Tag: 2025 Women World Championship

September 4, 2025.- The United States lost to the reigning European champions Türkiye, who dropped their first set at the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship 2025 on Thursday, but overcame a brave American team to advance for the first time in history to the tournament’s semifinals.

The Europeans came out on top in the fourth and last quarterfinal match of the event, which took place at the Huamark Indoor Stadium, in Bangkok, taking the Americans down with a 3-1 (25-14, 22-25, 25-14, 25-23) victory to continue their chase for their first World Championship medal.

Star outside hitter Ebrar Karakurt delivered her best performance at the World Championship so far against the Americans, leading the Turkish side with 23 points (20 kills, three blocks). Opposite Melissa Vargas was also instrumental, tallying 21 points (18 kills, three aces), while team captain and middle blocker Eda Erdem added another 13, with a match-high seven blocks and six kills.

Sarah Franklin was the most productive American player on the court with 12 points (ten kills, one block, one ace), one more than fellow outside hitter Avery Skinner, middle blocker Dana Rettke and opposite Stephanie Samedy.

“I’m very proud of the team,” Rettke, a Paris 2024 Olympic silver medalist, reacted. “When you look at where we were at the beginning of the season and where we are now, there’s been so much growth. We worked very hard over the summer to be in the best shape possible here, and we did a great job. It’s the first year in the quad and we have a new coaching staff and new players, so this is a great result.”

Türkiye’s strong game at the net paved the way for their victory as the Europeans largely outscored the Americans in both kills (58 to 41) and blocks (19 to 11). The USA had the most aces (six to three) and there was a similar number of errors made by both sides (Türkiye gave up 18 points and the United States, 17).

September 1, 2025.- USA lived up to their status of match favorites against their North American neighbors Canada on Monday and swept the seventh 2025 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship eighthfinal in Bangkok in straight sets to advance to the quarterfinal stage of the competition. USA’s opponent in the quarterfinals on Thursday is Türkiye, serving off at 20:30 local time.

A block-out kill by sub-in opposite Stephanie Samedy delivered USA’s winning point in their 3-0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-21) victory over Canada.

The Americans outplayed their opponents in net defense by 11-6 in kill blocks, and in offense by 42-38 in successful swings. They also capitalized on the 19 unforced errors Canada made, against the 12 committed on their side of the net. Outside hitters Avery Skinner and Sarah Franklin shared the top scorer honors of the match with 13 points apiece for the winners. The latter was also one of the best blockers of the match with three stuffs to her name. Opposite Madisen Skinner chipped in with another 12 points.

“We are feeling really good. We are trying to get to the gym every day and just work to be better and better, and that’s going to show in the game. It’s super exciting for us and we are continuing to push that,” Franklin. “All the older girls kind of took us all in and showed us the ropes. So, all of us younger girls, we are ready to learn, we are ready to do whatever needs to be done for us. We are all super excited to continue to compete. And having the USA jersey on is always an honor and it is what pushes us to do better and better.”

Serving was the only scoring element, in which Canada outperformed their rivals, by 4-3 in aces. Authoring one of those aces and putting away three kill blocks, 21-year-old opposite Anna Smrek emerged as the team’s leading scorer with a total of 12 points.

“I think this entire summer was a big part about learning and growing, and trying to just grow our skill set. A lot of us are new to this whole experience – VNL, World Championship. I think in terms of the long-term goals over the summer, to get to the round of 16 is great,” Smrek commented after the game. “Obviously, we fell short, but kudos to the USA – they fought hard – so, we will exit with our head held high. I think we started competing for it a little bit late, especially in sets, we let them get ahead of us and then we were playing catch-up. We had our chances against the USA in the VNL. We wanted it, but again, we did not start competing until later on. So, we just need to get at it from the jump, and I think it could be a really good match-up.”

August 31, 2025.- Brazil recovered from a first-set upset to defeat the Dominican Republic on Sunday in the Round of 16 in Bangkok and become the sixth national team guaranteed in the quarterfinals of the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship.

Dominated by the aggressive Dominicans in the first set, the reigning South American champions responded with a flawless performance in the second set and built from there to win the match and take the spot in the quarterfinals with a 3-1 (18-25, 25-12, 25-20, 25-12) victory over the Caribbean.

Opposite Gaila González delivered 15 points (13 kills, two blocks) in the last match of the Dominicans in Thailand. The Martínez sisters Jineiry and Brayelín contributed nine and eight points, respectively.

