June 20, 2025. – Canada delivered one of its strongest performances so far in the 2025 Women’s VNL, but couldn’t overcome Brazil’s powerful blocking game, falling 0-3 (20-25, 23-25, 23-25) in a tightly contested match at Istanbul’s Sinan Erdem Dome, with over 2,000 spectators in attendance.
Despite the straight-set loss, Giovanni Guidetti’s squad showed character, tactical discipline, and organized defense, staying close throughout the match, particularly in the second and third sets, where they came close to leveling.
Nyadholi Thokbuom CAN
The standout for Canada was 19-year-old Abagayle Guezen, who came off the bench in the first set and led the offense with 13 points, all from kills. Middle blocker Nyadholi Thokbuom also impressed with a 75% attack efficiency, scoring 12 points that included two blocks and an ace.
“I’m very happy to see the team improving every day,” said head coach Giovanni Guidetti.
“Today we had a real chance to win two sets against Brazil. That shows we’re competing at their level, which is a very positive sign. We need to finish sets better, but the progress is clear and that keeps us motivated,” he added.
Despite Canada’s strong showing, Brazil’s blocking superiority made the difference. Julia Kudiess led the way with 8 blocks and totaled 16 points. In contrast, the Canadian side managed only 4 blocks throughout the match, a gap that proved crucial in key moments.
With this loss, Canada drops to 15th in the standings with a 2-5 record (5 points), but the performance proved they can compete head-to-head with the world’s top teams. The team now looks to build on this momentum in the upcoming VNL matches.
SEVEN MILE BEACH, Cayman Islands, June 20, 2025. – Women’s duos from El Salvador, Costa Rica, and Guatemala along with Canada-1 enjoyed a perfect start at the 2025 NORCECA U23 Beach Volleyball Tour, each securing two victories on opening day at the picturesque Seven Mile Beach in the Cayman Islands.
El Salvador’s Karla Tovar and Daniela Vigil, Costa Rica’s Sofia Vega and Laura Molina, Guatemala’s Ana Sofía Arévalo and Danna Aguilar, along with Ariel Forgarty and Bailey Royston of Canada-1, all remained unbeaten with two wins in as many matches.
El Salvador’s Tovar/Vigil were in top form in Pool C, winning both of their matches in straight sets. First against Jamaica’s Brandy McCarthy and Damia Sibblies (21-11, 21-4), and then against Cayman Islands’ Luna Ebanks and Brianna Delapenha (21-9, 21-7). Canada’s Forgarty/Royston edged out Ebanks/Delapenha in a tight 2-1 (20-22, 21-19, 18-16) thriller and later defeated McCarthy/Sibblies 2-0 (21-11, 21-8).
BER #2 Moss In defense
In Pool D, Costa Rica’s Sofia V/Molina overpowered with convincing victories, starting with a 2-0 (21-7, 21-7) over St. Kitts and Nevis’ Celina Alwani and Jontelle Hensley Philip, and then a 2-0 (21-17, 21-8) over Canada’s Claire Neagle and Nolyn Houben. Guatemala’s Arévalo/Aguilar were equally dominant, defeating Neagle/Houben in a highly-competitive 2-0 (21-12, 23-21) and then taking down Alwani/Hensley Philip 2-0 (21-18, 21-7).
In other results, Cayman Islands’ Anjia Delapenha and Joanna Robinson claimed a hard-fought 2-1 victory (17-21, 21-17, 15-5) over Bermuda’s Megan Hands and Hailey Moss in Pool A. Earlier in the day, the Bermudian duo had opened with a straight-set win, 2-0 (21-7, 21-15), against L’fe Roberts and Meeka Johnson of Trinidad and Tobago.
In Pool B, Americans Alexis Durish and Audrey Koenig delivered a commanding 2-0 (21-4, 21-3) win over Barbados’ Sierra Rayside and Destiny Layne. Earlier, the Rayside/Layne had opened strong with a 2-0 (21-11, 21-5) victory against Brooklyn Donovan and D’Keisha Jordan of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Pool play continues Saturday morning, followed by the quarterfinal round and classification matchups for positions.
SEVEN MILE BEACH, Cayman Islands, June 20, 2025.– The Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) hosted a dynamic one-day Under-21 Beach Volleyball Championship on June 19, on the beautiful sands of Seven Mile Beach, bringing together top youth teams from across the region in a vibrant competing atmosphere.
The event served as a qualifier for the 2025 NORCECA U21 and U18 Beach Volleyball Championships and marked a key milestone on the path to the FIVB Age-Group World Championships, with the U18 event scheduled in Doha, Qatar, from October 7 to 11 and the U21 tournament set for Puebla, Mexico from October 15-19.
In a highly competitive tournament featuring both men’s and women’s divisions, the top three ranked countries in each category secured qualification for the NORCECA World Championship Qualifiers. The U21 event is set for July 3–7, and the U18 tournament will follow from July 6–10, with both taking place in the Dominican Republic.
In the women’s division, the top three teams, Cayman Islands, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago, along with the men’s teams from Barbados, Cayman Islands, and Trinidad and Tobago, qualified for the NORCECA qualifying tournaments to be held in the Dominican Republic.
CAZOVA President Mushtaque Mohammed, present at the event, expressed his delight, with the hosting conditions, calling it “one of the best-organizers of beach events in NORCECA.” He praised the participating federations and teams for their commitment to the historic first CAZOVA youth beach volleyball tournament, “This signals the growth of beach volleyball in CAZOVA and the future development of the sport within each National Federation” he added.
The next CAZOVA underage beach Volleyball event will be held in Tobago, Trinidad and Tobago for the U18 teams in preparation for the 2026 Dakar Youth Olympics.
With great weather and exciting matches all day, the CAZOVA U21 Beach Volleyball Championship was a big success, showcasing the region’s rising talent and building momentum for upcoming international competitions.
SEVEN MILE BEACH, Cayman Islands, June 20, 2025. – Seven men’s duos were off to an undefeated start on the opening day of the 2025 NORCECA U23 Beach Volleyball Tour at the stunning Seven Mile Beach. Both Canadian pairs, the U.S. team, St. Kitts and Nevis and all three Central American duos, each delivered dominant performances, winning their two matches in straight sets.
Canada’s two duos Brandon Burnside/Reed Venning and Charles Ellinas/Colin Lash delivered strong performances in Pool A and Pool D respectively.
Brandon Burnside and Reed Venning prevailed over their two opponents, first overpowering host team Cayman Islands’ Stephen Watson and Dylan Lynee 2-0 (21-4, 21-12) and then defeating Trinidad & Tobago’s Jerome Morrison and Jahreef Miguel with an identical 2-0 (21-11, 21-11) win.
Charles Ellinas and Colin Lash opened with a 2-0 (21-13, 21-5) win against William Duty and Dimitri Cardenas from the Cayman Islands, and followed that up with a 2-0 (21-9, 21-10) sweep over Jamaica’s Love-Let Blake and Ithran Softley.
CAN #1 Burnside with the poke set
In Pool C, Ayden Keeter and Carson Barnes from USA, opened with a convincing 2-0 (21-10, 21-7) win over Anderson and Aden Rojas of the U.S. Virgin Islands, then controlled the game in a 2-0 (21-11, 21-10) victory over Nkoya Williams-Bailey and Aaron Taylor from Barbados.
Also in Pool C, Julian Bristol and Clerique Ward of St. Kitts and Nevis defeated Nkoya/Taylor 2-0 (21-16, 21-18) in a tight contest, and later secured a 2-0 (21-11, 21-15) win over Brown/Wathey .
The three Central American teams, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and El Salvador, also remained perfect.
Daniel Delgado and Jose Guevara from Guatemala, in Pool B, defeated Aruba’s Jeandre Kock and Thelion Coutinho 2-0 (21-12, 21-18), and Cayman Islands’ Liam Chisholm and Declan Van Dam 2-0 (21-13, 21-12).
Costa Rica’s Julian Araya and Jhostin Varela were equally dominant in the same pool, sweeping D. Van Dam/Chisholm (2-0, 21-10, 21-9) and Coutinho /Kock (2-0, 21-9, 21-8) without trouble.
Christopher and Yoel Guardado from El Salvador, beat Jamaica’s Blake/Softley 2-0 (21-6, 21-11) and Cayman Islands’ William Duty/Dimitri Cardenas 2-0 (21-9, 21-11) without complications in Pool D
Pool-play clashes will conclude on Saturday, followed by the quarterfinal matchups and classification matches for positions.
June 19, 2025. – An intense day of action unfolded Thursday during Week 2 of the Women’s Volleyball Nations League (VNL). The Dominican Republic earned a commanding win over Belgium, the United States started strong against Poland but couldn’t hold on, and Canada fell in straight sets to a dominant Türkiye.
Dominican Republic overpowers Belgium for solid victory
The Dominican Republic showcased its offensive firepower and control, sweeping Belgium 3-0 (25-14, 25-18, 27-25) at the Sinan Erdem Dome in Istanbul before 2,146 fans.
Under the guidance of coach Marcos Kwiek, the Caribbean Queens delivered a consistent performance, taking full advantage of their opportunities against a Belgian side that only threatened in the third set.
Brayelin Martínez led the way with 18 points (15 attacks, 3 aces) and came up big in the final moments of the match.
Gaila González added 17 points, helping form a well-balanced offense that overwhelmed the Belgians. Yonkaira Peña and Ariadne Rodríguez contributed solidly on defense and reception, allowing for effective offensive distribution.
With this win, the Dominican Republic now holds a 3-3 record and sits 8th in the standings with 7 points.
Brayelin Martinez DOM
USA loses momentum, falls to Poland in four sets
The United States couldn’t sustain its strong start and fell to Poland 1-3 (25-20, 20-25, 17-25, 18-25) in Belgrade.
Logan Eggleston led Team USA with 24 points, showing power in attack and serving. Middle blocker Brionne Butler also impressed with 13 points, including 6 blocks and 2 aces, though it wasn’t enough to stop Poland’s comeback.
After a solid first set, Erik Sullivan’s squad lost consistency, especially in the fourth set, where they failed to hold a four-point lead. Reception and serve control were weak points, as Martyna Lukasik fired 6 aces for Poland.
“We need to be more consistent. We didn’t compete at the level we expect from ourselves. We’ll regroup and prepare better for the next match,” said coach Erik Sullivan. Team USA now stands at 2 wins and 4 losses, with 6 points and sits 11th in the standings.
Logan Eggleston USA
Canada fights hard but falls to Türkiye in straight sets
Canada battled with determination against undefeated Türkiye in front of nearly 15,000 local fans but ultimately lost 0-3 (16-25, 18-25, 24-26) at the Sinan Erdem Dome in Istanbul.
Opposite Anna Smrek led Canada’s offense with 13 points (11 kills, 2 blocks), while outside hitter Kyla Johnson added 8 points and contributed effectively in defense and from the service line. Alexa Mitrovic also chipped in with 5 points.
Canada showed tactical discipline and solid defense but struggled to contain Türkiye’s offensive strength. Türkiye led in attacks (39-33), blocks (8-5), and aces (9-0). Both teams committed 20 unforced errors.
With the loss, Canada drops to 2 wins and 4 losses, sitting in 12th place with 5 points.
Anna Smrek CAN
Friday, June 20 Schedule
In Istanbul, Canada will face Brazil at 7:30 p.m. local time. The United States and the Dominican Republic have a rest day.
SEVEN MILE BEACH, Cayman Islands, June 19, 2025.– After claiming gold in the opening stop of the 2025 NORCECA U23 Beach Volleyball Tour, Costa Rica’s Julián Araya and Jhostin Varela arrive in the Cayman Islands as the team to watch for the second leg of the tour, which will take place from June 20 to 22 on the iconic shores of Seven Mile Beach.
Araya and Varela were crowned men’s champions in the first stage of the tour held in May at Juan Dolio beach, Dominican Republic. They triumphed in a thrilling three-set final against the United States’ Gage Basey and Thomas Hurst, winning 2-1 (19-21, 21-18, 15-12).
All eyes now turn to the second stage of the tour, where 14 women’s teams and 16 men’s teams representing 13 countries will compete over three days. A total of 28 matches are expected on the opening day alone.
The tournament serves as a crucial stepping stone for rising beach volleyball athletes aiming to compete at major international events, including the 2025 Junior Pan American Games in Asunción, Paraguay.
The competition begins at 9:00 a.m. (local time) on Friday with pool play and continues Saturday with the quarterfinals and classification matches. The event concludes on Sunday with semifinals and medal matches, promising a weekend full of high-level action and emerging talent on the sand.
Pool distribution
WOMEN
POOL A: Anjia Delapenha/Joanna Robinson CAY-1, Meeka Johnson/L’fe Roberts TTO, Megan Hands/Hailey Moss BER
POOL B: Alexis Durish/Audrey Koenig USA, Brooklyn Donovan/D’Keisha Jordan ISV, Destiny Layne/Sierra Rayside BAR
POOL C: Ariel Forgarty/Bailey Royston CAN-1, Karla Tovar/Daniela Vigil ESA, Brandy McCarthy/Damia Sibblies JAM, Brianna Delapenha/Luna Ebanks CAY2
POOL D: Ana Sofía Arevalo/Danna Aguilar GUA, Sofia Vega/Laura Molina CRC, Celina Alwani Jontelle Hensley Philip SKN, Claire Neagle/Nolyn Houben CAN2
MEN
POOL A: Stephen Watson/Dylan Lynee CAY, Jerome Morrison/Jahreef Miguel TTO, Armani Anderson/Aden Rojas ISV-1, Brandon Burnside/Reed Venning CAN-2
POOL B: Julian Araya/Jhostin Varela CRC, Daniel Delgado/Jose Guevara GUA, Jeandre Kock/ Thelion Coutinho ARU, Liam Chisholm/Declan Van Dam CAY-3
POOL C: Ayden Keeter/Carson Barnes USA, Julian Bristol/Clerique Ward SKN, Nkoya Williams-Bailey/Aaron Taylor BAR, Armani Anderson/Aden Rojas ISV-2
POOL D: Charles Ellinas/Colin Lash CAN, Christopher Guardado/Yoel Guardado ESA, Love-Let Blake/Ithran Softley JAM, William Duty/Dimitri Cardenas CAY-2
SEVEN MILE BEACH, Cayman Islands, June 19, 2025. – In a thrilling display of skill and resilience on home sand, Brianna Delapenha and Luna Ebanks clinched the women’s gold medal at the inaugural CAZOVA U21 Beach Volleyball Championship.
The Cayman Islands duo edged out Barbados’ Destiny Layne and Sierra Rayside in a hard-fought three-set final, sealed dramatically with a service ace by Brianna for a 2-1 victory (21-10, 14-21, 15-9).
In the bronze medal match, Anjia Delapenha and Joanna Robinson gave the Cayman Islands a double podium finish, defeating Trinidad and Tobago’s L’fe Roberts and Meeka Johnson in straight sets, 21-18, 21-6.
The top three ranked countries in the event, Cayman Islands, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago, earned a berth to compete in the NORCECA Qualifier Tournament for the World Championship.
Brianna Delapenha and Luna Ebanks triumphed in the all-Cayman Islands semifinal showdown, rallying past Anjia Delapenha and Joanna Robinson 2-1 (18-21, 21-19, 15-5).
Meanwhile, Barbados’ Destiny Layne and Sierra Rayside secured their spot in the final with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Trinidad and Tobago’s L’fe Roberts and Meeka Johnson (21-9, 17-21, 15-9).
top 3 Qualifiers
Sibblies/Brandy of Jamaica finished fifth place with a 2-0 (21-11, 21-15) victory over the U.S. Virgin Islands’ Jordan/Donovan.
In pool play action, both Cayman Islands’ teams delivered dominant performances to top their respective groups and advance with confidence.
In Pool A, Anjia Delapenha/Joanna Robinson overcame a strong challenge from Barbados’ Destiny Layne/Sierra Rayside in a tight 2-1 win (21-15, 18-21, 15-10), before cruising past Jamaica’s Brandy McCarthy/Damia Sibblies in straight sets (21-5, 21-9). Meanwhile, in Pool B, Brianna Delapenha and Luna Ebanks were equally impressive, defeating the U.S. Virgin Islands’ Brooklyn Donovan and D’Keisha Jordan (21-9, 21-9), and following up with another straight sets win over Trinidad and Tobago’s Lfe Roberts and Meeka Johnson (21-19, 21-13).
SEVEN MILE BEACH, Cayman Islands, June 19, 2025. – Nkoya Williams and Aaron Taylor of Barbados claimed the men’s gold medal at the inaugural CAZOVA U21 Beach Volleyball Championship, prevailing in the final over Cayman Islands’ Stephen Watson and Dylan Lynee.
Williams/Taylor bounced back after dropping the first set, winning the second and then sealing the match when an injury forced their opponents to withdraw, with a final score of 2-1 (19-21, 21-13, 15-0).
In the bronze medal match, Trinidad and Tobago’s Jerome Morrison and Jahreef Miguel delivered a strong performance to defeat Jamaica’s Love-Let Blake and Ithran Softley in straight sets, 21-15, 21-12.
BAR Champions
The top three ranked countries in the event, Barbados, Cayman Islands, and Trinidad and Tobago, earned a berth to compete in the NORCECA Qualifier Tournament for the World Championship.
In the semifinals, Nkoya Williamsand Aaron Taylor of Barbados staged a comeback to defeat Jamaica’s Love-Let Blake and Ithran Softley in a thrilling three-set match, 2-1 (16-21, 21-19, 15-6).
While Stephen Watson and Dylan Lynee from the Cayman Islands also rallied after dropping the first set, overcoming Trinidad and Tobago’s Jerome Morrison and Jahreef Miguel 2-1 (21-23, 21-15, 15-8) to advance to the final.
Anderson/Rojas of the U.S. Virgin Islands overcame a three-set battle 2-1 (17-21, 21-16, 15-8) against Duty/Cardenas of Cayman Islands for fifth place.
all awardees
Pool play featured intense matchups, with all teams battling for a spot in the knockout rounds.
Cayman Islands’ Stephen Watson/Dylan Lynee secured two victories in Pool A, defeating the U.S. Virgin Islands’ Armani Anderson/Aden Rojas in straight sets (21-14, 21-6) before edging out Barbados’ Nkoya Williams and Aaron Taylor in a thrilling three-setter (15-21, 21-19, 15-12). Barbados bounced back with a 2-0 win over the U.S. Virgin Islands (21-13, 22-20) to finish second in the group.
In Pool B, Cayman Islands’ William Duty/Dimitri Cardenas opened with a straight-sets win over Jamaica’s Love-Let Blake/Ithran Softley (21-15, 21-17) but fell to Trinidad and Tobago’s Jerome Morrison/Jahreef Miguel (21-13, 21-15), who went on to top the group after also defeating Jamaica 2-0 (21-19, 21-14).
SANTIAGO, CHILE, June 19, 2025 .– With just over two years to go until the start of the 20th Pan American Games, Panam Sports has officially announced the 36 sports that will be included in the Lima 2027 Sports Program. Among the confirmed disciplines are Indoor Volleyball and Beach Volleyball, both of which have gained significant popularity and prestige across the continent.
