza named Best Setter, Joaquin Valjalo earning both Best Opposite and Best Scorer, and Esteban Castillo receiving the Best Digger award.
Rolando Bello of Venezuela rounded out the award recipients as the tournament’s Best Libero, demonstrating solid defensive skills.
CUERNAVACA, Morelos, July 13, 2025. – The United States achieved a remarkable third consecutive gold medal at the U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup, sweeping host nation Mexico 3-0 (25-20, 25-21, 25-18) at the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM) Gymnasium in Cuernavaca.
USA’s dominance in the tournament continues, having now won three straight titles, in 2022, 2023, and 2025, and four overall medals in the history of the event (3 gold, 1 bronze).
This was Mexico’s fifth consecutive appearance in the gold medal match, and although they were strongly supported by an energetic home crowd, they fell short once again. Mexico’s only title came in 2017 against Chile; since then, they’ve collected four silver medals (2019, 2022, 2023, 2025).
After two tightly contested sets, the United States surged to a commanding 14-8 lead in the third and never looked back. USA held a significant edge in attacks (45-29) and blocks (11-4), while also leading 2-1 in aces, however they committed more errors than Mexico (25 to 17).
Three U.S. players scored in double digits: Blake Fahlbusch led all scorers with 17 points (15 kills, 2 blocks); Corbin Batista added 15 kills and Isiah Powell contributed 11 points (5 kills, 6 blocks).
Mexico’s top performer was Carlos Grajeda, who scored 13 points.
Team captain Brett Novak reflected on the experience: “It feels unbelievable. We only had one week of training together before coming here. This team has come together so well, especially over the last four days, we just got better and better, playing as a group. The crowd really got into it in the first two sets; they were very energetic, and we loved it, it got us going.”
CUERNAVACA, Morelos, July 13, 2025. – Canada captured its first-ever medal in the history of the U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup, defeating Venezuela in straight sets 3-0 (25-15, 26-24, 25-18) on Sunday at the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM) Gymnasium in Cuernavaca.
Canada came out strong, taking early control of the match by dominating the first set. Venezuela responded with intensity, especially in the second set, but the Canadians remained composed and closed the match in three sets to secure the bronze medal.
A dominant attacking performance gave Canada the edge, with a 44-23 advantage in kills. Both teams recorded eight blocks, and Canada held a slight lead in service aces (4-3). In errors, the count was nearly even, with Canada committing 23 and Venezuela 20.
Opposite Lukas Wright led all scorers with 18 points for Canada, followed by outside hitter Mason Lage with 11 and middle blocker Simon Oberbuchner contributing 10. Venezuela’s top scorer was Ángel Matute with 7 points.
Canadian head coach Taylor Jordan reflected on the significance of the moment: “For us, we just wanted to live in the moment. This is the last day that this group is playing together, to enjoy being a team for one last day, one last match. Maybe it was less about the bronze and more about us being one big Canadian family. In terms of success, our reception was phenomenal, and that gave us an opportunity to play”.
CUERNAVACA, Morelos, July 13, 2025. – Puerto Rico secured a hard-fought fifth-place finish at the U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup with a thrilling five-set victory over Chile, 3-2 (21-25, 25-23, 22-25, 25-23, 15-12), on Sunday at the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM) Gymnasium in Cuernavaca.
In a marathon match that lasted over two hours, both teams battled with intensity, exchanging long rallies and fierce net play. Puerto Rico rallied from an 8-11 deficit in the decisive fifth set, tying the score and gaining momentum with a final push of effective blocking to close the match 15-12.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico outblocked Chile 12-10 and capitalized on 38 Chilean errors while committing 24 of their own. Chile held the edge in attacking points, 71-57, and points from serves, 3-1.
Jean Paul González led Puerto Rico with 22 points, all on kills. Gustavo Álvarez added 18 points, and Fernando Castello contributed 14 points, including a match-high of 7 blocks.
Chile’s best performer was once again Joaquín Valjalo, who topped all scorers with 26 points. He was supported by Francisco Briones (18 points), Joaquín Cassanova (16), and Mateo Sanz (13).
Juan Albarrán, head coach of Puerto Rico, said, “It was a great match, and the fans really enjoyed it. For us, it was extremely important to leave here with this fifth-place finish, because of what it means to win at this moment and, emotionally, what lies ahead next week: the FIVB U19 World Championship.”
CUERNAVACA, Morelos, July 13, 2025. – Panama secured a hard-fought seventh-place finish at the U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup after edging Suriname in a thrilling five-set battle, 3-2 (22-25, 25-19, 12-25, 25-22, 15-8) at the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM) Gymnasium in Cuernavaca.
In a roller coaster of a match, Panama claimed revenge after falling to Suriname in the preliminary round. This time, they came out on top by leading in kills (64-53) and aces (5-2). Suriname held the advantage in blocks (11-7) and committed fewer errors (23 to Panama’s 33).
Wen Downer PAN
Panama’s Wen Downer delivered a tournament-high of 29 points at the moment, powering the team’s offense. He was supported by Kendrieck Newby, who chipped in with 18 points in the victory.
For Suriname, Javier Nasibdar led with 21 points, followed by Gianni Ritfeld with 17. Both Jahmit Jambo and Revelino Sandel contributed 10 points each.
Horacio Angulo, head coach of Panama, spoke after the match: “We tried the entire match to beat them, we went for it, and we did it. This was a very tough tournament, and our team is new and young. I’m grateful for the boys’ effort. We didn’t want to finish in last place, and we achieved that.”
July 12, 2025. – USA booked the last available ticket to the Women’s Volleyball Nations League (VNL) Finals in Łódź. In Friday’s closing VNL match in Arlington, they outlasted Canada in a dramatic five-set battle and secured their place among the last eight in the competition. The two sets won were sufficient for Canada to secure their survival in the VNL for next season.
That wasn’t the case for Korea, who lost Sunday’s opening match in Chiba in straight sets to France, keeping the relegation battle open until the Thailand vs. Canada game later that same day.
In a rollercoaster of emotions, the U.S. claimed a narrow 3-2 (26-24, 23-25, 20-25, 25-21, 19-17) victory in extra points of the tiebreak against Canada. Each set was a mini rollercoaster with constant lead changes, but the fifth set was especially dramatic: Canada came back from a four-point deficit to reach double match point at 14-12. The Americans denied them, leveled the score, and fended off three more match points before sealing the win with three straight points, igniting a celebration from the home crowd in Arlington.
Madisen and Avery Skinner USA
The winners were led by outside hitter Avery Skinner with 21 points, including one block. Opposite Madisen Skinner (two aces, one block) and outside hitter Logan Eggleston (two blocks) each contributed 19 points, while middle blockers Tia Jimerson (six blocks) and Dana Rettke (three blocks) added 14 and 10 points, respectively.
Despite Canada’s tremendous blocking effort, 24 stuff blocks in total, it wasn’t enough to claim victory in this North American classic. Twenty-one-year-old opposite Anna Smrek had six blocks and two aces for a 13-point total, while middle blocker Emily Maglio tallied five blocks and one ace to reach 12 points. Outside hitter Hilary Howe Johnson led all scorers with 29 points, including four blocks. Team captain and middle blocker Jazmine Ruth White added 10 points with four blocks, and fellow outside hitter Andrea Mitrovic also reached double figures with 11 points.
Avery Skinner USA
With a 2-9 win-loss record, 8 points, and a 16-31 set ratio, Canada sits in 16th place in the current VNL standings and can no longer be overtaken by Thailand, who are last with a 1-10 record, 5 points, and a 9-31 set ratio, even with a straight-sets win. However, Thailand can still surpass Korea, who have finished their campaign at 1-11 with 5 points, and would only need to win two sets against Canada to do so.
Match Schedule Sunday July 13
All matches local time Arlington. Dominican Republic vs Germany at 11:30, Thailand vs Canada at 15:00. USA against China at 19:00.
July 12, 2025. – The reigning champions, United States, ended Poland’s unbeaten run and will play the final against Bulgaria, who eliminated Turkey. The Americans will be aiming for back-to-back titles and their third U19 world championship, having won the title in 2019, when they defeated Italy, and in 2023, when they beat Turkey.
United States vs. Bulgaria – THE GRAND FINAL
The current champions, United States, will face Bulgaria in the final of the 2025 FIVB Women’s U19 Volleyball World Championship this Sunday in Osijek, Croatia. Both teams won their respective semifinals on Saturday at the Gradski Vrt Hall in Osijek, securing their spots in the final.
The defending champions, United States, ended Poland’s unbeaten run in the World Championship with a decisive 3-0 victory (25-14, 25-18, 25-19) to advance to the final. Poland had reached the semifinals with a perfect record of eight wins, including a 3-2 victory over the Americans in the preliminary round.
USA celebrates
However, the Americans completely dominated the match, outpacing Poland in attack (37 to 26 spikes), blocking (12 to 3 effective blocks), and serving (8 to 3 aces). Attacker Suliane Davis was unstoppable with 18 points (13, 3, 2), while opposite Henley Anderson added 11 points (6, 3, 2). For Poland, Natasza Ornoch was the top scorer with 8 points (6, 0, 2).
“This is a great victory for us. Poland is a fantastic team and being able to compete with them at this level and come out as winners is a tremendous honor. We have improved in every game, considering that we have only been together as a team for about three weeks. Going to the final with a result like this gives us a lot of confidence,” said United States captain Genevieve Harris.
“It means a lot for us to defend the title because having a World Championship medal is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We want to give our all in that match and fight for our country and the sport we love,” she added.
Genevieve Harris USA
Mexico Will Play for 11th Place
Croatia secured the match for ninth place on Sunday. In the Saturday night game in Vrnjacka Banja, they defeated Mexico 3-0 (25-19, 25-16, 25-20). The Croatian team will play for ninth place, and Mexico will compete for eleventh place. Croatian captain Lana Francetic (11, 1, 1) and her Mexican counterpart Naomi Alejandra Cruz (11, 2, 0) were the top scorers with 13 points each.
Mexico will play for eleventh place against Chinese Taipei, who lost their match against Argentina.
Canada Finishes the Championship in 18th Place
In the overall standings, Spain ended up in 17th place after defeating Canada 3-2 (17-25, 25-17, 10-25, 25-23, 15-09). Captain Inés Losada Gordaliza was Spain’s top scorer with 22 points (19, 1, 2), while receiver Sofia Zabjek led Canada with 18 (14, 1, 3). Canada finished in 18th place.
Puerto Rico Loses to Chile and Finishes 20th in the World
Chile concluded their participation in 19th place after defeating Puerto Rico 3-1 (25-12, 19-25, 25-20, 27-25). Opposite Javiera Núñez Ibaceta was the top scorer with 18 points (15, 3, 0), while Cherisse Binex Atilano Narváez led Puerto Rico, which finished in 20th place, with 14 points (11, 1, 2).
Dominican Republic finished in 23rd place after defeating Tunisia 3-1 (25-23, 12-25, 25-23, 25-20) in Trstenik, leaving the African team in last place (24th). The 15-year-old opposite Rayni Merab Mondesi led the Caribbean team with 24 points (20, 3, 1). In Tunisia, captain Sinda Ben Hamida once again stood out with 15 points (10, 3, 2).
Schedule for July 13
FINAL: United States vs. Bulgaria at 18:15 (Local Time)
Match for 11th Place: Mexico vs. Chinese Taipei at 13:15 (Local Time)
MALONEY, AROUCA, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, JULY 12, 2025: Suriname and host Trinidad and Tobago provided the spectators with a glimpse of what to expect in the final of the Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) Under-23 Men’s Championship hosted by the T&T Volleyball Federation (T&TVF) at the Maloney Indoor Sports Arena on Sunday from 6 pm.
Both teams already qualified for the final, went back-and-forth in a five-setter to determine the round-robin pool winners, with the visitors just coming out on top 25-18, 25-19, 20-25, 23-25, 15-11.
With both technical staff opting to rest key players ahead of the more important gold medal match to come a day later, it was left up to the bench players to grab the spot-light and that they did with the Carlos Orta-coached Suriname grabbing a 2-0 lead in sets in the best-of-five contest.
However, spurred on by the home crowd and some powerful spiking from Jahreef Miguel, Michael Burkett and Elijah Best, Trinidad and Tobago clawed their way back into the contest by taking the next two sets, 25-20, 25-23 to extend the match to a fifth and deciding contest.
Both teams then introduced their regular starters for the start of the fifth set and Trinidad and Tobago started brightly and raced into a 6-3 lead in the decider, and nine points away from victory.
However, following a time-out by Cuban-born Suriname coach, FIVB Development Coach, Carlos Orta, Suriname then won five straight points to grab an 8-6 advantage.
Trinidad and Tobago then drew level at 9-9, but Suriname then pulled away again, winning four straight points for a 13-9 cushion before closing out the match by winning two of the next four points and bragging rights ahead of the title-match, and no doubt a confidence boosted as well.
With the win, Suriname ended with a 3-0 record and nine points at the top of the table, with Trinidad and Tobago in the second spot with a 2-1 record and eight points ahead of their meeting again today for the gold medal and the lone qualification spot to the Junior Pan American Cup next year.
The bronze medal match will feature Martinique and Guadeloupe from 12 noon.
MALONEY, AROUCA, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, JULY 12, 2025: Martinique finally got among the win column in the Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) Under-23 Men’s Championship hosted by the T&T Volleyball Federation (T&TVF) when they brushed aside French-speaking rivals Guadeloupe (3-0) at the Maloney Indoor Sports Arena.
