Tag: Norceca

USA and Canada with Victories, Cuba suffers first loss in Week 3

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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).

It’s confirmed! The Netherlands is set to host FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships 2027

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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.”

VNL 2025 Women’s Finals: final eight ready to battle for the coveted title in Łódź

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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.

Watch the Volleyball Nations League on VBTV

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

Volleyball Nations League 2025: full schedule and results

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.

There Will Be a New Central American U23 Women’s Champion

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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.

AFECAVOL U23 FEMENINO

Competition Schedule

July 20

4:30pm   Guatemala vs El Salvador

7:30pm   Belize vs Panama

July 21

5:00pm   Honduras vs Panama

7:30pm   Belie vs El Salvador

Jully 22

5:00pm   Guatemala vs Honduras

7:30pm   El Salvador vs Panama

July 23

5:00pm   Guatemala vs Panama

7:30pm   Belize vs Honduras

July 24

5:00pm   Honduras vs El Salvador

7:30pm   Belize vs Guatemala

Year by Year Podium

YEARGOLDSILVERBRONZE
2012CRCGUAHON
2014CRCNCAGUA
2016CRCGUAESA
2019CRCBIZNCA
2022CRCHONGUA
2024NCACRCBIZ

Cuba Stuns Poland and Holds on to Seventh Place

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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).

Positive outlook from coaches before the start of NORCECA Women’s Final Four

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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.

Cuba and USA Wins Keep Them in the Hunt for the VNL Finals

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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.

Puerto Rico set to defend title at NORCECA Women’s Final Four

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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.

Competition Schedule:

 Friday – July 18

 6:00 pm    Trinidad & Tobago vs Mexico

 8:00 pm    Puerto Rico vs Costa Rica

Saturday – July 19

6:00 pm    Mexico vs Costa Rica

8:00 pm    Puerto Rico vs Trinidad & Tobago

Sunday – July 20

5:00 pm    Trinidad & Tobago vs Costa Rica

7:00 pm    Puerto Rico vs México

HISTORIC MEDALS NORCECA WOMEN’S FINAL FOUR

YearGoldSilverBronze
2019CANPURMEX
2022MEXCUBPUR
2023PURCRCTTO
2024PURMEXCUB

T&T’s Miguel is CAZOVA Under-23 men’s ‘MVP’

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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.

Martinique’s Melinard-Chanteu cops CAZOVA Under-23 Women’s ‘MVP’

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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.

Final Week of Men’s VNL Preliminary Round Begins

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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.

Canada

Currently:

  • 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.

Cuba plays in Gdansk, Poland, with Bulgaria, China, France, Iran, and Poland.

Canada plays in Ljubljana, Slovenia, facing Slovenia, Serbia, Italy, Ukraine, and the Netherlands.

Match Schedule:

July 16

USA vs Türkiye

Cuba vs Bulgaria

Canada vs Slovenia

July 17

USA and Canada rest

Cuba vs Poland

July 18

USA vs Argentina

Cuba vs France

Canada vs Netherlands

July 19

Cuba has a rest day

USA vs Germany

Canada vs Serbia

July 20

USA vs Japan

Cuba vs China

Canada vs Ukraine

Women’s VNL Preliminary Round Concludes, United States Advances to Finals

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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.

U.S. Girls U19 National Team Takes Silver at 2025 World Championship

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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:

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.

Trinidad and Tobago battle to CAZOVA Under-23 Men’s title

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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.”

Martinique dethrones Suriname as CAZOVA Under-23 Women’s Champions

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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.”

Trinidad and Tobago get Bronze in CAZOVA U-23 Women’s tournament 

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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.

Martinique finishes on a high to grab Men Bronze in CAZOVA U23

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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.

Andy Leonardo Named Most Valuable Player of the Second Men’s Final Four

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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.

Guatemala Climbs the Podium Perfectly at the Second Men’s Final Four

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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”.

Belize Claims Silver Medal at the Second Men’s Final Four

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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.

ÁLBUM BIZ VS NCA

Belize

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”.

González/Navas Strike Gold in Ciudad Madero, Third Consecutive Title on the 2025 NORCECA Tour

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CIUDAD MADERO, Tamaulipas, July 13, 2025.- María González and Allanis Navas have done it again. The Puerto Rican duo captured the gold medal at the fourth stop of the 2025 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour, held in Ciudad Madero, Tamaulipas, securing their third straight victory of the season, all against Mexico’s Susana Torres and Atenas Gutiérrez.

This time, they clinched the title with a 2-1 (21-18, 21-19) win in a tightly contested final that leaned in Puerto Rico’s favor, especially after an injury disadvantaged Atenas Gutiérrez’s performance. Torres/Gutierrez finished second place in all four stages this year.

Navas and González have dominated the season with impressive gold medal runs in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Cortés, and now on Mexican soil, firmly establishing themselves as the team to beat on the tour.

The bronze medal went to Canada’s Devin Corah and Alicia Thibodeau, who battled past Mexico’s Yeray Vidaurrazaga and María Ramírez in a thrilling 2-1 (21-18, 17-21, 15-13) match. The Mexican duo capped off a strong tournament with a fourth-place finish.

Before the final, the podium matchups were decided with authority. Torres and Gutiérrez defeated Vidaurrazaga and Ramírez in the semifinals 21-19, 21-16, while González and Navas cruised past Corah and Thibodeau with a dominant 2-0 (21-11, 21-9) win to book their place in the gold medal match.

In the battle for fifth place, Canada’s Emma Cudmore and Claire Simmonds delivered a clear 2-0 (21-10, 21-17) victory over Socorro López and Lolette Rodríguez of Nicaragua. Earlier, López and Rodríguez had defeated Cristina Almeida and Amber Bennett (U.S. Virgin Islands) 2-0 (21-14, 21-10), while Cudmore and Simmonds eliminated Danna Aguilar and Ana Sofía Arévalo (Guatemala) with a convincing 2-0 (21-5, 21-10) scoreline.

The seventh-place match went to Aguilar and Arévalo, who beat Almeida and Bennett in two very different sets: 21-7 and a close 22-20. Megan Hands and Natalie Gazzard of Bermuda finished the tournament in ninth place.

Final Women’s Ranking NORCECA Ciudad Madero 2025

                1.            María González / Allanis Navas (PUERTO RICO)

                2.            Susana Torres / Atenas Gutiérrez (MÉXICO 1)

                3.            Devin Corah / Alicia Thibodeau (CANADÁ 1)

                4.            Yeray Vidaurrazaga / María Ramírez (MÉXICO 2)

                5.            Emma Cudmore / Claire Simmonds (CANADÁ 2)

                6.            Socorro López / Lolette Rodríguez (NICARAGUA)

                7.            Danna Aguilar / Ana Sofía Arévalo (GUATEMALA)

                8.            Cristina Almeida / Amber Bennett (ISLAS VÍRGENES)

                9.            Megan Hands / Natalie Gazzard (BERMUDAS)

Rivera and Rosich of Puerto Rico Win Gold in Tamaulipas

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CIUDAD MADERO, Tamaulipas, July 13, 2025. – William Rivera and Diego Rosich of Puerto Rico were crowned champions of the fourth stop of the 2025 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour after defeating USA’s  Skyler Kaufman and Christopher Shaffer in the gold medal match 2-0 (21-12, 24-22).

With this victory, the Puerto Rican duo claimed the gold medal on Mexican soil following a strong and consistent performance throughout the event.

The bronze medal went to Mexico’s Miguel Sarabia and Jorman Osuna, who earned a 2-0 (21-19, 22-20) win over Rubén Mora and Denis López of Nicaragua. With this result, Sarabia and Osuna secured their third medal of the 2025 NORCECA Tour season: gold in Juan Dolio (Dominican Republic), bronze in Puerto Cortés (Honduras), and now another bronze in Tamaulipas, solidifying their status as one of the most consistent pairs on the circuit.

In the semifinals, Rivera and Rosich advanced after battling past Mora and López in three intense sets (21-17, 20-22, 15-7), while Shaffer and Kaufman eliminated Sarabia and Osuna with straight sets of 21-14 and 21-19.

The fifth-place match was won by the Mexican pair Inés Lares and Carlos Andrés Vargas, who came from behind to defeat Christopher and Yoel Guardado of El Salvador 2-1 (17-21, 21-17, 18-16). Earlier, the Guardado twins had beaten Devin Van Siclen and Daniel Samuelson of the U.S. Virgin Islands 2-0 (21-17, 21-18), while Lares and Vargas edged out Colin Lash and Dylan Devecseri of Canada 2-1 (21-14, 15-21, 15-11).

Van Siclen and Samuelson bounced back to claim seventh place by defeating Devecseri and Lash 2-1 (21-19, 18-21, 15-12). Meanwhile, Edgar Maldonado and Santiago Penagos of Guatemala secured ninth place with a dominant 2-0 (21-10, 21-13) win over Kyle Hamilton and Connor Somerville of Bermuda, who finished the tournament in tenth place.