The decision was made by the Panam Sports Executive Committee based on a participatory process that considered the preferences of the organization’s 41 member National Olympic Committees. Of the 36 sports, 33 were selected by the National Olympic Committees, while the remaining three were proposed by the Lima 2027 Organizing Committee.
“As Panam Sports, we have taken a very important step with the approval of the 36 sports for Lima 2027. We carried out a highly democratic process among all the National Olympic Committees, and today, the Executive Committee has confirmed the sports included in the Sports Program of our Pan American Games,” emphasized Panam Sports President Neven Ilic.
The Lima 2027 Pan American Games will be held from July 16 to August 1, bringing together more than 7,000 athletes from 41 countries across the continent.
The Pan American Volleyball Union (UPV), the body that brings together the NORCECA Confederation and the South American Volleyball Confederation (CSV), confirmed the qualification system for Lima 2027, which must be completed no later than December 31, 2026.
In indoor volleyball, each gender (men and women) will feature eight national teams, according to the following criteria:
Peru, as the host country, qualifies automatically.
1 team per confederation (NORCECA and CSV): the highest-ranked team at the 2025 Junior Pan American Games.
NORCECA: the top three teams at the 2026 Senior Pan American Cups.
CSV: the top two teams at the 2026 Senior Pan American Cups.
In beach volleyball, each gender (men and women) will feature 16 national teams. The qualification system includes:
Peru, as the host, qualifies automatically.
1 team per confederation (NORCECA and CSV): the highest-ranked team at the 2025 Junior Pan American Games.
NORCECA: the top seven non-qualified teams based on the final standings of the 2026 NORCECA Tour.
CSV: the top six non-qualified teams based on the final standings of the 2026 CSV Beach Tour.
June 18, 2025.– The United States kicked off the second week of the Women’s Volleyball Nations League (VNL) with a valuable victory over host Serbia in Belgrade. Meanwhile, in Istanbul, the Dominican Republic put up a strong fight but fell in straight sets to Türkiye, while Canada played a thrilling match that ended in a five-set loss to Korea.
USA Defeats Serbia in Belgrade
The United States spoiled Serbia’s opening match in front of 5,800 fans, mostly cheering for the home team, with a 3-2 win (25-22, 25-20, 22-25, 22-25, 15-11) at Belgrade Arena.
It was a standout night for Madisen Skinner, who led USA’s offense with a dominant 32-point performance (30 attacks and 2 blocks). Sarah Franklin contributed 20 points (18 attacks and 2 blocks).
The Americans led in attacks (65-61) and blocks (10-9). Both teams recorded 5 service aces.
Madisen Skinner (9) USA
Canada Nearly Pulls Off Dramatic Comeback
Canada played a thrilling match against Korea to kick off their second week of Women’s VNL action, narrowly losing in five sets, 2-3 (25-27, 18-25, 25-15, 25-20, 13-15), in Istanbul.
After dropping the first two sets, the Canadians showed strength and determination, rallying to tie the match at 2-2 and force a tiebreak. However, despite a strong collective effort, Korea edged out Canada in the final moments of the deciding set.
Canada stood out with an excellent performance at the net, tallying 13 direct blocks, nine of them shared between key players Emily Maglio (5 blocks, 13 total points) and Anna Smrek (16 points including 4 blocks). The team also outserved Korea, 6-4.
The offense was led by 19-year-old Abagayle Guezen, who scored 17 points, all from attacks. The Canadian squad showed strong competitive spirit and signs of tactical improvement in both defense and blocking.
Despite the loss, Canada’s performance leaves a positive impression and reflects their ongoing development as a team. They will look to build on this momentum in their upcoming matches in the regular phase of the VNL.
Abagayle Guezen CAN
Dominican Republic Nearly Spoils Türkiye’s Home Debut
In front of over 14,000 spectators at the Sinan Erdem Dome in Istanbul, the Dominican Republic came close to spoiling Türkiye’s home opener. Although the final score was a 0-3 loss, the Caribbean team fought valiantly, particularly in the first and third sets, which they nearly claimed. Set scores were 25-27, 19-25, and 26-28 in favor of the hosts.
Türkiye held slight advantages in attacks (44-39), blocks (7-6), and service aces (6-2), but the world No. 3 team had to battle for every point to secure the win.
The Dominican offense was powered by key hitters, with Gaila González scoring 19 points and Brayelin Martínez adding 11.
Gaila González DOM
Thursday, June 19 Schedule
In Istanbul, the Dominican Republic will face Belgium at 4:00 p.m. local time, while Canada takes on hosts Türkiye at 7:30 p.m. (both local time. In Serbia, the United States will meet Poland at 4:30 p.m. local time.
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, June 18, 2025.- A productive working meeting was held this week at the headquarters of the North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation NORCECA between the new leadership of the Cuban Volleyball Federation (FCV) and NORCECA President Cristóbal Marte Hoffiz.
The Cuban delegation was led by MSc. Osvaldo Idel Martínez Arias, President of the FCV; Mireya Luis, OLY, Vice President; and Lorenzo Martínez Cordero, Treasurer. This marked the new administration’s first official visit to NORCECA’s offices in Santo Domingo following their election.
The meeting addressed a range of topics of mutual interest related to the development of volleyball in the region. Discussions focused on designing joint programs between NORCECA and the Cuban Volleyball Federation aimed at strengthening institutional and technical collaboration.
Projects centered on the training of referees and coaches through courses and seminars were also reviewed, along with Cuba’s active participation in NORCECA’s competitive calendar, including Confederation qualifying tournaments.
Both parties highlighted the strength and stability of the bonds between NORCECA and the Cuban Volleyball Federation and agreed on the importance of maintaining the necessary support for Cuba to regain its historic prominence in international volleyball.
They also welcomed the possibility of a future meeting between the FIVB, NORCECA, and the FCV, with the goal of enhancing institutional cohesion and addressing key issues for the development of Cuban and regional volleyball.
The meeting concluded in an atmosphere of mutual cooperation and shared vision for the growth of volleyball in the region.
SEVEN MILE BEACH, Cayman Islands, June 16, 2025.– The inaugural Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) Under-21 Beach Volleyball Championship is set to take place on June 19 at the iconic Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman.
This one-day tournament will feature 12 teams representing Barbados, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Host nation Cayman Islands will field two teams per gender.
Teams are divided into two pools per gender, competing in round-robin play, followed by semifinals and finals, all packed into a single day of high-energy action.
Team Cayman Ladies
The top three teams in both the men’s and women’s competitions will qualify for NORCECA World Championship Qualifier Tournament in Juan Dolio, advancing on the international stage.
“This championship is not just a qualifier, it’s a celebration of youth beach volleyball in our region,” said CAZOVA President Mushtaque Mohammed.
KINGSTON, Ontario, June 18, 2025. – Volleyball excitement is building in Kingston as the city prepares to host the NORCECA U19 Girls’ Pan American Cup from June 24 to 28 at Queen’s University’s Athletics & Recreation Centre.
Seven national teams from the Americas will take the court in pursuit of the Pan American crown, following Chile’s withdrawal due to unforeseen travel issues.
Participating National Teams from NORCECA qualify for the 2026 NORCECA U19 Girls Continental Championship, which is part of the qualification process to the 2027 U19 FIVB Girls World Championship.
Team USA enters the tournament as the defending champion and one of the title favorites, aiming to retain their crown. The event was last held in Puerto Rico in 2023 and saw the U.S. win gold, followed by Mexico with silver, and host Puerto Rico winning bronze.
The tournament will feature three days of preliminary round-robin play, culminating in high-stakes semifinals on Friday, June 27, and medal matches on Saturday, June 28.
The teams are divided into two groups: Group A includes Mexico, Puerto Rico, the United States, and Venezuela; Group B features host Canada, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic.
Preliminary Round Schedule
June 24 14:30 Puerto Rico vs Mexico 16:30 USA vs Venezuela 18:30 Canada vs Costa Rica
June 25 14:30 Puerto Rico vs Venezuela 16:30 USA vs Mexico 18:30 Canada vs Dominican Republic
June 26 14:30 Mexico vs Venezuela 16:30 USA vs Puerto Rico 18:30 Costa Rica vs Dominican Republic
Year by Year podiums (referred to as U18 until 2019)
SEVEN MILE BEACH, Cayman Islands, June 17, 2025. – The famous shores of Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, are set to become the epicenter of regional beach volleyball this week, as two important international competitions take place back-to-back.
Kicking off the action on June 19 is the CAZOVA Under-21 Beach Volleyball Championship, a one-day event organized by the Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association. This high-stakes tournament serves as CAZOVA qualifier for the 2025 NORCECA U21 Championships, a key step towards qualification for the FIVB U21 World Championships later this year.
The top three teams in both the men’s and women’s competitions will compete at the NORCECA World Championship Qualifier, which will be held from 3 to 7 July in Juan Dolio, Dominican Republic.
This event reflects CAZOVA’s dedication to developing young beach volleyball talent and expanding competitive opportunities for athletes across the Caribbean.
Immediately following, from June 20 to 23, the spotlight remains on Seven Mile Beach as it hosts the second stage of the 2025 NORCECA U23 Beach Volleyball Tour. Aimed at up-and-coming players, this developmental tournament offers crucial international experience and ranking points. The competition also plays a key role in preparing athletes for future events, such as the 2025 Junior Pan American Games in Asunción, Paraguay.
The back-to-back tournaments not only showcase Seven Mile Beach as a prime venue for elite beach volleyball but also reinforce NORCECA’s commitment to athlete growth and the sport’s continued expansion across the North, Central America and the Caribbean region.
June 15, 2025. – The United States and Canada wrapped up the first week of the 2025 Men’s Volleyball Nations League (VNL) with victories. The U.S. defeated Cuba, while Canada swept Bulgaria.
USA Survives Four-Set Battle Against Cuba in Rio
In a match filled with intensity and momentum swings, the U.S. Men’s National Team secured a hard-fought 3-1 win (25-22, 25-18, 18-25, 25-23) over Cuba at the iconic Maracanãzinho stadium, claiming a crucial victory on the final day of Week 1 of the VNL.
Led by head coach Karch Kiraly, the Americans showed grit and composure to come back in several tough moments. Outside hitter Cooper Robinson led the team with 18 points (12 attacks, 4 blocks, 2 aces), playing a decisive role in the final two sets.
Middle blocker Jeff Jendryk also stood out with 13 points through strong performances both in attack and blocking, while outside hitter Taylor Champlin contributed 11 points.
After a shaky start, USA adjusted its system and capitalized on Cuba’s mistakes to take a 2-0 lead. Although the Caribbean squad bounced back in the third set, the Americans imposed their game in the fourth to seal the win with poise.
This result marks a step forward for Kiraly’s project with the men’s team, highlighting their ability to respond and perform under pressure. The United States now moves forward in Pool 2 with a valuable victory that strengthens their campaign in the 2025 VNL.
The U.S. finishes Week 1 with 2 wins and 2 losses, currently in 11th place, while Cuba ends with 1 win and 3 losses, ranked 15th.
Cooper Robinson USA
Canada Ends Week on a High Note with Sweep Over Bulgaria
Backed by 7,984 fans at the Centre Vidéotron, Canada earned a commanding 3-0 victory (26-24, 25-23, 25-19) over Bulgaria in their final match of Week 1 of the 2025 Men’s VNL.
The match lasted 1 hour and 36 minutes and showcased the Canadian team’s maturity and power, especially in crucial moments.
Head coach Daniel Lewis’s squad displayed consistency across all areas of the game. Outside hitter Eric Loeppky Hofer was the star of the night, leading the offense with 21 points, including powerful spikes and decisive aces. Opposite Ryan Sclater also played a key role with 12 points, showing precision in both attacking and serving.
Canada especially excelled in blocking (scoring 11 points in that category) and serving, while taking advantage of 24 unforced errors by Bulgaria. The Bulgarian team, after a competitive first set, was unable to maintain their level.
With this result, Canada closes the first week of the VNL with a 2-2 record, placing them in sixth place.
Canada celebrated
Women’s VNL Week 2 Begins June 18
Week 2 of the Women’s VNL begins Wednesday, June 18, across various locations. Canada and the Dominican Republic will head to Istanbul, Türkiye. Canada opens against Korea at 12:30 p.m. local time, while the Dominican Republic takes on the home team at 7:30 p.m.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Women’s National Team will travel to Belgrade, Serbia, where they’ll open against the host team at 8:00 p.m. local time.
June 14, 2025. – Teams from NORCECA, the United States and Canada, were unable to overcome Slovenia and France, respectively. The U.S. lost 1-3 to Slovenia, while Canada came close to an epic comeback against France but ultimately fell in a tie-break.
Canada Nearly Pulls Off Historic Comeback
Team Canada came within reach of a historic comeback against the reigning Olympic champions, France. The Canadians lost a five-set thriller, 2-3 (22-25, 27-29, 29-27, 25-21, 6-15), with the French pulling away early in the final set to secure the win.
France outperformed Canada in attacks (72-67) and blocks (8-4), while the North Americans had the edge in serving, with five aces to France’s two.
Brodie Hofer and Xander Ketrzynski led Canada’s scoring, each finishing with 15 points. Hofer scored all his points from attacks, while Ketrzynski recorded 13 attacks, one block, and one ace. Also contributing to double digits were Ryan Joseph Sclater with 14 points, Skyler Varga with 12, and Daenan Gyimah with 10.
With this result, Canada now holds 4 points from one win and two losses, placing them 10th in the overall standings.
Canada celebrated
USA Falls Short Against Slovenia
The United States, fielding a young squad, could not overcome Slovenia and suffered a 1-3 loss (22-25, 25-27, 25-20, 23-25).
Both teams were tied in attacks (54 each), with the U.S. having a significant advantage in blocking (13-4). However, the Americans were hurt by 31 unforced errors, which handed valuable points to the Slovenians. The Europeans also had the edge in serving, with eight aces compared to the USA’s three.
Kyle Hobus led the U.S. scorers with 13 points. Gabriel García followed with 12 points, while Matthew Knigge and Jordan Ewert each contributed 11 points.
The United States currently sits 15th in the standings with 2 points, from one win and two losses.
Gabriel Garcia USA
Sunday, June 15 Schedule
The final day of Men’s VNL Week 1 features: United States takes on Cuba (5:00 p.m. local time, Rio de Janeiro), and Canada against Bulgaria (6:00 p.m. local time, Quebec)
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, June 14, 2025.- The Puerto Rican Volleyball Federation (FPV) is pleased to announce the return of renowned Italian coach Luca Cristofani to Puerto Rico. He will collaborate directly with both the women’s and men’s National Team programs.
Cristofani, whose international career spans the highest levels of professional volleyball and national teams, will provide technical consulting, specialized observation of training sessions, and mentorship for local coaches. His focus will be strengthening the technical structure from the grassroots to the elite level, driving a comprehensive and sustainable vision for Puerto Rico’s national teams.
The FPV expects Cristofani to arrive on the island this Monday, June 16.
Luca Cristofani (Left)
Regarding this important addition, FPV President Dr. César Trabanco stated: “The return of Professor Luca Cristofani to our National Team Program reaffirms our commitment to the technical development of our teams. His international experience and formative approach will be key to strengthening both our senior and youth national teams, in both genders. We are confident that his collaboration will continue to elevate the level of Puerto Rican volleyball.”
As part of his visit, Cristofani will also offer continuing education courses for coaches and technical staff. These sessions aim to raise the level of preparation and encourage the exchange of knowledge, creating a valuable space for the growth of volleyball on the island.
“Puerto Rico has talent, passion, and a rich volleyball history. I’m excited to return and continue contributing to the growth of this sport on the island,” said Cristofani.
Luca previously visited Puerto Rico in 2023, serving as a technical advisor supporting the coaches of both the men’s and women’s national teams across all age categories.
June 13, 2025. – The Caribbean team fought until the very end but couldn’t replicate the previous day’s feat. Cuba played its second consecutive five-set match in Rio de Janeiro, but this time fell short against a surprising Ukrainian squad, who edged out a hard-fought 3-2 victory (25-22, 20-25, 25-20, 17-25, 15-12).
Cuba outperformed Ukraine from the service line (8-5) and capitalized on the Europeans’ 35 unforced errors. However, Ukraine held the advantage in attacks (51-50) and blocks (17-11).
Despite a strong offensive performance, particularly from star outside hitter Marlon Yant, who once again led all scorers with 23 points (19 attacks, 3 aces, and 1 block), Cuba was unable to close the tie-break in their favor as they did against Brazil on Thursday. Middle blocker Javier Concepción also had a solid outing, contributing 11 points (6 attacks, 4 blocks, and 1 ace).
Javier Octavio Concepcion CUB
It was a match filled with emotion, as Cuba managed to level the score twice after falling behind in sets. But in the decisive fifth set, they couldn’t contain Ukraine’s offensive push. The physical toll of back-to-back five-set matches also played a role.
With this loss, Cuba earns its second point in the overall standings of the 2025 VNL. The Caribbean squad has shown intensity and competitiveness but still needs to improve their finishing in key moments.
Saturday, June 14 Schedule On Saturday in Rio de Janeiro, the United States faces Slovenia (1:30 PM local time) and in Quebec, Canada plays against France (16:30 PM local time).
June 12, 2025. – Cuba pulled off the surprise of the day by defeating Brazil at home in five sets. The United States came back from a 0-2 deficit to win in five sets against Iran, while Canada couldn’t hold on to a 2-1 lead and ended up falling 2-3 to Argentina.
Cuba Finish Strong and Beat Brazil Again in Rio
Cuba secured a thrilling 3-2 victory (27-25, 26-24, 21-25, 20-25, 15-13) against Brazil at the Maracanãzinho, repeating their 2024 feat. After winning the first two sets, the Caribbean squad saw Brazil tie the match but managed to come out on top in the tie-break with their powerful offense. The win earned Cuba 8.39 World Ranking points, and they now stand at one win and one loss.
It’s the second consecutive year that Cuba stuns Brazil in the Maracanãzinho during the VNL. Last year, the two teams met in the tournament opener, and Cuba won 3-1.
Cuba led in attacks 68-61, both teams scored 10 points from blocks, and Brazil dominated the serve with 7 aces to 3. However, the Cubans committed more unforced errors—34 compared to Brazil’s 28.
“It was an incredible match,” said López. “We fought for every point, and I want to congratulate the team. Each of our players contributed to this victory. We couldn’t play the way we wanted in the first match, but today we came back to win.”
Marlon Yant Herrera was Cuba’s top scorer with 23 points, all from attacks. José Israel Masso added 18 points (16 attacks, 2 blocks), while team captain Miguel Ángel López scored 18 as well (14 attacks, 2 blocks, 2 aces). Javier Octavio Concepción also reached double digits with 10 points (9 attacks, 1 block).
Marlon Yant Herrera CUB
USA Complete Reverse Sweep to Earn First VNL Victory
The Americans were down 2-0 against Iran, but showed resilience to come back and triumph.
Competing in the first week of the VNL with an inexperienced roster, the Americans had 25-year-old opposite Kyle Hobus, who plays in Austria with Hypo Tirol Innsbruck, as their leading scorer with 19 points (17 kills, two blocks).