With both teams yet to get a win heading into the contest, it was just left for bragging rights ahead of their meeting for the bronze medal on Sunday as well, and in the end, the livelier Martinique team got the confidence boosting win, 25-19, 25-19, 25-23.
With the win, Martinique ended round-robin play with a 1-2 record and six points, while Guadeloupe finished with a 0-3 mark and one point.
Both teams go up against each other again on Sunday from 12 noon in the bronze medal match, before host Trinidad and Tobago faces Suriname in the gold medal contest from 6 pm with a ticket to the Junior Pan American Cup at stake for the winners.
MALONEY, AROUCA, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, JULY 12, 2025: Defending champions Suriname will have a chance to avenge their lone defeat in the Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) Under-23 Women’s Championship hosted by the T&T Volleyball Federation (T&TVF) so far when they face unbeaten Martinique in the final at the Maloney Indoor Sports Arena on Sunday from 4 pm.
This after Suriname coached by Victor Lesperrans broke the hearts of the host Trinidad and Tobago with a battling 13-25, 25-22, 29-27, 25-22 win in their final round-robin match.
Both Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago entered the match with 1-1 win-loss records, after both defeated Curacao, but were beaten by Martinique as well.
And with the winners securing a spot in the final it was Suriname captained by Chantelle Lisse who prevailed in the topsy-turvy contest to end with a 2-1 record and 10 points, four points behind Martinique, to have a chance at retaining their title, they first won back in 2018 in Bonaire.
The heart-broken Trinidad and Tobago will still have a chance to finish on the medal podium as they come up against Curacao, in another repeat of the women’s opening day fixture in the bronze medal match from 2 pm.
The winners of the gold medal will qualify to next year’s Junior Pan American Cup.
MALONEY, AROUCA, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, JULY 12, 2025: Tournament favourites Martinique marched into the finals of the Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) Under-23 Women’s Championship hosted by the T&T Volleyball Federation (T&TVF) with a third win from as many matches at the Maloney Indoor Sports Arena.
Winners over defending champions Suriname in their opener on Thursday, and host Trinidad and Tobago on Friday, Martinique led by the influential Maelyss Melinard-Chanteur won against a determined Curacao 25-23, 25-23, 25-23 to finish top of the four-team round-robin table with a perfect 3-0 record and 14 points ahead of the gold medal match on Sunday from 4 pm while Curacao ended at the bottom of the table without a win, but three points from taking a set in each of their three defeats.
In the gold medal match on Sunday, the Eddy Erialc-coached Martinique will do battle with title-holders Suriname coached by Victor Lesperrans, in a re-match of the opening women’s game of the tournament while host Trinidad and Tobago meets Curacao for the bronze medal from 2 pm.
The winners of the gold medal will qualify to next year’s Junior Pan American Cup.
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, July 12, 2025. – Nicaragua earned its first win at the AFECAVOL Senior Men’s Second Final Four with a convincing 3-0 victory over El Salvador (28-26, 25-18, 25-19), facing little resistance throughout the match.
With this result, Nicaragua evens its record at 1-1, while El Salvador remains winless after two match days.
On the final day of competition, Nicaragua will face Belize in a crucial matchup, as both teams aim to secure second place in the standings. Meanwhile, undefeated Guatemala will go up against El Salvador, looking to close the event on a high note.
Nicaragua dominated the match, facing real pressure only in the opening set. They finished with a clear advantage in attack points (51-38) and service aces (4-1). El Salvador showed some spark at the net, leading in blocks (8-5), but gave up more points through unforced errors (18-16).
“Unfortunately, we lost our first match, but against El Salvador we stayed focused. El Salvador plays better at home, but we stayed calm, and that helped us get the result we wanted, which was to win,” said Nicaragua’s captain Jonny Zeledón.
El Salvador’s captain, Mario Nochez, commented after the match: “We only have one match left against Guatemala, who have clearly been the strongest team in this Final Four. But we will fight until the end, we’re going to battle in that match and try to give Guatemala a good game. Against Nicaragua, we played well in the first set but lost our focus in the rest of the match.”
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, July 12, 2025. – Guatemala had to dig deep to overcome Belize in a hard-fought five-set battle, winning 3-2 (22-25, 25-22, 26-24, 21-25, 15-11). The victory marked Guatemala’s second win at the AFECAVOL Senior Men’s Final Four, with just one match day remaining in the tournament.
Guatemala remains undefeated with a 2-0 record, while Belize sits at 1-1.
On the final day of competition, Sunday, July 13, Guatemala will face hosts El Salvador in a bid to secure the top spot in the standings. Belize, meanwhile, will take on a tough Nicaraguan squad.
Guatemala
Andy Leonardo led Guatemala’s offense with 24 points, supported by Carlos López, who contributed 17. Belize’s top scorer was Francis Hauze with 19 points, followed by Karym Coleman with 13 and Ernest Broaster with 12.
Though both teams tried to dominate at the net, Guatemala came out on top in attacking points (63-56) and service aces (5-2). Belize excelled in blocking (15-5) but gave up 36 unforced errors compared to Guatemala’s 34.
“It was a very tough match. Belize is a team that has been preparing well in recent years for the Central American Games. I think all teams push harder when they play against us. Playing five sets is always challenging because those final 15 points can go either way. The key to this victory was the spirit we maintained throughout,” said Guatemala’s top scorer Andy Leonardo.
Belize’s captain, Elton Anderson, shared his thoughts: “Guatemala is a very strong team. We gave our all in the match, but they know how to handle any situation. It was a good game for us, our strengths are attacking and blocking, but we made too many errors today.”
CUERNAVACA, Morelos, July 12, 2025. – Mexico secured its place in the final of the Boys’ U19 Pan American Cup after an exciting four-set victory (25-19, 19-25, 25-23, 29-27) over Venezuela at the Gymnasium of the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM).
This marks the fifth consecutive time that Mexico has reached the gold medal match in the history of the tournament, having won the title only once, in 2017 against Chile. In the 2019, 2022, and 2023 finals, Mexico fell to Cuba and the United States, respectively. Now, playing at home, they will look to break that streak.
Venezuela will face Canada in the third-place match.
The ending could not have been more dramatic, as Venezuela tried to force a tie-break, but a decisive block by Carlos Grajeda sealed the Mexican victory with a thrilling 29-27 score in the fourth set.
Mexico led in attacks (62-48) and service aces (5-1), while Venezuela dominated at the net with more blocks (14-9). Mexico committed more unforced errors, 31 against Venezuela’s 22.
Arnoldo Hurtado led Mexico’s offense with 21 points (18 attacks, 2 blocks), followed by Emi Díaz with 15 and Carlos Grajeda with 13. For Venezuela, Neyver Zabala scored 13 points, while Gandy Lugo and Harold Larez added 12 each.
At the end of the match, Mexico’s head coach Iván Nieto said: “It was a very tough match. Our opposite hitter, Arnoldo Hurtado, got injured in the final points of the game. It was dramatic, but we made it through with five players. I’m very happy to reach the final”.
CUERNAVACA, Morelos, July 12, 2025.– The United States is one step closer to achieving a hat-trick at the Boys’ U19 Pan American Cup, advancing to their third consecutive gold medal match after a commanding 3-0 (25-18, 25-18, 25-17) semifinal victory over Canada at the UAEM Gymnasium.
Having won the last two editions of the tournament, Puerto Rico and Guatemala, Team USA continued its dominant run by outperforming Canada in kills (37-28), blocks (6-5), and aces (4-1). The Americans also capitalized on 28 Canadian errors, while giving away 19 of their own.
USA celebrates
Corbin Batista led the U.S. scoring effort with 14 points, while Jarom Rowin was Canada’s top scorer with 11 points.
Speaking about the team’s performance, U.S. head coach Jonah Carson said, “The team we played today (Canada) put a lot of pressure on us, playing some really savvy volleyball and challenging us tactically. I’m really proud of our guys for the way they responded, staying involved in the process and playing for USA Volleyball.”
The United States now awaits the winner of the second semifinal between Mexico and Venezuela, with the chance to secure a third straight U19 Pan American Cup title.
CUERNAVACA, Morelos, July 12, 2025.- With an outstanding offensive performance, opposite hitter Joaquín Valjalo led Chile with 26 points in a 3-1 (25-21, 25-17, 21-25, 25-13) victory over Panama at the Boys’ U19 Pan American Cup, taking place at the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM) Gymnasium and concluding this Sunday.
Valjalo has been Chile’s standout player in all their matches, and with his 26-point performance – the highest in the tournament so far – he is emerging as one of the top scorers of the event. Chile also had contributions by Mateo Sanz with 15 points and Joaquín Cassanova with 13.
JOAQUIN VALJALO AND CASANOCA CELEBRATING
Chile moves on to the fifth-place match, where they will face Puerto Rico. Panama will compete for seventh place against Suriname.
After dropping the first two sets, Panama came back strongly in the third, using a more aggressive approach that allowed them to build a five-point lead (14-9) and extend the match. However, Chile regained control in the fourth to secure the win convincingly.
Chile dominated in attack with a 56-37 advantage and outperformed Panama in service aces, 9-7. Despite committing more unforced errors (26 to 24), Panama only managed a slight edge in blocks, 8-7.
For Panama, Wen Downer and Diego Sánchez led with 15 and 12 points, respectively.
Reflecting on the match, Valjalo commented, “We lost the third set because, in general, we came in with a low rhythm and little intensity after losing a very important match yesterday. In the end, we pulled off the win.”
CUERNAVACA, Morelos, July 12, 2025. – Puerto Rico advanced to the fifth-place match at the U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup after defeating Suriname in straight sets 3-0 (25-18, 25-22, 25-16) on Saturday at the Gymnasium of the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM) in Cuernavaca.
The Puerto Rican team will face the winner of the match between Panama and Chile on Sunday, the final day of the tournament.
Despite some ups and downs, Puerto Rico managed to stop Suriname’s comeback attempt in the second set, staying on course to secure a straight-set victory.
Adrian Carrillo PUR
The Boricuas led in attacks (42-32) and blocks (13-6). Both teams scored two aces, while Puerto Rico committed fewer unforced errors (16 compared to Suriname’s 18).
Outside hitter Gustavo Álvarez led all scorers with 16 points (14 attacks, one block, one ace), followed by team captain Jean Paul González with 14 points (10 attacks, 4 blocks). Middle blocker Fernando Castello also contributed 10 points, standing out with a match-high 6 blocks.
For Suriname, Gianni Ritfeld led the offense with 14 points (11 attacks, 2 blocks, one ace), and Javier Nasibdar added 10 points.
Puerto Rican libero Ignacio Cruz shared his thoughts after the win: “There were ups and downs in all three sets, but I think Suriname made some good adjustments in the second set, especially on defense. In the end, we came out with the win, and tomorrow we’ll give it everything we’ve got to finish strong.”
The U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup concludes Sunday with the final placement matches.
MALONEY, AROUCA, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, JULY 11, 2025: Host Trinidad and Tobago won for the second time in straight sets 3-0), beating Guadeloupe 25-16, 25-13, 25-20 to secure a spot in the gold medal match of the Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) Under-23 Men’s Championship hosted by the T&T Volleyball Federation (T&TVF) at the Maloney Indoor Sports Arena.
For T&T, the trio of Williams, Michael Burkett, and Jahreef Miguel were once again the main contributors with a number of powerful spikes that left proved too much for Guadeloupe while on the defensive end, T&T was also very efficient to keep their opponents at bay/
Speaking after his team’s win, Trinidad and Tobago coach Sean Morrison said, “For us it was a good as we took it point by point, stayed consistent and came out with the win.
‘We had a few errors in the first match, and we came out tonight and we limited those errors, so we just have to stay focus and take it game by game.”
Williams added, “We came here to win this tournament as our focus is to get the win and bring home the gold medal and get to the NORCECA level.
Guadeloupe captain, “Noa Pignol added, “We did not have a good start to the match, but in the third set we played much better, and we need to play like that for our next match.”
Gayetann Broussillon, Coach of Martinique, “We have to play much better that how we are playing at present.”
On Saturday’s final day of round-robin matches, Guadeloupe and Martinique clash from 1 pm while Trinidad and Tobago faces Suriname in the final pool match from 8 pm.
At the end of both the round-robin series, the top two teams will square off for the gold medal on Sunday, July 13 final day of competition at 6 pm, while the third and fourth placed teams will contest the bronze medal, also on the final day at 12 noon.
MALONEY, AROUCA, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, JULY 11, 2025: Martinique secured the first spot available in the final of the Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) Under-23 Women’s Championship hosted by the T&T Volleyball Federation (T&TVF) after they swept host Trinidad and Tobago (3-0) at the Maloney Indoor Sports Arena.
Coming off a win against defending champions Suriname in four sets on Thursday night, all eyes were on the very business-like Martinique line-up, and they did not disappoint as led by captain Maelyss Melinard-Chanteur they humbled Trinidad and Tobago 25-20, 25-13, 25-14 for a 2-0 record and nine points at the top of the four-team table.
Deon Hutchinson, Coach of the Trinidad and Tobago said, “Service was receiving was a huge issue for us tonight as well as Martinique was serving tough.”
“But, at the end of the day we have to dig deep to win our next match against Suriname to have a chance to play Martinique again in the final.”