“Brazil played very well tonight,” Gaila reflected. “We had a great start, but then they managed to put more pressure on us with their serving and the match changed. They deserved to win. We struggled with our passing in some moments, and that’s an area we need to work on for the next tournaments.”

Brazil’s dominance from the service line (six aces to one) was one of the factors that led them to victory, as the South Americans also outscored the Dominicans in kills (46 to 40) and blocks (14 to eight), besides making fewer errors (20 to 27).

The World Championship Round of 16 will be completed on Monday, with the United States and Canada meeting at 17:00 local time (10:00 GMT) and Türkiye and Slovenia battling at 20:30 (13:30 GMT).

August 27, 2025.- With an impressive 33 points from opposite Sofia Maldonado, Mexico outlasted Colombia in a five-set battle in the last game for both teams at the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship in Thailand.

On Wednesday, the Mexicans scored their first Pool F win in Chiang Mai to finish third in the pool standings and leave their South American opponents bottom of the table winless.

Colombia managed to fight their way back from a set down twice during their last game in Thailand, but in the end, Mexico celebrated a 3-2 (25-22, 22-25, 25-23, 18-25, 15-12) victory to leave the tournament on a high note.

Sofia Maldonado hit 31 points in attack at a 53% success rate, including the match winner, and put up three kill blocks to emerge as the best scorer of the game. 22-year-old outside hitter Melanie Parra contributed another 18 points, including one ace and four kill blocks. Overall, the Mexican team piled up an impressive number of 17 kill blocks in the game, against seven from Colombia, and that made the biggest difference in the match. As many as nine of those stuffs were authored by middle blocker and captain Jocelyn Urias, who finished with a total of 11 points.

“It feels amazing! We started really well in our first games, but we couldn’t really get that win, because China and the Dominican Republic are very good teams, but we knew we had to come strong in this game, because it was going to be a big fight, and we are glad that we took the win,” Urias told.

“We had to keep very calm as we had to keep fighting for every point. Maybe we were motivated, and we knew we had to come here with a lot of energy.”

Colombia made a lot fewer unforced errors than Mexico (19-29) and also outperformed the opponents in serving by 7-2 in aces but stopped just short of finding their way to their first ever World Championship victory and stayed winless across the eight matches played at this and at the previous editions.

August 27, 2025.- Dominican Republic finished second in Pool F after falling to China in the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship this Wednesday. China closed their pool phase campaign undefeated.

Playing in Chiang Mai, the Chinese (who had dropped sets to Mexico and Colombia in their previous matches) showed solidity to dominate the “Queens of the Caribbean” and secure a 3-0 (25-15, 25-21, 25-17) triumph in their last Pool F match.

With the victory, China reached nine points and confirmed the top spot in the Pool F standings, which set them up against France, second place in Pool C, in the Round of 16. Second with six points, the Dominican Republic will face Brazil, first in their pool. Both matches will be played on Sunday in Bangkok.

Wu Mengjie was China’s top scorer with 16 points (15 kills, one block), one more than her fellow outside hitter Zhuang Yushan, who registered 12 kills, two blocks and one ace. Middle blocker Wang Yuanyuan also reached double digits, with ten points (five kills and five blocks). On the Dominican side, captain and outside hitter Brayelin Martínez was the most productive with 15 points (13 kills, one block and one ace).

Reducing their errors to only ten, compared to the Dominicans’ 17, was one of the most positive aspects for the Chinese, who also outscored their opponents in kills (44-34) and blocks (13-6). The Caribbean had the advantage in serves, leading the ace battle 3-1.

August 26, 2025.- Three-time world champions Cuba ended their participation in the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship on a positive note on Tuesday, when they defeated rookies Slovakia in their last match in Phuket.

Cubans and Slovakians entered the court in Thailand already without chances of making it to the elimination rounds, but both sides wanted to pick up their first victory in the tournament before heading back home and the Caribbean were the ones to do it, prevailing 3-1 (27-25, 25-21, 22-25, 26-24) in an exciting match.

With the victory, the Cubans collected their first three points in the tournament and finished the Preliminary Phase in third place in Pool B. Slovakia didn’t get any points in their first-ever World Championship appearance and were fourth.

Cuban outside hitter Evilania Martinez led her team’s offense with 20 points (19 kills, one block). Middle blockers Laura Suárez (17) and Dayana Martínez (11), opposite Dezirett Madan (14) and outside hitter Whitney James (13) all got to double digits in scoring as well in the last Cuban match in the tournament.