Outside hitters Jordan Ewert, who spent the last club season in Italy with Rana Verona, and Cooper Robinson, who plays collegiate volleyball at UCLA, also delivered strong performances, contributing 17 and 14 points, respectively.
The victory against the Iranians also marked the Americans’ first win under new head coach and volleyball legend Karch Kiraly, who transitioned from the women’s national team after 12 successful seasons to lead the men’s side starting in 2025.
“The guys have so much to be proud of, that was really a true team effort,” Kiraly said. “Lots of guys came in and changed the game for us. All of us are learning together. It was great that we got better as the match went along, and all credit goes to the guys.”
The Americans outperformed Iran in attacks (58-56) and blocks (14-5), but struggled with unforced errors, committing 39 compared to Iran’s 31. Iran had the edge in aces, 9-4.
The result gave the United States their first two points in the VNL 2025 and placed them in 12th at the end of the day.
Kyle Hobus USA
Canada Fall in Five-Set Thriller
A thrilling match took place in Quebec, where the home team dropped the first set, came back to lead, but eventually lost 2-3 (22-25, 25-21, 25-14, 22-25, 8-15) to Argentina.
Canada outscored Argentina in blocks (9-6), while the South Americans led in attacks (59-58) and aces (10-4). Canada committed fewer unforced errors (25) than Argentina (31).
Four Canadian players reached double figures in scoring: Xander Ketrzynski led with 22 points, supported by Brodie Hofer with 17, Jackson Young with 16, and captain Fynnian Lionel McCarthy with 12.
With this loss, Canada ends the second matchday with one win and one defeat.
Xander Ketrzynski CAN
Schedule for Friday, June 13
On Friday, Cuba will be the only team in action, facing Ukraine at 5:30 p.m. local time in Rio de Janeiro. Canada and the United States will have a rest day.
June 11, 2025.- Host country Canada kicked off the first week of the Men’s VNL with an important victory, edging Germany 3-2. Meanwhile, the United States were upset by Ukraine in a straight-set loss, and Cuba began their campaign with a 1-3 defeat to Slovenia.
Canada defeats Germany in five sets
The first five-set match of the 2025 VNL went to Canada, who came from behind twice to triumph 3-2 (23-25, 25-19, 21-25, 25-23, 15-11) over Germany in the final match of the opening day, earning their first win under new head coach Dan Lewis.
Opposite Ryan Sclater and outside hitter Jackson Young led the way with 17 points each. Fellow outside hitter Brodie Hofer added 16, while Ryan Joseph Sclater and team captain Fynnian Lionel McCarthy chipped in with 14 and 13 points, respectively.
Canada outperformed Germany in blocks (14-8) and service aces (8-3) and capitalized on the 36 unforced errors committed by the Europeans. Germany held the advantage in attacks (58-48).
USA suffers surprise loss to Ukraine in VNL 2025 debut
The U.S. Men’s National Team, bronze medalists at the Paris Olympic Games, suffered a surprising 3-0 (25-22, 25-20, 25-23) loss to Ukraine in their opening match of the 2025 VNL, held in Rio de Janeiro.
With a young squad featuring just one Olympian, Jeff Jendryk, on the court, the Americans struggled to contain Ukraine’s strong serving and were outplayed in all three sets. Gabriel García and Cooper Robinson led the U.S. attack with 13 points each, but their efforts fell short.
This defeat marks a tough start for Karch Kiraly in his debut as head coach of the U.S. Men’s Team. The loss also impacted the team’s FIVB World Ranking, dropping them from third to fourth after losing 17.64 points, allowing Slovenia to overtake the podium spot.
Captain Kyle Dagostino pointed to Ukraine’s serve as the key factor: “They put a lot of pressure on us. When they serve like that, everything becomes easier for them, in both blocking and defense.”
Gabriel Garcia USA
Cuba falls in four sets to Slovenia
Cuba opened its campaign in Group 2 of the Men’s VNL in Rio de Janeiro with a 1-3 (22-25, 25-21, 18-25, 15-25) defeat to Slovenia, currently ranked third in the FIVB World Ranking.
Both teams were even in blocks (12 each), but Slovenia had the edge in attacks (51-44) and service aces (5-3).
Two Cuban players reached double digits in scoring: outside hitter Marlon Yant Herrera tallied 19 points (14 kills, 4 blocks, 1 ace), and opposite José Israel Massó added 12 (9 kills, 1 block, 2 aces).
Jose Israel Masso CUB
Schedule for Thursday, June 12
In Rio de Janeiro, Cuba faces Brazil (5:30 PM local time) and the United States plays against Iran (9:00 PM local time). In Quebec, Canada hosts Argentina (8:00 PM local time).
BASSETERRE, Saint Kitts and Nevis, June 9, 2025.- The 2025 Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association (ECVA) U21 Beach Volleyball Championships came to a thrilling conclusion after three days of intense action, excitement, and competition on one of the most beautiful venues. Held from June 6 to 8 on the scenic shores of Saint Kitts and Nevis, the event featured a magnificent court layout with four competition courts and two warm-up courts, perfectly blending sport with scenery.
The championship brought together 24 teams from 10 countries, all showcasing the best of U21 beach volleyball talent in a setting that wowed both athletes and fans alike. Against the backdrop of turquoise waters and golden sands, two teams emerged victorious with standout performances.
In the men’s division, Dominica’s Mervin Mingo and Bill Frederick successfully defended their crown, becoming back-to-back ECVA U21 Beach Volleyball Champions. Their chemistry and tactical execution powered them through a competitive field, solidifying their status as one of the region’s premier pairs.
In the women’s division, St. Lucia’s Ericka Gaspard and Clio Phillip turned in a flawless 5-0 run, capturing gold without dropping a single set. Their dominance, paired with remarkable composure, set the tone for an unforgettable tournament.
“This year’s championship was more than just a tournament—it was a celebration of youth, excellence, and the unmatched beauty of the Caribbean,” said the ECVA President, Glenn Quinlan. “The court setup along the Saint Kitts and Nevis coastline was truly spectacular and raised the bar for future ECVA events.”
The top three teams in each gender category, Dominica, St. Lucia and Grenada in men, and St. Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica in women, will now move forward to represent ECVA at the NORCECA World Championship Qualifier Tournament, taking the next step on their international journey.
June 8, 2025 .- The first week of the 2025 Women’s Volleyball Nations League (VNL) came to a close this Sunday. The United States claimed their first victory in Group 2, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Meanwhile, in Group 1, played at TD Place in Ottawa, Ontario, the host team ended the week with a spectacular comeback against Serbia to win 3-2. The Dominican Republic closed their participation with a loss against undefeated Japan.
USA Gets on the Board with Win Over Korea
The United States finally broke through and ended their first week with a 3-0 victory (25-13, 28-26, 25-17) over Korea. With this win, the U.S. team finished with one win and three losses, placing 13th overall with 4 points.
The Americans outperformed Korea in attacks (43-31) and blocks (14-3). Service aces were close, with Korea edging out the U.S. 5-4. Both teams committed 17 unforced errors.
Four U.S. players scored in double digits, with middle blocker Amber Igiede leading all scorers with 16 points (7 attacks, 8 blocks, 1 ace). Opposite Madisen Skinner tallied 15 points (13 attacks, 1 block, 1 ace), Sarah Franklin added 14, and Logan Lednicky finished with 10.
Amber Igiede – Sarah Franklin – Saige Kaahaaina-Torres USA
Canada Rallies to Defeat Serbia 3-2
Canada pulled off a stunning reverse sweep in front of their home crowd, defeating reigning world champions Serbia 3-2 (20-25, 18-25, 25-20, 25-18, 15-12). After dropping the first two sets, the Canadians turned the table and came from behind in the fifth set to seal the win.
Opposite and team captain Kiera Van Ryk delivered an outstanding performance, scoring 34 points, 24 from attacks, 1 block, and 9 service aces.
Despite Serbia leading in attacks (62-53) and blocks (18-5), Canada capitalized on the Europeans’ 34 unforced errors and Van Ryk’s phenomenal serving (Canada led 11-4 in aces). Van Ryk ended the week as the tournament’s second-highest scorer with 89 points and led all players in service aces with 15.
With this result, Canada finished 11th overall with 2 wins and 2 losses.
Kiera Van Ryk CAN
Dominican Republic Falls to Powerhouse Japan
The Dominican Republic wrapped up their week in Ottawa with a 0-3 loss (19-25, 21-25, 9-25) against a dominant Japan squad, who topped the standings with a perfect 4-0 record, all wins coming in straight sets. The Dominicans finished with 2 wins and 2 losses, placing 12th overall.
Japan outperformed the Caribbean team in attacks (51-26) and service aces (10-1), while the “Queens of the Caribbean” led in blocks (8-3). Japan committed 14 unforced errors to the Dominican Republic’s 11.
Gaila González led the Dominican scoring with 14 points (11 attacks, 2 blocks, 1 ace). Star player Brayelin Martínez, who didn’t shine as brightly in this match as in the previous three, still finished the week as the fourth top scorer of the tournament with 79 points (65 attacks, 12 blocks, 2 aces).
Gaila Gonzalez DOM
Men’s VNL Begins Tuesday, June 10
The Men’s Volleyball Nations League kicks off on Tuesday, June 10 in Xi’an, China, with a single match between Poland and the Netherlands. NORCECA will be represented by Canada, who will play in Quebec in Group 1, and by the United States and Cuba, who will compete in Group 2 in Rio de Janeiro.
On Wednesday, June 11, the United States faces Ukraine (11:00 a.m. local time), Canada takes on Germany (6:00 p.m. local time), and Cuba closes the day against Slovenia (6:00 p.m. local time).
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts & Nevis, June 8, 2025.- St. Lucia’s Ericka Gaspard and Clio Phillip delivered a flawless performance at the ECVA U21 Beach Volleyball Championship, capturing the women’s gold medal with an undefeated 5-0 record and without dropping a single set.
In the final, Phillip and Ericka overpowered Antigua and Barbuda’s Jassania Joseph and Jaya Carr in straight sets, 2-0 (21-11, 23-21), sealing their championship run in dominant fashion on the sands of Saint Kitts and Nevis.
The St. Lucian duo controlled the opening set with authority but had to dig deep in the second after trailing 19-20. With calm under pressure and sharp execution, Phillip and Ericka rallied to close the match 23-21, completing their perfect tournament and claiming the gold medal.
ALL MEDALLISTS U21 ECVA BEACH
In an interview after the victory, Phillip said “We feel great, we are excited, we are happy. This is what we came to do, win the Gold!”
Speaking about the match, Ericka said “We really had to work hard in the last set. Our confidence allowed us to push through the last points”.
Dominica’s Alyssa Bully and Joyan Pascal secured an exciting bronze medal victory in three sets over Anguilla’s Deandra Fleming and Lavesha Richardson. Bully/Pascal came out strong to take the first set 21-14, but Fleming/Richardson fought back in a tight second set, edging it 22-20 to force a decider. In the third, Bully and Pascal regained control with a dominant 15-7 finish to clinch the 2-1 win and a spot on the podium.
The top three finishers of the event move on to represent the Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association (ECVA) at the NORCECA World Championships Qualifier Tournament.
St. Lucia’s Ericka/Phillip advanced to the championship match, with consistent play, to earn a straight-set 2-0 (21-16, 21-17) victory over Deandra Fleming and Lavesha Richardson of Anguilla.
In a hard-fought semifinal, Joseph and Carr edged Dominica’s Bully and Pascal 2-1 (21-12, 15-21, 15-12). After splitting the first two sets, Joseph and Carr led 13-9 in the decider before withstanding a late Dominican rally to secure their spot in the final.
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts & Nevis, June 8, 2025.- Dominica’s Mervin Mingo and Bill Frederick were crowned ECVA U21 Men’s Beach Volleyball Champions for the second year in a row, delivering a confident 2-0 win (21-17, 21-15) over St. Lucia’s Victor Rio and Peter Emmanuel in Sunday’s gold medal match at the scenic shores of Saint Kitts and Nevis.
The Dominican duo reaffirmed their dominance in the region with another stellar performance, despite going through the round of 12 after finishing second in Pool A of the preliminary round, coincidently losing to St. Lucia’s duo Rio/Emmanuel.
In the championship match, Mingo and Frederick displayed control, keeping their composure under pressure and dictating the pace of the match. Their consistency and experience proved too much for the St. Lucian team, who fought hard but couldn’t break through.
ALL PLAYERS U23 ECVA BEACH
Speaking after winning the gold medal, Frederick said “We feel very excited, because it’s another accomplishment in our books and I can’t even explain it, I am flabbergasted”.
Mervin Mingo added a warm thank you to their parents, coaches and fans “their support was very important for us”.
In an exciting bronze medal match, Grenada’s Walcott Zerick and Kibose Hamilton battled past home favorites Jedediah Pencheon and Vikash Sundar of St. Kitts and Nevis in a thrilling 2-1 victory (21-17, 12-21, 15-11). After taking the opening set, Zerick and Hamilton faced a fierce response in the second but regrouped with determination to seal the deciding set and claim the bronze medal.
Mervin Mingo and Bill Frederick of Dominica took a confident step toward back-to-back titles with a straight-sets semifinal victory 2-0 (21-18, 21-15) against Grenada’s Walcott Zerick and Kibose Hamilton. The Dominican pair showcased their experience and composure in key moments.
St. Lucia’s duo, Rio/Emmanuel, secured a swift and convincing 2-0 (21-11, 21-11) victory in their semifinal match against the home team of Sundar and Puncheon. They took both sets by comfortable margins, while Rio was particularly effective at the net, consistently shutting down St. Kitts’ scoring efforts.
Positioning matches:
POS 11-12: Dos Santos Martin/Mello BER vs. Hassel/De Jesus EUX 2-0 (21-19, 21-15)
LAUSANNE, Switzerland, June 8, 2025.- Her Excellency Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice Chairperson of Qatar Foundation and a member of the FIVB Volleyball Foundation Board, visited Volleyball House this week.
During the visit, FIVB President Fabio Azevedo presented the FIVB Strategic Vision 2032 and shared the organisation’s plans for the future of volleyball over the next eight years.
The Strategic Vision 2032 is an ambitious but realistic roadmap designed to take volleyball to the next level globally. It focuses on four key pillars: professionalism, integration, empowerment and mass participation. Together, these pillars aim to make the sport more accessible and impactful – bringing people together, inspiring social change, and helping to ensure a bright future for volleyball.
After extensive consultation with National Federations and stakeholders across the Global Volleyball Movement, the FIVB identified 15 main areas of focus for the years ahead. One of the major elements is the Volleyball Foundation, launched in May 2024, which uses the global reach and power of volleyball to support projects around the world that have a positive impact.
The Volleyball Foundation was one of the key topics discussed at Volleyball House during the meeting with Her Excellency Sheikha Hind, who plays an active role on its Board.
There were also discussions around future collaboration between the FIVB, Volleyball Foundation and Qatar Foundation, especially in areas such as sport promotion, coach education and women’s empowerment.
This partnership was first launched in December 2024 and is focused on growing and promoting volleyball in Qatar. It aims to support athletes, develop leadership in sport and facilitate the development of volleyball at all levels.
One of the first activations between the organisations was the ‘Women in Sports: Creating Pathways’ event, held at Education City Stadium. The event brought together international sports administrators, Olympians and Olympic medallists to explore the role of sport – in particular, volleyball – in empowering women. The panels were hosted by the FIVB and Qatar Volleyball Association (QVA), in collaboration with Qatar Foundation.
June 7, 2025.– Canada suffered a tough defeat in the 2025 Volleyball Nations League (VNL) Pool 1, at TD Place in Ottawa, Ontario. The Canadian team, playing at home, lost 0-3 (24-26, 20-25, 19-25) to Japan.
Their opposite and team captain, Kiera Van Ryk, was Canada’s top scorer with 11 points, one block, one ace, and the rest from attacks. Hilary Howe contributed 9 points (7 from attacks and 2 blocks).
Kiera Van Ryk CAN
Canada’s blocking was dominant, with an 8-0 advantage over Japan, but the Japanese team led in attacks (39-33) and service aces (7-3). The Asians also capitalized on 30 points from unforced Canadian errors.
With this loss, Canada now holds two defeats and just one win. Japan remains undefeated with three straight-set victories.
The final day of the first week of the women’s VNL will be played this Sunday, June 8. In Pool 1 action in Ottawa, the Dominican Republic faces Japan at 11:00 a.m. local time, while Canada hosts Serbia at 6:00 p.m. local time. In Pool 2, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the United States will face Korea at 4:00 p.m. local time.
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts & Nevis, June 7, 2025.- The duos of Jassania Joseph/Jaya Carr of Antigua and Barbuda, Deandra Fleming/Lavesha Richardson of Anguilla, St. Lucia’s Ericka Gaspard/Clio Phillip and Dominica’s Alyssa Bully/Joyan Pascal are the final four women’s teams at the 2025 ECVA U21 Beach Volleyball Championship being held in St. Kitts and Nevis.
Sunday’s semifinal matchups will see Jassania Joseph and Jaya Carr of Antigua and Barbuda go head-to-head with Dominica’s Alyssa Bully and Joyan Pascal, while St. Lucia’s Ericka Gaspard and Clio Phillip will clash with Deandra Fleming and Lavesha Richardson of Anguilla for a place in the championship final.
Joseph/Carr of Antigua and Barbuda overcame a slow start and battled through rain and strong winds to claim a hard-fought 2-1 (18-21, 21-15, 15-12) victory over Bermuda’s Kayley Hamilton and Hailey Moss. Despite losing the opening set, the Antiguan pair adjusted their game and showed resilience under the challenging weather conditions to secure the win.
Richardson and Fleming of Anguilla advanced to the semifinals with a straight-sets victory over Gereliva Spanner and Gercia Brown of St. Eustatius, winning 2-0 (21-14, 21-11) in the quarterfinals
St. Lucia’s Phillip/Ericka delivered a dominant performance in the quarterfinals, displaying confidence to overpower the home team of Celina Awlani and Hensley Phillip 2-0 (21-12, 21-6).
Dominica’s Bully and Pascal delivered a solid performance in the final quarterfinal match of the day. The duo secured a straight-set victory over Grenada’s Xenia Collins and Teasia Jones, winning 2-0 (21-14, 21-12) to punch their ticket to the semifinals.
In the Round of 12, Awlani/Hensley Phillip of St. Kitts and Nevis (SKN) claimed a straight-set victory over Dryaton/Farington of the British Virgin Islands 2-0 (21-19, 21-11). Teasia and Collins of Grenada edged out Amritt/Pinney from SKN in a tightly contested match, winning 2-1 (21-9, 18-21, 16-14). Spanner and Brown of Sint Eustatius cruised past Andrew/Campbell, also from SKN, with a convincing 2-0 (21-7, 21-15). Meanwhile, Joseph/Carr from Antigua and Barbuda bounced back after dropping the first set to defeat Gibson/Matthews of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2-1 (21-23, 21-6, 15-10).