“I’ am confident that my team can grow from this and once we are able to cope well with our service receive game, we will play a better game.
Hutchinson also noted that team captain L’fe Roberts who sustained an injury at the start of the second set is in good health and will be available for his team’s must-win match against Guadeloupe.
Roberts added, “I feel as though we need to have a little more grit and positive energy flowing to fight back.”
Looking ahead to the match against Suriname with the winner set to join Martinique in Sunday’s final, Roberts said she hopes to lead from the front and bring the positive energy to her team.”
Melinard-Chanteur said her team was really focus and ready for the match against Trinidad and Tobago and she was very happy with the win.
Martinique Coach Eddy Erialc said he was happy with the win but felt his team could do better in general.’
“We got the win, but our game was not consistent as we did well in the first two sets and then in the third set our game dropped.”
On Saturday’s final day of round-robin matches, Curacao tackles Martinique at 3 pm, while Trinidad and Tobago closes out against Suriname from 6 pm.
At the end of both the round-robin series, the top two teams will square off for the gold medal on Sunday, July 13 final day of competition at 4 pm, while the third and fourth placed teams will contest the bronze medal, also on the final day from two hours earlier.
MALONEY, AROUCA, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, JULY 11, 2025: Suriname made it two wins from as many matches to reach the gold medal match when they battled past Martinique in four sets in the Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) Under-23 Men’s Championship hosted by the T&T Volleyball Federation (T&TVF) at the Maloney Indoor Sports Arena.
Following their first night triumph over Guadeloupe in a similar four sets, Suriname powered to a 25-27, 25-22, 25-7, 25-12 victory over Martinique for a 2-0 win-loss record and eight points, to seal a spot in the gold medal match on Sunday.
Cuban-born Carlos Orta, coach of the Suriname team said he was pleased with his team as they played better than their opening win over Guadeloupe.
“Martinique is a taller team and the jump higher, but I am really pleased with my boys. Now we have one more match against Trinidad and Tobago, which I believe is going to be tough for us
Faiq Lobo, Captain of Suriname added, “In the first part of the game we did not find our momentum, but we then settled down and made good connections and finished the game well.
Brice Harley-Dessources, Coach of Martinique said, ‘We had a very good start and played two good sets, but then the fitness of my team was not there.’
Martinique captain Lohann Dessources, “We have to do better in our next match. The federation and our national league made a big effort to help our team get to this competition and we cannot go back home without a big team effort and a win.”
On Saturday’s final day of round-robin matches, Guadeloupe and Martinique clash from 1 pm while Trinidad and Tobago faces Suriname in the final pool match from 8 pm.
At the end of both the round-robin series, the top two teams will square off for the gold medal on Sunday, July 13 final day of competition at 6 pm, while the third and fourth placed teams will contest the bronze medal, also on the final day at 12 noon.
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, July 11, 2025.– Belize got off to a strong start at the Second AFECAVOL Senior Men’s Final Four, defeating El Salvador 3-1 (25-22, 21-25, 25-22, 25-19) in the closing match of the opening day.
Belize displayed great dominance at the net, outscoring El Salvador 14-12 in blocks. They were also more effective on offense, with a 54-46 advantage in attack points, and added six aces, while El Salvador failed to score any from the service line.
Although El Salvador showed improved play in the second set, Belize maintained control throughout the match, even after conceding 30 unforced errors compared to El Salvador’s 22.
Karym Coleman BIZ
Karym Coleman led Belize with 27 points, including 23 kills, 2 blocks, and 2 aces. Francis Hauze contributed 16 points.
On El Salvador’s side, Ricardo Navarro was the top scorer with 16 points, followed by Eduardo Bolaños with 12 and Diego Guidos with 11.
Belize will face a tough challenge in their second match against Guatemala, while El Salvador will go up against Nicaragua, with both teams looking for their first win.
“We’re really happy to have earned this win. In the first Final Four we played, we couldn’t win our opening match, so starting this new edition with a victory is fantastic for us. We hope to carry the same momentum into our second match,” said Albert Humes, head coach of Belize, after the match.
Regarding the loss, El Salvador’s coach Andrea Genova said, “This was an up-and-down match for us. We have a couple of injured players who weren’t available at the start. They came in briefly, but they’re not ready to play a full match. Not having a stable lineup cost us, especially in those moments where we struggled to score.”
July 11, 2025 – The Dominican Republic secured their fifth victory of the 2025 Women’s Volleyball Nations League (VNL) season on Friday with a straight-sets win over Thailand. Meanwhile, Canada was unable to match China’s strength and lost in four sets.
Dominican Republic Defeats Thailand
The Dominican Republic earned their first win in three matches played in Arlington, climbing from 13th to 10th place in the standings. However, with five wins and 13 points, they are now out of contention for the Finals, as they cannot catch up to the United States, currently in eighth place with six victories and 17 points.
The Caribbean team claimed a dominant 3-0 (25-21, 25-18, 25-23) win over Thailand at the College Park Center. The Dominicans led in attacks (49-39), blocks (11-3), and aces (5-3).
Captain and outside hitter Brayelin Martínez was the top scorer of the match with 17 points (13 kills and 4 blocks). Her younger sister, middle blocker Jineiry Martínez, and opposite hitter Gaila González each contributed 15 points.
“We have the World Championship coming up soon and we’re trying to prepare,” said Gaila. “We want to improve in every match to arrive in top shape. There are new players this season and we’re really enjoying it.”
Reigning Asian champions Thailand remain in danger of relegation in the 2025 VNL after suffering their third straight loss during the third week of the preliminary round in Arlington.
Brayelin Martinez DOM
Canada Falls to China in Four Sets
Team Canada was unable to recapture the form they showed in the first week of the tournament. In this final week of action, they dropped their second consecutive match, this time against China, who came out on top 3-1 (25-22, 25-15, 22-25, 25-23).
Canada outperformed China in blocking (8-4), but China led in attacking points (59-51) and service aces (7-3). China also benefited from fewer unforced errors, 27 compared to Canada’s 23.
Abagayle Guezen and Anna Smrek both scored 14 points for Canada, with Guezen tallying 12 kills and Smrek adding 4 blocks. Emily Maglio contributed 12 points (11 from attacks), and Andrea Mitrovic chipped in with 11 points.
The loss leaves Canada in 16th place out of 18 teams, with a 2-8 win-loss record, still fighting to avoid relegation.
Abagayle Guezen CAN
Saturday, July 12 Schedule
The Dominican Republic has a rest day. At 7:30 p.m. (local time), the United States will face Canada.
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, July 11, 2025.- Guatemala came from behind to snatch a 3-2 victory (21-25, 24-26, 25-22, 25-19, 15-12) over Nicaragua in the opening match of the Second AFECAVOL Men’s Senior Final Four.
Nicaragua took an early lead by winning the first two sets but couldn’t sustain their momentum against a Guatemalan team that steadily improved and walked away with an important win.
Guatemala led in attacking points 63-58, was more effective in blocking 12-10, and outperformed in serving 5-3, although they conceded 33 points from unforced errors compared to Nicaragua’s 30.
Guatemala
Carlos López led Guatemala’s offense with 26 points, supported by Andy Leonardo who contributed 23 points.
For Nicaragua, Axel Gutiérrez was the top scorer with 25 points, while Jonny Zeledón and Denis García each added 17 points.
On the second day of action, Saturday, July 12, Nicaragua will face El Salvador, while Guatemala takes on Belize.
“We knew it was going to be a tough match. Nicaragua has managed to put together a group of players with a good level of play. This match could have gone either way. Despite being down 0-2, our guys knew how to grow and turn the match around,” said Guatemala’s head coach Reider Lucas after the game.
Meanwhile, Nicaragua’s head coach Jorge Mena commented, “We had a 2-0 advantage in the match and were even leading in the third set, but we didn’t know how to capitalize on it. After that, the team collapsed, and we couldn’t keep up the spirit.”
July 11, 2025. – Reigning champions United States will face Poland, while Türkiye will take on Bulgaria in the semifinals of the 2025 FIVB Girls’ U19 World Championship, set for this Saturday at the Gradski Vrt Hall in Osijek, Croatia.
USA Secures Semifinal Spot
Italy suffered their first loss of the tournament, falling to the defending champions United States in a thrilling five-set battle, 3-2 (29-31, 25-23, 25-21, 28-30, 15-8), living up to expectations with a high-level performance. Despite committing more unforced errors (29 to Italy’s 25), the Americans outperformed their European rivals in attack (70-65) and service (8-4), while both teams were tied in blocks with 17 each.
Eighteen-year-old outside hitter Macaria Spears led the U.S. offense with 24 points (21 attacks, 2 blocks, 1 ace). Fellow outside hitter Suliane Davis (15 attacks, 2 blocks, 2 aces) and middle blocker Jordan Taylor (12 attacks, 7 blocks) each contributed 19 points. Opposite hitter Henley Anderson also reached double digits with 17 points (12 attacks, 2 blocks, 3 aces).
“We knew it was going to be a tough match because Italy is a great team, but we had trained for this moment. We knew how to fight when it mattered,” said Spears. “Every team will come at us hard because we’re the defending champions, and we’re prepared for that.”
Mexico celebrates
Mexico Pulls Off Comeback Win Over Belgium
Mexico came from two sets down to celebrate a hard-fought 3-2 (21-25, 22-25, 25-21, 25-19, 15-10) victory over Belgium, securing a matchup with host Croatia in the 9th-place playoffs this Saturday.
Naomi Alejandra Cruz and opposite Aylin Andrea Ravell led Mexico with 18 points each. Angélica Jazmín Torres added 15 points, and Aitana Rettke chipped in with 14. On the Belgian side, top scorer Mila Vlahovic finished with a match-high 22 points.
Mexico held the edge in attacks (61-56) and blocks (9-5), while Belgium had the advantage in aces (9-8).
Sofia Zabjek CAN – Alanis Maldonado and Daniella Gonzalez PUR
Canada Tops Puerto Rico
Canada secured a tight 3-1 (25-21, 15-25, 25-23, 25-14) win over Puerto Rico in a match to determine placement for the 17th-place playoff.
Canadian outside hitters Emerson Matthews and Sofia Zabjek led the scoring with 16 points apiece. For Puerto Rico, opposite Pamela Zoe Agosto Serrano scored 13 points.
Egypt Outlasts Dominican Republic
Egypt earned the right to face Peru for 21st place on Saturday after rallying past the Dominican Republic 3-1 (20-25, 25-10, 25-23, 25-15).
The Dominican side will face Tunisia in the match for 23rd place in the final standings.
Dominican opposite Rayni Merab Mondesí, just 15 years old, was the match’s top scorer with 19 points.
Schedule Saturday July 12
Semifinals: Türkiye vs Bulgaria and USA vs Poland 21:15 (Local time)
CUERNAVACA, Morelos, July 11, 2025.- Canada secured a spot in the semifinals of the U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup after defeating Chile in four sets (25-17, 25-20, 22-25, 25-19) at the Gymnasium of the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM) in Cuernavaca.
Canada moves on to face the United States in the semifinals. In the other semifinal, Mexico will take on Venezuela. Chile will face Panama in the classification matches for positions 5 to 8.
After dropping the first two sets, Chile responded with a strong performance in the third, significantly improving their blocking and defense. In the fourth set, the South Americans fought to come back from a six-point deficit (14-20), but their effort fell short against Canada’s momentum.
CANADA CELEBRATING
Canada led the match in attacks 55-41, in blocks 11-7 and 2-1 in aces. However, they committed more unforced errors than Chile, 29 to 26.
Outside hitter Mason Lange led the Canadian offense with 16 points, including 14 kills and 2 blocks. Three other players scored in double digits: opposite Jarom Rowin (14), middle blocker Cameron Hutt (13), and fellow middle Simon Oberbuchner (12).
For Chile, opposite Joaquín Valjalo, tallied a match-high of 18 points. Mateo Sanz added 10 points.
Taylor Jordan, Head Coach of Canada, on the third set against Chile: “Our opponent played much better in that set. Sometimes, it’s less about what you’re doing and more about recognizing the performance on the other side. Their opposite, Joaquin Valjalo, was phenomenal, and their libero was flawless with his digs.”
Speaking about his own team, he added: “Our brotherhood and team culture really showed today. We’re trying to build a new group that hasn’t played together before, and we finally started to see that family aspect come together. Some of our leaders stepped up — we were hungry, and we got rewarded for it”.
CUERNAVACA, Morelos, July 11, 2025.- Venezuela moved into the semifinals of the U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup after defeating Suriname in straight sets 3-0 (25-15, 25-14, 25-17) on Friday at the Gimnasio de la Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM).
Venezuela now awaits the result of the quarterfinal matchup between Canada and Chile to determine their semifinal opponent. Suriname, meanwhile, will move on to the classification matches for positions 5 to 8.
Venezuela displayed a dominant and consistent performance throughout the match, outperforming Suriname across all key areas.
Venezuela led in kills (44-21), blocks (13-5), and aces (6-0). Despite committing 21 unforced errors, against 12 from Suriname.
Opposite hitter Yoisbel Galeno led the Venezuelan offense with 13 points, including 10 kills and 3 blocks. Teammates Neyver Zabala and Harold Alonso Larez added 10 points each in the victory.
For Suriname, Javier Nasibdar was the top scorer with 13 points, recording 12 kills and one block.