“We entered the court today with a lot of confidence in the work we’ve been making and the process we’re going through and determined to get the win,” Suárez analyzed. “I thought the team had a different attitude today, and I’m happy that it led us to taking the win.”

Slovakia had the match’s leading scorer, as outside hitter Zuzana Šepeľová registered 25 points, with 22 kills, two blocks and one ace. Fellow outside hitters Karolína Fričová, with 15, and Simona Jelínková, with 12, also had good performances in the team’s last match in Thailand.

Cuba built their tight victory at the net, where they outscored Slovakia in both kills (63 to 58) and blocks (12 to 11). The Europeans fired the most aces (six to five) and each team gave away 25 points in errors.

August 26, 2025. The Puerto Rican National Team finished their FIVB Women’s Volleyball Championship campaign falling to Brazil, number two in the world ranking, who prevailed clearly 3-0 (25-19, 25-13, 25-18).

The Puerto Ricans, who had previously fallen against France and Greece, faced one of the big favorites for the title and could not stop the South American strength in offense and blocking. Brazil dominated widely in all fundamentals: 38-24 in kills, 17-5 in blocks and 3-0 in serves, in addition to committing fewer errors (11-17).

In the Boricua offense, the outside hitters were the most outstanding. Valeria Vázquez finished with 11 points, all in kills, while Paola Santiago contributed 10, also in direct attacks.

Opposite Decelise Champion highlighted the experience gained in the tournament:

“It was very exciting to be here. It was fun but also very challenging. We have learned to connect better as a team and to play more united. We will arrive at the next tournaments with better chemistry and more organization.”

With this defeat, Puerto Rico says goodbye to the tournament without victories, but with valuable competitive lessons looking ahead to their international future.

Brazil, for their part, advanced undefeated as leader of Pool C with three consecutive triumphs and will face in the Round of 16 the second place of Pool F, which will be defined between China and the Dominican Republic.

Their victory also qualified Slovenia, which are set to play in the elimination rounds in their first appearance in the tournament

The United States passed their first test at the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship with flying colors on Tuesday, when they ended pool play as the top team in Pool D following a victory over Czechia in Nakhon Ratchasima.

Set to move to Bangkok, where the elimination rounds will be played, the Americans produced a strong comeback in the first set and built from it in their farewell match in the city to take Czechia down 3-0 (26-24, 25-20, 25-15) and continue undefeated in the tournament.

The three points earned against the Czechs confirmed the Americans as the top team in Pool D ahead of the start of the elimination rounds, as they reached nine points in the standings. The result also qualified rookies Slovenia, which defeated Argentina 3-0 (25-20, 25-22, 25-21) earlier on Tuesday and got to four points, but still depended on a Czech defeat to advance.

Americans and Slovenians will meet teams coming from Pool E in the Round of 16 on Monday, in Bangkok. Türkiye and Canada are already confirmed to advance from the pool and their encounter on Wednesday, at 16:00 local time (9:00 GMT), will determine the matchups – the winners will play Slovenia and the losers will face the USA.

Olympic medalist Avery Skinner led the Americans against the Czechs, producing a team-high 15 points with 13 kills, one block and one ace. Fellow outside hitter Sarah Franklin added 12 (all in kills), while middle blocker Chiaka Ogbogu tallied ten (seven kills, two blocks, one ace).

“We’re happy to have qualified, our pool was difficult to get out and I’m really proud that we did it with three wins,” Skinner reacted. “The Czechs started very well and we just weathered the storm. We knew they were a good team and just stuck to our game plan. We need to keep that mentality because every match is important and every opponent will give their best against us.”

August 25, 2025.- Canada and Dominican Republic secured their qualification to the Round of 16 of the Senior Women’s World Championship this Monday, with one matchday left in the Group Stage of the tournament being held in Thailand.

Canada survives Spain’s momentum in a thrilling five-set match

Spain was very close to pulling off a sensational upset against Canada at the 2025 FIVB Women’s Volleyball World Championship in Thailand. Twice, in Monday’s Pool E opener in Nakhon Ratchasima, the Europeans took the lead, but the North Americans reacted on both occasions and finally took the tie-break to celebrate their second victory and move to the top of the pool standings.

After five sets of very tight volleyball, Canada came away with a valuable 3-2 (22-25, 28-26, 24-26, 25-15, 15-10) victory, a result that keeps them on track toward the playoffs.