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts & Nevis, June 7, 2025.- Despite intermittent rain and strong winds, Defending champions Mervin Mingo/Bill Frederick of Dominica, Jedediah Pencheon/Vikash Sundar of St. Kitts and Nevis, Grenada’s Walcott Zerick/Kibose Hamilton, along with St. Lucia’s Victor Rio and Peter Emmanuel, emerged as the top four men’s teams of the 2025 ECVA U21 Beach Volleyball Championship.
Sunday’s semifinals will see Jedediah Pencheon and Vikash Sundar of St. Kitts and Nevis face Victor Rio and Peter Emmanuel of St. Lucia, while Dominica’s Mervin Mingo and Bill Frederick take on Walcott Zerick and Kibose Hamilton of Grenada.
Sundar/Pencheon of St. Kitts and Nevis thrilled the home crowd with a commanding performance, defeating Antigua and Barbuda’s Khaliq Joseph and Miguel Lugo in straight sets, 2-0 (22-20, 21-13), in the quarterfinals.
Dominica’s Mingo/Frederick delivered a powerful performance in their quarterfinal match, defeating Alex Lall and Joash Walters of St. Kitts and Nevis in straight sets, 2-0 (21-17, 21-7). After a competitive first set, the Dominican duo tightened their grip on the match, dominating the second set with a decisive scoreline to advance to the semifinals.
Zerick and Hamilton of Grenada showed composure and consistency throughout the quarterfinal clash, earning their spot in the semifinals with a 2-0 (21-19, 21-16) victory over the British Virgin Islands duo, Maduro Dunkley and Alexander Wheatley.
Finally, St. Lucia’s team Rio/Emmanuel clinched the last spot in the semifinals with a composed and efficient 2-0 (21-17, 21-17) victory over Julian Bristol and Komarr Fraties of St. Kitts and Nevis, sealing their place among the tournament’s top four teams.
Earlier in the day, in the Round of 12, Lugo/Joseph of Antigua and Barbuda dominated D’jario Hassell/De Jesus of Sint Eustatius with a commanding 2-0 win (21-10, 21-10). Mingo/Frederick of Dominica also secured a straight-set victory, defeating Bermuda’s Dos Santos Martin/Mello Kyle Mello 2-0 (21-11, 21-9). Bristol/Fraties from St. Kitts and Nevis overpowered Smith/Reid of Anguilla, also with a 2-0 score (21-12, 21-12). In a more competitive encounter, Maduro Dunkley Maduro/Wheatley of the British Virgin Islands edged past Alexander/Stephen from St. Vincent and the Grenadines in three sets, 2-1 (21-16, 19-21, 15-10).
LAUSANNE, Switzerland, June 7, 2025.- 7 July 2025 marks a historic moment for our sport – the inaugural World Volleyball Day, and it is now just one month away!
The date commemorates the first public demonstration of volleyball by William Morgan in 1895 and will annually serve as a global celebration of volleyball.
The day will bring the Global Volleyball Movement together like never before, uniting players, fans, clubs, FIVB stakeholders, partners and friends from every corner of the world. Whether it is played on a beach, a court, in a park or in the home, volleyball is for everyone. The very nature of the sport encourages teamwork and collaboration. It’s fast, exciting, fun, and it has a unique power to bring people together. The FIVB Strategic Vision 2032 speaks to this power through the pillars of professionalism, integration, empowerment and mass participation. Now, through World Volleyball Day, our sport has its very own day to celebrate these values.
By playing, watching, promoting or engaging with volleyball in all its forms, you will have the opportunity to be part of a shared global experience. Whether you are a player, coach, supporter, organisation or partner, your voice and your passion will help make World Volleyball Day 2025 a truly memorable occasion.
This is a day for us all to demonstrate that volleyball is for everyone, everywhere.
June 6, 2025.- The first week of the Volleyball Nations League 2025 has been intense, but also successful for the Dominican Republic, which secured on Friday their second victory in three matches in the tournament, while the U.S. fell in dramatic five sets to Czechia in their third loss.
Dominican Republic returns to winning ways
One of the six teams competing in Pool 1, in Ottawa, Canada, the Queens of the Caribbean won their second five-setter in three days at The Arena at TD Place, taking the Netherlands down to keep their record positive.
If their opening-match five-set victory over Serbia on Wednesday featured a massive comeback for the Dominicans, their triumph over the Dutch had a different script, with ups and downs from both sides and tremendous back-and-forth before the Caribbeans prevailed 3-2 (22-25, 25-19, 28-26, 22-25, 15-13).
With two of their first three matches in Ottawa going to five sets, the Dominicans have played as many as 14 sets so far – before beating Serbia, they lost 3-1 to Bulgaria on Thursday.
Against the Dutch, the Caribbean could rely on their two main scorers as Brayelin Martínez and Gaila González combined for an impressive 51 points – the outside hitter registered 26, with 23 kills, two blocks and one ace, while the opposite produced 25, with 19 kills, three blocks and three aces.
The Dominican team outperformed the Netherlands 10-7 in blocks, and their serve was dominant, delivering 7 aces to the Netherlands’ 3.
With this victory, the Dominican Republic climbed to sixth place in the overall standings among the 18 teams competing in the 2025 VNL, with 2 wins and 1 loss for a total of 4 points.
Gaila Gonzalez DOM (2)
USA Can’t Hold the Lead, Suffers Third Consecutive Loss
The United States was unable to maintain their initial 2-0 set lead and ended up losing in five sets (25-23, 25-20, 17-25, 20-25, 25-27) to the Czechia. The final set was full of emotions—Team USA had a 10-7 lead but ultimately lost 25-27 in a set that was supposed to go to 15 points.
Despite the Czechs committing 31 unforced errors, they were superior at the net (82-66 in attacks) and in service aces (7-2). The USA led in blocks, 13-6.
Sarah Franklin was the top scorer for the U.S. with 20 points (19 attacks, 1 block), Amber Igiede added 18 points (13 attacks, 4 blocks, 1 ace), while Molly McCage and Logan Eggleston also scored in double digits with 11 points each, and Logan Lednicky added 10 points.
This marked the third loss for the United States.
On Saturday, June 7, in Ottawa, only one match will be played: Canada will face Japan at 4:00 PM local time. The Dominican Republic and the United States will have the day off.
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts and Nevis, June 6, 2025.- Defending champions Deandra Fleming and Lavesha Richardson of Anguilla won Pool A defeating the local duo of Celina Alwani and Jontelle Hensley Philip and Roneika Gibson alongside Veronique Matthews of St. Vincent and the Grenadines on day one of the Women’s 2025 ECVA U21 Beach Volleyball Championship in St. Kitts and Nevis.
Joining Richardson/Fleming in the quarterfinals are St. Lucia’s Ericka Gaspard and Clio Phillip, Kayley Hamilton and Hailey Moss of Bermuda, and Dominica’s Alyssa Bully and Joyan Pascal.
Anguilla’s Deandra Fleming and Lavesha Richardson secured a 2-0 victory (21-12, 23-21) over Celina Alwani and Jontelle Hensley Philip of St. Kitts and Nevis to win Pool A. Earlier in the day, Richardson/Fleming had also defeated St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Gibson/Matthews in straight sets (21-18, 21-15), while Alwani/Hensley Philip claimed a 2-0 win (21-8, 21-14) over the same Vincentian duo.
St. Lucia’s Ericka Gaspard and Clio Phillip dominated Pool B to finish at the top with two commanding victories. They opened with a dominant 2-0 win (21-4, 21-7) over St. Kitts and Nevis’ Jahzara Andrew and Asia Campbell, then sealed first place by defeating Grenada’s Xenia Collins and Teasia Jones in straight sets (21-14, 21-14). Earlier, Teasia/Collins had swept Andrew/Campbell 2-0 (21-13, 21-11).
Kayley Hamilton and Hailey Moss of Bermuda emerged as the winners of Pool C with a flawless performance, winning both of their matches in straight sets. The pair displayed dominance throughout, first defeating Azarraha Amritt and Shaylee Pinney of St. Kitts and Nevis 2-0 (21-4, 21-10) and then overpowering Gereliva Spanner and Gercia Brown of St. Eustatius 2-0 (21-8, 21-9). Spanner/Brown were coming from a three-set victory 2-1 (4-21, 21-16, 15-12) against Amritt/Pinney.
Dominica’s Alyssa Bully and Joyan Pascal claimed the top spot in Pool D with back-to-back three-set victories. They opened the day by rallying from a set down to defeat the British Virgin Islands’ Natalia Drayton and Megan Farrington 2-1 (16-21, 21-16, 15-10). Bully and Pascal then secured the pool win with a gritty 2-1 triumph (21-15, 23-21, 15-6) over Antigua and Barbuda’s Jassania Joseph and Jaya Carr. Earlier, Joseph and Carr swept Drayton and Farrington 2-0 (21-11, 21-14).
Day two of the event will start with round of 12 to determine the quarterfinal matchups.
BASSETERRE, Saint Kitts and Nevis, June 6, 2025.- Dominica’s Mervin Mingo and Bill Frederick lost to Victor Rio and Peter Emmanuel of St. Lucia in a hard-fought 2-1 battle (17-21, 21-19, 15-12) in Pool A on opening day of the Men’s 2025 ECVA U21 Beach Volleyball Championship in Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Victor Rio and Peter Emmanuel of St. Lucia, along with Jedediah Puncheon/Vikash Sundar and Alex Lall/Joash Walters of St. Kitts and Nevis, and Grenada’s Zerick Walcott and Kibose Hamilton advanced to quarterfinals after winning their respective pools.
Pool A was claimed by Victor Rio and Peter Emmanuel of St. Lucia, who rallied to defeat Dominica’s Mervin Mingo and Bill Frederick. Both teams advanced to the pool-deciding match by defeating Anguilla’s Trevon Smith and Shaquoy Reid in straight sets. Mingo and Frederick won their matchup 2-0 (21-8, 21-14), while Rio and Emmanuel dominated with a 2-0 victory (21-7, 21-13).
Host country duos Jedediah Puncheon/Vikash Sundar and Alex Lall/Joash Walters emerged as winners of Pools B and C, respectively.
Jedediah Puncheon and Vikash Sundar clinched first place in Pool B with a straight-sets victory over St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Dishawn Alexander and Stephen Woods, 2-0 (21-12, 25-23). Earlier in the day, both pairs had secured wins against St. Eustatius’ D’jario Hassell and Zjondre De Jesus. Puncheon and Sundar triumphed 2-0 (21-8, 21-12), while Alexander and Woods also posted a 2-0 result (21-4, 21-10).
Alex Lall and Joash Walters faced a tougher road to claim the top spot in Pool C. They opened their campaign with a hard-fought three-set win (21-18, 16-21, 15-10) over the British Virgin Islands duo of Maduro Dunkley and Alexander Wheatley. In the decisive match, Lall and Walters battled fiercely to secure a straight-sets victory (21-19, 22-20) against Antigua and Barbuda’s Khaliq Joseph and Miguel Lugo, who had previously swept Wheatley and Dunkley 2-0 (21-12, 21-16).
Grenada’s Zerick Walcott and Kibose Hamilton opened Pool D play with a commanding 2-0 win (21-8, 21-13) over Bermuda’s Kyle Mello and Anijahe Dos Santo Martin. The home team, Julian Bristol and Komarr Fraties, also swept Bermuda in straight sets (21-8, 21-16). In a thrilling pool-deciding showdown, Walcott and Hamilton edged out Bristol and Fraties 2-0 (24-22, 23-21) to claim the top spot in Pool D.
Saturday starts with the round of 12, the winner will face group winners in the quarterfinal round.
LAUSSANNE, Switzerland, June 6, 2025.- At the inaugural Olympism365 Summit in Lausanne from 4 to 5 June, the FIVB stood at the heart of a transformative conversation on sport’s potential to drive sustainable development.
Featured in the final plenary session, FIVB President Fabio Azevedo joined Olympic legend and changemaker Abhinav Bindra OLY on stage to speak candidly about how volleyball, and sport at large, can make a real difference through collective action. It was here that the FIVB President also pledged coordinated action with the FIVB and Volleyball Foundation to further scale and sustain Volley4Change in Vanuatu and extend the initiative into the wider Pacific region.
The session, “Strengthening the Role of Sport as an Enabler of Sustainable Development: Summit Outcomes and Concrete Actions”, explored how sport can serve as a practical tool to help realise the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
President Fabio Azevedo opened by aligning the volleyball vision with that of the IOC – building a better world through sport. He then noted how the FIVB Strategic Vision 2032 is focused on making volleyball more affordable, accessible and understandable to people around the world. From elite arenas to grassroots courts in remote villages, the vision is about transforming volleyball into a truly global movement.
At the centre of that transformation is the Volleyball Empowerment programme, a landmark initiative launched in 2021. With over USD 50 million invested in more than 1,489 projects across 205 countries, the programme supports coaching, equipment, and capacity-building to enable national teams to reach their full potential.
However, realising these efforts needed to be expanded to projects not necessarily within the FIVB ecosystem, but still promoting the values of volleyball, the FIVB launched the Volleyball Foundation in 2024.
The FIVB President spoke with passion about the Volleyball Foundation-supported Brahmaputra Volleyball League (BVL) in India, a grassroots league founded by former national captain Abhijit Bhattacharya, and emphasised how it reshaped his own sense of purpose.
“I’ve been working for volleyball for 35 years now, but this was a lifetime experience for me,” said FIVB President Fabio Azevedo. “I saw kids playing barefoot, playing on dirt. I saw kids and a community, far from being privileged, donating everything. I met a lady, 93-years old, who donates 20% of her 150-dollar monthly pension to an under-12 volleyball team. And she’s following every single match. I saw kids playing barefoot like lions. That gave me, humbly, a greater responsibility to lead our sport towards society and to allow more people to have access to our sport.”
IOC President-elect Kirsty Coventry also addressed the Summit to conclude the final session. During her speech, she reflected on the stories from the BVL, commenting:
“Fabio, you felt the Ubuntu spirit. That fight of the lion of those kids, the 93-year-old lady sharing the little that she has, that’s exactly what it is. Ubuntu is a huge foundation for me; it’s a part of my legacy. It’s a part of my everyday life. And it is: I am because we are. And it means that any little thing I do has a ripple effect onto you and everyone around us.”
Indian Olympic gold medallist and Founder of the Abhinav Bindra Foundation, Abhinav Bindra, stressed the importance of collective action when discussing the impact of the Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP) in India.
“Meaningful progress only happens when it is co-owned. When public systems, civil society and the sports movement not only align in purpose but design and sustain sports programmes together. Transformation only becomes real when ownership is shared, when these sectors come together, not just to align, but to co-create.
“Sport must meet people where they are. Whether the priority is gender equality, mental health or climate action, sport must connect to what matters. People invest in what they can see, feel and benefit from.”
In addition, Her Excellency Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice President of the Qatar Foundation, who is also a member of the Volleyball Foundation Board, joined a panel alongside UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Ending Violence Against Children, Najat Maalla M’jidm.
Addressing the Summit, Her Excellency stated: “One of the partnerships we worked on just yesterday was with the FIVB. We have committed to developing female coaches in volleyball and, once we pilot the real framework of developing female coaches, we would like to see that across all the different sports.”
Other speakers during the final plenary session included Zeph Nhleko, Chief Economist at the Development Bank of Southern Africa; Nate Hurst, Chief Sustainability Officer at Visa; Auvita Rapilla, IOC Member and Chair of the IOC Olympism365 Commission; and Emma Terho OLY, Chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission.
June 6, 2025.- Expecting her first baby, the Dominican captain will be with her team for as long as she can during the tournament.
The Dominican Republic will count on an extra body on the court for at least their first matches in the Volleyball Nations League 2025 as team captain and veteran setter Niverka Marte is playing the tournament while expecting her first baby.
The 34-year-old playmaker doesn’t know for how long she’ll be able to keep playing, but she definitely wants to enjoy the moments of joy she is experiencing this first week, as the Queens of the Caribbean have faced Serbia and Bulgaria, and will play the Netherlands and Japan in Ottawa, Canada.
Even though many players who want to start a family plan to do it in the post-Olympic year, that wasn’t exactly the case with Marte. Having a baby had long been a dream of her, but the Dominican captain was struck with both surprise and intense happiness when she found out she was pregnant.
“My husband and I have been thinking about having a baby for a long time, but we always kept focused on what our priorities were at the moment and the upcoming tournaments,” she told Volleyball World in an exclusive interview. “We didn’t plan for it to happen now, but when we realized it was happening, it was a moment of incredible happiness for us. Our wonderful baby came by the grace of God and He couldn’t have picked a better time to give us this gift.”
Feeling as energized as ever and having many examples of players who continued to compete through pregnancy, including her longtime national team friends Bethania De La Cruz and Brenda Castillo, Marte had no doubts that she wanted to continue to represent her country in the VNL for as long as she could.
“I never felt better before,” she said. “I’ve been so, so happy that I’m in an unexplainable mood all the time. And I feel stronger and with a constant desire to train my body, too. I think that many people portray pregnancy as a disease and make it look like you can’t do anything. I always saw it from an entirely different perspective, and now that I’m experiencing it, I feel it in an even stronger way. Of course, my body is changing, and I need to take care of my needs and my baby’s needs, but why should I stop my entire life? I’ll adapt to it as it goes and will keep listening to my body. I feel great and would love to be with my team on the VNL. The only recommendation my doctor made was that I enjoy this moment, and that’s what I’ll do.”
One thing that makes Marte’s experience of playing through pregnancy even more special is the fact that her husband, Omar Martinez, is the physical trainer of the Dominican national team. That means the two can experience every step of her pregnancy together, supporting each other along the way.
“I’ve met him a couple of years before he joined the national team, and I’ve become better in every area of my life after that,” the setter, a three-time Olympian, added. “Having him full-time by my side is the best thing that could have happened, and it’s not a coincidence that I’ve been playing every set of every tournament for many years now. He takes care of me in every area of my life, not just sports, and that means a lot. I’m so blessed to have him by my side.”
While Marte still can’t determine for how long she’ll be able to help her teammates on the court in the VNL, the setter can already confirm she will need to sit out of the upcoming FIVB Volleyball World Championship, set to take place from August 22-September 7, in Thailand, as her pregnancy will approach its final stage.
Part of the Dominican national team since 2008 and a starter and captain for over a decade, Marte’s absence will create a void in the team both technically and from a leadership standpoint. While she’s out, Ariana Rodríguez, Yokaty Pérez, Aylin Liberato and Camila De La Rosa are the candidates to step into the starting lineup at the setter spot.
“We have over 20 players training with the Dominican national team, and we’re all different, but everyone has something to bring to the table,” Marte reflected. “So, I don’t think anyone replaces someone on the team. The opportunities have always been there and will continue to be there.”
Saint Kitts and Nevis, June 5, 2025.- The Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association (ECVA) U21 Beach Volleyball Championship is set to begin on Friday at the Marriott Beach, North Frigate Bay on the beautiful shores of Saint Kitts and Nevis.
This prestigious tournament will showcase twenty-four talented young teams, twelve per gender, representing ten different countries across the region, promoting sportsmanship and competition.
The top three teams in both genders will qualify for the NORCECA World Championship Qualifier Tournament in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, from July 3-7.