Men’s Final Ranking NORCECA Ciudad Madero 2025

  1. William Rivera / Diego Rosich (PUERTO RICO)
  2. Skyler Kaufman / Christopher Shaffer (ESTADOS UNIDOS)
  3. Miguel Sarabia / Jorman Osuna (MÉXICO 1)
  4. Rubén Mora / Denis López (NICARAGUA)
  5. Inés Lares / Carlos Andrés Vargas (MÉXICO 2)
  6. Christopher Guardado / Yoel Guardado (EL SALVADOR)
  7. Devin Van Siclen / Daniel Samuelson (ISLAS VÍRGENES)
  8. Colin Lash / Dylan Devecseri (CANADÁ)
  9. Edgar Maldonado / Santiago Penagos (GUATEMALA)
  10. Kyle Hamilton / Connor Somerville (BERMUDAS)

Blake Fahlbusch Named MVP at U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup

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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.

USA Captures Third Consecutive Gold Medal at U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup

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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.”

Canada Earns Historic Bronze Medal at U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup

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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”.

Puerto Rico Takes Fifth Place in Thrilling Victory Over Chile

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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.”

Panama Finishes Seventh at U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup

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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.”

USA Complete VNL Finals Lineup

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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.

United States Aims for a Back-to-Back U19 World Championship

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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 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)

Suriname outlasts T&T in five-sets in gold medal prelude

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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.

Martinique gets past Guadeloupe for first win

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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.

Suriname battles past T&T to reach U-23 women’s finals 

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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.

Martinique marches into U-23 women’s finals unbeaten  

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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.

Nicaragua Earns First Victory at the Second Final Four Over El Salvador

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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.”

Guatemala Outlasts Belize in Power Duel at the Second Men’s Final Four

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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.”

Mexico Advances to U19 Final After Dramatic Four-Set Victory Over Venezuela

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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”.

Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, and USA to Battle for a Spot in the Final at the NORCECA Tour in Tamaulipas

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CIUDAD MADERO, Tamaulipas, July 12, 2025.- Miguel Sarabia and Jorman Osuna of Mexico, Rubén Mora and Denis López of Nicaragua, William Rivera and Diego Rosich of Puerto Rico, and Skyler Kaufman and Christopher Shaffer of the United States are the semifinalists of the fourth stop of the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour.

In the semifinals, Sarabia/Osuna (Mexico) will face Shaffer/Kaufman (USA), while Rivera/Rosich (Puerto Rico) will take on Mora/López (Nicaragua).

In an all-Mexican quarterfinal clash, Miguel Sarabia and Jorman Osuna came out on top in a dramatic 2-1 victory (21-17, 14-21, 15-9) over Carlos Andrés and Jorge Lares, cheered on by a supportive Tamaulipas crowd.

Mora/Lopez (NCA)

Meanwhile, the Central American duel delivered plenty of thrills, as Rubén Mora and Denis López of Nicaragua defeated El Salvador’s’ Christopher and Yoel Guardado in straight sets 26-24, 21-18 to secure their place among the final four.

Representing the Caribbean, William Rivera and Diego Rosich of Puerto Rico dominated their quarterfinal match against Devin Van Siclen and Daniel Clements of the U.S. Virgin Islands, earning a 2-0 win (21-10, 21-13). On their part, Americans Skyler Kaufman and Christopher Shaffer eliminated Canada’s Dylan Devecseri and Colin Lash in straight sets (24-22, 21-17).

The day began with the last pool-play matches, where Rivera/Rosich topped Pool A after defeating Sarabia/Osuna 2-0 (21-13, 21-17), pushing the Mexican duo into second place.

In Pool B, Shaffer/Kaufman (USA) started strong with a 2-0 win over Clements/Van Siclen (21-14, 21-14). Later, the Guardado brothers also defeated the Caribbean pair 2-0 (21-19, 21-13). In the group’s final match, the Americans edged out the Salvadorans in a close contest, 2-0 (21-19, 21-19), claiming the top spot. El Salvador finished second, with U.S. Virgin Islands in third.

Pool C saw Lares/Carlos Andrés take first place after sweeping Hamilton/Somerville of Bermuda (21-5, 21-10). However, Mora/López shook up the group by defeating Devecseri/Lash form Canada 21-15, 21-11, earning second place in the pool.

USA One Win Away from Hat-Trick at U19 Pan American Cup

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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.

Mexican Pairs, Puerto Rico, and one from Canada Advance to Women’s Semifinals at 4th Stop of the NORCECA Tour

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CIUDAD MADERO, Tamaulipas, July 12, 2025.- The women’s semifinals are set at the fourth stop of the 2025 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour, currently taking place at Playa Miramar in Tamaulipas, Mexico. The qualified pairs are Susana Torres and Atenas Gutiérrez (MEX1), Yeray Vidaurrazaga and María Ramírez (MEX2), Devin Corah and Alicia Thibodeau (CAN1), and María González with Allanis Navas (PUR).

Sunday’s matchups promise intense action, with an all-Mexican semifinal between Torres/Gutiérrez and Vidaurrazaga/Ramírez. The other semifinal will feature Canada’s Corah/Thibodeau against Puerto Rico’s González/Navas for a spot in the final.

TorresGutierrez (MEX1)

In the quarterfinals, Torres and Gutiérrez dominated Nicaragua’s Socorro López and Lolette Rodríguez with a commanding 21-11, 21-12 win. Similarly, Vidaurrazaga and Ramírez advanced after defeating Cristina Almeida and Amber Bennett from the U.S. Virgin Islands (21-12, 21-6).

In an all-Canadian clash, Corah and Thibodeau overcame Emma Cudmore and Claire Simmonds 21-18, 21-13. Meanwhile, González and Navas of Puerto Rico cruised past Guatemala’s Danna Aguilar and Ana Sofía Arévalo with scores of 21-07 and 21-10.

Earlier in pool-play, home favorites Torres/Gutiérrez (MEX1) got off to a strong start, also defeating Aguilar and Arévalo (GUA) 21-11, 21-07 to top Pool A.

In Pool B, González/Navas (PUR) were dominant against López and Rodríguez (NCA), winning 21-12, 21-9. Over in Pool C, Corah/Thibodeau (CAN1) took control with a 21-15, 21-9 victory over Almeida/Bennett (ISV).

With the level of play seen so far, the semifinals are expected to deliver high-stakes, tightly contested battles. Mexico is guaranteed to compete for the gold medal, while Puerto Rico and Canada arrive with experience, consistency, and podium ambitions.

The semifinals, finals, and classification matches will be played this Sunday, July 13, starting at 10:00 a.m. at Playa Miramar.

Valjalo Leads Chile to Victory Over Panama with 26 Points at the U19 Pan American Cup

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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.”

Puerto Rico to Play for Fifth Place at the U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup

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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.

Calypso Spikers defeats Guadeloupe for CAZOVA U23 Men finals

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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.

Martinique silences T&T to reach CAZOVA U23 Women’s gold medal match 

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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.

Suriname wins again to reach CAZOVA U-23 men gold medal match

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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.

Belize Opens with a Victory at the Second Men’s Final Four

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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.”

Dominican Republic Wins over Thailand, Canada Falls to China

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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.

Guatemala Starts Strong at the Second Men’s Senior Final Four

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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.”

Defending U19 World Champions USA Advance to Semifinals

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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)

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)

Canada Defeats Chile and Advances to the Semifinals

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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”.

Torres/Gutiérrez and González/Navas Start Strong at NORCECA Tour in Tamaulipas

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CIUDAD MADERO, Tamaulipas, July 11, 2025.- Mexico’s Torres/Gutiérrez and Puerto Rico’s González/Navas delivered commanding performances on the opening day of the 2025 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour in Ciudad Madero.

In Pool A, Susana Torres and Atenas Gutiérrez (MEX1) dominated from start to finish, defeating Canada’s Emma Cudmore and Claire Simmonds (CAN2) 21-14, 21-16. Earlier, Cudmore and Simmonds had opened pool play with a solid win over Guatemala’s Danna Aguilar and Ana Sofía Arévalo, with scores of 21-18 and 21-10. While the first set was closely contested, the gap widened significantly in the second.

Torres – Gutierrez (MEX1) vs Simmonds – Cudmore (CAN2)

In Pool B, Puerto Rico’s María González and Allanis Navas made a strong statement with a straight-sets victory over Mexico’s Yeray Vidaurrazaga and María Ramírez (MEX2), 21-19, 21-14, in one of the most thrilling matches of the day. The Puerto Ricans held their nerve in a tightly contested first set before pulling away in the second, showcasing their experience and composure. Earlier, the Mexican duo had opened with a dominant 21-16, 21-9 win over Nicaragua’s Socorro López and Lolette Rodríguez, adding even more weight to Puerto Rico’s impressive performance.