Both teams finished level in unforced errors, but Canada outplayed Spain in all three scoring elements: 65-59 in attacks, 11-6 in blocks, and 3-2 in aces.

Outside hitter Andrea Mitrovic led with 22 points, including two blocks, while her teammate Hilary Howe Johnson, who delivered the final point with a deflected shot in the tie-break, added 19 points, also with two blocks. Canada’s middle blockers also reached double digits: Nyadholi Thokbuom tallied 15 (four blocks, one ace, and a 63% attack efficiency), while captain Emily Maglio finished with 10 points.

Canada will close the group stage playing against Türkiye on August 27 for first place in Pool E. Both teams are undefeated with 2 wins each.

Dominican Republic advances to the Round of 16 after 3-0 sweep over Mexico

Dominican Republic became the first Pool F team to qualify for the Round of 16 of the 2025 FIVB Women’s Volleyball World Championship in Thailand. In Monday’s opening match in Chiang Mai, the Caribbean side defeated Mexico in straight sets and remain at the top of the group with a perfect record of two consecutive 3-0 victories. Mexico is still winless.

The Dominicans controlled the match almost from start to finish and ended up celebrating a 3-0 (25-15, 25-17, 25-20) win.

Mexico’s 25 unforced errors (against 14 from Dominican Republic) were a key factor in the result, including the final point of the match, which came on a missed serve. The “Caribbean Queens” also outperformed their rivals in attack (42-32) and in blocking (6-3). Team captain and outside hitter Brayelin Martínez shined with three blocks, one ace, and a 69% success rate in attack to total a match-high 22 points. Her teammate Yonkaira Peña added 11 points, all on attacks.

“We are very happy about qualifying. Reaching the second round was an important goal. Now we have to prepare for the next one, which is to finish first in the pool,” said Dominican head coach Marcos Kwiek.

“We prepared very well for this match. The third set was the hardest, but we know Mexico, we’ve played them many times, we managed to neutralize them, and I’m happy with the team’s good work,” Kwiek concluded.

The third set was the only one in which Mexico managed to hold the lead for a stretch of the game. Serving was the only scoring element in which the North Americans slightly outperformed their NORCECA rivals (3-2 in aces). Opposite hitter Sofía Maldonado was Mexico’s top scorer with 13 points, all on attacks.

Dominican Republic will face China on August 27 for first place in Pool F.

Match schedule Tuesday, August 26 (local time)

7:30 PM Puerto Rico vs Brazil

7:30 PM United States vs  Czechia

8:30 PM Cuba vs Slovakia

August 24, 2025.- The Americans collected six points in Pool D and secured their second victory at the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship this Sunday in Nakhon Ratchasima, becoming the first team to book a spot in the tournament’s Round of 16.

Dominant in three sets, the Americans bounced back from a second-set loss to overcome Argentina 3-1 (25-14, 23-25, 25-12, 25-17) and confirm their place in the knockout stage of the 20th edition of the event in Thailand.

Olympic medalist middle blockers Dana Rettke and Chiaka Ogbogu led the American offense, with the former tallying 15 points (11 kills, three blocks, one ace) and the latter adding 14 (eight kills, five blocks, one ace). Outside hitters Sarah Franklin and Avery Skinner also played key roles, scoring 15 and 13 points, respectively.

“It feels amazing to have qualified, we’re super excited,” Franklin said. “The second set didn’t go the way we expected, but as a team we just wanted to improve on the things that didn’t go well, and I think we did a great job with that in sets three and four.”

Italy respectful but ruthless in sweep of Cuba

Italian star opposite Paola Egonu played only the first two sets of the match (as did four other teammates) but still topped the scoring charts with 12 points in the 3-0 (25-9, 25-8, 25-16) victory. Egonu spiked at a 67% success rate, added two aces, and produced two blocks.

Overall, Italy outplayed Cuba across all stats: 41-20 in kills, 13-3 in blocks, and 6-1 in aces. Cuba’s top scorer was 22-year-old opposite Dezirett De La Caridad Madan, who registered eight points, all from kills.

Puerto Rico fall to Greece as Europeans claim first World Championship win in 23 years

Greece secured their first victory at an FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship in 23 years, defeating Puerto Rico in four sets 3-1 (25-19, 25-13, 23-25, 25-14) in a Pool C match on Sunday in Chiang Mai.