Crucial preparatory activities took place on the eve of the event, including registration process, ensuring their eligibility and documentation are in order. All teams had the opportunity to utilize the four tournament courts for training sessions, allowing them to acclimatize to the environment and fine-tune their strategies. Finally, Glenn Quinlan, ECVA President, presided over the general technical meeting to discuss the tournament schedule, regulations and specific guidelines.
Teams are distributed in four groups. Pool play will be completed on the first day of the competition, where the winner of each group advances directly to Saturday’s quarterfinals. On day two, the round of 12 will decide who advances to the next round. The tournament will conclude on Sunday with position matches, semifinals and medal matches.
WOMEN
Pool A: Deandra Fleming/Lavesha Richardson (AGU); Roneika Gibson/Veronique Matthews (VIN); Celina Alwani/Jontelle Hensley Philip (SKN).
Pool B: Ericka Gaspard/Clio Phillip (LCA); Xenia Collins/Teasia Jones (GRN); Jahzara Andrew/Asia Campbell (SKN).
Pool C: Kayley Hamilton/Hailey Moss (BER); Gereliva Spanner/Gercia Brown (EUX); Azarraha Amritt/Shaylee Pinney (SKN).
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, June 5, 2025 .- In a meeting held this evening between the Puerto Rican Volleyball Federation (FPV) and the eight franchise owners of the Men’s Superior Volleyball League (LVSM), it was unanimously agreed to postpone the start of the 2025 season to October 20, 2025.
The decision was made to comply with the regulations set by the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) and to ensure the proper development of the competition under international standards.
FPV President Dr. César Trabanco confirmed the decision and noted that further details regarding tournament planning and necessary adjustments will be announced in the coming days to guarantee a competitive and well-organized event.
“Our top priority is to meet international requirements while also delivering a high-quality tournament for our players, clubs, and fans. We’ll soon be sharing key information about the schedule and other logistical aspects,” said Dr. Trabanco.
All eight teams are confirmed to participate in the upcoming season, and each team will be allowed up to two foreign reinforcements to strengthen their rosters.
June 5, 2025.– All three NORCECA teams competing in the 2025 Women’s Volleyball Nations League (VNL) had a tough second day. In Pool 1, host nation Canada fell 1-3 to the Netherlands, while the Dominican Republic lost 1-3 to Bulgaria. Meanwhile, in Pool 2, USA suffered their second consecutive defeat, this time a 0-3 loss to Brazil.
Canada drops first match in Pool 1
Canada suffered their first loss of the 2025 VNL season, falling 1-3 (18-25, 25-22, 15-25, 23-25) to the Netherlands. In a match with few unforced errors, Canada committed 20, while the Netherlands had 24.
Canadian opposite and team captain Kiera Van Ryk once again led the scoring with 17 points (15 attacks, 1 block, 1 ace). The Dutch outperformed Canada in every skill, 55-48 in attacks, 13-3 in blocks, and 9-6 in aces.
With this result, Canada now holds a 1-1 record and 2 points, thanks to their win over Bulgaria the day before.
Andrea Mitrovic CAN
Dominican Republic falls in four sets to Bulgaria
Despite a standout performance from Brayelin Martínez, who scored 30 points (27 attacks, 3 blocks), and a strong effort in the second and fourth sets, the Dominican Republic was outlasted by Bulgaria 1-3 (21-25, 32-30, 19-25, 29-31).
Blocking was once again the Dominican team’s strongest weapon, dominating that category 16-11, but Bulgaria narrowly won in attacks 65-64 and led in service points 7-4.
The Dominican Republic now holds a 1-1 record with 2 points, following their victory over Serbia.
Brayelin Martinez DOM
USA suffers second straight loss
Brazil, the world’s second-ranked team, defeated USA, ranked third, in straight sets 3-0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-19) in Rio de Janeiro.
The young American squad was unable to match Brazil’s power and experience and were outplayed across 38-35 in attacks, 12-4 in blocks, and both teams with 4 aces.
Logan Eggleston was the top scorer for the USA and the only player in double digits, with 13 points, including 1 block and 12 attacks from the net.
On Friday, June 6, in Ottawa, the Dominican Republic will face the Netherlands at 2:00 p.m. local time, while Canada will have a rest day. In Rio de Janeiro, the United States will take on Czechia at 6:00 p.m. local time.
June 5, 2025.- Simon leads, young stars mature, and momentum builds in Cuba’s 2025 campaign as they return for their third straight Volleyball Nations League season aiming to build on the progress of recent years. After back-to-back campaigns in 2023 and 2024, the team bring back familiar leaders and rising contributors, continuing to rely on physical strength and fast attacking play to push for a stronger finish in an expanded field.
At the heart of the squad is 37-year-old middle blocker Robertlandy Simon, who remains part of the national team setup after initially suggesting his international career was over in 2024. He is expected to join the group in the third week of the Preliminary Phase.
Alongside the top-calibre middle blocker, Cuba will count on outside hitters Miguel Angel Lopez, Marlon Yant and Osniel Melgarejo, who have shaped the team’s attack in recent seasons. Setter Christian Manuel Thondike Mejias provides continuity in distribution, while middle blockers Roamy Alonso and Javier Concepción bring speed and vertical threat at the net. Libero Yonder García anchors the backcourt and leads a defensive unit that has gained stability over the past two editions.
Robertlandy Simon of Cuba
Cuba begin the season ranked 12th in the FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Ranking. Their campaign opens in Rio de Janeiro from 11 to 15 June, where they will face Slovenia, Brazil, Ukraine and the United States. In Week 2 from 25 to 29 June in Belgrade, they are set to take on Germany, Serbia, Netherlands and Argentina. Then Week 3 will be held from 16 to 20 July in Gdansk, with matchups against Bulgaria, Poland, France and China.
Their development has been supported by the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment programme, which began with a six-month coaching support in 2023 valued at CHF 12,000. The support had a long-term impact, helping to strengthen the team’s technical preparation and giving the coaching staff the tools to build a more competitive unit on the international stage.
Now in their third VNL season, Cuba are no longer new to the demands of the competition. Their physical style, built around quick swings, strong blocking and high-tempo transition play, has made them a difficult team to face. Against more structured systems, Cuba’s unpredictability and athleticism continue to stand out.
A return to the Final Round remains within reach. With experienced leaders, improved depth and a style that can pose a threat to the top-ranked teams, Cuba’s purpose in 2025 is grounded in the progress they have already made. Their next step is to prove they can sustain it.
Cuba are scheduled to hold a training camp in Argentina ahead of the VNL, including friendly matches with the home side. The trip will form part of their preparations for a packed international season that also includes the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship later this year.
After rebuilding their presence on the international stage, Cuba now face a season that could define their trajectory in the next Olympic cycle. With Simon still in the fold and a more balanced lineup around him, their 2025 campaign is built to power through the pack.
June 4, 2025.- The Dominican Republic opened their 2025 Volleyball Nations League (VNL) campaign with an exciting five-set comeback victory over reigning world champions Serbia in Pool 1, at TD Place in Ottawa, Ontario. Host Canada also secured a five-set win over Bulgaria to start strong at home. Meanwhile, in Pool 2, the United States fell in their debut against Olympic champions Italy in Rio de Janeiro.
Dominicans complete reverse sweep against Serbia
The second match of the day in Ottawa delivered high drama as the Dominican Republic clawed back from a two-set deficit to defeat Serbia. The “Queens of the Caribbean” didn’t give up after dropping the first two sets, ultimately triumphing 3-2 (26-28, 19-25, 25-15, 25-20, 18-16), marking the first tiebreak victory of the VNL’s seventh edition.
Outside hitter Brayelin Martínez led the offense with 17 points (11 kills, five blocks, one ace), joined by her sister, middle blocker Jineiry Martínez, who added 16 (14 kills, two blocks). Opposite Gaila González also contributed 16 points (11 kills, four blocks, one ace) in the epic comeback.
Blocking proved to be the Dominicans’ strongest skill, outperforming Serbia 16-11. They also capitalized on Serbian errors, with a 34-22 advantage in opponent unforced mistakes. However, Serbia led in kills (61-58) and aces (10-5).
Brayelin Martinez DOM
Canada needs five sets to beat Bulgaria
The final match of opening day action also went to five sets, with host Canada outlasting Bulgaria 3-2 (25-18, 25-12, 23-25, 19-25, 15-4) in front of their home fans. It was Canada’s first win under new head coach Giovanni Guidetti.
The Canadians were dominant in attacks (67-49) and serves (9-4), while Bulgaria held a slight edge in blocking (10-9).
Star opposite Kiera Van Ryk led all scorers with 25 points (19 kills, four aces, two blocks). Outside hitter Hilary Johnson followed with 18 (16 kills, two aces), and middle blocker Emily Maglio chipped in 14 points (eight kills, five blocks, one ace).
Kiera Van Ryk CAN
USA fall to Italy in opener
Reigning VNL champions Italy imposed their strength early, winning the first two sets comfortably. The third set saw the USA take a commanding 21-14 lead, but Italy mounted a comeback to win the set 30-28 and seal a 3-0 (25-13, 25-13, 30-28) victory in Pool 2, played in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
New American head coach Erik Sullivan fielded a very young squad, with ten players making their VNL debut against the Olympic champions. Sarah Franklin and Logan Lednicky led the USA in scoring with nine points each.
On Thursday June 5, in Ottawa, Dominican Republic faces Bulgaria at 4:00 PM local time, and Canada goes against the Netherlands at 7:30 PM local time. In Rio de Janeiro, the U.S. will meet with host Brazil at 9:00 PM local time.
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, June 3, 2025.- The Haitian Volleyball Federation has been in full activity organizing successful tournaments, thanks to the tireless efforts and remarkable dedication by regional organizers.
In parts of the Northern Department, school tournaments began as early as December 2024. In 2025, hundreds of students continued to play volleyball, with championships held in Cap-Haïtien, Ouanaminthe, Hinche, Port-Margot, La Jeune, Mombin-Crochu, Pignon, and Saint-Marc.
A play sequence in the Port-au-Prince championship
Concurrently, the regular First Division tournaments were successfully held by the Ouanaminthe League, while the League in the West tournaments are currently in its final phase. These two major championships welcomed 20 clubs, with a total of approximately 300 athletes.
“I am proud that the Haitian Volleyball Federation has been able to stay the course and ensure that volleyball courts continue to be places of joy and performance for athletes during these challenging times. We recognize the many sacrifices made by both parents and athletes to keep volleyball alive across the country, bringing energy, unity, and hope to a population striving for stability.” said Jean Michel Frédéric François, President of the Haitian Volleyball Federation.
“Special thanks to all the regional leaders for their perseverance, all the institutions that championed us, and especially NORCECA for their continuous support. Seeing our youth smile, play, and push themselves beyond their limits, despite the circumstances, is the greatest triumph for Haitian sports,” concluded Mr. François.
MANATÍ, Puerto Rico, June 3, 2025.- The Puerto Rican Volleyball Federation (FPV), led by President Dr. César Trabanco, has officially announced that the city of Manatí will host the prestigious 2025 NORCECA Women’s Final Four tournament, scheduled to take place from July 18 to 20 at the Juan Aubin Cruz Abreu Coliseum.
The event will bring together the national teams of Puerto Rico, Cuba, Mexico, and Costa Rica in an exciting round-robin format that promises high-level matchups. Additionally, this will be the first tournament to award ranking points toward qualification for the Volleyball Nations League (VNL), adding extra incentive to the competition and increasing its relevance on the international stage.
Coliseo Juan Aubin Cruz, Manati
Dr. César Trabanco, President of the Puerto Rican Volleyball Federation, expressed deep gratitude to the Mayor of Manatí, the Honorable José A. Sánchez, for his support to Puerto Rican volleyball and his commitment to the development of sports in the region.
“We greatly value the support of Mayor Sánchez and his team, who have opened the doors of the Juan Aubin Cruz Coliseum to host a top-tier event. Their backing is a clear demonstration of Manatí’s commitment to the growth of volleyball and the strengthening of our national teams,” said Trabanco.
He also emphasized the importance of the 2025 NORCECA Women’s Final Four for the Puerto Rican national team and the sport on the island:
“This tournament is a great opportunity for our players to showcase their talent and continue raising the level of volleyball in Puerto Rico. Facing strong opponents like Cuba, Mexico, and Costa Rica will allow us to compete at the highest level and demonstrate our team’s progress on the international stage. We look forward to an exciting event, with thrilling matches and passionate fans supporting our team as it aims to defend its title.”
As the reigning champion, Puerto Rico will look to maintain its dominance in the tournament and take full advantage of the home court to deliver an unforgettable experience for its fans.
June 2, 2025.- The French Volleyball Federation (FFVolley) hosted its General Assembly this week in Nice led by FFvolley President Eric Tanguy.
Joining the meeting was the FIVB delegation, led by the FIVB President Fabio Azevedo as well as the CEV President and FIVB 2nd Vice-President Roko Sikirić. This was part of an ongoing collaboration with national and continental leaders to advance the sport’s development in France and internationally while encouraging discussions within the Global Volleyball Movement.
During the meeting, FIVB President Fabio Azevedo presented key elements of the FIVB Strategic Vision 2032 – an ambitious yet realistic roadmap designed to elevate volleyball’s global impact over the next eight years. The strategy, guided by the motto “Together as One”, outlines the FIVB’s key strategic priorities, which include increased investment in grassroots development, digital innovation, enhanced athlete support and further cooperation with partners and stakeholders around the world.
The meeting highlighted the highly successful Olympic Games Paris 2024, held last summer, where both indoor and beach volleyball captivated global audiences. The French men’s volleyball team successfully defended their Olympic title in front of an enthusiastic home crowd, while beach volleyball was showcased in the iconic Eiffel Tower Stadium widely celebrated as “the greatest stadium on earth”.
“Paris was a fantastic celebration of our sport and showed us what volleyball is capable of – both in terms of sporting excellence and its power to bring people together,” said Azevedo. “At its core, volleyball embodies key values: collaboration, integration, peace and solidarity, and we saw so much of that in Paris. It’s brilliant to see that this spirit has been sustained, and that FFvolley are continually implementing new initiatives to grow our sport.”
The General Assembly addressed a comprehensive agenda of governance topics, including financial and technical reporting, regulatory updates and activity reports from the National Technical Directorate and Supervisory Board. FFVolley President presented his annual report that was fully endorsed by the Assembly.
The FIVB’s visit reaffirmed its close working relationship with FFVolley, the European Volleyball Confederation (CEV), and other key stakeholders who were also present at the assembly.
“As we look to the future, unity and collaboration at every level of the game are vital as we continue building our sport around four central pillars: professionalism, integration, empowerment and mass participation,” Azevedo concluded. “We move forward together, ‘Together as One’, guided by a shared vision and a collective commitment to growing our sport.”
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, May 31, 2025. – In an event held at Cayo Caribe, The Outlets at Montehiedra, the Puerto Rico Senior Women’s National Volleyball Pre-Selection was officially presented under the leadership of Head Coach Juan C. Núñez and his staff, including assistant coach José Mieles.
A group of athletes, made up of a mix of young talent and experienced veterans from the national program, is preparing for training sessions ahead of this summer’s international commitments.
“I’m excited and happy to be in charge of this talented group of players. It’s an excellent blend of youth and experience, with athletes returning to the program and others who will have their first opportunity to compete at this level,” said Núñez.
The preliminary group consists of approximately 19 to 22 players. As training progresses, the coaching staff will face the difficult task of making cuts to determine the final roster that will represent Puerto Rico in the upcoming summer qualification tournament.
The libero position, in particular, has multiple strong candidates, which will intensify internal competition. “For official tournaments, we must have a 14-player roster, which means eventually five or six players will be cut,” Núñez explained.
Training will begin this coming Monday at the University of Puerto Rico, with sessions open to the press. “We want everyone to be able to see the team’s preparation process. We’ll be training at 5:30 p.m. initially on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Then, we’ll add a fourth day and adjust the schedule as the weeks progress,” the coach stated.
With this preparation phase underway, the Puerto Rico Senior Women’s National Team aims to solidify its roster and strengthen its play in anticipation of the important challenges it will face in the coming months.
Senior Women’s National Team Summer Events:
– NORCECA Women’s Final Four – Host: Puerto Rico, July 16–21
– XII Pan American Cup Women – Host: Mexico, August 1–11
– FIVB Women’s World Championship – Host: Bangkok, Thailand, August 22–September 7
– NORCECA Women’s Final Six – Host: Mexico, September 22–29
NARANJITO, Puerto Rico, May 30, 2025.- The Puerto Rican Volleyball Federation held the official presentation of the 2025 Men’s Senior National Volleyball Preliminary Roster, which will train to represent Puerto Rico in upcoming NORCECA and FIVB tournaments.
Head coach of the senior national team, Jamille Torres, inspired the players with a motivational message:
“I want to be a facilitator and help you achieve everything you set out to do because just like you have goals, I have mine too. I’d like to win the Olympics, but we must go step by step. Let’s think big, beyond the Central American Games. This is a once-in-a-lifetime moment, and I want you to make the most of it. I was once in your shoes, and one day you could be in mine. I’ll always be available to help you with anything you need.”
Meanwhile, the president of the Puerto Rican Volleyball Federation, Dr. César Trabanco, emphasized the importance of the competitive path ahead for the team:
“Puerto Rico has the talent to position itself among volleyball’s elite. The Volleyball Nations League and the World Championship are key opportunities for international exposure and growth. Every tournament adds vital ranking points and helps with Olympic qualification. With effort, discipline, and commitment, we can compete with and beat top teams. This team has everything needed to make its mark.”
The men’s senior team will face a demanding schedule, with high-level tournaments paving the way toward the international elite:
– NORCECA Men Final Four – México, July 23-28
– XVIII Pan-American Cup – México, August 24 -September 1
– NORCECA Final Six – Puerto Rico, October 4 -13
The coaching staff and players are committed to preparation and teamwork, with a shared goal of proudly and excellently representing Puerto Rico in these events.
Men’s Preliminary Roster by Position
Outside Hitters: Omar Hoyos Pedro Molina Pele Vargas Jr. Kevin López Diego Rosich Axel Meléndez Lorenzo Rivera Antonio Feliciano
Opposites: Klistan Lawrence Jamal Ellis Gregory Torres Sebastián Negrón
Middle Blockers: Jonathan Rodríguez Antonio Elías Ismael Alomar Janluar Figueroa Ramón Rosado Iván Fernández Eliel Salva
Setters: Kevin Rodríguez Howard García Daniel Henwood Diego Estrada
Liberos: Arnel Cabrera Dennis Del Valle Luis Bertrán Noah Meléndez
Coaching Staff:
Jamille Torres – Head Coach Ramon Lawrence – Assistant Coach Felix Román – Statistician
May 28 2025.- A Canadian at the helm, a home opener and their rise mark a defining chapter for the men’s team at the 2025 Volleyball Nations League.
The 2025 Volleyball Nations League arrives at a defining moment for the Canadian men’s national team. With three Olympic appearances in the past decade and a breakthrough VNL Final Round finish in 2024, the team has turned sustained development into results. Now, with a Canadian coach on the bench and the season opening on home soil, the journey not only comes full circle — it finally hits home.