Pool C also delivered excitement. Amber Bennett and Cristina Almeida of the U.S. Virgin Islands defeated Bermuda’s Megan Hands and Natalie Gazzard in straight sets (21-14, 21-17), displaying solid court control. Later, Canada’s Devin Corah and Alicia Thibodeau (CAN1) made quick work of Hands/Gazzard, winning 21-8, 21-12 in a match that posed little challenge for the Canadians.

The women’s opening day made it clear: both local and Caribbean teams have serious podium ambitions.

WOMEN’S RESULTS

POOL A: SIMMONDS/CUDMORE (CAN2) 2-0 AGUILAR/ARÉVALO (GUA) (21-18/21-10); TORRES/GUTIÉRREZ (MEX1) 2-0 SIMMONDS/CUDMORE (CAN2) (21-14/21-16)

POOL B: VIDAURRAZAGA/RAMÍREZ (MEX2) 2-0 LÓPEZ/LOLETTE (NCA) (21-16/21-9); GONZÁLEZ/NAVAS (PUR) 2-0 VIDAURRAZAGA/RAMÍREZ (MEX2) (21-19/21-14)

POOL C: BENNETT/ALMEIDA-ANZ (ISV) 2-0 HANDS/GAZZARD (BER) (21-14/21-17); CORAH/THIBODEAU (CAN1) 2-0 HANDS/GAZZARD (BER) (21-8/21-12)

Mexican Men Duos Shine in Opening Day at Tamaulipas NORCECA Tour

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CIUDAD MADERO, Tamaulipas, July 11, 2025.-Mexican duos Lares/Carlos Andrés and Sarabia/Osuna kicked off the fourth stop of the 2025 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour in Ciudad Madero, Tamaulipas with thrilling performances and a clear message: as tournament favorites, they are here to compete, not speculate.

In Pool C, where the most exciting match of the day took place, Carlos Andrés and Miguel Lares (MEX2) defeated Canada’s Colin Lash and Dylan Devecseri in three sets (21-12, 19-21, 15-8), showing composure and resilience. Earlier, they had already edged Nicaragua’s Rubén Mora and Denis López in two intense sets (27-25, 21-13), with a nail-biting first set.

Lash/Devecseri had previously defeated Bermuda’s Kyle Hamilton and Connor Somerville 2-0 (21-7, 21-14). The Bermudans couldn’t bounce back in their second match either, falling to Nicaragua 2-0 (21-11, 21-8).

Guardado C. – Guardado Y. (ESA)

Miguel Sarabia and Jorman Osuna (MEX1), placed in Pool A, dominated Guatemala’s Edgar Maldonado and Santiago Penagos with a smooth and precise performance, winning 2-0 (21-13, 21-11) to solidify their presence in the tournament. Puerto Rico’s William Rivera and Diego Rosich also defeated the Guatemalan duo 2-0 (21-15, 21-14).

Pool B featured the tightest matches of the day. El Salvador’s Christopher and Yoel Guardado beat Devin Van Siclen and Daniel Samuelson of the U.S. Virgin Islands with scores of 21-19 and 21-13, in a match that began neck and neck. The Guardado twins later faced Americans Skyler Kaufman and Christopher Shaffer, who emerged victorious in a thrilling battle, taking both sets 21-19 and proving that every point was hard-fought.

On this opening day, the teams from Mexico, the United States, and Canada showed power and poise, making it clear that it won’t be easy to take group leadership away from them. The competition is just getting started and promises even more excitement ahead.

MEN’S RESULTS

POOL A: Rivera/Rosich (PUR) 2-0 Maldonado/Penagos (GUA) (21-15/21-14); Sarabia/Osuna (MEX1) 2-0 Maldonado/Penagos (GUA) (21-13/21-11)

POOL B: Guardado/Guardado (ESA) 2-0 Clements/Van Siclen (ISV) (21-19/21-13);

Shaffer/Kaufman (USA) 2-0 Guardado/Guardado (ESA) (21-19/21-19)

POOL C: Lares/Carlos Andrés (MEX2) 2-0 Mora/López (NCA) (27-25/21-13); Devecseri/Lash (CAN) 2-0 Hamilton/Somerville (BER) (21-7/21-14); Lares/Carlos Andrés (MEX2) 2-1 Devecseri/Lash (CAN) (21-12/19-21/15-08); Mora/López (NCA) 2-0 Hamilton/Somerville (BER) (21-11/21-08)

Venezuela Moves into Semifinals at U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup

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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.

Important Victory for USA over the Dominican Republic in VNL

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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).

Calypso Spikers hold nerve to get past Curacao in five sets

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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.

Calypso Spikers sweep Martinique in clinical display

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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.

Martinique stuns defending champions Suriname in U-23 curtain raiser

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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.

Suriname overcomes Guadeloupe ine U-23 CAZOVA Men’s opener

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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.

Tamaulipas Joins the Global Beach Volleyball Map with the Fourth Stop of the 2025 NORCECA Tour

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CIUDAD MADERO, Tamaulipas, July 9, 2025.– The sands of Playa Miramar will host a historic moment for Mexican sports: for the first time ever, Tamaulipas will stage an international beach volleyball competition. The fourth stop of the 2025 NORCECA Tour will take place from July 11 to 14 in Ciudad Madero, featuring top teams from North, Central America, and the Caribbean.

This event marks the beginning of the 2025 NORCECA circuit in Mexico, which is set to host four stops this year. After Ciudad Madero, the tour will continue in Manzanillo (August 29–31), Guadalajara (September 5–7), and Ciudad del Carmen (October 10–12).

The tournament will bring together 19 teams—10 men’s and 9 women’s—representing nine countries.

The Mexican pairs arrive highly motivated with strong performances in the 2025 circuit. In the women’s division, Susana Torres and Atenas Gutiérrez—winners of three silver medals—will be aiming for gold in front of their home crowd. In the men’s division, Inés Vargas and Carlos Andrés Ayala, champions in Puerto Cortés, along with Miguel Sarabia and Jorman Osuna, gold medalists in Juan Dolio and bronze medalists in Puerto Cortés, will look to dominate on home soil.

POOL DISTRIBUTION

WOMEN

POOL A: CAN1: Simmonds/Cudmore; MEX1: Torres/Gutiérrez; GUA: Aguilar/Arevalo

POOL B: MEX2: Vidaurrazaga/Ramírez; PUR: Nieves/Musignac; NIC: López/Lolette

POOL C: BER: Hands/Gazzard; CAN2: Corah/Thibodeau; ISV: Bennett/Almeida-Anz

MEN

POOL A: GUA: Maldonado/García; MEX2: Sarabia/Osuna; PUR: Rivera/Rosich

POOL B: ESA: Guardado/Guardado; USA: Shaffer/Kaufman; ISV: Clements/Van Siclen

POOL C: MEX1: Lares/Carlos Andrés; CAN: Devecseri/Lash; NIC: Mora/López; BER: Hamilton/Somerville

TEAMS

WOMEN GUA: Danna Aguilar /Ana Sofía Arevalo; MEX1: Susana Torres/Atenas Gutiérrez; MEX2: Yeray Vidaurrazaga / María Ramírez; NIC: Socorro López/Lolette Rodríguez; ISV: Cristina Almeida/Amber Bennet; PUR: María González/Allanis Navas; CAN1: Emma Cudmore/Claire Simmonds; CAN2: Devin Corah/Alicia Thibodeau; BER: Megan Hands/Natalie Gazzard

MEN BER: Kyle Hamilton/Connor Somerville; CAN: Colin Lash/Dylan Devecseri; ISV: Devin Van Siclen/Daniel Samuelson; GUA: Edgar Maldonado/Luis García; MEX1: Inés Vargas/Carlos Ayala; MEX2: Miguel Sarabia/Jorman Osuna; USA: Skyler Kaufman/Christopher Shaffer; NIC: Rubén Mora/Denis López; PUR: William Rivera/Diego Rosich; ESA: Christopher Guardado/Yoel Guardado

Mexico Advances to U19 Pan Am Cup Semifinals with Sweep Over Chile

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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.”

Suriname Secures Quarterfinal Spot at U19 Pan American Cup

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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”.

USA Earns Direct Ticket to U19 Pan Am Cup Semifinals

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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.

Venezuela Tops Canada in U19 Boys’ Pan Am Cup

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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.”

Tamaulipas to Host a NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour Stop for the First Time

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CIUDAD MADERO, Tamaulipas, July 9, 2025. – For the first time ever, the state of Tamaulipas in Mexico will host an international beach volleyball competition with the arrival of the Fourth Stage of the 2025 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour, set to take place from July 11 to 14 at the Playa Miramar Sports Complex in Ciudad Madero.