Yoisbel Galeno, the match’s top scorer, said after the victory: “Our intention was to be dominant, and we achieved that. It was a good match for the entire team, and we hope to continue like this in the semifinals. The group stage matches were excellent and gave us a lot of experience to reach this stage of the tournament with more confidence”.
The U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup continues Saturday with semifinal action in Cuernavaca.
July 10, 2025.- The United States earned an important 3-1 victory (23-25, 25-19, 25-16, 25-20) over the Dominican Republic in their bid to secure a spot among the top 8 teams competing for the title at the 2025 Women’s VNL.
The Dominicans gave the Americans an early scare by taking the first set of the match held in Arlington. However, starting in the second set, the Stars and Stripes found their rhythm and proved superior to the “Caribbean Queens,” ultimately claiming the win.
The U.S. dominated in attacks (51-41), blocks (14-10), and service aces (6-4), while taking advantage of 27 unforced errors by the Dominican Republic, compared to 25 from their side.
Avery Skinner led the scoring for the United States with 18 points, 15 from attacks, 1 block, and 2 aces. Also standing out in attack were Tia Jimerson and Logan Eggleston; Tia scored 14 points (9 attacks, 4 blocks, and 1 ace), while Logan added 10 points (7 attacks, 2 blocks, and 1 ace).
Gaila González of the Dominican Republic was the top scorer in the match with 19 points, from 13 attacks, 4 blocks, and 2 aces. Team captain Brayelin Martínez tallied 15 points (13 attacks and 2 blocks), while Jineiry Martínez also reached double digits with 10 points (7 attacks, 2 blocks, and 1 ace).
This win brings the United States within one victory of clinching a spot in the final round, currently sitting in eighth place with a 6-4 win-loss record. For the Dominican Republic, the loss puts them on the verge of elimination from the top 8, as they now have 4 wins and 6 losses. Both teams have only two matches remaining.
Match Schedule for July 11
The United States has a rest day. The Dominican Republic faces Thailand at 4:00 p.m. (local time), while Canada plays China at 7:30 p.m. (local time).
MALONEY, AROUCA, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, JULY 10, 2025: Host Trinidad and Tobago served off their bid for the title in the Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) Under-23 Women’s Championship
hosted by the T&T Volleyball Federation (T&TVF) with a nail-biting (3-2) win over Curacao at the Maloney Indoor Sports Arena.
In a see-saw contest that had the vociferous crowd at the edge of their seats with nearly every passing play, L’fe Roberts led ‘Calypso Spikers’ emerge from the five-set battle victorious, 23-25, 25-16, 25-18, 21-25, 15-13.
An emotional Deon Hutchinson was quick to admit that he believes the first game jitters affected his team.
“Playing in front of the home crowd for the first time may have gotten to the players, but I think we played really good volleyball, and we are happy for the win.
Henry Delfina, Head Coach of Curacao women, “We fought hard tonight but we lost the game. Our difficulty during the game was our passing which was not good enough to make out attacks useful.”
On Friday, Curacao serves off the day’s action versus Suriname from 1 pm followed by Trinidad and Tobago against Martinique at 8 pm, then on Saturday’s final day of round-robin matches, Curacao tackles Martinique at 3 pm, while Trinidad and Tobago closes out against Suriname from 6 pm.
At the end of both the round-robin series, the top two teams will square off for the gold medal on Sunday, July 13 final day of competition at 4 pm, while the third and fourth placed teams will contest the bronze medal, also on the final day from two hours earlier.
MALONEY, AROUCA, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, JULY 10, 2025: Team captain Nicholas Williams led from the front as host Trinidad and Tobago swept Martinique (3-0) 25-13, 25-18, 26-24 in an enthralling contest in the Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) Under-23 Men’s Championship hosted by the T&T Volleyball Federation (T&TVF) at the Maloney Indoor Sports Arena.
Commenting on his team’s performance Trinidad and Tobago head coach Sean Morrison said it was a very good match by his team.
“We started off very strong and won the first two sets, but Martinique came back with a very good fighting spirit and won the third set. Then we also found our game again in the fourth set and came back strongly and lifted out confidence and kept fighting and good the win.”
Team captain Williams added, “The result didn’t shock me and I’m proud of my team mental endurance during the game tonight. It was a great battle, and we congratulate Martinique for giving us a good fight.”
Brice Hardy-Dessources, head coach of Martinique, was quick to admit that his opponents on the night were a very strong team.
“Tonight, Trinidad and Tobago was very strong, and I hope tomorrow against Suriname that my team will be better.”
On Friday, Martinique and Suriname meet from 3 pm followed by Trinidad and Tobago versus Guadeloupe at 6pm.
Then on Saturday’s final day of round-robin matches, Guadeloupe and Martinique clash from 1 pm while Trinidad and Tobago faces Suriname in the final pool match from 8 pm.
At the end of both the round-robin series, the top two teams will square off for the gold medal on Sunday, July 13 final day of competition at 6 pm, while the third and fourth placed teams will contest the bronze medal, also on the final day at 12 noon.
MALONEY, AROUCA, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, JULY 10, 2025: Martinique sounded a warning to all rivals at the Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) Under-23 Women’s Championship hosted by the T&T Volleyball Federation (T&TVF) when they defeated defending champions Suriname (3-1) at the Maloney Indoor Sports Arena.
Led by captain Maelyss Melinard-Chanteur, Martinique secured a 25-16, 25-11, 21-25, 25-21 victory to signal their title ambitions in their opening match of the four-nation tournament.
Reflecting on his team’s win Eddy Erialc,Head Coach of Martinique women said, “We started well and won the first two sets, but then we made a tactical change with the libero, and it affected our play.”
“The third was not so good by us, but then we regrouped in the fourth set and won the match, and we are now looking forward to the next match where we hope to improve.
Melinard-Chanteur added, “I’m satisfied with our win, but I know we can play much better as a team.”
“It’s going to be a very tough competition and as a team we need to be focus and prepared for every match.”
Victor Lesperans, Head Coach of Suriname women was quick to point out that the reception from his players played a major role in their demise.
“Our reception fell away from early in the match and if you don’t receive well, then your attack breaks down. The good thing is that it’s a tournament where we have a chance to grow with every match, and we intend to do much better in our next match”.
Host Trinidad and Tobago comes up against Curacao in the second match tonight while on Friday, Curacao serves off the day’s action versus Suriname from 1 pm followed by Trinidad and Tobago against Martinique at 8 pm, then on Saturday’s final day of round-robin matches, Curacao tackles Martinique at 3 pm, while Trinidad and Tobago closes out against Suriname from 6 pm.
At the end of both the round-robin series, the top two teams will square off for the gold medal on Sunday, July 13 final day of competition at 4 pm, while the third and fourth placed teams will contest the bronze medal, also on the final day from two hours earlier.
MALONEY, AROUCA, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, JULY 10, 2025: Suriname got off to a winning start in their bid to become the first champion in the Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) Under-23 Men’s Championship hosted by the T&T Volleyball Federation (T&TVF) when they defeated Guadeloupe (3-1) at the Maloney Indoor Sports Arena.
Playing the opening match of the four-team tournament which also involves host country Trinidad and Tobago and Martinique, Suriname prevailed 25-23, 25-20, 24-26, 25-11 in a very entertaining contest to get the four-day tournament off to a positive start.
Speaking after his team’s victory Cuban-born Carlos Orta, Head Coach of Suriname men said he felt his team performed well.
Orta added, “My team worked well as a unit, and they did what they were supposed to do to get the win against an opponent we have never played before.”
“During the third set had some difficulties, but we made the needed adjustments to come out on top with the win and now we are looking forward to the next match.
Gayetann Broussillon, Head Coach of Guadeloupe men said her team was very prepared for the match but did not execute well.
“Our concentration level in the first two sets was not where it needed to be and in the third set, we were able to get the win.
“But overall, I think we lacked the experienced to get the points in the crucial parts of the game as we are a young team, but we will expect to do much better in our next match,
Host Trinidad and Tobago face off with Martinique in the second match tonight while on Friday, Martinique and Suriname meet from 3 pm followed by Trinidad and Tobago versus Guadeloupe at 6pm.
Then on Saturday’s final day of round-robin matches, Guadeloupe and Martinique clash from 1 pm while Trinidad and Tobago faces Suriname in the final pool match from 8 pm.
At the end of both the round-robin series, the top two teams will square off for the gold medal on Sunday, July 13 final day of competition at 6 pm, while the third and fourth placed teams will contest the bronze medal, also on the final day at 12 noon.
CUERNAVACA, Morelos, July 10, 2025. – Host Mexico secured a direct berth to the semifinals of the U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup after defeating Chile 3-0 (25-22, 25-19, 29-27) on Thursday at the Gimnasio de la Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM).
Mexico closed the preliminary round undefeated at the top of Pool B. Chile, finishing second in the group with a 2-1 record, will face Canada in Friday’s quarterfinals.
Mexico displayed composure and control in the second set and rallied from behind in the third. The dramatic final set saw Chile reaching set point first at 24-23. However, Mexico’s attacking power proved decisive, closing the set in extended play to seal the sweep.
GIMNASIO UAEM CROWD SUPPORTING MEXICO
The host team’s offensive skill was evident with a 50-38 advantage in kills. Chile led in blocks (8-7), and both teams scored two points from the service line. Errors were nearly identical, with Mexico committing 21 and Chile 20.
Mexican outside hitter Emi Díaz led all scorers with 19 points on 18 kills and one ace. Opposite hitter Arnoldo Hurtado added 13 points (12 kills, one block), while Carlos Grajeda chipped in 11 points (10 kills, one block).
For Chile, Joaquín Valjalo was the lone scorer in double digits, recording 13 points from 12 kills and one block.
Mexico now awaits its semifinal opponent as the knockout phase of the tournament begins.
Emi Díaz, the match’s top scorer, said, “We stayed calm and went point by point until we secured the win in straight sets. Our serves let us down, but we’re going to improve them for the upcoming matches. Tomorrow we’ll rest so we can come into the semifinal with full strength.”
CUERNAVACA, Morelos, July 10, 2025 .– Suriname booked their place in the quarterfinals of the U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup after defeating Panama in four sets 3-1 (16-25, 25-18, 25-23, 25-13) in their final Pool B match at the Gimnasio de la Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM).
With the win, Suriname secured third place in Pool B and will face Venezuela in Friday’s quarterfinals. Panama, finishing fourth in the group, will compete for positions 5 to 8.
Both teams came out energized, knowing a win would advance them to the next stage. The match featured intense rallies, dynamic net play, and strong crowd engagement. Panama took the opening set with aggressive attacking and solid defense, but Suriname responded adjusting their block and defensive structure in the second set.
MONSTER BLOCK FROM SURINAME
The turning point came in the fourth set, where Suriname stormed to an 11-3 lead, capitalizing on Panama’s errors and maintaining control through strong blocking.
Suriname’s blocking proved decisive, outscoring Panama 11-2 in that category. Panama committed 30 unforced errors, while Suriname had 22. Panama led in attacks 52-47, and both teams scored three aces.
Outside hitters Javier Nasibdar and Gianni Ritfeld were Suriname’s top scorers with 17 points each, while middle blocker Jahmit Jambo added 10. Panama’s captain Kendrieck Newby led his team with 17 points, supported by Wen Downer with 14.
Suriname head coach Furgil Ong-A-Fat reflected on the victory: “We had a tough start against Chile, then Mexico, and today we finally got a win. To keep the momentum for tomorrow’s quarterfinal, we must continue with our blocking, that was the key today, along with solid defense”.
CUERNAVACA, Morelos, July 10, 2025. – The United States secured a direct berth to the semifinals of the U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup after dominating Puerto Rico 3-0 (25-17, 25-14, 25-19) in their final Pool A match on Thursday at the Gimnasio de la Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM).
With this result, Team USA finishes pool play undefeated at 3-0, marking their third consecutive straight-set victory and advancing directly to Saturday’s semifinal round. Puerto Rico, finishing fourth in Pool A, will compete in the 5th-8th classification matches. Venezuela secured second place and Canada finished third, both advancing to Friday’s quarterfinals.
The United States outperformed Puerto Rico in every scoring category: 42-34 in kills, 9-4 in blocks, and 6-5 in aces. They also committed fewer errors (17) compared to Puerto Rico’s 18.
USA
Outside hitter Kale Cochran led all scorers with 14 points for the U.S., followed by opposite Corbin Batista with 11 and middle blocker Dante Cayaban with 10. Gustavo Alvarez was Puerto Rico’s top scorer with seven points.
U.S. middle blocker Brodie Heshler, who sealed the match with a block, shared his excitement: “It’s my first time being out of the country being part of the U.S. national team and feels great, it’s a big moment. I loved the ending match. We have a bunch of good players. The U.S. is very physical, and on top of that, we have a great libero who passes every ball perfectly. Overall, we’re a good team.”
Puerto Rico’s head coach, Juan Albarrán, shared his thoughts on the preliminary round: “I think the first two group matches were within reach; out of the six sets we played, four ended at 23 points, meaning we were in the fight the whole time. We were in a tough group with four strong teams, and this tournament serves as a learning experience for the World Championship. Facing these teams gives us a great level of preparation for what lies ahead.”
The U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup continues Friday with quarterfinal action, as teams compete for a spot in the medal rounds.