Dan Lewis, a former national team player and long-time assistant, was appointed head coach in January. His promotion reflects the federation’s focus on continuity and leadership from within. After competing for Canada as a player at the highest level and contributing from the sidelines in recent years, Lewis now leads a group he knows well into the next stage of its evolution.
The coaching shift builds on a foundation strengthened by the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment programme. Since 2020, Canada have received CHF 1.55 million in support across both volleyball and beach volleyball, through application-based and targeted projects. That backing has supported long-term coaching and technical development for the national team programmes, contributing to the progress of the men’s squad at the highest level.
The 2025 squad features players from last year’s campaigns at the Paris Olympics and the Volleyball Nations League, alongside younger talent rising through the national pathway. Under Lewis, the team will continue to rely on its physical presence, structured systems and strong team identity that shaped their breakthrough performance in 2024.
Canada’s 2025 squad is led by some of their most prominent returnees from their Paris 2024 roster, including Luke Herr, Fynn McCarthy and Nick Hoag. Their contribution and experience at the international level remain central to Canada’s goals this season.
Canada host Week 1 of the VNL from 11 to 15 June at Centre Vidéotron in Quebec, where they face Germany, Argentina, France and Bulgaria. In Week 2, Canada travel to Chicago for matchups against Brazil, United States, Poland and China from 25 to 29 June. The final week of the preliminaries takes place in Ljubljana from 16 to 20 July, where they meet hosts Slovenia, Netherlands, Serbia and Ukraine.
Canada have appeared in every edition of the VNL since its launch in 2018. After years of consistent presence, their qualification to the Final Round in 2024 confirmed their arrival among men’s volleyball’s top-tier contenders. That upward trend now continues with a renewed leadership structure and home-court spotlight.
The 2025 season will also serve as a key step in preparation for the FIVB Men’s World Championship later this year.
May 27, 2025.- The extended rosters of the 24 teams that will participate in the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Girls’ U19 World Championship have now been released and the eager volleyball fans can already find out which rising stars of world volleyball are getting ready to hit the courts in Osijek, Croatia and Vrnjacka Banja, Serbia from July 2 to 13.
While at this young age, the volleyball stars of the future are still building up their fame, there are still plenty of names on the rosters that would ring a volleyball fan’s bell.
Defending U19 world champions United States, for example, will be captained by Genevieve Harris (pictured in the main photo), the Best Setter of last year’s NORCECA U19 Women’s Volleyball Continental Championship.
China’s squad is highlighted by Yang Shuming , who was selected Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Best Opposite of the 2024 FIVB Volleyball Girls’ U17 World Championship as well as MVP of the 2024 AVC U18 Women’s Volleyball Asian Championship, Chen Xiaohui, who was one of the U17 Dream Team middle blockers, and another three of the players, who snatched the inaugural U17 world title last year – Guo Zhongnan, Huang Yuexin and Wang Yibo. The two continental U18 Dream Teamers – outside Zhai Yurui and middle Wang Aoqian – are also on China’s roster.
Reigning 2024 U18 European champions Bulgaria have 13 of the 14 players who conquered the continental title last year on the roster for the upcoming U19 World Championship, headlined by EuroVolley U18 MVP and Best Setter Dimana Ivanova and other Dream Teamers like outside Kalina Veneva and middle Darina Naneva.
The MVP of the 2024 CSV U19 Girls’ Volleyball South American Championship, Mikaela Hestmann, is one of the outside hitters on the list of Brazilian players for Croatia-Serbia 2025, accompanied by setter and captain Luana Vazquez and middle Lara Rodrigues, also among the individual awardees at last year’s continental event.
A number of other continental Dream Teamers are featured on the rosters of Argentina (Paula Tomasa and Julia Allub), Belgium (Liese Verhelst and Jasmine Debout), Chile (Martina Allende), Chinese Taipei (Chen Pin-Yu), Dominican Republic (Julie Arias and Caroline Rodriguez), Italy (Ludovica Tosini and Veronica Quero), Japan (Tanyama Tsubaki and Chugangi Rion), Mexico (Caroline Rodriguez), Peru (Fatima Villafuerte) and Thailand (Sasitorn Jatta).
The German team will be captained by outside hitter Leana Grozer and it is no accident that that last name also rings a loud bell. Her legendary father Gyorgy Grozer is still an active and successful volleyballer at the age of 40. For sure, there are a few other “famous” daughters who will defend the honors of their family names, like Simona Ivanova, the daughter of Bulgarian legend Evgeni Ivanov, or Arianna Bovolenta, the daughter of Italian legend Vigor Bovolenta, to name a couple…
May 27, 2025.- Defending 2023 U19 world champions and reigning 2024 U18 European champions France will play in one of the three opening games of the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Boys’ U19 World Championship set to take place from July 24 to August 3 in Uzbekistan’s capital Tashkent.
The full match schedule for the pool stage of the competition has now been released, creating a sense of excitement and anticipation about how the on-court battles, involving the rising stars of world volleyball, will unfold on the way to crowning the new U19 boys’ world champions.
France will take on Canada in a Pool B game at 11:00 local time (06:00 UTC) on one of the three competition courts in Tashkent. At the same time, on the other two courts, Belgium will meet Pakistan in a Pool A fixture and Iran will face Spain in Pool C.
In a remake of the 2024 Boys’ U18 African Nations Volleyball Championship, Egypt and Tunisia will open their Pool C campaigns at 14:00 (09:00). Meanwhile, U19 South American champions Argentina will take on Puerto Rico in Pool A.
An all-European clash between Italy and Poland, silver and bronze medalists of the 2024 CEV U18 Men’s Volleyball European Championship, in Pool C, and an all-Asian duel between Japan and last year’s U18 continental champions China in Pool B will highlight the third set of three matches, serving off at 17:00 (12:00) on the first competition day. Tournament hosts Uzbekistan will also start off their campaign at that time with a Pool A fixture against Türkiye.
The entire first leg of Pool D matches will get underway at the same time, 20:00 (15:00), with 2024 U19 NORCECA champions USA entering the competition with a game against Finland.
These four time slots will apply to all five competition days of the first phase of the tournament, from July 24 through July 29, with a rest day on July 27.
The top four teams in the final standings of each six-team pool will continue their quest for world honors in the elimination rounds leading up to the medal matches on August 3. The rest will continue their participation in the playoffs for the distribution of the places from 17th to 24th. All 24 teams will go through the respective number of playoff rounds (direct up-or-down matches) to fill all the places from first to 24th in the final competition standings.
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, May 25, 2025 – The American duo of Emma Donley and Portia Sherman were crowned champions of the NORCECA U23 Beach Volleyball Tour after a commanding 2-0 (21-14, 21-12) victory over Canada’s Sophie Hancock and Emma Cudmore in the final, held at the sand courts of beautiful Juan Dolio beach.
Donley/Sherman advanced to the gold medal match by defeating Nicaragua’s Nahima Silva and Norma Brenes with a dominant 2-0 (21-12, 21-12) win in the semifinals. Meanwhile, Hancock/Cudmore reached the final by taking down the Dominican team of Crismil Paniagua and Yari Cleto, also in straight sets (21-17, 21-16).
The podium was completed by Dominicans Paniagua and Cleto, who claimed the bronze medal after beating Silva/Brenes with scores of 21-15 and 21-18.
In the battle for fifth place, Guatemala’s Danna Aguilar and Naomi Monney edged Honduras’ Shanna Rivera and Reizel Bruhier in a three-set thriller (21-19, 21-13, 16-14).
Seventh place went to Costa Rica’s Aliza Aguilar and Sofía Vega, who secured a 2-0 (21-9, 21-19) win over Joanna Robinson and Luna Ebanks from the Cayman Islands.
El Salvador’s Ashley Rauda and Keiry Guzmán took ninth place by defeating the Virgin Islands’ Kirra Lambert and Sophia Peifer, 2-0 (21-13, 21-18).
Dominicans Zoe Paniagua and Steyce Turbi finished in eleventh place after a 2-0 (21-14, 21-13) win over Trinidad and Tobago’s Kristiana Richards and Adalia Badroe. Meanwhile, Canada’s Claire Neagle and Nolyn Houben placed thirteenth.
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, May 25, 2025.– Julián Araya and Jhostin Varela of Costa Rica were crowned champions of the first stage of the NORCECA U23 Tour, held on the spectacular beach of Juan Dolio, Dominican Republic. They clinched the title in a thrilling three-set match 2-1 (19-21, 21-18, 15-12) against Americans Gage Basey and Thomas Hurst.
Araya and Varela reached the gold medal match after defeating Nicaragua’s Josué Meneses and Jesy Umaña in the semifinals in straight sets (21-15, 21-18). On the other side, Hasey and Hurst advanced to the final after beating Dominican duo Ramón De Jesús and Rolvin Maldonado 2-0 (21-12, 21-16).
Third place went to Meneses and Umaña, who claimed the bronze medal by defeating De Jesús and Maldonado 2-0 (21-19, 21-14).
Fifth place was secured by Canadians Connor Dorsey and Aiden Hilkowitz, who beat El Salvador’s Gabriel Vargas and Carlos Mejía 2-0 (21-8, 27-25).
In the battle for seventh place, fellow Canadians Aidan Labossiere and Mason Doering earned a solid 2-0 victory (21-18, 21-12) over Stephen Watson and Dylan Lynee of the Cayman Islands. Ninth place went to Hondurans Jairo Gálvez and Isaac Méndez, who came from behind to defeat Barbados’ Julián Bristol and Jedediah Pencheon in three sets, 2-1 (13-21, 21-19, 17-15).
Daniel Delgado and José Guevara of Guatemala finished in eleventh place after a straight-set win over Trinidad and Tobago’s Jerome Morrison and Jahreef Miguel, 2-0 (21-16, 21-16).
Thirteenth place was claimed by Suriname’s Jamal Atman and Guy Lieveld, who defeated Kymani Greenidge and Cole Sommer of the Virgin Islands 2-0 (21-16, 21-19). Finally, Jared Brown and Kanif Wathey of the U.S. Virgin Islands finished in fifteenth place.
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, May 24, 2025.- The Dominican duo of Crismil Paniagua and Yari Cleto, Canada’s Sophie Hancock and Emma Cudmore, USA’s Emma Donley and Portia Sherman, and Nicaragua’s Nahima Silva and Norma Brenes have all advanced to the women’s semifinals of the 2025 NORCECA U23 Beach Volleyball Tour, taking place on the beautiful shores of Juan Dolio.
The host team, Paniagua and Cleto, will face Hancock and Cudmore from Canada in the first semifinal. In the other matchup, Donley and Sherman of the United States will go head-to-head with Nicaragua’s Silva and Brenes.
Portia Sherman of United States
In the quarterfinals, Paniagua and Cleto cruised past Guatemala’s Danna Aguilar and Naomi Monney in straight sets, 21-8, 21-14. Hancock and Cudmore followed with a dominant 2-0 win (21-12, 21-10) over Aliza Aguilar and Sofía Vega of Costa Rica. Donley and Sherman overpowered Honduras’ Shanna Rivera and Reizel Bruhier 21-15, 21-9, while Silva and Brenes took a convincing 2-0 (21-8, 21-10) victory over Joanna Robinson and Luna Banks of the Cayman Islands.
Earlier in the competition, all four semifinalist teams topped their respective groups in pool play.
In the classification matches for 9th to 12th place, El Salvador’s Ashley Rauda and Keiry Guzmán defeated Kristiana Richards and Adalia Badroe of Trinidad & Tobago 2-0 (21-10, 21-13), while the U.S. Virgin Islands’ Kirra Lambert and Sophia Peifer beat Dominicans Zoe Paniagua and Steyce Turbi 2-0 (21-16, 21-13).
For 13th to 16th place classification, Canada’s Claire Neagle and Nolyn Houben advanced by a bye.
Semifinals and placement matches will take place on Sunday morning, with the bronze and gold medal matches scheduled for the afternoon.
Other results:
Hancock/Cudmore (CAN) d Richards/Badroe (TTO) 2-0 (21-16, 21-3); Silva/Brenes (NCA) d Aguilar/Vega (CRC) 2-0 (21-18, 21-5); Donley/Sherman (USA) d Aguilar/Monney 2-0 821-14, 21-12); Paniagua/Cleto (DOM) d Rauda/Guzmán (ESA) 2-0 (21-7, 21-9); Rivera/Bruhier (HON) d Neagle/Houben (CAN) 2-0 (21-13, 21-6).
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, May 24, 2025.- The men’s teams of Ramón De Jesús/Rolvin Maldonado of Dominican Republic, USA’s Gage Basey/Thomas Hurst, Julián Araya/Jhostin Varela of Costa Rica and Josué Meneses/Jesy Umaña of Nicaragua secured their spots in the semifinals of the NORCECA U23 Beach Volleyball Tour, currently taking place on the sand courts set up along the beach in Juan Dolio.
In Sunday’s semifinals, De Jesús and Maldonado (DOM) will face Basey and Hurst (USA), while Meneses and Umaña (NCA) will meet Araya and Varela (CRC).
Thomas Hurst of United States
In the quarterfinals, the Dominican duo De Jesús/Maldonado won a thrilling match against Canada’s Aidan Labossiere and Mason Doering in three sets, 2-1 (21-18, 18-21, 15-12). Meanwhile, Americans Basey and Hurst claimed a convincing 2-0 victory (21-12, 21-14) over Canadians Connor Dorsey and Aiden Hilkowitz. Costa Rica’s Araya and Varela were dominant over Stephen Watson and Dylan Lynee of the Cayman Islands 2-0 (21-8, 21-10), while Nicaragua’s Meneses and Umaña earned a solid 2-0 win (21-17, 21-14) over El Salvador’s Gabriel Vargas and Carlos Mejía.
Just like in the women’s competition, the four men’s semifinalist duos also topped their respective pools in the preliminary round.
In classification matches for 9th to 12th place, Honduras’ Jairo Gálvez and Isaac Méndez defeated Daniel Delgado and José Guevara of Guatemala 2-0 (21-11, 21-12).
In the battle for 13th to 16th place, Suriname’s Jamal Atman and Guy Lieveld advanced via bye, while Kymani Greenidge and Cole Sommer of the U.S. Virgin Islands defeated compatriots Jared Brown and Kanif Wathey 2-0 (21-15, 21-12).
The semifinals and placement matches will be played Sunday morning, followed by the bronze and gold medal matches in the afternoon.
Other results:
De Jesús/Maldonado (DOM) d Delgado/Guevara (GUA) 2-0 (21-10, 21-11); Araya/Varela (CRC) d Julián Bristol/Jedediah Pencheon (SKN) 2-0 )21-11, 21-8); Labossiere/Doering (CAN) d Brown/Wathey (ISV) 2-0 (21-5, 21-7); Meneses/Umaña (NCA) d Dorsey/Hilkowitz (CAN) 2-1 (11-21, 21-13, 15-11); Jerome Morrison/Jahreef Miguel (TTO) d Greenidge/Sommer (ISV) 2-0 (21-16, 21-6); Basey Hurst (USA) d Vargas/Mejía (ESA) 2-0 (21-19, 22-20); Gálvez/Méndez (HON) d Atman/Lieveld (SUR) 2-0 (21-8, 21-5).
May 23, 2025.- Empowered on the court and guided by veteran coach Giovanni Guidetti, Canada target a breakthrough season. Canada’s women’s volleyball team will open their 2025 Volleyball Nations League campaign on home soil in Ottawa, but the journey that brought them here was shaped long before the opening whistle.
After years of building stability and gaining ground internationally, Canada’s women enter VNL 2025 with experienced players, a new head coach, and a sharper sense of what it takes to close the gap on the world’s top teams.
A key driver of Canada’s rise has been sustained support through FIVB Volleyball Empowerment. Since 2020, Canada has received CHF 1.55 million in support for its programmes. That support helped in hiring a top-tier coach, the expansion of performance and medical staff, and the creation of a professional structure to strengthen athlete development and national team operations.
Brie King & Kiera Van Ryk
Canada entered the VNL in 2021 and have qualified every year since. In 2023 and 2024, they posted their best results to date, finishing 10th overall and narrowly missing out on the Final Round. Later in 2023, they came close to securing an Olympic berth, finishing third in the qualification tournament in Ningbo – their strongest bid since Atlanta 1996. These performances reflected years of growth that helped establish their rise in women’s volleyball.
The foundation for that run was laid by Shannon Winzer, who coached the team from 2020 through the Olympic qualification cycle. She now serves as Volleyball Canada’s High Performance Director, helping guide the national programme’s long-term development.
Taking her place on the bench is Giovanni Guidetti, one of the most accomplished coaches in the sport, with four Olympic campaigns on his résumé. Appointed in January, the Italian brings a track record of elevating national teams and leading top clubs to international titles. His arrival marks the start of a new mission for Canada – adding a new layer of technical leadership and competitive insight to a team that has grown steadily in recent seasons.
Canada’s core also returns. Kiera Van Ryk leads the offence with power and consistency on the right side. Brie King continues to set the rhythm with confidence and control. Their experience, combined with Guidetti’s leadership, gives Canada a solid base in a season where margins will be tight.
Canada will play their opening four matches in Ottawa from 4 to 8 June, facing Bulgaria, Netherlands, Japan and Serbia. From 18 to 22 June, they move to Istanbul to meet Korea, Türkiye, Brazil and Belgium. The final week of pool play takes place in Arlington, Texas, with matches against Germany, China, United States and Thailand from 9 to 13 July. The Final Round will be in Lodz, Poland, from 23 to 27 July.
The team will also compete at the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship, set to be held in Thailand later this year.
VNL 2025 comes at a time when Canada’s foundations are in place. Empowerment support has shaped the programme, experience anchors the core, and Guidetti brings a new perspective to the bench. The mission now is to keep moving forward.
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, May 23, 2025.- Six women’s pairs finished undefeated on the opening day of the NORCECA U23 Beach Volleyball Tour, which kicked off Friday at the beautiful Juan Dolio Beach in the Dominican Republic.
In Pool A, the Canadian duo of Sophie Hancock and Emma Cudmore earned a win over Joanna Robinson and Luna Ebanks of Cayman Islands 2-0 (21-10, 21-11), while their second match was a bye.
Costa Rica’s Aliza Aguilar and Sofia Vega, along with Nicaragua’s Nahima Silva and Norma Brenes, ended the day undefeated in Pool B. Both teams defeated Kirra Lambert and Sofia Peifer from the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Aguilar and Vega dominated Lambert/Peifer 2-0 (21-10, 21-5), while Silva and Brenes also secured a straight-sets victory (21-11, 21-12).
In Pool C, the U.S. pair of Emma Donley and Portia Sherman defeated Dominican duo Zoe Paniagua and Steyce Turbi 2-0 (21-6, 21-8). Guatemala’s Danna Aguilar and Naomi Monney also triumphed over Paniagua/Turbi, winning 2-0 (21-5, 21-4).
Dominicans Crismil Paniagua and Yari Cleto, in Pool D, beat Honduras’ Shanna Rivera and Reizel Bruhier 2-0 (21-14, 25-23). Canada’s Claire Neagle and Nolyn Houben also defeated the Honduran team 2-0 (21-17, 21-9).