The Tamaulipas event marks the first stop of the 2025 NORCECA Tour in Mexico, a country that will host four stages this season: Ciudad Madero, Tamaulipas – July 11–14; Manzanillo, Colima – August 29–31; Guadalajara, Jalisco – September 5–7; Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche – October 10–12

The tournament will welcome teams from nine countries in the region, with a preliminary registration of nine women’s pairs and ten men’s pairs, whose participation will be officially confirmed during the preliminary meeting held the day before the start of the competition.

Mexican teams arrive highly motivated, aiming to reach the podium in front of their home crowd.

In the women’s division, Susana Torres and Atenas Gutiérrez, who have claimed three silver medals so far in the 2025 tour, are hoping to strike gold on home soil and break past the silver barrier.

On the men’s side, Inés Vargas and Carlos Andrés Ayala, champions of the third stop in Puerto Cortés, are aiming to repeat their success in Madero. Meanwhile, the duo of Miguel Sarabia and Jorman Osuna, who took gold in Juan Dolio and bronze in Puerto Cortés, are also setting their sights on the top of the podium.

With the sands of Playa Miramar as the stage and the enthusiasm of the local fans as fuel, Ciudad Madero is getting ready to welcome the region’s top beach volleyball pairs for what promises to be an exciting competition.

Second AFECAVOL Men’s Final Four Promises Intensity

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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.

ALBUM ENTREVISTA PRELIMINARES

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”.

Mexico to Face Chile for a Direct Semifinal Berth at the U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup

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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.”

Coaches express optimism ahead of CAZOVA U23 Women’s Championship

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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.”

Coaches express optimism ahead of inaugural CAZOVA U23 Men’s Championship

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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

USA Wins, Dominican Republic and Canada Fall in Five-Set Thrillers

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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).

Chile Earns Second Win at U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup

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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”.

USA Secures Second Win at U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup

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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”.   

USA’s Scribner/Grimes Claim Women’s Gold at NORCECA U18 Qualifier

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JUAN DOLIO, Dominican Republic, July 9, 2025.- The American duo of Jordyn Scribner and Ella Grimes captured the women’s gold medal at the NORCECA U18 Beach Volleyball Qualifier, defeating Mexico’s Angela Pérez and Melina Román in straight sets 2-0 (22-20, 21-17) in the final held on the sands of Juan Dolio.

The bronze medal went to Canada’s Ruby Cochrane and Sophie Hancock, who battled through a three-set victory over Puerto Rico’s Itzamar Arana and Yamila González, winning 2-1 (21-10, 15-21, 15-10).

The final available berth to the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championship 2025 was claimed by Nicaragua’s Yulimar Alvarado and Brisa Bermúdez, who defeated El Salvador’s Fátima Rendón and Devora Medina in a thrilling match 2-0 (23-21, 21-16).

Winners

The five teams qualified for the FIVB World Championship are: United States, Mexico, Canada, Puerto Rico, and Nicaragua.

In other results, Guatemala’s Harumi Monney and Mónica Cano finished seventh after a 2-0 (21-8, 21-16) win over the Dominican Republic’s Zoe Paniagua and Steyce Turbi.

Costa Rica’s Mariana Vindas and Luciana Soto took ninth place by defeating Bermuda’s Olivia Gazzard and Sophie Weikl 2-0 (22-20, 21-19).

Luna Ebanks and Krisi Smith of the Cayman Islands secured 11th place with a 2-0 (21-9, 21-8) victory over Antigua’s Philisha Burnette and Nevaeh Robertson.

Finally, Anguilla’s duo of Cynne’ Liburd and Cayla Jno-Baptiste placed 13th after beating Sarah Mohammed and Jenissa Morrison of Trinidad and Tobago 2-0 (21-10, 21-11).

Other results of the day were: ESA Rendon/Medina d GUA Monney/Cano 2-0 (21-17, 21-14), NCA Alvarado/Bermúdez d DOM Paniagua/Turbi 2-0 (21-9, 21-18), USA Scribner/Grimes d CAN Cochrane/Hancock 2-1 (23-25, 21-12, 15-11), MEX Pérez/Román d PUR Arana/González 2-0 (21-16, 21-10).

USA’s Williams/Mortensen Capture Men’s Gold at NORCECA U18

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JUAN DOLIO, Dominican Republic, July 9, 2025.- The American duo of Matix Williams and Colten Mortensen claimed the gold medal at the NORCECA U18 Beach Volleyball Qualifier, defeating Canada’s Misha Panasiouk and Bryce Kim in straight sets 2-0 (21-15, 21-15) on the sands of Juan Dolio.

The bronze medal went to Mexico’s Eduardo Escoto and José Bojórquez, who overcame Nicaragua’s Justin Barrios and Edgar Holmann 2-0 (21-15, 21-19).

The fifth and final berth to the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championship 2025 was secured by Guatemala’s Fredy Luna and Robin Oliva, who beat Dylan Lynee and William Duty of the Cayman Islands 2-0 (21-10, 21-16).

The Winners

The five teams qualified for the FIVB World Championship are: United States, Mexico, Canada, Nicaragua, and Guatemala.

In other results, Dominican Republic’s Wayner Comprés and Franklin Segura finished in seventh place after Costa Rica withdrew due to injury.

Mauro Morales and Rocco Figueroa took ninth place after a hard-fought three-set victory over Trinidad and Tobago’s Darion Sparks and Josie Cedeño 2-1 (21-11, 20-22, 15-12).

Meanwhile, Kymani Greenidge and Merchant A’Jahnai of the U.S. Virgin Islands secured 11th place with a 2-0 (21-10, 21-14) win over Julien Simon and Kaiden Smith of Grenada.

Finally, Dominica’s Anthony Caisto and Kailo Robinson placed 13th via bye.

Other results of the day were: CAY Lynee/Duty d CRC Josué Durán/Angel Carranza 2-1 (21-12, 19-21, 15-11), GUA Luna/Oliva d DOM Comprés/Segura 2-0 (21-17, 23-21), CAN Panasiouk/Kim d MEX Escoto/Bojorquez 2-1 (14-21, 21-18, 15-12), USA Williams/Mortensen d NCA Barrios/Holmann 2-0 (21-11, 21-10).

Venezuela Earns First Victory at the U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup

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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.”

CAZOVA Under-23 Championship set to serve off in T&T

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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.

CAZOVA Under-23 Championship schedule:

Thursday, July 10

Men:

Guadeloupe vs Suriname, 12 noon

T&T vs Martinique, 8 pm

Women:

Martinique vs Suriname, 2 pm

T&T vs Curacao, 6 pm

Friday, July 11

Women:

Curacao vs Suriname 1 pm

T&T vs Martinique, 8 pm

Men:

Martinique vs Suriname, 3 pm 

T&T vs Guadeloupe, 6 pm

Saturday, July 12

Men

Guadeloupe vs Martinique, 1 pm 

T&T vs Martinique, 8 pm

Women:

Curacao vs Martinique, 3 pm

T&T vs Suriname, 6 pm

Sunday, July 13

Men:

Third place playoff, 12 noon

Final, 6 pm

Women:

Third place playoff, 2 pm

Final, 4 pm

United States Advances to the Quarterfinals of the U19 Girls’ World Championship

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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

Mexico Opens U19 Pan American Cup with Win Over Panama

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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.”

Chile Swept Suriname in U19 Pan American Cup

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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.”

Canada beat Puerto Rico to start U19 Pan Am Cup

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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.”

USA, Canada, Puerto Rico, and Mexico Women advance to NORCECA U18 Semifinals

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JUAN DOLIO, Dominican Republic, July 8, 2025.- The pairs from the United States (Jordyn Scribes/Ella Grimes), Canada (Ruby Cochrane/Sophie Hancock), Puerto Rico (Itzamar Arana/Yamila González), and Mexico (Angela Pérez/Melina Román) advanced to the semifinals of the NORCECA U18 Beach Volleyball Qualifier, securing their spots at the FIVB World Championship to be held October 7-11 in Doha, Qatar.

The U.S. duo Scribes/Grimes reached the semifinals by defeating Guatemala’s Harumi Monney/Mónica Cano in straight sets 2-0 (21-16, 21-8). They will face Canada’s Cochrane/Hancock, who earned their spot with a 2-0 (21-17, 21-14) victory over El Salvador’s Fátima Rendon/Devora Medina.

Angela Perez of Mexico

In the other quarterfinal matches, Puerto Rico’s Arana/González cruised past the local team of Zoe Paniagua/Steyce Turbi 2-0 (21-12, 21-10) and will meet Mexico’s Pérez/Román in the semifinals. The Mexican duo defeated Nicaragua’s Yulimar Alvarado/Brisa Bermúdez 2-0 (21-18, 21-11).

