SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, August 3, 2026. – Defending champions Dominican Republic remained undefeated in Pool B of the women’s volleyball tournament at the 25th Central American and Caribbean Games Santo Domingo 2026 with a straight-set 3-0 (25-15, 25-20, 25-17) victory over Cuba before an electrifying crowd at Prof. Ricardo Gioriver Arias Volleyball Palace.
With the win, the Dominican Republic improved to 2-0 and moved within reach of securing first place in the pool, which earns a direct berth to the semifinals. Cuba dropped to 1-1. In the final day of pool play, the Dominicans will face Puerto Rico, while Cuba takes on Costa Rica.
The Dominican Republic took control from the opening set, using aggressive serving and an efficient offense to build an early advantage and comfortably claim the set 25-15.
The second set was the most competitive of the match. Cuba stayed within striking distance for much of the set, but the hosts responded in the decisive moments with balanced offense and timely net play to pull away and win 25-20.
In the third set, the Dominican side created separation midway through the frame. Led by Gaila González’s attack and fueled by the energy of the home crowd, the defending champions closed out the match 25-17 to maintain their perfect record in the tournament.
The Dominican Republic held a 39-31 advantage in attacks and a 6-1 edge in service points, while Cuba led in blocks 8-6. The Dominicans also committed only 12 unforced errors compared to Cuba’s 24.
Gaila González led the Dominican offense with 16 points, including a match-high four aces. Jineiry Martínez added 10 points on seven kills and three blocks. For Cuba, Evilania Martínez scored 12 points, while Yalain De la Peña contributed 10.
Gaila González, the Dominican Republic’s leading scorer, said: “We knew today’s match would be very different from yesterday’s because Cuba is a stronger opponent, but we came out with the same intensity to earn the victory. You can really feel the support of the fans, and we hope they’ll be with us again tomorrow against Puerto Rico as we look for another win and, God willing, a direct place in the semifinals.”
Yanisleidis Sánchez, Cuba’s libero, said: “We knew the Dominican Republic is a team with extensive international experience after competing in the VNL. Our goal was to focus on our own game and execute what we have been working on. We did some things well, but there are still areas we need to improve. Cuban volleyball continues to grow, and we know we must keep working to reach a higher level. Tomorrow, we face Costa Rica, and we cannot take them lightly. We want to finish second in the pool, and we know it will be a very important match.”
English 
Spanish