Other results:
Joanna Robinson/Luna Ebanks (CAY) d TTO Kristiana Richards/Adalia Badroe 2-1 (21-9, 22-24, 15-8), Ashley Rauda/Keiry Guzmán (ESA) d Claier Neagle/Nolyn Houben 2-0 (21-14, 21-9), and Shanna Rivera/Reizel Bruhier (HON) d Rauda/Guzmán (ESA) 2-1 (21-6, 19-21, 15-10).
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, May 23, 2025.- The teams from Costa Rica, Canada, Nicaragua, the United States, and El Salvador had a strong start at the NORCECA U23 Beach Volleyball Tour in Juan Dolio, each closing the opening day of the men’s competition with two wins in as many matches.
In Pool B, Costa Rica’s duo of Julián Araya and Jhostin Varela delivered commanding performances in their two outings. They first defeated Canada’s Aidan Labossiere and Mason Doering 2-0 (21-10, 21-13), then followed up with a convincing 2-0 victory (21-5, 21-9) over Jared Brown and Kanif Wathey of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
In Pool C, Canadians Connor Dorsey and Aiden Hilkowitz claimed two straight-set victories; 2-0 (21-7, 21-10) against Kymani Greenidge and Cole Sommer of the U.S. Virgin Islands, and 2-0 (21-18, 21-14) over Trinidad and Tobago’s Jerome Morrison and Jahreef Miguel.
Nicaragua’s team, Josué Meneses and Jesy Umaña, also enjoyed a strong start in the same pool. They defeated Morrison/Miguel (TTO) 2-0 (21-12, 21-11) and then Greenidge/Sommer (ISV) 2-0 (21-10, 21-6).
In Pool D, Gage Basey and Thomas Hurst of the United States dominated their two matches, first against Honduras’ Jairo Gálvez and Isaac Méndez (2-0, 21-10, 21-7), and then against Suriname’s Atman and Guy Lieveld (2-0, 21-8, 21-12).
Likewise, El Salvador’s Gabriel Vargas and Carlos Mejía had a successful debut, defeating Gálvez/Méndez (HON) 2-0 (21-13, 21-13) and then overcoming Suriname’s Atman/Lieveld 2-0 (21-18, 21-8).
In Pool A, the Dominican duo of Ramón De Jesús and Rolvin Maldonado secured a victory over Cayman Islands’ Stephen Watson and Dylan Lynee with a score of 2-0 (21-10, 21-17).
Other results:
Stephen Watson/Dylan Lynee (CAY) d Daniel Delgado/José Guevara (GUA) 2-1 (18-21, 21-13, 15-9), Julián Bristo/Jedediah Pencheon (SKN) d Jared Brown/Kanif Wathey (ISV) 2-0 (21-10, 21-11), Aidan Labossiere/Mason Doering (CAN) d Bristol/Pencheon (SKN) 2-0 (22-20, 21-16).
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, May 22, 2025.- The opening event of the 2025 NORCECA U23 Beach Volleyball Tour will feature 28 teams from 13 countries. The competition will take place from May 23 to 25 on the beautiful sand courts of Juan Dolio Beach, Dominican Republic.
The NORCECA U23 Tour is a great opportunity to watch the beach volleyball rising stars in action and enjoy a tournament full of talent and energy. It also serves as preparation for the 2025 Junior Pan American Games in Asunción.
Fifteen men’s teams and thirteen women’s teams registered during Thursday’s preliminary inspections, all aiming to advance from the group stage, which begins this Friday at 8:00 a.m. local time.
Team of United States
A total of 24 matches are scheduled for Friday, 14 in the men’s division and 10 in the women’s. The preliminary round will conclude Saturday morning, followed by the quarterfinals and the losers’ bracket in the afternoon. Semifinals and medal matches will be played on Sunday, along with classification matches.
Men’s Teams: DOM Ramón De Jesús/Rolvin Maldonad; CRC Julián Araya/Jhostin Varela; USA Gage Basey/Thomas Hurst; NCA Josue Meneses/Jesy Umaña; SKN Julián Bristol/Jedediah Pencheon; CAY Stephen Watson/Dylan Lynee; ISV Jared Brown/Kanif Wathey, Kymani Greenidge/Cole Sommer; TTO Jerome Morrison/Jahreef Miguel; HON Jairo Galvez/Isaac Villalobos; SUR Joshua Dwarkasing/Dean Kasdi; ESA Gabriel Vargas/Carlos Mejía; GUA Daniel Delgado/José Guevara; CAN Connor Dorsey/Aiden Holkowitz, Aidan Labossiere/Mason Doering.
Women’s Teams: CRC Aliza Aguilar/Sofía Vega; USA Emma Donley/Portia Sherman; DOM Crismil Paniagua/Yari Cleto, Zoe Paniagua/Steyce Turbi ; ESA Ashley Rauda/Keiry Guzmán; NCA Nahima Silva/Norma Brenes; TTO Kristianna Richards/Adalia Badroe; CAY Joanna Robinson/Luna Ebanks; ISV Kirra Lambert/Sophia Peifer; HON Shanna Rivera/Reizel Bruhier; GUA Danna Aguilar/Naomi Monney; CAN Sophie Hancock/Emma-Joy Cudmore, Claire Neagle/Nolyn Houben.
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, May 22, 2025.- The NORCECA-FIVB Regional Volleyball Development Center in the Dominican Republic (CRDV), in coordination with the NORCECA Confederation and the FIVB, has opened registration for two important international coaching courses “in Spanish”, scheduled to take place in July and September 2025.
The first course, the International Beach Volleyball Coaches Course Level 1, will be held from July 21 to 25, 2025. It is designed for coaches seeking to specialize in the beach volleyball discipline, following the technical standards of the FIVB.
Next, the International Volleyball Coaches Course Level 2 will be conducted from September 17 to 21, 2025. This course focuses on indoor volleyball and is aimed at coaches with prior experience who wish to deepen their knowledge and advance their professional development.
Both courses will be led by FIVB-certified instructors and will take place at the CRDV facilities in Santo Domingo.
Interested participants can obtain more information and register via email at centrofivb_rdom@yahoo.es or through WhatsApp at +1 (809) 563-5642.
These programs are part of CRDV, NORCECA, and FIVB’s ongoing commitment to strengthening technical training in the region and raising the overall level of volleyball.
SAN SEBASTIÁN, Puerto Rico, July 21, 2025.- The transfer of Pablo Guzmán to the Patriotas de Lares marks a new chapter in the journey of the two-time champions, Caribes de San Sebastián, in the Puerto Rican Men’s Superior Volleyball League (LVSM).
The transfer was confirmed by David Chaparro Pérez, Co-Owner and General Manager of the Caribes, who emphasized the franchise’s commitment to the well-being of its players. “Our organization has stood out as one that provides opportunities to players. If we don’t reach an agreement for a season, we want every athlete to have the freedom to choose where to continue their path,” he explained.
The veteran player, MVP of the most recent finals series, was transferred to the Patriotas de Lares in exchange for financial compensation.
Pablo Guzman
Chaparro Pérez also underscored that the Caribes’ philosophy is clear: to respect players’ wishes and contribute to the development of the League. “We always aim for the best development of the League. We’re not here to hold back any player, but to strengthen the competitiveness and spectacle of Puerto Rican volleyball,” he stated.
“Pablo,” Chaparro continued, “expressed interest in relocating to a team of his preference. After discussing his options and respecting his decision, the transfer was granted. It’s important to highlight that this move was made directly at his request. As in any environment, agreements aren’t always reached on every point, but that’s part of the natural dynamic even within the best of families, though it was hard to say goodbye.”
The transfer has sparked varied reactions among fans, ranging from nostalgia over the veteran’s departure to excitement about the arrival of new talent. Chaparro Pérez confirmed that the move is part of a long-term strategic plan. “This change is part of a three-year restructuring process, during which we’ll incorporate new blood and gradually adjust the roster to maintain the team’s high level.”
Thus, Guzmán’s departure is part of a forward-looking vision aimed at ensuring the Caribes continue setting the standard in top-level volleyball, with the goal of strengthening the League and delivering the best possible show to the fans.
The regular season is set to begin on June 6, with the Gigantes de Adjuntas visiting the Caribes de San Sebastián, and the Changos de Naranjito facing the Gigantes de Carolina.
The 2025 LVSM will feature eight competing teams: Caribes de San Sebastián (two-time champions), Mets de Guaynabo, Plataneros de Corozal, Patriotas de Lares, Changos de Naranjito, Gigantes de Carolina, Gigantes de Adjuntas, and Cafeteros de Yauco.
May 21, 2025.- With veteran leadership and continued Empowerment support, the Dominican Republic squad aim to turn years of top-level consistency into their first Final Round appearance in the Volleyball Nations League.
Dominican Republic have long been one of the most consistent forces in women’s volleyball, and since the launch of the VNL, they’ve remained a steady presence among the world’s top contenders. In 2025, they return with a veteran lineup, strong leadership and one goal still just out of reach.
Head coach Marcos Kwiek
The build-up of their high-performance system has been supported by the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment programme, with over CHF 940,000 in support since 2021. This has strengthened the foundation of the national team, providing long-term coaching stability, technical development, and the ability to remain internationally competitive across multiple Olympic cycles.
Head coach Marcos Kwiek remains at the helm in 2025, leading a squad that has dominated their continent in recent years. Dominican Republic won the NORCECA Final Six in both 2022 and 2024, claimed gold at the 2023 Pan American Games, and were crowned continental champions again in 2023. These results have underlined their dominance in continental play and reinforced their readiness to compete for bigger feats on the international stage.
Dominican Republic have been part of every VNL edition since the tournament began, but a Final Round appearance has remained out of reach. Their performances have kept them competitive across multiple seasons, yet that next-level finish continues to be the goal.
Brayelin Martínez
That pursuit continues in 2025 with a group of established stars still leading the charge. Libero Brenda Castillo, widely regarded as one of the most decorated defensive players in international volleyball, anchors the squad alongside standouts Jineiry and Brayelin Martínez. All three bring extensive VNL and major tournament experience, forming a foundation that has carried the team through multiple cycles.
Dominican Republic will start VNL 2025 Week 1 in Ottawa, facing Serbia, Bulgaria, Netherlands and Japan from 4 to 8 June. In Week 2, they move to Istanbul to meet hosts Türkiye, Belgium, Brazil and Korea and from 18 to 22 June. The Preliminary Round wraps up in Week 3 in Arlington, where they will take on China, United States, Thailand and Germany from 9 to 13 July.
The team will also use the VNL to further integrate younger players emerging from its development system – a long-term priority supported by Empowerment funding. While the veterans remain central to the squad’s identity, the next wave of talent is expected to gain experience during the 2025 season.
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, May 20, 2025 .- The Dominican Republic’s National Women’s Volleyball Teams Project and Grupo GBC Farmacias have announced the renewal of their strategic alliance for a second consecutive year. Through this agreement, GBC Farmacias remains the official sponsor of the “Reinas del Caribe” for all international competitions during the 2025 season, including the Volleyball Nations League and the FIVB World Championship.
The announcement was made during a press conference led by Cristóbal Marte Hoffiz, President of the National Teams Project, and Raymond Rodríguez, Executive Vice President of Grupo GBC Farmacias.
Lic. Cristóbal Marte
During the event, Marte Hoffiz unveiled the new uniforms the Reinas del Caribe will wear in 2025, designed by the renowned Japanese brand Mizuno Corporation. He also emphasized that the financial resources generated through the agreement will be allocated as stipends for athletes across the four national women’s teams: U19, U21, U23, and the senior team.
Several players from the national program, along with members of the coaching staff, were present at the event.
“In 2025, the Dominican Republic will, for the second time, become the only country in the world to qualify for the U19 World Championship in Croatia, the U21 World Championship in Indonesia, the Youth Olympic Games (IOC) in Paraguay in the U21 category, and additionally, the Reinas del Caribe will compete in the Nations League and the FIVB World Championship in Thailand,” Marte Hoffiz stated. He added that in previous years, only Brazil had achieved a similar feat.
Lic. Raymond Rodríguez Junior
Marte also highlighted the academic focus of the program: “Most of our athletes are pursuing university degrees, both locally and abroad. Currently, we have six players on 50% scholarships in Japan, and the first among them was Alondra Tapia.”
For his part, Raymond Rodríguez, President of the GBC Foundation and Vice President of the business group, expressed his pride in continuing to support the team. “We are thrilled to extend this agreement and continue being part of the Reinas del Caribe family — a team that inspires hundreds of young girls to chase their dreams,” he said. “The National Teams Project has more than three decades of tireless work behind it and has become a model of success. Hopefully, other sports can follow this example.”
Rodríguez also emphasized the company’s social commitment: “As a foundation and as GBC Farmacias, we are proud to keep contributing so that many girls can dream of one day becoming a Reina del Caribe.”
The event was also attended by prominent figures from the national volleyball community and the corporate sector, including Milagros Cabral, General Director of the volleyball project; Francisca Santana, GBC’s Marketing Manager; and journalist Vargavila Riverón, Communications Advisor for Grupo GBC.
May 20, 2025: Volleyball Canada has announced its Senior and Next Gen indoor men’s national teams for the 2025 season.
The senior team will compete in Volleyball Nations League kicking off in Quebec City, Quebec – presented by Desjardins – on June 11 and then travel to the United States and Slovenia in hopes of qualifying for the finals, to be held in China. In 2024, the senior men finished ranked sixth after making the VNL Finals and then going on to compete in Paris at the Olympic tournament.
After VNL, the team will prepare for the 2025 Men’s World Championship in September, with a Team Canada roster to be announced at a later date.
Leading the senior team will be head coach Dan Lewis in his first season in this position.
“With a small group of returning Olympians, this year’s senior team will also showcase athletes who are looking to shine and gain valuable experience on the world stage leading up to LA2028,” said Julien Boucher, Volleyball Canada’s men’s indoor high-performance director. “The Next Gen team lineup shows depth and the hard work that goes into preparing athletes to compete at the highest level.”
The Next Gen squad, under the guidance of head coach Dave Preston, features up and coming talent from across the country. This team will be focused on training and competing at the NORCECA Pan Am Cup, August 24 to September 1, in Mexico.
Senior Team Athletes Landon Currie – Libero – Coldstream, BC Max Elgert – Setter – Edmonton, AB Jesse Elser – Outside Hitter – Calgary, AB Daenan Gyimah – Middle Blocker – Scarborough, ON Luke Herr – Setter – Winnipeg, MB Isaac Heslinga – Outside Hitter – Orangeville, ON Nicholas Hoag – Outside Hitter – Gatineau, QC Brodie Hofer – Outside Hitter – Langley, BC Xander Ketrzynski – Opposite – Toronto, ON Justin Lui – Libero – Pickering, ON Fynn McCarthy – Middle Blocker – Lake Country, BC Jordan Schnitzer – Middle Blocker – Surrey, BC Ryan Sclater – Opposite – Port Coquitlam, BC Skyler Varga – Outside Hitter – Muenster, SK
Alternate Athletes Mason Greves – Setter – Calgary, AB Jackson Howe – Middle Blocker – Calgary, AB Matthew Neaves – Opposite – Calgary, AB Cory Schoenherr – Middle Blocker – Waterloo, ON Jackson Young – Outside Hitter – Toronto, ON
Staff Dan Lewis – Head Coach Joao Paulo Bravo – Assistant Coach Jason Haldane – Assistant Coach Alberto Varela Frontier – Statistician Michael Cook – Strength & Conditioning Coach, IST Lead Schad Richea – Athletic Therapist Nicholas Poelman – Chiropractor Melissa Healy – Medical Coordinator Kyle Paquette – Mental Performance Coach Donna McDonagh – Mental Health Practitioner Ashley Armstrong – Sport Dietician Cassandra Nicol – Team Manager, Coordinator Julien Boucher – High-Performance Director
NextGen Team Athletes Jordan Canham – Opposite – Avonmore, ON Jackson Corneil – Middle Blocker – Surrey, BC Cole Duncanson – Middle Blocker – St Catharines, ON Zachary Hollands – Libero – Victoriaville, QC Liam Kristjanson – Middle Blocker – Oak River, MB Jeremy Love – Setter – Dauphin, MB Brendan Mills – Opposite – London, ON Liam Pauls – Outside Hitter – Balmoral, MB Darian Picklyk – Libero – Winnipeg, MB Jacob Sargent – Outside Hitter – Lethbridge, AB Kaden Schmidt – Outside Hitter – Mississauga, ON Erik Siksna – Outside Hitter – Markham, ON Tomas Sorra – Setter – Toronto, ON Zachary van Geel – Setter – Calgary, AB Jonas Van Huizen – Outside Hitter – Langley, BC Matthys Weststrate – Middle Blocker – Kelowna, BC
Staff Dave Preston – Head Coach Scott Koskie – Assistant Coach John Barrett – Assistant Coach Grant Wilson – Assistant Coach Matthew Harris – Assistant Coach Raphael Poulin – Strength & Conditioning Coach Michael Cook – IST Lead Meredith Waisman – Sport Physiotherapist Melissa Healy – Medical Coordinator Brendan Dinsdale – Mental Performance Coach Donna McDonagh – Mental Health Practitioner Ashley Armstrong – Sport Dietician Cassandra Nicol – Team Coordinator Georges Laplante – Team Manager Julien Boucher – High-Performance Director
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, May 18, 2025.- Puerto Ricans Allanis Navas and María González claimed the gold medal after defeating Mexico’s Susana Torres and Atenas Rodríguez in a thrilling match 2-0 (21-19, 21-19) in the second stage of the 2025 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Continental Tour, held on the beach of Juan Dolio in the Dominican Republic.
The bronze medal went to Mexico’s Yeray Vidaurruzaga and María Ramírez, who bounced back after dropping the first set to defeat Corine Quiggle and Megan Rice from the United States 2-1 (18-21, 21-19, 15-12).
Fifth place was claimed by Canada’s Maya McNabney and Emma Kunaus, who needed three sets to overcome Dominicans Yari Cleto and Crismil Paniagua 2-1 (21-12, 20-22, 15-13).
In the match for seventh place, Americans Kelly Kool and Tiffany Svenssohn outlasted Dominican duo Julibeth Payano and Bethania Almanzar 2-1 (21-19, 18-21, 15-8), while Canada’s Emily Anderson and Amanda Harnett secured ninth place by defeating Nicaragua’s Socorro López and Lolette Rodríguez 2-0 (21-13, 21-7).
Eleventh place went to Melanie Valenciana and T’ara Austin of the U.S. Virgin Islands, who beat Cayman Islands’ Deajra Tulloch and Maryn McCoombs 2-0 (21-17, 21-12). Venezuela’s Oriana Granadilla and Reibeth Artigas claimed 13th place after a 2-0 (21-19, 21-13) victory over Costa Rica’s Aliza Aguilar and Sofía Vega.
El Salvador’s Donnina Argueta and Keiry Guzmán finished in 15th place with a 2-0 (21-12, 21-4) win over Trinidad and Tobago’s Meeka Johnson and Paige Alexander, while Guatemala’s Laura Quiñones and Naomi Monney took 17th place.