CUERNAVACA, Morelos, July 10, 2025.– Venezuela secured a hard-fought 3-1 (25-22, 25-22, 17-25, 25-22) victory over Canada in their final Pool A match at the U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup, held at the UAEM Gymnasium in Cuernavaca.
With this result, Venezuela closes the preliminary round with a 2-1 win-loss record, while Canada finishes 1-2. Both teams await final seeding ahead of the knockout stage.
Canada mounted a strong comeback in the third set after trailing by two sets, improving both their defensive reads and offensive execution. However, Venezuela responded with a reorganized effort in the fourth set to seal the match in four.
Venezuela
Venezuela held advantages in attacks (51-44), blocks (11-10), and aces (6-4). Canada committed fewer unforced errors, 23 to Venezuela’s 33.
Venezuela’s top scorer was outside hitter Neyver Manuel Zabala, who tallied 15 points on 11 kills, 2 blocks, and 2 aces. He was supported by middle blocker Angel Matute, who contributed 12 points (7 kills, 4 blocks, 1 ace), and outside hitter Gandy Lugo, who added 11 points all from kills.
Canada was led by team captain Marcus Barrett, who also scored 15 points. Middle blockers Simon Oberbuchner and Cameron Hutt contributed 12 and 10 points respectively.
Venezuela’s head coach, Iván Nieto: “The game plan was executed as expected; we only failed in the third set when Canada managed to break our reception line and gained an early lead. We also struggled with ball distribution, and they were well positioned to anticipate where we were going to pass. In the fourth set, we made the necessary adjustments, changing our middle attack and serving strategy, corrected our reception, and that gave the team the stability to move forward.”
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, July 10, 2025.– With Nicaragua coming in as the defending champion, the Second Edition of the AFECAVOL Men’s Final Four will kick off on Friday, July 11, featuring the national teams of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Belize alongside the titleholders.
The FESAVOL Gymnasium will host the event, which will feature two matches per day from July 11 to 13.
All participating teams completed their preliminary interviews and declared themselves ready for what is shaping up to be an intense competition in the quest for the championship trophy.
Jorge Mena, head coach of the Nicaraguan team, shared his thoughts on the challenge ahead in this Second Final Four: “The team is motivated and ready for the challenge. We are 100% prepared for the three matches ahead. As always, our goal is to take first place. We have a tough opening match against Guatemala, but I have confidence in our players”.
Andrea Genova, head coach of El Salvador, stated: “We’re coming in highly motivated. We know we have a good team, made up of experienced veterans and promising new athletes. The level of this event will be very high, with strong opponents, so we expect spectacular matches”.
Belize’s head coach, Albert Humes, explained: “We hope Belize will be one of the top teams in this Final Four. The teams here have significantly improved and developed, and Belize is no exception. That’s why our expectations for this competition are very high.”
Guatemala’s coach, Reider Lucas, commented: “Our goal in this competition is to achieve a good result. We’ve prepared well for this tournament, and we’re confident that things will go our way. The boys are coming in with a lot of energy and determination to get a strong result”.
CUERNAVACA, Morelos, July 9, 2025. – Mexico will play for the top spot in Pool A and a direct ticket to the semifinals of the U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup when they take on Chile, as both teams remained undefeated after two days of competition at the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM) Gymnasium.
The Mexican team defeated Suriname in four sets on Wednesday, 25-23, 25-16, 22-25, 25-11, earning their second straight win (2-0), the same record as Chile. Their upcoming matchup will determine the group winner and the direct qualification to the semifinals.
Suriname (0-2), on the other hand, will face Panama (0-2) in a decisive game for third place in the group and a spot in the quarterfinals.
Mexico
Mexico dominated the match with a significant advantage in attacks (57-30), while Suriname outperformed the hosts in blocks (13-8) and service aces (4-1). Mexico committed 28 unforced errors, compared to 31 by Suriname.
Opposite hitter Arnoldo Hurtado led the Mexican offense with 15 points, all on kills, followed by team captain Carlos Grajeda, who contributed 14 points (11 kills, 3 blocks).
For Suriname, top scorers were Javier Nasibdar and Gianni Ritfeld with 11 points each. Middle blocker Revelino Sandel added 10 points, including a match-high of 8 blocks.
In the third set, Mexico attempted a comeback after trailing 7-14, tying the score at 22, but Suriname’s insistent defense allowed them to force a fourth set.
Mexican head coach Óscar Viña said after the match: “The team lost focus due to Suriname’s excellent defense; they picked up every ball. It wasn’t a bad thing for them to feel pressure; they showed grit and closed the match with a wide margin in the final set. Tomorrow will be a tough match; Chile is a respected opponent, and we must have our strategy ready to finish first in the group.”
MALONEY, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, JULY 9, 2025: As the Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) Under-23 Championships prepare to serve off simultaneously for both men and women at the Maloney Indoor Sports Arena from Thursday, July 10 to Sunday, July 13, attention turns to the women’s tournament, now being held for only the second time in seven years.
With Suriname having claimed the inaugural title in 2018 in Bonaire, the four participating women’s teams arrive in Trinidad and Tobago with renewed ambition. On the eve of the competition, the coaches expressed confidence in their squads and excitement to compete at this level once again.
This time around, Suriname is back to defend their crown and will come up against host Trinidad and Tobago, Curacao and Martinique.
Speaking ahead of the tournament the four coaches all expressed optimism about their chances at lifting the title.
Henry Delfina, Head Coach of Curacao women, “We had a period of training for about three months, and we have prepared a good team. We hope that we can have a good tournament and that we can also reach the finals, that’s our goal. And when we reach the final, anything can happen.”
Courtnee-Mae Clifford, Assistant Coach of Trinidad and Tobago women, “We are looking forward to the team competing and representing Trinidad and Tobago as best as they can with all the work they have put in with the goal of making it to the final match of the championship.”
Eddy Erialc, Head Coach of Martinique women, “I have come to win this tournament in Trinidad and Tobago with my team as I think that my team is very capable of winning this competition.”
Victor Lesperans, Head Coach of Suriname women, “It’s an honour to be here for the tournament. As defending champions, we are not thinking less than getting back the crown.
“Our preparations have been quite hectic as we had the national playoffs in that same period, so, we were more checking out the players in their teams, but in the last three weeks we had quite a good preparation.”
MALONEY, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, JULY 9, 2025: Less than 24 hours before the Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) Men and Women Under-23 Championships get underway simultaneously at the Maloney Indoor Sports Arena from Thursday, July 10 to Sunday, July 13, the focus turns to the historic debut of the men’s tournament.
Being staged for the first time, the men’s event will see host nation Trinidad and Tobago face off against Suriname, Martinique, and Guadeloupe in pursuit of the inaugural title.
Following Wednesday’s preliminary inquiry and technical meeting, chaired by CAZOVA President Mushtaque Mohammed and T&TVF President Daymian Stewart at the Teams Hotel Piarco Palace, the four head coaches shared optimistic outlooks on their teams’ preparations and chances in the upcoming matches.
Cuban-born Carlos Orta, Head Coach of Suriname men, “I have been coaching in Suriname for the past three years as part of the FIVB agreement. This is the first time we are going to have the men’s competition in the Under-23 CAZOVA Championship and with it being the first time we don’t know the opposing teams that well. We know that Trinidad and Tobago always has a good team, but we don’t know the rest, but we now have a chance to show who is the best.”
Essiel Seecharan, Head Coach of Trinidad and Tobago men, “We are very much prepared for this competition. We have been training for the past three months, and we only have a few slight injuries, but nothing that should affect the outcome for us which is to get the gold medal.”
Brice Hardy-Dessources, Head Coach of Martinique men, “We came to Trinidad and Tobago to win this competition. This team had three weeks of preparation, and we are okay for this competition.”
Gayetann Broussillon, Head Coach of Guadeloupe men, “We have come here with a beautiful team to win and the objective here in this tournament is to win against every team
July 9, 2025.- In the start of the final week of the 2025 Women’s VNL Preliminary Round, the United States moved forward in their quest for qualification with a four-set victory over Thailand, while the Dominican Republic and Canada both lost tough five-set matches to China and Germany, respectively, in Arlington.
United States Earns Hard-Fought Win Over Thailand
Team USA had a tougher time than expected in defeating Thailand 3-1 (28-26, 21-25, 27-25, 25-15), as the Thai side fought for every ball.
Despite the challenge, the Americans led in attacks (67-56), blocks (10-7), and aces (3-2). It was a low-error match, with Thailand benefiting from 26 opponent errors, while USA received 21.
Outside hitter Avery Skinner led all scorers with 22 points for the U.S., including 19 attacks, 2 blocks, and 1 ace. She was supported by Logan Eggleston with 19 points (18 attacks, 1 block) and Dana Rettke with 10 (9 attacks, 1 ace).
The win helps the U.S. stay among the top 8 contenders, currently holding the eighth position with 5 wins, 4 losses, and 14 points, tied with Germany, who sits seventh with the same win-loss record but 16 points.
Logan Eggleston USA
Dominican Republic Falls to China, Jeopardizing Final Round Hopes
Brayelin Martínez’s 33 points weren’t enough to stop China in Arlington.
In a direct clash for one of the remaining four VNL 2025 Finals spots, China edged out the Dominican Republic 3-2 (25-22, 17-25, 22-25, 25-22, 15-13) at the College Park Center, bringing the Asian team closer to securing their ticket to the Finals in Łódź, Poland, taking place July 23–27.
With this victory, China remained in sixth place with six wins and 17 points, strengthening their hold on a qualification spot. The Dominican Republic, on the other hand, sits in tenth place with four wins and 10 points, unable to gain ground at the start of the final week of preliminary action.
China’s blocking made the difference, with 15 points at the net compared to 10 from the Caribbean team. This helped offset the Dominican edge in kills (74-65) and aces (8-6). It was a tight match with few errors, Dominican Republic gave up 18 points, while China conceded 15.
Named team captain this week, outside hitter Brayelin Martínez kept her team in contention with a massive 33-point performance, including 28 kills and 5 blocks. Opposite Gaila González also stood out with 22 points (17 kills, 5 aces).
“I think we were pretty aggressive, and our serving was really good,” said setter Ariana Rodríguez. “China had their moments, of course, because they’re a great team, but we never gave up. We went to five sets, it was back and forth, but someone had to lose.”
Dominican Republic
Germany Tops Canada in Five-Set Battle
The third competition week began with a five-set thriller, where Germany edged Canada 3-2 (24-26, 25-20, 23-25, 25-23, 15-13), bringing them a step closer to the VNL Finals while leaving Canada in a tough spot.
Germany currently holds sixth place with five wins (16 points) and controls its own destiny for qualifying to Łódź later this month. Canada, with just two wins and seven points, faces an uphill battle not only for qualification but also to avoid relegation, sitting in 15th place out of 18 teams in the 2025 VNL.
For Canada, 21-year-old opposite Anna Smrek led the scoring with 20 points (17 kills, 2 blocks, 1 ace). Middle blocker Nyadholi Thokbuom added 16 points, while outside hitter Abagayle Guezen contributed 15.
Kacey Jost CAN
Match Schedule for July 10
Canada will have a rest day. The Dominican Republic faces the United States in Arlington at 7:30 p.m. (local time).
CUERNAVACA, Morelos, July 9, 2025.- Chile earned its second consecutive victory at the U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup, defeating Panama 3-0 (25-19, 25-14, 25-17) on the second day of the tournament, at the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM) Gymnasium.
Chile remains undefeated with a 2-0 record in Pool B, while Panama is still seeking for its first win (0-2).
The Chilean team dominated the match with a powerful offense, outscoring Panama in attacks 48-24. They also led in blocks (7-5) and service points (3-0), although they committed 21 unforced errors compared to Panama’s 17.
Chile celebrated
Chilean opposite Joaquín Valjalo was the top scorer of the match with 19 points (18 attacks and one ace), followed by outside hitter Mateo Sanza, who contributed 12 points. For Panama, Wen Downer led with 11 points.
Chile will close the pool-play on Thursday against Mexico, while Panama will face Suriname.
Álvaro Del Campo, head coach of Chile: “We’re happy. The team is focused and enjoying the moment. It’s very important to be able to apply on the court what we’ve been training for so long, and we’re taking it step by step. Tomorrow we’re going all in against Mexico; we’re exactly where we set out to be”.
CUERNAVACA, Morelos, July 9, 2025. – The United States earned its second consecutive win at the U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup, sweeping Canada 3-0 (25-20, 27-25, 25-17) on day 2 of the tournament at the Gimnasio de la Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM).
The U.S. leads Pool A with a 2-0 record, while Canada drops to 1-1.
The Americans found their rhythm early, especially in the second set where they surged ahead with an eight-point lead at the technical timeout (16-8). Canada, however, mounted an impressive comeback to tie the score at 24, pushing the set into extra points before the U.S. closed it out.
USA
Opposite hitter Corbin Batista led the U.S. offense with 12 points, while middle blocker Isiah Powell contributed 9 points, including three aces.
The United States showed dominance from the service line, outscoring Canada 9-2 in aces, 6-2 in blocks and committing fewer errors (25 to 33). Canada held a narrow 30 to 29 lead in attack points.
Canada’s top scorer was outside hitter Mason Lange with 11 points, followed by opposite Jarom Rowin with 9.
The United States (2-0) will conclude pool play on Thursday against Puerto Rico (0-1), while Canada (1-1) will face Venezuela (1-1) in a decisive match for the next round.