In the classification matches for 9th to 12th place, Bermuda’s Olivia Gazzard/Sophie Weikl defeated Antigua’s Philisha Burnette/Nevaeh Robertson 2-0 (21-14, 21-17), while Costa Rica’s Mariana Vindas/Luciana Soto swept Cayman Islands’ Luna Ebanks/Krisi Smith 2-0 (21-13, 21-15).

The semifinals and placement matches will be held on Wednesday morning, followed by the bronze and gold medal matches in the afternoon.

Other day results included: DOM Paniagua/Turbi d ANT Burnette/Robertson 2-0 (21-5, 21-6), CRC Vindas/Soto d TTO Sarah Mohammed/Jenissa Morrison 2-0 (21-4, 21-7), PUR Arana/González d ESA Rendon/Medina 2-1 (21-17, 19-21, 15-12), NCA Alvarado/Bermúdez d CAY Ebanks/Smith 2-0 (21-9, 21-13), USA Scribner/Grimes d BER Gazzard/Weikl 2-0 (21-3, 21-10), MEX Pérez/Román d AGU Cynne´ Liburd/Cayla Jno-Baptiste 2-0 (21-4, 21-5).

Men’s Semifinals Set at NORCECA U18 Beach Volleyball Qualifier

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JUAN DOLIO, Dominican Republic, July 8, 2025.- The men’s pairs from Nicaragua, Canada, Mexico, and the United States advanced on Tuesday to the semifinals of the NORCECA U18 Beach Volleyball Qualifier, securing their spots at the FIVB World Championship to be held October 7-11 in Doa, Qatar.

Nicaragua’s duo Justin Barrios/Edgar Holmann cruised past Dominican Republic’ s Wayner Comprés/Franklin Segura in straight sets 2-0 (21-10, 21-10). They will face the U.S. team of Matix Williams and Colten Mortensen in the semifinals, after the Americans defeated Guatemala’s Fredy Luna/Robin Oliva 2-0 (21-17, 21-6).

Edgar Holmann of Nicaraua

Canada’s Misha Panasiouk/Bryce Kyim earned their semifinal spot with a 2-0 (21-17, 21-13) quarterfinal win over Costa Rica’s Josué Durán/Angel Carranza. They will meet Mexico’s Eduardo Escoto and José Bojorquez, who needed just two sets to overpower Dylan Lynee/William Duty of the Cayman Islands 2-0 (21-9, 21-7).

In the classification matches for 9th to 12th place, Darion Sparks/Josie Cedeno of Trinidad and Tobago beat the U.S. Virgin Islands team of Kymani Greeidge/Merchant A’jahani 2-0 (21-6, 21-19), while Puerto Rico’s Mauro Morales/Rocco Figueroa defeated Julien Simon/Kaiden Smith of Grenada in straight sets 2-0 (21-9, 21-12).

Semifinals and placement matches will take place Wednesday morning, followed by the bronze and gold medal matches in the afternoon.

Other results of the day were: DOM Comprés/Segura d GRN Simon/Smith 2-0 (21-5, 21-11), NCA Barrios/Holmann d ISV Greenidge/Merchant 2-0 (21-17, 21-14), GUA Luna/Oliva d TTO Sparks/Cedeno 2-0 (21-5, 21-13), USA Williams/Mortensen d DMA Anthony Caiston/Kailo Robinson 2-0 (21-3, 21-8), MEX Escoto/Bojorquez d PUR Morales/Figueroa 2-0 (21-6, 21-14).

USA Wins U19 Pan American Cup Opener Over Venezuela

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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”.

Decisive Week Begins in Women’s VNL

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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

Women’s Teams from Canada, El Salvador, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua, and USA  Start Strong and Undefeated at NORCECA U18 Beach Volleyball Qualifier

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JUAN DOLIO, Dominican Republic, July 7, 2025.- The women’s pairs from Canada (Ruby Cochrane/Sophie Hancock), El Salvador (Fátima Rendón/Devora Medina), Puerto Rico (Itzamar Martínez/Yamila González), Nicaragua (Yulimar Alvarado/Brisa Bermúdez), and the United States (Jordyn Scribner/Ella Grimes) kicked off the NORCECA U18 Beach Volleyball Qualifier with strong, undefeated performances on the first day of competition. The event is being held on the sands of Juan Dolio Beach in the Dominican Republic and serves as a qualifier for the FIVB U18 World Championship.

Canada’s Cochrane/Hancock were unstoppable in Pool A, winning both of their matches in straight sets. They defeated Philisha Brunette/Nevae Robertson of Antigua 2-0 (21-7, 21-2), and then Dominican Republic’s Zoe Paniagua/Steyce Turbi 2-0 (21-4, 21-11).

El Salvador

In Pool B, El Salvador’s Rendón/Medina secured two wins, first over Sarah Mohammed/Jenissa Morrison of Trinidad & Tobago 2-0 (21-3, 21-8), and then against Costa Rica’s Mariana Jiménez/Luciana Soto 2-0 (21-19, 21-16). In the same pool, Puerto Rico’s Martínez/González matched their success, defeating Jiménez/Soto (CRC) 2-0 (21-11, 21-18) and Mohammed/Morrison (TTO) 2-0 (21-7, 21-9).

In Pool C, Nicaragua’s Alvarado/Bermúdez beat Vernecia Caines/Verneeci Caines of the U.S. Virgin Islands in straight sets, 2-0 (21-16, 21-16), and then won a hard-fought three-setter against Guatemala’s Harumi Monney/Mónica Cano 2-1 (21-14, 19-21, 15-8).

Finally, in Pool D, the U.S. team of Scribner/Grimes earned a dominant 2-0 (21-5, 21-3) win over Cynne’ Liburd/Cayla Jno-Baptiste of Anguilla and followed up with a 2-0 (21-18, 21-15) victory over Mexico’s Ángela Pérez/Melina Román.

This tournament awards five qualification spots per gender to the FIVB U18 Beach Volleyball World Championship, scheduled for October 7–11 in Doha, Qatar.

Other results of the day were: GUA Monney/Cano and CAY Luna Ebanks/Krisi Smith 2-0 (21-16, 21-9); MEX Pérez/Román and BER Olivia Gazzard/Sophie Weikl 2-0 (21-8, 21-4); BER Gazzard/Weikl and AGU Liburd/Jno-Baptiste 2-0 (21-14, 21-11).

Five Men’s Teams Remain Undefeated at NORCECA U18 Beach Volleyball Qualifier

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JUAN DOLIO, Dominican Republic, July 7, 2025.– Five men’s pairs delivered strong performances to remain undefeated on the opening day of the NORCECA U18 Beach Volleyball Qualifier, being held on the stunning sands of Juan Dolio Beach in the Dominican Republic.

The unbeaten duos are Misha Panasiouk/Bryce Kim (CAN), Justin Barrios/Edgar Holman (NCA), Fredy Luna/Robin Oliva (GUA), Darion Sparks/Josie Cedeno (TTO), and Eduardo Escoto/José Bojorques (MEX).

In Pool A, Canada’s Panasiouk/Kim easily defeated Julien Simon/Kaiden Smith of Grenada in straight sets 2-0 (21-9, 21-4), followed by another 2-0 win over Dominican Republic’s home team Wayner Comprés/Franklin Segura (21-13, 21-14).

Mexico

Nicaragua’s Barrios/Holman opened Pool B with a solid 2-0 (21-19, 21-16) victory over Costa Rica’s Josué Durán/Ángel Carranza. They had a bye in their second match of the day.

In Pool C, Guatemala’s Luna/Oliva battled past Cayman Islands’ Dylan Lynee/William Duty in three sets, 2-1 (21-17, 12-21, 15-7). Their second match was a bye. In the same pool, Trinidad and Tobago’s Sparks/Cedeno also defeated Lynee/Duty in straight sets, 2-0 (24-22, 21-13), and had a bye as well.

In Pool D, Mexico’s Escoto/Bojorques opened with a comfortable 2-0 (21-15, 21-14) win over Dominica’s Anthony Caiston/Robinson Kailo. They then had to dig deep to overcome the U.S. duo Matix Williams/Colten Mortensen in three sets, 2-1 (14-21, 21-17, 19-17).

This tournament awards five spots per gender to the FIVB U18 Beach Volleyball World Championship, set to take place October 7-11 in Doha, Qatar.

Other results of the day were: CRC Durán/Carranza d ISV Kymani Greenidge/Merchant A’jahnai 2-0 (21-16, 21-9); PUR Mauro Morales/Rocco Figueroa d DMA Caiston/Kailo 2-1 (20-22, 21-18, 15-13); USA Williams/Mortensen d PUR Morales/Figueroa 2-0 (21-12, 21-11).

United States and Mexico Advance to the Round of 16 at the U19 Girls’ World Championship

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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

Coaches Share Their Expectations Ahead of the U19 Boys’ Pan American Cup

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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.”