The Greeks dominated the game in every area — kills (58-40), blocks (10-6), and aces (6-1). Outside hitter Valeria Vázquez was Puerto Rico’s top performer with 14 points, while 15-year-old opposite Decelise Champion contributed 12.

Match schedule August 25 (local time)

4 PM Canada vs. Spain

4 PM Dominican Republic vs. Mexico

August 23, 2025.- United States, Canada, and the Dominican Republic started strong on Saturday, the 23rd, with victories at the Women’s World Championship, held across multiple venues in Thailand. Meanwhile, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Mexico were not as fortunate and lost their opening matches.

The Skinner Sisters Lead the United States

Sisters Avery and Madisen combined for 28 points in Team USA’s victory over debutants Slovenia, defeating them in four sets in Nakhon Ratchasima. The Europeans competed well for three sets, but the solid performances of the Skinners proved decisive as the United States prevailed 3-1 (25-23, 17-25, 25-22, 25-14) to secure their first win in Pool D.

Playing together on the national team for the second season, the Skinners totaled 28 points: outside hitter Avery led with 15 (14 kills and one ace), while opposite Madisen added 13 (ten kills, two aces, and one block). Outside hitter Sarah Franklin also contributed 10 points (nine kills and one block).

“We know we have to start this tournament strong because every team will give their best against us,” said captain and setter Jordyn Poulter. “Slovenia came out very strong and took the second set from us, but I’m proud of today’s collective effort. Everyone contributed and made a difference. It’s going to be a battle every night, and we’ll need everyone to win matches.”

Slovenia’s higher number of errors (30 to 17) was a key factor in the U.S. victory. Although the United States scored more attack points (53 to 50), the Europeans compensated with better blocking (10 to 5) and serving (7 to 4). The U.S. team shares Pool D with Argentina, the Czech Republic, and Slovenia.

Canada Defeats Bulgaria

Canada opened the World Championship on a high note, defeating Bulgaria 3-1 (25-23, 25-18, 23-25, 25-18). The Canadians outperformed the Europeans in every statistical category: attacks (51-46), blocks (13-6), and serves (5-3).

Outside hitter Andrea Mitrovic tallied 17 points (16 on attacks), Nyadholi Thokbuom added 15 (12 on attacks and 3 on blocks), and opposite Anna Smrek finished with 12 points. Canada is part of Pool E, alongside Turkey, Bulgaria, and Spain.

Dominican Republic Dominates Colombia

The Dominican Republic showed no mercy and secured a clear 3-0 (25-15, 25-18, 25-13) victory over Colombia. The Dominicans are in Pool F along with China, Colombia, and Mexico.

The Caribbean side was far superior: they outscored the South Americans in attacks 47-27, in blocks 11-8, and in serves 6-3. Brayelin Martínez opened the tournament with a strong performance, scoring 20 points (17 on attacks and 3 on blocks). Gaila González was outstanding at the net with 4 blocks, helping her finish with 17 points, while Yonkaira Peña added 11.

Defeats for Other NORCECA Teams

In Pool F, Mexico fell 1-3 (25-22, 24-26, 10-25, 18-25) to China, with Sofía Maldonado leading her team with 22 points.

In Pool C, Puerto Rico lost 1-3 (22-25, 18-25, 25-21, 14-25), while in Pool B, Cuba could not handle Belgium and lost in straight sets 0-3 (23-25, 14-25, 11-25).

Next Matches (August 24, local time)

• 4:00 PM Puerto Rico vs Greece
• 5:00 PM Cuba vs Italy
• 6:30 PM United States vs Argentina

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).

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.

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:

1. Bulgaria; 2. United States; 3. Poland; 4. Türkiye; 5. Italy; 6. China; 7. Japan; 8. Brazil; 9. Croatia; 10. Argentina; 11. Chinese Taipei, 12. Mexico; 13. Thailand; 14. Belgium; 15. Serbia; 16. Germany; 17. Spain; 18. Canada; 19. Puerto Rico; 20. Chile; 21. Peru; 22. Egypt; 23 Dominican Republic; 24. Tunisia.

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.

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.

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 Dominates Tunisia, Finishing 23rd

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)

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 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).

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)

Matches positions 9 – 12: Croacia vs Mexico 21:15 (Local time)

Position 17: Canada vs Spain18:15 (Local time)

Position 19: Puerto Rico vs Chile15:15 (Local time)

Position 23: Tunisia vs Dominican Republic 15:15 (Local time)

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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).

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

Pool C: United States vs Türkiye 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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)