Head Coach of the United States, Jonah Carson: “Canada is a quality team that plays the game really well and puts some nice pressure on us. Our team showed that they know how to solve problems and work the process. I am really proud of the way the guys are playing and the way the responded together as a team”.
CUERNAVACA, Morelos, July 9, 2025. – Venezuela celebrated its first victory at the U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup by defeating Puerto Rico in straight sets 3-0 (25-23, 25-19, 25-22) at the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM) Gymnasium in Cuernavaca.
With this result, Venezuela evens its record to 1-1 in Pool A, while Puerto Rico remains winless at 0-2.
The match was tightly contested point by point. Puerto Rico showed composure in the first two sets by coming back from behind but failed to hold on to an early 4-0 lead in the third.
Jean Gonzalez PUR
Blocking was the key to Venezuela’s success, with a clear advantage of 14-7. They also led in service points 4-2. Puerto Rico had a slight edge in attacks 36-35. Venezuela committed 19 unforced errors, compared to 22 by Puerto Rico.
Top scorers of the match were Venezuela’s Jean Sanabria with 14 points and Gandy Lugo with 12. Middle blocker Harold Larez also stood out with a match-high of six effective blocks.
On Puerto Rico’s side, outside hitter Gustavo Pérez was the only player to reach double digits, finishing with 10 points.
Venezuela will close pool-play on Thursday against Canada, while Puerto Rico will face the United States. The team that finishes first in the pool will advance directly to the semifinals.
Venezuela’s Head Coach, Ivan Nieto, stated: “It wasn’t an easy win, the score doesn’t reflect what truly happened. The Puerto Rican team is very similar to ours; they have the same skill set and playing style. But today, the balance slightly tipped in Venezuela’s favor in terms of tactics. We were able to finish on defense, counterattacks, or transitions that were crucial, and that they (Puerto Rico) couldn’t close, especially after the 20-point mark. It was tight.”
MALONEY, Trinidad and Tobago, July 9, 2025.- The T&T Volleyball Federation (T&TVF) will play host to the Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) Under-23 Championship at the Maloney Indoor Sporting Facility from Thursday, July 10 until Sunday, July 13.
In the men’s four-team tournament, host Trinidad and Tobago will face off with Martinique, Guadeloupe and Suriname and the women’s competition will also feature four teams inclusive of host Trinidad and Tobago, Martinique, defending champion Suriname and Curacao.
At the end of both men and women Under-23 round-robin series, the top two teams will square off for the gold medals on Sunday, July 13 final, while the third and fourth placed teams will contest the bronze medal.
Mushtaque Mohammed, President of the Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association, in looking ahead to the tournament, said as an association, CAZOVA, was really happy to finally see the tournament come to fruition.
The CAZOVA boss added, ‘The tournament for the men was originally scheduled for the Cayman Islands, but because of some challenges they had, the T&T Volleyball Federation has taken up the challenge to stage the event along with hosting the women’s competition.
“Now we are going to get both men and women under-23 events off the ground, and we are really happy to see that the challenges we have been faced with are being overcome.
Commenting on the small number of participating teams, with the likes of the Bahamas, Barbados, Haiti, Jamaica and the US Virgin Islands all absent from this year’s tournament, Mohammed said, “Although it’s only four teams, we are really looking forward to an exciting and eventful tournament.
Mohammed noted that the tournament is being used as a qualification tournament for the Under-23 NORCECA Continental Pan American Cup Championship and will also pave the way for the teams that participate in the Pan American Junior Championship, which is held every quadrennial, and this year it will be held in Asunción, Paraguay.
However, this year’s qualification tournament is not for that specific competition and will serve as planning in preparation for the next quadrennial Pan American Junior Championship.
Following the completion of the CAZOVA Under-23 Championships, the T&T national teams are expected to compete in the NORCECA Senior Women’s Final Four in Puerto Rico from July 16-21, followed by the CAZOVA Under-17 Championships in Jamaica from July 28 to August 4, the Pan American Cup Senior Women’s Championship from August 1-11, and the CAZOVA Senior Championships from August 14-24.
July 8, 2025.– The United States advanced to the quarterfinals of the U19 Girls’ World Championship taking place in Croatia and Serbia. The defending champions edged out Germany 3-2 (25-18, 26-28, 17-25, 25-15, 15-13), while Mexico was unable to overcome the strength of Bulgaria and fell 0-3 (22-25, 16-25, 16-25).
The quarterfinal matchups on Friday, July 11, will be: Italy vs United States, Bulgaria vs Brazil, Türkiye vs China, and Poland vs Japan, to determine the semifinalists of the tournament.
Team USA will continue its title defense on Friday when they face Italy in the quarterfinals. The defending champions battled through a tough five-setter against Germany in their Round of 16 match in Osijek, taking the win 3-2 (25-18, 26-28, 17-25, 25-15, 15-13) to secure a spot among the top eight.
The Americans played a focused, point-by-point match, dominating in both blocking (19 to 11 effective blocks) and serving (8 to 4 aces).
Middle blockers Jordan Taylor and Gabrielle Nichols added 7 and 6 points respectively to the team’s blocking performance. Taylor also tallied 6 points (5 kills, 1 ace), while Nichols scored another 7 points, all from attacks. Both ended the match with 13 points each, matched by outside hitter Suliane Davis (8 kills, 2 blocks, 3 aces).
Germany’s Maria Tabacuks led all scorers with 21 points (19 kills, 1 block, 1 ace) in a respectful farewell for the European team.
U.S. Head Coach Robert Keegan Cook said, “We talked about our defense being an issue during the group stage, and it was great to see our middles step up and organize the block against some very talented outside hitters. Germany played outstanding volleyball… I was very impressed with them. It was a tough match, and it’s good to see your team face that and see how they respond. We had to make a lot of changes in our lineup and systems. Having many players who can perform in different positions is one of our strengths, and thanks to our persistent team effort, we were able to win today.”
Mexico Falls to Bulgaria
Bulgaria became the first team to advance to the quarterfinals, confidently defeating Mexico 3-0 (25-22, 25-16, 25-16). Kalina Veneva and Viara Parapunova both scored 12 points. For Mexico, Naomi Cruz Toledo led with 11 points.
In the matches for 17th to 24th place, Canada came from behind to beat Peru 3-2, after losing the first two sets. The set scores were 21-25, 20-25, 25-17, 25-21, 15-12. Canada outperformed Peru across the board: 63-43 in attacks, 12-6 in blocks, and 9-7 in aces. Maya Bukovcan led the scoring for Canada with 20 points, followed by Brooke Fermaniuk with 16 and Sydney Bell with 14.
Puerto Rico also secured a 3-1 (25-18, 22-25, 25-17, 25-21) victory over Tunisia. They led in attacks (39-38), blocks (13-12), and service aces (10-6). Pamela Zoe Agosto led Puerto Rico with 15 points, while Johnnyeshka Carrasquillo contributed 13.
Canada and Puerto Rico will now play for positions 17 to 20.
In a thrilling five-setter, the Dominican Republic was edged out by Chile 2-3 (17-25, 24-26, 25-17, 25-13, 10-15). Despite leading in attacks (60-49) and service aces (11-8), the 40 unforced errors from the Dominicans contributed to Chile’s victory.
Matches on July 11 (Local Time – Croatia and Serbia)
Quarterfinals:
China vs Türkiye – 15:15; Japan vs Poland – 18:15; Bulgaria vs Brazil – 21:15; United States vs Italy – 21:15
9th–16th Places:
Serbia vs Croatia; Chinese Taipei vs Thailand; Mexico vs Belgium – 18:15; Germany vs Argentina
17th–20th Places:
Canada vs Puerto Rico – 15:15; Spain vs Chile
21st–24th Places:
Peru vs Tunisia; Egypt vs Dominican Republic – 18:15
CUERNAVACA, Morelos, July 8, 2025. – Mexico got off to a strong start at the U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup, defeating Panama in straight sets 3-0 (25-14, 25-22, 25-14) at the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM) Gymnasium.
The Mexican team opened the match with a commanding 5-0 lead, setting the tone for their first victory in Pool B of the tournament taking place from July 8 to 13 in Cuernavaca.
Mexico led in every skill of the game: kills (40-31), blocks (7-2), and aces (8-3). They also capitalized on 20 points from Panamanian errors, while conceding 14.
MONSTER BLOCK FROM MEXICO
Team captain Carlos Grajeda led Mexico’s offense with 16 points, followed by opposite hitter Arnoldo Hurtado, who contributed 11 points.
For Panama, the top scorers were opposite Kendrieck Newby with 14 points and outside hitter Wen Downer with 12.
On the second day of competition, Mexico (1-0) will face Suriname (0-1), while Panama (0-1) takes on Chile (1-0).
Mexico’s Captain, Carlos Grajeda: “I’m very proud of the chemistry we showed, considering we’re all from different parts of Mexico and usually play against each other. The bond I felt with the team is very special. Our attitude really worked in our favor.”
Panama’s Captain, Kendrieck Newby: “The start of the tournament was very tough since we had to face the host team. Mexico has a strong squad that has been preparing for a long time. We are a young group that is building up little by little, and we’re improving. Panama won’t stay still, we’re going to move forward. Mexico defended much more than we did; they were more consistent in their defense.”
CUERNAVACA, Morelos, July 8, 2025.– Chile swept Suriname 3-0 (25-14, 25-17, 25-14) in their opening match of the U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup at the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM) Gymnasium in Cuernavaca, Morelos.
In the first Pool B clash of the tournament, Chile controlled the rhythm from the start, outmatching Suriname with a significant 42-19 lead in attacks and an 8-3 advantage in blocks. Both teams scored two aces, while Chile committed 21 errors and Suriname 23.
Chile
Four Chilean players reached double figures in scoring: Mateo Sanz led with 14 points, followed by Joaquin Valjalo with 12, Gabriel Contreras and Francisco Briones with 10 points each.
For Suriname, Javier Nasibdar was the top scorer with eight points.
Chile will face Panama in their next match, while Suriname will meet host Mexico.
Chile Captain, Carlos Grajeda: “It was a good start. We have high expectations for this tournament; we want to reach the podium. This match allowed us to play our game and show our volleyball, which gives us more confidence for the upcoming matches”.
Suriname Captain, Kendreieck Newby: “We had a rough start. I think the city’s altitude affected us, since we live at 3 meters above sea level. We need to adjust and play better.”
CUERNAVACA, Morelos, July 8, 2025.– Canada kicked off their U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup campaign with a hard-fought victory over Puerto Rico in a tightly contested Pool A match 3-0 (25-23, 25-20, 25-20) at the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM) Gymnasium.
The match was a rollercoaster of momentum swings, with Canada ultimately sealing the win despite a strong comeback attempt from Puerto Rico, who erased a 19-24 deficit, looking for a fourth set. Canada ultimately ended the game with a stuff block from middle blocker Simon Oberbuchner.
Canada’s powerful offense was key, outscoring Puerto Rico 41-22 in attacks. They also held a slight advantage in service points (5-2). Puerto Rico was more effective in blocks with seven against five and committed fewer errors (24-35).
Barret CAN Attacks
Outside hitter Marcus Barrett and opposite Jarom Rowin led Canada’s scoring efforts with 11 points apiece. For Puerto Rico, Gustavo Alvarez scored seven points.
In their next matches, Canada (1-0) will face the United States (1-0), while Puerto Rico (0-1) looks to bounce back against Venezuela (0-1) as group play continues in Cuernavaca.
Team Canada captain, Marcus Barrett: “It was a great last set for the guys, and we came out super strong. I’m really happy how we played and starting with a win because it brings great energy to the team. I believe we have a shot of winning the tournament, we’ll go even stronger for our next matches.
Team Puerto Rico captain, Jean Paul Gonzalez: “It was a tough start. We had ups and downs, but with each game, we’ll gradually adjust to the new players on the team. In the end, we were more confident, and we need to believe more that we can do it.”
CUERNAVACA, Morelos, July 8, 2025. – The United States recovered from a slow start to defeat Venezuela 3-1 (20-25, 25-18, 25-16, 32-30) in the opening match of the U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup, taking place from July 8 to 13 at the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM) Gymnasium.
Competing in Pool A, both teams engaged in a thrilling contest where the U.S. bounced back after dropping the first set. Despite constant pressure from the Venezuelan side, the Americans sealed the win with a dramatic extended fourth set.
United States held a slight advantage in attack points, 52-48, and dominated with a huge 15-3 advantage in blocks. USA led in aces 5-4, but committed more unforced errors, 34 to Venezuela’s 30.
USA
Middle blocker Isiah Powell of USA scored a match-high of16 points, including 8 kills and 8 stuff blocks. Opposite hitter Corbin Batista added 15 points.
For Venezuela, outside hitter Gandy Lugo led with 14 points, all from kills.
In their next matches in Pool A, the United States will face Canada, while Venezuela goes up against Puerto Rico.
Team captain USA Brett Novak: “There are a lot of new guys in the team, so they were nervous in the first set and missed a lot of serves, we gave Venezuela a lot of points in that set. In the next two sets we were able to go on some pretty good runs. We love playing tight games, that last set is what we live for and coming out with the win is the greatest part”.
Team captain Venezuela José Bello: “For eight of our players this is their first international experience. It was a great game for us; I am confident tomorrow we’ll come with more. The match was as expected facing the United States”.