Venezuela

The Pan American Flame is Lit and the ASU 2025 Torch Relay Begins

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ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, July 6, 2025 – In the presence of the President of the Republic of Paraguay, Santiago Peña, Panam Sports President Neven Ilic, Paraguayan Olympic Committee President Camilo Pérez, and other distinguished officials, the traditional lighting ceremony of the Pan American Flame and the start of the Torch Relay for the ASU 2025 Junior Pan American Games took place.

Starting today, the Pan American Flame will travel through Paraguay’s main cities, culminating its journey on August 9 at the ASU 2025 Opening Ceremony.

The beautiful, historic, and touristic Jesuit Mission of Jesús de Tavarangue in Paraguay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, provided the perfect setting for the significant and traditional ceremony that marks the beginning of the II ASU 2025 Junior Pan American Games.

Set against the natural backdrop of the Jesuit Ruins, the event brought together the highest-ranking government and sports authorities from Paraguay and Panam Sports. After the flag procession and national anthems, the attending officials delivered speeches emphasizing the importance of the ceremony and the significance of hosting the most impactful sporting event in Paraguay’s 214-year history.

“This is a very traditional ceremony in our organization. For the senior Pan American Games, the flame is always lit in Teotihuacan, Mexico. For the first Junior Pan American Games, the lighting took place at Cerro Cristo Rey in Cali. Today, we are in a magical place, full of history and of great importance to Paraguay. Here, the new flame is born and will travel to various corners of this beautiful country until it reaches the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony. We are happy and excited, the most important youth sporting celebration in the continent is almost here,” said Panam Sports President Neven Ilic.

“From here, a journey begins, not just a ceremonial journey, but a true, tangible process of national transformation. ASU 2025 is not an isolated project; it’s part of a broader effort involving infrastructure investment, tourism promotion, job creation, talent development, and, of course, Paraguay’s international projection,” said Paraguayan President Santiago Peña.

After the speeches, Guaraní indigenous representatives entered the scene. To the rhythm of music and ancestral dances, they lit the new flame and the Pan American torch, officially starting the traditional relay.

The first to carry the Pan American Flame was Panam Sports President Neven Ilic, followed by Paraguayan President Santiago Peña, Minister of Sports César Ramírez, Paraguayan Olympic Committee President Camilo Pérez, a Guaraní representative, and six athletes, officially launching the ASU 2025 Torch Relay.

For 33 days, the ASU 2025 torch will travel through Paraguay’s main cities until it reaches the Estadio Defensores del Chaco in Asunción on August 9 for the Opening Ceremony.

The ASU 2025 Junior Pan American Games will be held from August 9 to 23 and will feature over 4,000 athletes from 41 countries across the continent.

17 Countries to Compete in NORCECA U18 Beach Volleyball Qualifier

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JUAN DOLIO, Dominican Republic, July 6, 2025.- A total of 17 countries will compete in the NORCECA U18 Beach Volleyball Qualifier, the official event to secure spots at the 2025 FIVB U18 World Championship. The tournament kicks off this Monday on the sand courts set up along the beach of Juan Dolio, Dominican Republic.

During Sunday’s preliminary inspections, 15 women’s teams and 13 men’s teams were registered, all aiming to advance from the group stage, which begins Monday at 8:00 a.m. local time.

The opening day will feature 24 matches: 10 in the men’s division and 14 in the women’s. The group stage will conclude Tuesday morning, followed by quarterfinals and the loser’s bracket matches in the afternoon. Semifinals, medal matches, and placement games will be played on Wednesday.

The top five teams per gender will earn direct qualification to the FIVB U18 World Championship, set to take place October 7-11 in Doha, Qatar.

Men’s Teams: CAN Misha Panasiouk/Bryce Kim; CAY Dylan Lynee/William Duty; CRC Josué Durán/Angel Carranza; DMA Caiston Anthony/Kailo Robinson; DOM Wayner Comprés/Franklin Segura; GRN Julien Simon/Kaiden Smith; GUA Fredy Luna/Robin Oliva; ISV Kymani Greenidge/Cole Sommer; MEX Eduardo Escoto/José Bojorquez; NCA Justin Barrios/Edgar Holmann; PUR Mauro Morales/Rocco Figueroa; TTO Darion Sparks/Josie Cedeno; USA Matix Williams/Colten Mortensen.

Women’s Teams: AGU Cynnee´Liburd/Cayla Jno-Baptiste; ANT Philisha Burnette/Nevaeh Robertson; BER Olivia Gazzard/Sophie Weikl; CAN Ruby Cochrane/Sophie Hancock; CAY Luna Ebanks/Krisi Smith; CRC Mariana Jimenez/Luciana Soto; DOM Zoe Paniagua/Steyce Turbi; ESA Fatima Rendon/Devora Medina; GUA Harumi Monney/Monica Cano; ISV Vernecia Caines/Verneeci Caines; MEX Angela Perez/Melina Roman; NCA Yulimar Alvarado/Brisa Bermudez; PUR Itzamar Martinez/Yamila Gonzalez; TTO Sarah Mohammed/Jenissa Morrison; USA Jordyn Scribner/Ella Grimes.

Mexico and USA Advance to U19 World Championship Eightfinals

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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

Pool C: United States vs Türkiye at 21:15

USA’s Brewington/Lance Capture Men’s Gold at NORCECA U21 Qualifier

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JUAN DOLIO, Dominican Republic, July 6, 2025.- The American duo of Malachi Brewington and Titus Lance claimed the gold medal at the NORCECA U21 Beach Volleyball Qualifier, defeating Costa Rica’s Julián Araya and Esteban González in straight sets (21-14, 21-14) in the final held on the sands of Juan Dolio.

The bronze medal went to the host team from the Dominican Republic, as Melvin de Jesús and Ramón de Jesús delivered a solid performance to beat Louis Charbonneau and Henry Heider of Canada 2-0 (21-18, 21-12).

The final berth to the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championship 2025 was secured by Rafael Vargas and Fernando Ortíz of El Salvador, who won a thrilling three-set battle against Julián Bristol and Jedediah Pencheon of Saint Kitts and Nevis 2-1 (21-17, 18-21, 15-10).

Award

The five men’s teams qualified to the FIVB World Championship are: United States, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Canada, and El Salvador.

In other results, Justin Barrios and Deyner López of Nicaragua finished in seventh place after defeating Jerome Morrison and Jahreef Miguel of Trinidad and Tobago 2-0 (21-16, 21-6).

Mervin Mingo and Bill Frederic of Dominica placed ninth, overcoming Nkoya Williams and Aaron Taylor of Barbados 2-0 (23-21, 21-18).

Ignacio Peraza and Reyko Figueroa of Puerto Rico finished 11th, defeating Fredy Luna and José Guevara of Guatemala 2-0 (21-14, 21-19).

Meanwhile, Jaden Victor and Peter Emmanuel of Saint Lucia closed out in 13th place with a hard-fought 2-1 (21-17, 14-21, 15-12) win over Stephen Watson and Dylan Lynee of the Cayman Islands.

Finally, Zerick Walcott and Kibose Hamilton of Grenada also placed 13th, advancing by bye.

Other results of the day were: ESA Rafael Vargas/Fernando Ortiz d TTO Jerome Morrison/Jahreef Miguel 2-0 (21-17, 21-17), SKN Julian Bristol/Jedediah Pencheon d NCA Justin Barrios/Deyner Lopez 2-1 (15-21, 22-20, 15-11), USA Malachi Brewington/Titus Lance d CAN Louis Charbonneau/Henry Heider 2-1 (20-22, 21-10, 15-11), CRC Julian Araya/Victorio Gonzalez d DOM Melvin de Jesus/Ramon de Jesus 2-0 (21-17, 21-14).

USA’s Henson/Wood Win Women’s Gold at NORCECA U21

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JUAN DOLIO, Dominican Republic, July 6, 2025.- The American duo of Zoey Henson and Sarah Wood claimed the gold medal at the NORCECA U21 Beach Volleyball Qualifier, defeating Puerto Rico’s Miabella Musignac and Alanis Nieves in straight sets 2-0 (21-13, 21-11) on the sands of Juan Dolio.

The bronze went to Canada’s Ofure Odigie and Ruby Sorra, who beat Laura Molina and Sofía Vega of Costa Rica in straight sets 21-15, 21-18.

The fifth and final ticket to the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championship 2025 was secured by Guatemala’s Danna Aguilar and Naomi Monney, who overcame Nicaragua’s Yuliana Chávez and Ella Resau in a tight battle, winning 2-0 (24-22, 21-16).

United States

The five women’s teams qualified to the World Championship are: United States, Costa Rica, Canada, Puerto Rico, and Guatemala.

In other results, Daniela Vigil and Ashley Rauda of El Salvador finished seventh, edging out Dominican Republic’s Crismil Paniagua and Daneyi Arias in three sets, 2-1 (21-9, 8-21, 15-12).

