ZINACANTEPEC, Mexico, September 22, 2026.- Host Mexico continued its strong run at the 2026 NORCECA Women’s Final Six, defeating Puerto Rico 3-1 (25-22, 21-25, 25-18, 25-21) on Tuesday at the Unidad Deportiva Juan Fernández Albarrán in Zinacantepec, Estado de México.
Mexico improved to 2-0, while Puerto Rico dropped to 0-2.
The teams posted balanced numbers in the scoring categories, with Mexico holding a 60-52 advantage in attacks and committing fewer errors, 20 to Puerto Rico’s 28. Puerto Rico led 9-5 in blocks, while both teams recorded three aces.
Three players from each team scored double figures. Sofía Maldonado led Mexico with 18 points, followed by Uxue Guereca and Aimé Topete with 17 points apiece. For Puerto Rico, Ivania Ortiz scored 17 points, Paola Santiago added 16 and Dariana Hollingsworth finished with 13. Middle blocker Neira Ortiz recorded a match-high five blocks.
Mexico took a closely contested first set 25-22, but Puerto Rico responded in the second to even the match with a 25-21 win.
The third set remained tight through a 15-15 tie before Mexico created separation and moved ahead 18-15. The hosts continued to build their advantage, with Guereca scoring for set point at 24-18 before Jocelyn Urias closed the set with a block for a 25-18 win.
Puerto Rico came out stronger in the fourth set and built a 9-6 advantage, but Mexico responded to level the score at 9-9 on a Maldonado attack. The hosts gradually took control from there. Topete gave Mexico a 22-18 lead, Maldonado followed with an ace for 23-18, and Guereca contributed two attacks in the closing stretch as Mexico secured the match 25-21.
On Wednesday, Puerto Rico (0-2) will face Canada (0-2) at 6:00 p.m., while Mexico (2-0) will meet Cuba (1-1) at 8:00 p.m.
Argentina Ung, setter of Mexico: “We made good adjustments on defense, our block started getting touches on their attacks and we began taking away some of their options. Our serve was also strong and started pushing them out of system. I think our offense worked better toward the end of the match. It’s always a tough battle against Puerto Rico; they are a team with great defense, and they don’t let balls hit the floor, so it’s always a good challenge to face them.”
Juan Carlos Núñez, head coach of Puerto Rico: “Matches against Mexico are always good. We had a moment when we could have changed the course of the match, but in the end, they controlled us at key moments. We still have three matches left to put ourselves in position, and tomorrow we’ll go after the win against Canada.”