July 8, 2025. – The United States, Dominican Republic, and Canada head into a decisive week in their quest to finish among the top eight teams in the Women’s Volleyball Nations League (VNL) and qualify for the Finals, scheduled for July 23-27 in Łódź, Poland.
The United States currently sits in 8th place with 11 points, holding a 4-4 win-loss record. The Dominican Republic is in 10th place with the same 4-4 record but has earned only 9 points. Canada is in 15th place with 2 wins and 6 losses, collecting 6 points.
Dominican Republic
The teams competing this week in Arlington, Texas, USA, include the host nation United States, Dominican Republic, Canada, Germany, Thailand, and China.
Every match is crucial, but the most important ones for the NORCECA teams will be against China, currently in 6th place with 5 wins, 3 losses, and 15 points, and Germany, in 7th place with 4 wins, 4 losses, and 14 points.
Thailand is currently ranked 16th in the overall standings with 1 win, 7 losses, and 6 points, just below Canada.
Canada
Match Schedule for NORCECA Teams (All times are local Arlington, USA time)
July 9: Canada vs Germany – 12:30 PM; Dominican Republic vs China – 4:00 PM; United States vs Thailand – 7:30 PM
July 10: Canada rests; United States vs Dominican Republic – 7:30 PM
July 11: United States rests; Dominican Republic vs Thailand – 4:00 PM; Canada vs China – 7:30 PM
July 12: Dominican Republic rests; United States vs Canada – 7:30 PM
July 13: Dominican Republic vs Germany – 11:30 AM; Canada vs Thailand – 3:00 PM; United States vs China – 7:00 PM
July 7, 2025. – The United States and Mexico are the only NORCECA teams that have advanced to the Round of 16 at the U19 FIVB Girls’ World Championship, currently taking place in Croatia and Serbia. Canada, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic will compete in the classification matches for 17th to 24th place.
Pool A
With two sets won against group leaders Croatia, Thailand edged out Canada and Egypt in a tiebreaker to secure the last spot in the Round of 16.
Mexico closed pool play with a strong 3-0 (25-12, 25-23, 26-24) win over Egypt, finishing third with a 3-2 record and 9 points. Naomi Alejandra Cruz Toledo led all scorers with 17 points, while Salma Elbehiry was Egypt’s top performer with 11.
Germany dashed Canada’s hopes with a 3-1 (18-25, 25-16, 25-15, 25-23) comeback win. Canada needed a victory to qualify but couldn’t hold onto their first-set momentum. Marika Loker stood out for Germany with 21 points. Sol Henson and Sofia Zabjek led Canada with 11 points each. Germany finished second in the group with a 4-1 record and 13 points; Canada ended in fifth place with a 1-4 record and 3 points.
Alejandra Cruz MEX
Pool B
In a dramatic finish, Argentina narrowly overtook Puerto Rico to clinch fourth place in the pool.
Argentina kept their hopes alive with a hard-fought 3-2 (25-21, 21-25, 22-25, 25-23, 15-12) win over the Dominican Republic. Just 14 years old, Sofía Emilia Baldo was the top scorer with 24 points. For the Dominican Republic, Rayni Merab Mondesí Arias scored 20. Argentina ended pool play with a 2-3 record and 4 points and depended on Puerto Rico’s result.
Puerto Rico needed a win over Chinese Taipei but fell in a five-set battle, 3-2 (25-22, 25-19, 22-25, 20-25, 15-12), and was eliminated. Wu Tzu-Hua, 15, led with 21 points. For Puerto Rico, Pamela Zoe Agosto and Kalia Isabel Alvarado contributed 13 points each.
Pool C
United States defeated Türkiye 3-1 (25-19, 20-25, 25-22, 25-23), finishing third in the group with a 3-2 record and 11 points. Suliane Davis led the U.S. with 21 points, while Aylin Uysalcan scored 17 for Türkiye, who advanced in fourth place with a 2-3 record and 7 points.
Suliane Davis USA
Round of 16 Matchups:
Croatia vs Türkiye; Germany vs United States; Bulgaria vs Mexico; Poland vs Thailand; Brazil vs Belgium; Chinese Taipei vs Japan; China vs Serbia; Italy vs Argentina
17th–24th Place Playoffs:
Canada vs Peru; Spain vs Egypt; Puerto Rico vs Tunisia; Chile vs Dominican Republic
CUERNAVACA, Morelos, July 7, 2025. – One day before the start of the U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup, the coaches of the eight participating teams shared their thoughts and expectations for the tournament, which will take place from July 8 to 13 at the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM) Gymnasium.
The event brings together promising youth talents from across the continent, offering them valuable international experience and the opportunity to continue developing within high-performance programs.
Jordan Taylor, Head Coach of Canada: “We had a training camp in Halifax; we trained a couple of times a day which is a big step for us versus last year’s competition. This year we have more continuity, so we feel a little bit more organized and prepared for competition. We’re bringing a younger squad, five returning players with NORCECA experience, for the majority, it’s going to be their first international competition, so it’s going to be a growth and learning event for these twelve athletes.”
Canada
Alvaro Del Campo, Head Coach of Chile: “The team is happy to be part of such an important international competition. We’ve been preparing with great dedication for several months. This is a group that’s been working together since last year’s South American tournaments. Our preparation included a tour to Uberlandia before coming to Mexico. We come with high expectations and the desire to compete against other countries.”
Chile
Oscar Viña, Head Coach of Mexico: “The team was built from the national championship. I selected players from the top four teams of that tournament, along with others with strong potential. We’ve been training here in Morelia for two weeks. The work has been solid; we may lack height compared to other teams, but I trust this group.”
Mexico
Horacio Angulo, Head Coach of Panama first highlighted that Panama is making its return to this level of competition after more than a decade of absence: “Panama hadn’t competed in an event like this for over ten years, it’s very gratifying. We’re here to show that high-level volleyball is played in Central America. We’ll take it one match at a time and focus on our own game.”
Panama
Juan Albarrán, Head Coach of Puerto Rico: “The Pan American Cup is a great preparation tournament for the U19 World Championship in Uzbekistan. We’re taking this competition very seriously. The pool we’re in offers strong preparation, and we’re confident we can do a good job.”
Puerto Rico
Furgil Ong-A-Fat, Head Coach of Suriname: “Our preparation went well. We started at the end of January with 60 players. We played friendly matches against French Guiana, so we’re motivated. The team has experience from the NORCECA U19 in Puerto Rico, and we hope to improve our position.”
Suriname
Jonah Carson, Head Coach of the United States: “This is a great opportunity for the development of our programs. We’ve got four players with previous international experience representing USA Volleyball. This is the first time USA Volleyball has been able to send a U19 team to both a Pan American Cup and a World Championship, so we have two distinct rosters. We’re looking to help accelerate the growth of our under-19 and coaching programs, and this is a nice first step in that. With the addition of the U17 category, we’re seeing something incredible develop here in NORCECA and globally.”
USA
Iván Nieto, Head Coach of Venezuela, emphasized that this event is part of the country’s federation restructuring and youth development process: “This competition is part of the development cycle for these young athletes. Most of the group is inexperienced, and we hope to showcase the progress they’ve made during this recent phase of training. We’ve gone through changes in our national federation and are forming new work teams. This is an opportunity for the newly identified talents to demonstrate the rise of Venezuelan volleyball.”
July 6, 2025. – Mexico and the United States secured their spots in the Eightfinals at the FIVB U19 Women’s Volleyball World Championship this Sunday in Croatia and Serbia.
The following teams clinched their place in the next round: Germany and Mexico (Pool A), Serbia (Pool B), Bulgaria, the United States, and Türkiye (Pool C), and Belgium (Pool D). They join the seven teams that had already qualified on Friday: Croatia, Brazil, Chinese Taipei, Poland, Italy, China, and Japan. Only two remaining spots are up for grabs on Monday.
Pool A
Germany and Mexico joined host Croatia as the three teams advancing to the Eightfinals, while Thailand, Egypt, and Canada are still fighting for the last remaining ticket.
Mexico made a major move with a 3-0 win (25-19, 25-22, 25-18) over Canada. Three players reached double digits for Mexico: Isabella Annie Ocampo, Angelica Jazmín Torres Galván, and middle blocker Aitana Rettke Tanguma, each scoring 10 points. Canada’s Sofia Zabjek led all scorers with 13 points. Mexico now holds a 2-2 record with 6 points, while Canada sits at 1-3 with 3 points.
Croatia kept its unbeaten record intact by defeating Egypt 3-0 (25-16, 25-21, 25-15). Opposite hitter Asja Zolota led the way with 16 points, while Gena Mohamed was Egypt’s top scorer with 9. With this result, Mexico secured its eightfinals spot. Egypt, now 1-3, will face Mexico on Monday in a decisive match.
Isabella Annie Ocampo MEX
Pool B
Puerto Rico earned its first win of the tournament with a 3-0 victory (25-22, 25-12, 25-19) over the Dominican Republic. Diangelie González and Johnnyeshka Carrasquillo both scored 12 points. Ambar Avril Hernández led the Dominicans with 11 points.
Serbia secured qualification with a win over Argentina, while Puerto Rico and Argentina will battle on Monday for the last spot. Brazil and Chinese Taipei had already qualified.
Puerto Rico will need a strong performance against China and must hope that Argentina does not defeat the Dominican Republic. The Dominican team is mathematically eliminated from contention.
Puerto Rico celebrated
Pool C
Bulgaria, the United States, and Türkiye advanced to the Eighfinals, joining previously qualified Poland. Spain and Peru will move on to the 17th–24th place playoffs.
Bulgaria outlasted the United States in a thrilling five-set match (25-15, 16-25, 27-25, 13-25, 15-5). Kalina Veneva led Bulgaria with 18 points, while Suliane Davis posted 17 for the U.S. The Americans dominated in blocks (16-4), but Bulgaria held the edge in attacks (60-51) and aces (9-7).
Suliane Davis USA
Pool D
Belgium joined Italy, China, and Japan as the teams advancing to the next round. Tunisia and Chile will play in the 17th–24th place bracket.
Match Schedule – Monday, July 7
The final day of pool play features key matchups for NORCECA teams:
Pool A: Mexico vs Egypt at 15:15 (local time); Canada vs Germany at 21:15
Pool B: Dominican Republic vs Argentina at 15:15; Puerto Rico vs China at 21:15
July 4, 2025.- All five teams representing NORCECA at the U19 Girls’ World Championship, currently taking place in Serbia and Croatia, ended day three of competition with losses.
At the conclusion of day three of competition, several teams secured their spots in the eightfinals, Croatia (Pool A), Brazil and Chinese Taipei (Pool B), Poland (Pool C), as well as Italy, China, and Japan (Pool D).
Pool A
Mexico could not hold on to its early lead after winning the first set and ended up falling to Germany 3-1 (23-25, 25-20, 25-16, 25-12), recording their second consecutive loss. Mexico now holds a 1-2 record. German outside hitter Maria Tabacuks led her team with 19 points, while middle blocker Franziska Heil stood out with 7 of her team’s 16 blocks. For Mexico, Angelica Jazmin Torres Galván was the top scorer with 9 points.
Croatia remained undefeated after a hard-fought 3-1 win (25-19, 30-28, 25-27, 35-33) over Canada. Sixteen-year-old Opposite Asja Zolota, was the leading performer with 23 points, bringing her tournament total to 69 points in three matches. For Canada, middle blocker Maya Bukovcan contributed 16 points. Canada’s record is now 1-2.
Sol Henson CAN
Pool B
Chinese Taipei earned its third consecutive victory, defeating the Dominican Republic 3-1 (25-19, 25-23, 23-25, 25-17). Top scorers were Wu Tzu-Hua and Chen Yi, each with 17 points. For the Dominican Republic, Estel Santos and Virelys Shantal Rivera both scored 11 points.
Co-host Serbia won a thrilling five-set match over Puerto Rico, 3-2 (19-25, 26-24, 19-25, 25-10, 18-16). Sixteen-year-old Mia Ciric led Serbia with 17 points. Cherisse Binex Atilano was Puerto Rico’s top scorer with 15 points. The Caribbean side now has two points in the standings.
Both Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic are still searching for their first win in the tournament and must win their upcoming matches to have a chance of qualifying for the eightfinals. Unfortunately, they will face each other on Sunday, July 6.
Estel Santos DOM
Pool C
Poland and the United States clashed in a high-level match on Friday, with the Polish side eventually edging out the defending champions, the U.S., 3-2 (25-23, 23-25, 25-17, 25-27, 16-14). Poland’s Natasza Ornoch led all scorers with 27 points, while Macaria Spears led the U.S. with 21 points. Poland leads the group with 8 points; the U.S. sits in second place with 7 points and is close to securing a spot in the eightfinals.
Gabrielle Nichols – Macaria Spears USA
Match Schedule for Sunday, July 6
Saturday, July 5, is a rest day for all teams. Competition resumes Sunday, July 6, with the following matches:
POOL A: Mexico vs. Canada at 15:15 (local time)
POOL B: Puerto Rico vs. Dominican Republic at 15:15 (local time)
POOL C: United States vs. Bulgaria at 21:15 (local time)
July 3, 2025. – United States was the only NORCECA team to win on Day 2 of the Girls’ U19 World Championship, remaining undefeated with 2 wins in as many matches. The event is taking place in Croatia and Serbia.