Isabelle Phillip and Ericka Gaspard of Saint Lucia claimed ninth place, defeating Destiny Lane and Sierra Rayside of Barbados 2-0 (21-19, 21-19).

In 11th place, Joanna Robinson and Brianna Delapenha of the Cayman Islands beat Jassania Joseph and Jaya Carr from Antigua and Barbuda 2-0 (21-6, 21-10).

Deandra Fleming and Lavesha Richardson of Anguilla took 13th place after a 2-1 (21-14, 18-21, 15-10) win over Brookling Donovan and D’Keisha Jordan of the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Finally, Sarah Mohammed and Bianca Perkins of Trinidad and Tobago also placed 13th, advancing via bye.

Other results of the day were: NCA Yuliana Chavezz/Ella Resau d ESA Daniela Vigil/Ashley Rauda 2-0 (21-19, 21-15), GUA Danna Aguilar/Naomi Monney d DOM Crismil Paniagua/Daneyi Arias 2-0 (21-12, 21-14), USA Zoey Henson/Sarah Wood d CAN Ofure Odigie/Ruby Sorra 2-0 (22-20, 25-23), PUR Miabella Musignac/Alanis Nieves d CRC Laura Molina/Sofia Vega 2-0 (21-13, 21-19).

USA, Canada, Costa Rica, and Puerto Rico Advance to Women’s Semifinals at NORCECA U21 Beach Volleyball Qualifier

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JUAN DOLIO, Dominican Republic, July 5, 2025.- The women’s duos from the United States, Canada, Costa Rica, and Puerto Rico have secured their spots in the semifinals of the NORCECA U21 Beach Volleyball Qualifier, also earning qualification to the FIVB World Championship, set to take place from October 15 to 19 in Puebla, Mexico.

The U.S. team of Zoey Henson and Sarah Wood claimed a dominant win over Nicaragua’s Yuliana Chávez and Ella Resau with set scores of 21-5 and 21-12. In the semifinals, they will face the Canadian pair Ofure Odigie and Ruby Sorra, who advanced by defeating El Salvador’s Daniela Vigil and Ashley Rauda 2-0 (21-17, 21-16).

Miabella Musignac of Puerto Rico

Laura Molina and Sofía Vega of Costa Rica advanced with authority, defeating Dominicans  Crismil Paniagua and Daneyi Arias 2-0 (21-5, 21-6). They will meet Puerto Rico’s Miabella Musignac and Alanis Nieves in the other semifinal after the Puerto Rican duo beat Danna Aguilar and Naomi Monney of Guatemala 2-0 (21-18, 21-19).

In the classification round for 9th to 12th place, Isabelle Phillip and Ericka Gaspard of Saint Lucia topped Jassania López and Jaya Carr of Antigua 2-0 (21-17, 21-17), while Destiny Layne and Sierra Rayside of Barbados edged past the Cayman Islands’ Joanna Robinson and Brianna Delapenha in a tight 2-1 battle (21-19, 18-21, 19-17).

For 13th to 16th place, Brooklyn Donovan and D’Keisha Jordan of the U.S. Virgin Islands defeated Sarah Mohammed and Bianca Perkins of Trinidad and Tobago 2-0 (21-16, 21-16). Deandra Fleming and Lavesha Jordan of Anguilla advanced via bye.

Semifinals and classification matches will take place on Sunday morning, followed by the bronze and gold medal matches in the afternoon.

Other results of the day: DOM Crismil Paniagua/Daneyi Arias d ANT Jassania Jospeh/Jaya Carr 2-0 (21-8, 21-19), CRC Laura Molina/Sofía Vigil d ISV Brooklin Donovan/D’Keisha Jordan 2-0 (21-10, 21-6), ESA Daniela Vigil/Ashley Rauda d CAY Joanna Robinson/Brianna Delapenha 2-0 (21-14, 21-18), GUA Danna Aguilar/Naomi Monney d BAR Destiny Layne/Sierra Rayside 2-0 (21-12, 21-13), NCA Yuliana Chávez/Ella Resau d TTO Sarah Mohammed/Bianca Perkins 2-0 (21-4, 21-2), USA Zoey Henson/Sarah Wood d LCA Isabelle Phillip/Ericka Gaspard 2-0 (21-6, 21-7), PUR Miabella Musignac/Alanis Nieves d AGU Deandra Fleming/Lavesha Richardson 2-0 (21-10, 21-7).

Men’s Duos from Dominican Republic, USA, Canada, and Costa Rica Advance to Semifinals at NORCECA U21 Beach Volleyball Qualifier

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JUAN DOLIO, Dominican Republic, July 5, 2025.- The men’s pairs from the Dominican Republic, United States, Canada, and Costa Rica secured spots in the semifinals of the NORCECA U21 Beach Volleyball Qualifier on Saturday, earning their qualification to the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championship, scheduled for October 15-19 in Puebla, Mexico.

In a thrilling quarterfinal match, Dominican duo Melvin de Jesús and Ramón de Jesús defeated Nicaragua’s Justin Barrios and Deyner López in three sets, 2-1 (21-18, 19-21, 15-13). They will face Costa Rica’s Julián Araya and Victorio González, who earned a convincing 2-0 (21-16, 21-11) win over Julián Bristol and Jedediah Pencheon of Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Malachi Brewington of United States

Meanwhile, the American team of Malachi Brewington and Titus Lance overcame Jerome Morrison and Jahreef Miguel of Trinidad and Tobago with set scores of 24-22 and 21-7. In the semifinals, they will go up against Canada’s Louis Charbonneau and Henry Heider, who came from behind to defeat Rafael Vargas and Fernando Ortiz of El Salvador in a hard-fought 2-1 match (13-21, 22-20, 15-13).

In the 9th-12th place bracket, Mervin Mingo and Bill Frederic defeated Puerto Rico’s Ignacio Pedraza and Reyko Figueroa 2-1 (16-21, 21-15, 15-11), while Nkoya Williams and Aaron Taylor of Barbados outlasted Guatemala’s Fredy Luna and José Guevara in another three-set battle (21-17, 19-21, 15-13).

For the 13th-16th classification, Stephen Watson and Dylan Lynee of the Cayman Islands comfortably beat Zerick Walcott and Kibose Hamilton of Grenada 2-0 (21-9, 21-10). The pair Jaden Victor and Peter Emmanuel of Saint Lucia advanced via bye.

Semifinals and classification matches will be played on Sunday morning, followed by the bronze and gold medal matches in the afternoon.

Other results were: DOM Melvin de Jesus/Ramon de Jesus d DMA Mervin Mingo/Bill Frederic 2-0 (21-13, 21-12), NCA Justin Barrios/Deyner Lopez d BAR Nkoya Williams/Aaron Taylor 2-0 (21-13, 21-11), ESA Rafael Vargas/Fernando Ortiz d GRN Zerick Walcott/Kibose Hamilton 2-0 (21-14, 21-16), TTO Jerome Morrison/Jahreef Miguel d GUA Fredy Luna/Jose Guevara 2-0 (21-18, 21-11), CRC Julian Araya/Victorio Gonzalez d CAY Stephen Watson/Dylan Lynee 2-0 (21-9, 21-12), USA Malachi Brewington/Titus Lance d SKN Julian Bristol/Jedediah Pencheon 2-0 (21-13, 21-14), PUR Ignacio Pedraza/Reyko Figueroa d LCA Jaden Victor/Peter Emmanuel 2-1 (15-21, 21-15, 15-13).

Winless Day for NORCECA Teams at the U19 Girls’ World Championship

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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)

USA, Canada, Costa Rica, and Guatemala Women’s Duos Start Undefeated at NORCECA U21 Qualifier for the FIVB World Championship

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JUAN DOLIO, Dominican Republic, July 4, 2025.- The women’s pairs from USA (Zoey Henson/Sarah Wood), Canada (Ofure Odigie/Ruby Sorra), Costa Rica (Laura Molina/Sofía Vigil), and Guatemala (Danna Aguilar/Naomi Monney) had a strong and undefeated start on the opening day of the NORCECA U21 Beach Volleyball Qualifier for the FIVB World Championship, taking place on the sands of Juan Dolio, Dominican Republic.

The U.S. duo Henson/Wood dominated Pool D easily, defeating Deandra Fleming/Lavesha Richardson of Anguilla 2-0 (21-5, 21-4) and Miabella Musignac/Alanis Nieves of Puerto Rico 2-0 (21-10, 21-11).

In Pool A, Canada’s Odigie/Sorra also picked up two wins, first over Jassania Joseph/Jaya Carr of Antigua 2-0 (21-9, 21-11), and then against Dominican duo Crismil Paniagua/Daneyi Arias 2-0 (21-5, 21-19).

