LEÓN, Mexico, September 18, 2026.- Mexico bounced back from its semifinal defeat to claim the bronze medal at the 23rd Women’s Pan American Cup, defeating Puerto Rico 3-1 (20-25, 25-20, 25-23, 28-26) on Friday at the Domo de la Feria in León, Guanajuato.
The result marks Mexico’s first medal in Women’s Pan American Cup history. Mexico won silver at the 2021 Women’s Pan American Cup Final Six, an event later recognized as the inaugural NORCECA Women’s Final Six.
Puerto Rico took the opening set 25-20, but Mexico responded to win the second 25-20. The third set remained close until the final points, when Uxue Guereca delivered an attack to give Mexico a 24-22 lead. Puerto Rico saved one set point before a service error handed Mexico the set 25-23.
The fourth set produced a dramatic finish. Mexico reached match point at 24-23, but Puerto Rico’s Dariana Hollingsworth kept her team alive with an attack. Coming off the bench, Sofía Maldonado put Mexico ahead 25-24, only for Hollingsworth to level the score again. Grecia Castro struck to give Mexico another match point at 26-25; Puerto Rico tied it once more before Castro’s next attack made it 27-26. A Puerto Rican error on the final rally sealed Mexico’s historic bronze medal, 28-26.
Mexico led 59-47 in attack points and 3-1 in aces, while both teams recorded 11 blocks. Puerto Rico committed fewer errors, 25 to Mexico’s 35.
Castro led all scorers with 22 points. Guereca contributed 17, Aimé Topete added 11 and Jocelyn Urías finished with 10. Hollingsworth led Puerto Rico with 17 points, followed by Paola Santiago with 11.
Nicola Negro, Mexico’s head coach: “This is a very important medal. We played a high-level pool round and showed a much better level of volleyball than we did at the NORCECA Continental Championship. Today, our level dropped. Fatigue caught up with us, and we struggled. I don’t think we played particularly well, but fortunately we won this historic medal. Now it’s time to rest for a few days before the Final Six begins.”
José Mieles, Puerto Rico’s head coach: “First, I’m not happy with the result. Second, I believe NORCECA needs to use video challenge at this level. I’m really not satisfied with the officiating throughout the tournament. Having this tool would help us raise the level of competition. NORCECA needs video challenge to give the competitions greater credibility.”