Pool C
Defending champions USA continued their strong performance with a 3-0 (25-19, 25-18, 25-18) win over Peru. Henley Anderson led the team with 14 points (10 kills, 4 blocks), while Waleska Toro Zoltanski was Peru’s top scorer with 12 points (8 kills, 2 blocks, 2 aces).
With this win, the U.S. now shares the top spot in Pool C with Poland, both at 2-0 and 6 points. Bulgaria and Türkiye follow with 1 win and 1 loss (3 points), while Spain and Peru remain winless with no points.
USA will face Poland this Friday in a key match to determine the group leader.
Henley Anderson – Gabrielle Nichols USA
Pool A
Host nation Croatia claimed a second straight victory, defeating Mexico 3-1 (25-17, 23-25, 25-22, 25-19). Opposite Asja Zolota starred once again with 23 points (19 kills, 2 blocks, 1 ace), while Naomi Alejandra Cruz Toledo led Mexico with 15 points (13 kills, 2 blocks). Mexico now holds a 1-1 record.
Thailand earned its first win by beating Canada 3-1 (22-25, 25-12, 25-17, 25-22). Captain Supawadee Panwilai led the charge with 23 points (18 kills, 1 block, 4 aces), while Sofia Zabjek was Canada’s top scorer with 14 points (11 kills, 2 blocks, 1 ace).
Croatia tops the group with 6 points from 2 wins. Following behind with 1 win and 1 loss are Germany, Mexico, Canada, and Thailand. Egypt remains at the bottom of the group, winless.
Brenda Sofia Esquivel MEX
Pool B
Co-hosts Serbia bounced back with a 3-0 (25-13, 25-17, 25-20) victory over the Dominican Republic. Outside hitter Anja Miovcic led with 12 points (7 kills, 3 aces, 2 blocks). Estel Santos Mateo led the Dominican side with 8 points, including 3 aces.
Brazil stayed perfect with another 3-0 win, this time over Puerto Rico (25-16, 25-17, 25-20). Middle blocker Lara Gabriele Rodríguez Almeida led with 13 points (10 kills, 1 block, 2 aces), while Kalia Isabel Alvarado scored 11 points for Puerto Rico.
Brazil leads the pool with 2 wins (6 points), followed by China, also 2-0 but with 5 points due to a five-set match. Serbia and Argentina sit at 1-1, while Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic remain winless; Puerto Rico has one point from their first-day performance, while the DR has yet to earn a point.
Matches for July 4
POOL A: Mexico vs Germany – 15:15 (Local Time) and Canada vs Croatia – 18:15 (Local Time)
POOL B: Dominican Republic vs China – 15:15 (Local Time) and Puerto Rico vs Serbia – 18:15 (Local Time)
POOL C: United States vs Poland – 21:15 (Local Time)
CUERNAVACA, Morelos, Mexico, July 3, 2025. – A showcase of the next generation of volleyball talent is coming to Cuernavaca, as the NORCECA U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup takes center stage from July 8 to 13 at the Gimnasio de la Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM).
The event will feature eight national teams from North, Central America and Caribbean NORCECA Volleyball Confederation and the South America Volleyball Confederation CSV battling for the Pan American title and a place among the region’s best. The tournament also plays a key role in shaping the competitive landscape ahead of future international championships.
NORCECA teams qualify for the 2026 NORCECA U19 Boys Continental Championship, which is part of the qualification process to the 2027 U19 FIVB Boys World Championship.
USA arrives as the team to beat, having captured back-to-back gold medals in 2022 and 2023 undefeated. In both finals, they topped Mexico, who now seeks redemption and a chance to end their streak of three consecutive silver medals. Puerto Rico, bronze medalists last year, will also be aiming for a spot on the podium.
Teams are divided into two pools for the preliminary round: Pool A features Canada, Puerto Rico, United States and Venezuela, while Pool B consists of Chile, Panama, Suriname, and host Mexico.
Pool-play begins on July 8 with four daily matches, followed by quarterfinals on July 11, semifinals on July 12, and the final medal matches on Sunday, July 13.
Preliminary Round Schedule
July 8 14:00 USA vs Venezuela 16:00 Puerto Rico vs Canada 18:00 Chile vs Suriname
20:00 Mexico vs Panama
July 9 14:00 Puerto Rico vs Venezuela 16:00 USA vs Canada 18:00 Chile vs Panama
20:00 Mexico vs Suriname
July 10 14:00 Canada vs Venezuela 16:00 USA vs Puerto Rico 18:00 Suriname vs Panama
June 2, 2025. – The 19th edition of the FIVB U19 Girl’s World Championship kicked off on Wednesday in Croatia and Serbia, with 24 national teams beginning their group stage campaigns. Canada, Mexico, and defending champions the United States all recorded opening-day victories.
Pool A
Canada started their campaign with a 3-1 (25-23, 14-25, 25-21, 25-18) win over Egypt at Gradski Vrt Hall in Osijek. Emerson Matthews led the Canadian scorers with 13 points (8 attacks, 3 blocks, 2 aces). Egypt’s middle blocker Retaj Kammer also tallied 13 points (9 attacks, 1 block, 3 aces), standing out as her team’s top performer.
Mexico had a flawless start, defeating Thailand 3-0 (25-20, 25-14, 25-20) to take the early lead in the group. Outside hitter Naomi Alejandra Cruz Toledo was the match’s top scorer with 14 points (11 attacks, 3 blocks). For Thailand, Supawadee Panwilai stood out with 9 points, all from attacks.
Canada celebrates
Pool B
Argentina and Puerto Rico played a tightly contested five-set battle, with the South Americans emerging victorious 3-2 (21-25, 25-11, 25-18, 17-25, 15-10) in Vrnjačka Banja. Opposite Paula Tomasa led Argentina with 19 points (16 attacks, 2 blocks, 1 ace), while outside hitter Cherisse Binex Atilano was Puerto Rico’s top scorer with 15 points (13 attacks, 1 block, 1 ace).
With 16 team blocks, Brazil left no room for the Dominican Republic, winning in straight sets 3-0 (25-14, 25-13, 25-20). Opposite Luize Da Silva Tavares contributed six of those blocks and added two aces for a match-high 19 points. Julie Millaray Arias Alejo led the Dominican side with 8 points (7 attacks, 1 block).
USA celebrated
Pool C
Defending champions the United States had a tough start but overcame a spirited Spanish team 3-1 (22-25, 25-16, 25-12, 25-23). Middle blocker Gabrielle Nichols and outside hitter Macaria Spears both scored 14 points, while Spanish captain Inés Losada Gordaliza was the match’s top scorer with 17 points (14 attacks, 3 blocks).
June 29, 2025.- Week 2 of the Men’s Volleyball Nations League 2025 closed with Canada sweeping China (in Chicago), Cuba falling to Argentina in a five-set battle (in Belgrade) and host USA losing to Italy in three straight sets.
Cuba Falls to Argentina in a Five-Set Battle in Belgrade
Cuba closed its campaign in Belgrade with a hard-fought five-set loss to Argentina, missing the chance to break into the qualification zone for the Volleyball Nations League 2025 Finals.
Despite winning their first three matches in Belgrade, the Cubans couldn’t hold off the South Americans, who relied on their technique to overcome Cuba’s powerful offense and secured a 3-2 (23-25, 25-23, 25-21, 21-25, 15-11) victory on Sunday.
Cuba still walked away with one point from the match, bringing their total to 13. However, with a record of four wins and four losses, they now sit in ninth place in the standings, just outside the qualification zone for the VNL Finals.
Captain and outside hitter Miguel Ángel López led the Cuban offense with 18 points, all from kills. Opposite José Massó contributed 17 points, including 13 kills, three blocks, and one ace.
Canada sweep China
The first match of the day in Chicago had Canada putting on a strong performance to take China down 3-0 (25-23, 25-20, 25-23) and take their first win in the week. With 11 points (three wins, five losses), the Canadians end the second week of the VNL 2025 in 14th place.
Opposite Xander Ketrzynski had an excellent all-around performance and led Canada with 21 points (14 kills, four aces, three blocks). Outside hitters Isaac Heslinga and Skyler Varga also reached double digits in scoring, registering 17 and 11 points, respectively.
United States swept by Italy
Reigning world champions Italy dominated the match from start to finish to secure a 3-0 (25-21, 25-22, 25-18) victory over hosts United States at the NOW Arena in Chicago.
Playing more aggressively than the Americans, the Italians outscored their opponents in aces (eight to one) and blocks (six to two), besides benefiting from more errors (23 to 18). The United States had a slim edge in kills (40 to 38).
Outside hitter Cooper Robinson, who scored 11 points in kills, and opposite Gabi Garcia, who delivered ten, with nine kills and one ace, were the most effective players for the United States.
The Americans collected five points in their four VNL home matches, beating China and Canada and losing to Poland and Italy, and now rank 13th in the tournament, with ten points (four wins, four losses).
“The team is growing,” Garcia reflected. “The young kids are not so young anymore, and we’re happy about this. We know we have a lot of work to do and that we’re still learning about each other and our weaknesses and our strengths. We’re happy with the results we got this week. We’re going to keep working and preparing for the next one.”
The Men’s Volleyball Nations League 2025 will pause for one week. The women’s competition resumes from July 9-13, with Canada, Dominican Republic and USA competing in Arlington. The men return to action for the final week of the Preliminary Phase from July 16-20 in Chiba (Japan), Gdańsk (Poland), and Ljubljana (Slovenia).
June 28, 2025.- Despite their efforts and improvements throughout the match, the U.S. Men’s National Team couldn’t stop the power of Poland, who earned a 3-0 victory (25-20, 25-21, 25-22) at the NOW Arena, backed by a passionate crowd of Polish fans on American soil.
With this result, the U.S. missed out on key points in the 2025 Men’s VNL standings, falling at home to a European powerhouse energized by strong support from the large Polish community in Chicago.
The top scorer for Team USA was 22-year-old outside hitter Cooper Robinson, who recorded 9 points, one more than opposite Kyle Hobus.
“We didn’t start well, but we made some adjustments, and our bench is always ready to contribute,” said setter Micah Ma’a.
“It’s tough to play against Poland, but it’s also a great experience. We wanted to keep competing all night, and even though we didn’t get the win, we fought until the end. They’re a great team.”
Following this setback, Karch Kiraly’s squad will look to regroup quickly and get back on the winning track in their next match, knowing that every point is crucial in the race for a spot in the VNL Finals.
Schedule for Sunday, June 29
In Belgrade, Serbia: Cuba faces Argentina at 4:30 p.m. (local time). In Chicago, USA: Canada plays China at 12:30 p.m. (local time), and the home team, USA, faces Italy at 7:30 p.m. (local time) to close the second week of competition.
KINGSTON, Ontario, June 28, 2025.- A young squad from USA won gold and 14-year-old Kari Knotts stood out at MVP today in Kingston, Ontario, as the U19 Girls’ Pan American Cup concluded.
USA also picked up “best spiker” and “best setter” awards.
Valeria Gutierrez won two awards – libero and digger for her defensive action with the Costa Rican team. Dominican Republic’s Julie Arias also won two individual awards.
KINGSTON, Ontario, June 28, 2025.- USA swept Mexico to claim gold at the U19 Girls’ Pan American Cup at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
Despite the determination of the Mexican side, the powerful young U.S. squad won the final 3-0 (25-21, 25-22, 25-21).
Head coach of USA, Jamie Morrison, said: “It’s a young team and we set the goal of getting better every single day that we are here and I thought we did that. All 12 players contributed to us getting into this match. I’m proud that it’s their first gold medal in a USA uniform and the rest of the country should be proud of them too.”
The USA came out swinging and earned 48 points off attack, compared with 24 from Mexico. USA also had more blocking points (11-8). Mexico led in aces 9-5 and made fewer errors (11-23).
Top scorer of the match was 14-year-old outside hitter Kari Knotts with 24 points (19 kills, 2 blocks, 3 aces).
Naomi Alejandra Cruz led Mexico with 8 points.
Host Canada won the bronze match over Dominican Republic.
Next up for this age-class, the FIVB U19 Girls’ World Championship in Serbia and Croatia in July.
KINGSTON, Ontario, June 28, 2025.- Canada was able to manage the young, talented Dominican Republic team to win in the tie-break today at the U19 Girls’ Pan American Cup at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
The home crowd cheered Canada on to the 3-2 (25-22, 25-18, 18-25, 19-25, 15-10) win and the bronze medal.
Canada led in attack points 58-50, blocking 10-4, while Dominican had one more ace (11-10). Canada also made more errors 35-24.
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Sydney Bell (16) and Sol Henson (14) led in points for Canada. Ambar Hernández (16) and Julie Millaray Arias (13) were top scorers for Team Dominican Republic.
“It was a great team effort for us,” explained Canada’s head coach Gina Schmidt. “Dominican served tougher than they did in the previous match we played against them. We were in system a lot in our first match, and they added some service pressure today, which got us out of our rhythm with our offense. Once we kind of settled that down and put on more pressure from service from our side, we were able to work our way back into the match. I loved the way our team reacted in that fifth set. Everyone found a way to contribute, so that’s important as we head into the next tournament.”
Most teams at the Pan Am Cup are using this tournament to prepare for the FIVB Girls’ U19 World Championship 2025, which will be held in Serbia and Croatia in early July.
The gold-medal match is next to determine place 1-2.
Dominican Republic is fourth. Venezuela finished fifth. Puerto Rico is sixth and Costa Rica is seventh.
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