CRC

Costa Ricans Molina/Vega claimed two victories in Pool B, beating Joanna Robinson/Briana Delapenha of the Cayman Islands 2-0 (21-18, 21-10) and El Salvador’s Daniela Vigil/Ashley Rauda 2-0 (21-17, 21-12).

Finally, in Pool C, Guatemala’s Aguilar/Monney opened with a dominant 2-0 win (21-4, 21-4) against Sarah Mohammed/Bianca Perkins of Trinidad and Tobago, followed by a 2-0 victory (21-18, 21-17) over Yuliana Chávez/Ella Resau of Nicaragua.

This event awards five spots per gender to the FIVB U21 World Championship, scheduled to take place from October 15 to 19 in Puebla, Mexico.

Other results of the day were: ESA Vigil/Rauda d ISV Brooklin Donovan/D’Keisha Jordan 2-0 (21-10, 21-10), CAY Robinson/Delapenha d ISV Donovan/Jordan 2-0 (21-10, 21-12), NCA Chávez/Resau d BAR Destiny Layne/Sierra Rayside 2-0 (21-16, 21-16), BAR Layne/Rayside d TTO Mohammed/Perkins 2-0 (21-11, 21-17), PUR Musignac/Nieves d LCA Isabelle Phillip/Ericka Gaspard 2-0 (21-14, 21-8) and LCA Phillip/Gaspard d AGU Deandra Fleming/Lavesha Richardson 2-0 (21-13, 21-12).

Five Men’s Teams Remain Unbeaten on Opening Day of NORCECA U21 Beach Volleyball Qualifier

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JUAN DOLIO, Dominican Republic, July 4, 2025.- Five men’s teams wrapped up the opening day of the NORCECA U21 Beach Volleyball Qualifier for the FIVB World Championship, with perfect records on the sand courts of Juan Dolio, Dominican Republic.

The unbeaten duos were: Malachi Brewington/Titus Lance (USA), Louis Charbonneau/Henry Heider (CAN), Justin Barrios/Deyner López (NCA), Julián Araya/Victorio González (CRC), and Julián Bristol/Jedediah Pencheon (SKN).

In Pool D, USA’s Brewington/Lance defeated Jaden Victor/Peter Emmanuel of Saint Lucia 2-0 (21-11, 21-17) and Puerto Rico’s Ignacio Pedraza/Reyko Figueroa 2-0 (21-15, 21-11). In the same group, Saint Kitts and Nevis’ Bristol/Pencheon edged out Pedraza/Figueroa 2-1 (22-24, 21-16, 15-12) and also beat Victor/Emmanuel 2-0 (21-10, 21-16).

CAN

In Pool A, Canadians Charbonneau/Heider overcame Mervin Mingo/Bill Frederic of Dominica 2-0 (21-17, 21-14) and outlasted Dominicans Melvin De Jesús/Ramón De Jesús 2-1 (21-13, 19-21, 15-12).

In Pool B, Nicaragua’s Barrios/López swept Zerik Walcott/Kibose Hamilton of Grenada 2-0 (21-12, 21-16) and El Salvador’s Rafael Vargas/Fernando Ortiz also in two sets (21-13, 21-16).

Finally, in Pool C, Costa Rica’s Araya/González dominated Jerome Morrison/Jahreef Miguel of Trinidad & Tobago 2-0 (23-21, 21-7) and Fredy Luna/José Guevara of Guatemala 2-0 (21-15, 21-12).

This tournament awards five spots per gender for the FIVB U21 World Championship, set to take place from October 15 to 19 in Puebla, Mexico.

Other results of the day were: ESA Vargas/Ortiz d BAR Nkoya Williams/Aaron Taylor 2-0 (21-16, 21-7), BAR Williams/Taylor d GRN Walcott/Hamilton 2-0 (21-14, 21-15), GUA Luna/Guevara d CAY Stephen Watson/Dylan Lynee 2-1 (14-21, 21-17, 15-9), TTO Morrison/Miguel d CAY Watson/Lynee 2-0 (21-19, 21-16).

FIVB President visits the Philippines as country gears up to host its first ever Volleyball Men’s World Championship

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July 4, 2025.- FIVB President Fabio Azevedo today stopped in the Philippines on his way to Palau for the Mini Pacific Games for meetings with various local authorities and stakeholders in the lead-up to a historic moment for the country

The visit comes as the Philippines prepares to host the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship from 12 to 28 September, the first time the tournament will be held in the country and only the second time ever in Asia. With just 71 days to go, anticipation is building for what promises to be a landmark edition of volleyball’s premier global event.

This year’s Volleyball Men’s World Championship will debut an expanded format, increasing from 24 to 32 teams, and marks the first edition under a new biennial cycle. Matches will be held at two major venues in the heart of Manila: the Smart Araneta Coliseum and the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

While in the region, President Azevedo, joined by Volleyball World Chief Business Officer Guido Betti, took the opportunity to connect with local stakeholders and check on preparations for the milestone event. AVC President Ramon Suzara also joined President Azevedo during the visit.

President Fabio Azevedo commented:

“It is a pleasure to be here in the beautiful city of Manila, where the passion for volleyball is truly inspiring. With preparations in full swing, it’s clear the Philippines is ready to make history as it hosts the Volleyball World Championship for the very first time.

“This edition will officially be the largest and most globally inclusive edition in the tournament’s history. Better yet, we will be making history in a country that lives and breathes our sport. I am delighted to meet with local authorities and see firsthand the energy going into delivering an exceptional event at two world-class venues.”

Awarded the hosting rights in 2024, the Philippines has shown strong commitment and enthusiasm at all levels, including strong government support, to delivering an unforgettable tournament.

18 Countries to Compete in NORCECA U21 Beach Volleyball Championship

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JUAN DOLIO, Dominican Republic, July 3, 2025. – A total of 18 countries will compete in the NORCECA U21 Beach Volleyball Championship, the official qualification tournament for the 2025 FIVB Age-Group World Championships, which begins this Friday on the beautiful sand courts of Juan Dolio Beach in the Dominican Republic. This event offers a great opportunity to witness the region’s rising beach volleyball stars showcasing their talent and passion.

Fifteen teams per gender were registered during Thursday’s preliminary inspections, all aiming to advance from the preliminary pool play, which starts Friday at 8:00 a.m. local time.

A total of 28 matches are scheduled for Friday, 14 in the men’s division and 14 in the women’s. The preliminary round will conclude on Saturday morning, followed by the quarterfinals and the losers’ bracket in the afternoon. Semifinals, medal matches, and placement matches will be played on Sunday.

El Salvador

The top four teams per gender will earn direct qualification to the FIVB U21 World Championship, set to take place from October 15 to 19 in Puebla, Mexico.

Men’s Teams: DOM Melvin De Jesús/Ramón De Jesús; NCA Justin Barrios/Deyner López; TTO Jerome Morrison/Jahreef Miguel; SKN Julián Bristol/Jedediah Pencheon; USA Malachi Brewington/Titus Lance; GUA Fredy Luna/José Guevara; BAR Nkoya Williams/Aaron Taylor; DMA Mervin Mingo/Bill Frederick; CAN Louis Charbonneau/Henry Heider; ESA Rafael Vargas/Fernando Ortiz; CAY Stephen Watson/Dylan Lynee; LCA Jaden Victor/Peter Emmanuel; PUR Ignacio Pedraza/Reyko Figueroa; CRC Julián Araya/Victorio González; GRN Zerick Walcott/Kibose Hamilton.

Women’s Teams: DOM Crismil Paniagua/Daneyi Arias; CRC Laura Molina/Sofía Vega; BAR Destiny Layne/Sierra Rayside; LCA Isaballe Phillip/Ericka Gaspard; USA Zoey Henson/Sarah Wood; GUA Danna Aguilar/Naomi Monney; ISV Brooklyn Donovan/D’Keisha Jordan; ANT Jassania Joseph/Jaya Carr; CAN Ofure Odigie/Ruby Sorra; ESA Daniela Vigil/Ashley Rauda; TTO Sarah Mohammed/Bianca Perkins; AGU Deandra Fleming/Lavesha Richardson; PUR Miabella Musignac/Alanys Nieves; NCA Yuliana Chávez/Ella Resau; CAY Joanna Robinson/Brianna Delapenha.

United States remains undefeated at the Girls’ U19 World Championship

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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 Welcomes Top Youth Teams for U19 Boys’ Pan Am Cup

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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

20:00    Mexico vs Chile

Year by Year podiums

YEARGOLDSILVERBRONZE
2011BRAPURUSA
2017MEXCHIPUR
2019CUBMEXDOM
2022USAMEXPUR
2023USAMEXPUR

Composite Medal Table

COUNTRYGOLDSILVERBRONZETOTAL
USA2013
MEX1304
CUB1001
BRA1001
PUR0134
CHI0101
DOM0011

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