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, May 18, 2025.- The Mexican duo of Miguel Sarabia and Jorman Osuna claimed top honors in the second stop of the 2025 NORCECA Beach Tour after outlasting Americans Timothy Brewster and Ryan Ierna in a hard-fought three-set battle, 2-1 (21-19, 18-21, 15-12).
The bronze medal went to fellow Mexicans Antonio Lares and Carlos Ayala, who came from behind to defeat Nicaragua’s Rubén Mora and Dany López 2-1 (16-21, 21-15, 15-13).
Fifth place was secured by Americans Lev Priima and Brian Miller, who beat U.S. Virgin Islands’ Garrett Bucklin and Devin Van Siclen 2-0 (25-23, 21-14).
Canada’s Dylan Devecseri and Rouzbeh Rahnavard took seventh place after a 2-1 (21-12, 18-21, 15-11) win over Costa Rica’s Julián Araya and Jhostin Varela. In ninth place were Puerto Ricans Richard Timm and Diego Rosich, who topped Dominican duo Hayerlin De Jesús and Rolvin Maldonado 2-0 (21-15, 21-17).
Guatemala’s Luis García and Edgar Maldonado finished in 11th place due to a withdrawal by the team from Trinidad and Tobago. Canada’s Cameron Chadwick and Robert Kemp claimed 13th place by defeating Dominicans R. De Jesús and Alexander Wilmore 2-0 (21-12, 21-15).
El Salvador’s Gabriel Vargas and Carlos Mejía earned 15th place with a 2-0 (21-13, 21-12) win over Saint Kitts and Nevis’ Julián Bristol and Jedediah Pencheon. Venezuela’s Harrison Riveros and Luis Méndez took 17th place by defeating Cayman Islands’ Stephen Watson and Ricardas Kazinec 2-0 (21-13, 21-19), while Guy Lieveld and Jamal Atman of Suriname finished in 19th place.
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, May 17, 2025.- The duos of Corine Quiggle and Megan Rice from the United States, Allanis Navas and María González of Puerto Rico, and Mexico’s Susana Torres with Atenas Gutiérrez, along with Yeray Vidaurruzaga and María Ramírez, have all advanced to the semifinals of the second stage of the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Continental Tour. The event is taking place on the beautiful sandy courts of Juan Dolio Beach in the Dominican Republic.
The American pair Quiggle/Rice, champions of the first stage held in Varadero, secured their semifinal berth by defeating the Dominican duo of Julibeth Payano and Bethania Ramírez in straight sets 2-0 (21-14, 21-13).
Puerto Rico’s Allanis Navas and María González, playing their first event of the 2025 NORCECA Tour, cruised past the U.S. team of Kelly Kool and Tiffany Svenssohn with a dominant 2-0 (21-7, 21-9) win.
Corinne Quiggle of United States
Meanwhile, Mexico’s Susana Torres and Atenas Gutiérrez comfortably overcame Canada’s Maya McNabney and Emma Kunaus 2-0 (21-15, 21-10), and their compatriots Yeray Vidaurruzaga and María Ramírez defeated the Dominican pair Yari Cleto and Crismil Paniagua 2-0 (21-13, 21-11) to reach the next round.
In the semifinals, Quiggle/Rice from the United States will face Puerto Rico’s Navas/González, while the other semifinal will feature a repeat of the all-Mexican clash from Varadero between Torres/Gutiérrez and Vidaurruzaga/Ramírez.
The tournament concludes this Sunday with placement matches, the semifinals, and the grand finale.
Other results of the day were:
DOM Payano/Almanzar d GUA Quiñones/Monney 2-0 (21-16, 21-8), MEX Vidaurrazaga/María d VEN Granadilla/Artigas 2-0 (21-13, 21-16), DOM Payano/Almanzar d VEN Granadilla/Artigas 2-0 (21-15, 21-13), CAN Anderson/Harnett d GUA Quiñones/Monney 2-0 (21-7, 21-15), USA Quiggle/Rice d ISV Valenciana/Austin 2-0 (21-12, 21-16), USA Quiggle/Rice d TTO Johnson/Alexander 2-0 (21-3, 21-7), DOM Cleto/Paniagua d ISV Valenciana/Austin 2-0 (21-18, 21-17), MEX Torres/Gutierrez d CRC Aguilar/Vega 2-0 (21-7, 21-15), USA Kool/Svenssohn d CRC Aguilar/Vega 2-0 (21-14, 21-9), MEX Torres/Gutierrez d NCA López/Rodríguez 2-0 (21-6, 21-12), CAN McNabney/Kunaus d ESA Argueta/Guzmán 2-0 (21-11, 21-8), PUR Navas/González d CAN McNabney/Kunaus 2-0 (21-10, 21-15), CAY Tulloch/McCoombs d Argueta/Guzmán 2-0 (21-12, 21-19).
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, May 17, 2025.- Teams from the United States, Nicaragua, and Mexico have secured their spots in the semifinals of the second stop of the 2025 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour, after claiming victory in their respective quarterfinal matches on Saturday. The event takes place on the sandy courts set up along the beach in Juan Dolio.
The U.S. duo of Timothy Brewster and Ryan Ierna advanced to the next round with a dominant straight set win over Garrett Bucklin and Devin Van Siclen of the U.S. Virgin Islands, 2-0 (21-14, 21-18).
In a tightly contested Central American battle, Nicaragua’s Rubén Mora and Dany López emerged victorious over Costa Rica’s Julián Araya and Jhostin Varela, rallying for a 2-1 win with scores of 19-21, 21-17, 15-11.
Miguel Sarabia of Mexico
Mexico’s Miguel Sarabia and Jorman Osuna moved on to the next round after staging an impressive comeback against Americans Lev Priima and Brian Miller, taking the match in three exciting sets, 2-1 (16-21, 21-18, 15-11).
Meanwhile, the other Mexican pair, Antonio Lares and Carlos Ayala, booked their place in the semifinals with a determined performance, defeating Canada’s Dylan Devecseri and Rouzbeh Rahnavard in another three-set battle, 2-1 (17-21, 21-18, 15-12).
The first semifinal will be an all-Mexican showdown, as Sarabia and Osuna face their compatriots Lares and Ayala, guaranteeing a spot in the final for Mexico.
In the second semifinal, the United States duo Timothy Brewster and Ryan Ierna will face Nicaragua´s Rubén Mora and Dany López, who will be aiming to reach the final once again, just as they did in the first stage of the NORCECA Tour held in Varadero.
Sunday’s schedule includes placement matches, the semifinals, and the tournament final.
Other results of the day:
DOM H. De Jesús/Maldonado d VEN Riveros/Méndez 2-0 (21-19, 21-19), CRC Araya/Varela d CAN Chadwick/Kemp 2-1 (19-21, 21-19, 15-9), USA Priima/Miller d VEN Riveros/Méndez 2-0 (21-17, 21-16), CRC Araya Varela d SUN H. De Jesús/Maldonado 2-1 (21-17, 18-21, 15-11), NCA Mora/López d TTO Theodore/Enile 2-0 (21-14, 21-14), MEX Sarabia/Osuna d NCA Mora/López 2-1 (21-15, 16-21, 16-14), TTO Theodore/Enile d CAY Watson/Kazinec 2-0 (21-19, 21-17), MEX Sarabia/Osuna d DOM R. De Jesús/Wilmore 2-0 (21-14, 21-14), PUR Tiim/ Rosich d SUR Lieveld/Atman 2-0 (21-6, 21-9), MEX Lares/Ayala d ISV Bucklin/Van Siclen 2-0 (21-8, 21-15), SKN Bristol/Pencheon d SUR Lieveld/Atman 2-0 (21-9, 21-18), ISV Bucklin/Van Siclen d PUR Tiim/Rosich 2-0 (21-16, 21.15), USA Brewster/Ierna d GUA García/Maldonado 2-0 (21-13, 21-16), USA Brewster/Ierna d CAN Devecseri/Rahnavard 2-0 (21-15, 21-15), GuUA García/Maldonado d ESA Vargas/Mejía 2-0 (21-13, 21-18).
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, May 16, 2025.- Women’s duos from the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Mexico remained undefeated on the first day of competition in the second stage of the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour. Their performances showcased the high level of competition and talent present at the tournament, which is taking place on the beautiful sand courts set up at Juan Dolio beach in the Dominican Republic, a setting that surely adds a special touch to the event.
In Pool A, Mexico’s Yeray Vidaurrazaga and María Ramírez defeated the Dominican duo Julibeth Payano/Bethania Almanzar 2-1 (16-21, 21-14, 15-12), Guatemala’s Laura Quiñones/Naomi Monney 2-0 (21-13, 21-12), and Canada’s Emily Anderson/Amanda Harnett 2-0 (21-16, 21-17).
Aliza Aguilar of Costa Rica
Winners of the first stage in Varadero, Americans Corine Quiggle and Megan Rice, topped Pool B by beating Dominican pair Yari Cleto/Crismil Paniagua 2-0 (21-13, 21-12). Their second scheduled match was a bye. Meanwhile, Melanie Valenciana and Austin T’ara of the U.S. Virgin Islands defeated Trinidad and Tobago’s Meeka Johnson/Paige Alexander 2-0 (21-9, 21-5), with their other match also a bye.
In Pool C, Mexicans Susana Torres and Atenas Rodríguez, silver medalists in the Varadero stop, overcame Americans Kelly Kool and Tiffany Svenssohn 2-0 (21-17, 21-12), while their second match was a bye.
Puerto Rico’s Allanis Navas and María González, gold medalists at the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games in El Salvador, earned two dominant victories in Pool D. They first beat Deajra Tulloch and Joanna Robinson of the Cayman Islands 2-0 (21-8, 21-7), then took down El Salvador’s Donnina Argueta and Keiry Guzmán 2-0 (21-7, 21-7). Additionally, Canada’s Maya McNabney and Emma Kunaus defeated Tulloch/Robinson 2-0 (21-9, 21-11), with their second match resulting in a bye.
The competition continues Saturday at 8:00 a.m. (local time) with the remainder of the preliminary round, followed by the quarterfinals and the loser’s bracket.
Other results from the opening day are:
CAN Emily Anderson/Amanda Harnett d VEN Oriana Granadilla/Reibeth Artigas 2-1 (17-21, 21-12, 15-12), DOM Julibeth Payano/Bethania Almanzar d CAN Anderson/Harnett 2-1 (23-21, 17-21, 15-13), VEN Granadilla/Artigas d GUA Laura Quiñones/Naomi Monney 2-0 (21-8, 21-16), DOM Yari Cleto/Crismil Paniagua d TTO Meeka Johnson/Paige Alexander 2-0 (21-8, 21-7), USA Kelly Kool/Tiffany Svenssohn d NCA Socorro López/Lolette Rodríguez 2-0 (21-7, 21-7), NCA López/Rodríguez d CRC Aliza Aguilar/Sofía Vega 2-0 (21-16, 21-8).
May 16, 2025.- The excitement ahead of the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Girls’ U19 World Championship set to get underway on July 2 is about to build up further with the announcement of the match schedule for the pool stage of the competition. Osijek in Croatia and Vrnjacka Banja in Serbia will host two pools each, running concurrently on four courts with three games per pool on each competition day.
In what is probably the most interesting among the four opening matches, reigning 2024 U18 European champions Bulgaria will be challenged by another powerful European team, Poland, who finished fourth at the continental championship. It is a Pool C game to be played in Osijek, starting at 15:15 local time (13:15 UTC) on July 2.
In the other three opening matches that will serve off simultaneously, Egypt will meet Canada in Osijek’s Pool A, Argentina will face Puerto Rico in Vrnjacka Banja’s Pool B, and Japan will take on Belgium in Pool D, also in Vrnjacka Banja.
Co-hosts Croatia and Serbia will start their campaigns against Germany in Pool A and against Chinese Taipei in Pool B, respectively, later that day, at 18:15 (16:15 UTC).
The United States will start the defense of their 2023 U19 world title with a Pool C game against Spain at 21:15 (19:15 UTC).
These three time slots will apply to all four pools on all five competition days of the first phase of the tournament, from July 2 through July 7, with a rest day on July 5.
The top four teams in the final standings of each six-team pool will continue their quest for world honors in the elimination rounds leading up to the medal matches on July 13. The rest will continue their participation in the playoffs for the distribution of the places from 17th to 24th. All 24 teams will go through the respective number of playoff rounds (direct up-or-down matches) to fill all the places from first to 24th in the final competition standings.
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, May 16, 2025.- Teams from the United States, Canada, Mexico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica remain undefeated in the preliminary round of the second stage of the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Continental Tour. This highlights the strength and talent of these squads, who are giving it their all to advance in the tournament being held at the beautiful Juan Dolio beach in the Dominican Republic, a perfect setting for this thrilling event.
Timothy Brewster/Ryan Ierna of the United States easily defeated El Salvador’s Gabriel Vargas/Carlos Mejía 2-0 (21-11, 21-13), while their second match was a bye. Meanwhile, Canada’s Dylan Devecseri/Rouzbeh Rahnavard beat Guatemala’s Luis García/Edgar Maldonado 2-0 (21-13, 21-16) and also overcame Vargas/Mejía from El Salvador 2-1 (21-14, 14-21, 17-15).
Julian Araya and Jhostin Varela of Costa Rica
Mexico’s Antonio Lares/Carlos Ayala secured victories over Puerto Rico’s Richard Timm/Diego Rosich 2-0 (21-15, 21-17), Saint Kitts and Nevis’ Julián Bristol/Jedediah Pencheon 2-0 (21-11, 21-14), and Suriname’s Guy Lieveld/Jamal Atman 2-0 (21-10, 21-6). The other Mexican duo, Miguel Sarabia/Jorman Osuna, defeated Stephen Watson/Ricardas Kazinec of the Cayman Islands 2-0 (21-11, 21-12) and also beat Trinidad and Tobago’s Joel Theodore/Stephen Enile 2-0 (21-12, 21-13).
Garrett Bucklin/Devin Van Siclen of the U.S. Virgin Islands won their matches against Bristol/Pencheon 2-0 (21-17, 21-8) and Lieveld/Atman 2-0 (21-12, 21-10). Nicaragua’s Rubén Mora/Dany López triumphed over the Dominican pair Ramón De Jesús/Alexander Wilmore 2-0 (21-17, 21-6) and beat Watson/Kazinec 2-0 (21-13, 21-11).
Another undefeated team was Costa Rica’s Julián Araya/Jhostin Varela, who prevailed over Lev Priima/Brian Miller of the United States 2-1 (21-14, 16-21, 15-9), and defeated Venezuela’s Harrison Riveros/Luis Méndez 2-0 (21-18, 27-25).
The preliminary round continues Saturday, followed by the quarterfinals and the loser’s bracket.
Other results of the day were:
DOM Hayerlin De Jesús/Rolvin Maldonado d CAN Cameron Chadwick/Robert Kemp 2-1 (16-21, 21-19, 15-13), USA Lev Priima/Brian Miller d DOM H. De Jesús/Maldonado 2-0 (21-16, 21-18), CAN Chadwick/Kemp d VEN Harrison Rivers/Luis Méndez 2-1 (21-19, 25-27, 15-8), TTO Joel Theodore/Stephen Enile d DOM R. De Jesús/Wilmore 2-1 (20-22, 21-19, 15-12), DOM R. De Jesús/Wilmore d CAY Stephen Watson/Ricardas Kazinec 2-0 (21-11, 21-14), PUR Richard Timm/Diego Rosich d SKN Julián Bristol/Jedediah Pencheon 2-0 (21-12, 21-15).
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, May 16, 2025. – The Dominican Volleyball Association in Puerto Rico, which is part of the Dominican Volleyball Federation, recently held its second Independence Cup, an event that brought together six teams and celebrated the achievements of the Dominican community in Puerto Rico.
The tournament took place at the Bayamón Military Academy, with the team from Villa Tapia emerging as the champions.
“We successfully held the second Independence Cup with the participation of six teams, two of which came from Villa Tapia in the Dominican Republic. The Villa Tapia teams were led by José Francisco Fernández, treasurer of the Dominican Federation. It was an excellent event,” said Rafael Paniagua, President of the Association.
Paniagua was joined by other Association members, including Yeye Ventura, Juan Garabito Matos, Cristian Cruz, Dr. Carlos Pérez, and Dr. Ángeles Alonso.
As part of the Association’s ongoing activities, a triangular tournament will take place on May 17 and 18 at the Bayamón Military Academy, featuring two visiting teams from the Dominican Republic.
“We’ll have two teams from Monte Plata, one men’s and one women’s. Matches will be played Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. This is part of our programming for the enjoyment of our community in Puerto Rico,” Paniagua added.
The local teams participating include Las Primas (women’s), Team Chercha (men’s), and Voly Rumba (both divisions).
Additionally, in July, the Association will conduct a second talent identification initiative for Dominicans and their descendants up to the third generation, across both genders and various age categories.
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, May 16, 2025 – With strong international participation and a notable female presence, the Level 1 International Coaching Course successfully concluded in the Dominican Republic, held from May 6 to 10.
The event was organized by the NORCECA–FIVB Regional Volleyball Development Center and brought together 38 coaches from Colombia, Panama, Puerto Rico, Aruba, Venezuela, Curaçao, the United States, and the Dominican Republic.
Over five intensive days, participants received comprehensive training in both theoretical and practical aspects, under the guidance of international instructor Ariel Sainz from Cuba, who led the course with extensive experience and professionalism.
A highlight of the course was the participation of 13 female coaches, reaffirming NORCECA and FIVB’s commitment to promoting female leadership in volleyball.
At the conclusion of the course, all participants received their Level 1 Coaching Certificate, and the most outstanding individuals were recognized for their excellent performance: Adalberto Morales Rosa and Leira Ortis from Puerto Rico, along with Samaret Carraballo from the Dominican Republic.
This type of initiative continues to strengthen the technical development of volleyball in the region, equipping coaches with up-to-date tools and a comprehensive understanding of the game, in alignment with the international standards promoted by FIVB and NORCECA.
In a communication sent to the Regional Volleyball Development Center in Santo Domingo by the FIVB Development & Sustainability Department, Takahiro Fujino expressed “Your dedication and expertise have played a vital role in enhancing the coaching capabilities of local participants. It is especially encouraging to see such a high number of female coaches involved in this edition, reflecting our shared commitment to promoting gender equality in the sport”.
The Regional Development Center thus reaffirms its commitment to educational excellence and the sustainable growth of volleyball across the Americas.
May 16, 2025.- In a landmark moment for the Global Volleyball Movement, the FIVB Athletes’ Commission with support from the FIVB has launched its first-ever athlete post-career seminar – “Beyond the Court”. This pioneering program is designed to guide volleyball and beach volleyball athletes as they transition from elite competition into post-professional-athlete careers.
Taking place from 6 to 10 October 2025 at the FIVB Volleyball House in Lausanne, Switzerland, the seminar has been developed by the FIVB Athletes’ Commission in collaboration with the International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES), the FIVB and other key partners. The initiative aligns with the FIVB Strategic Vision 2032, which is driven by the motto “Together as One” and anchored in the core values of professionalism, integration, empowerment and mass participation. By offering structured support for life beyond the court, the FIVB is not only preserving the heritage of its athletes but is also actively building pathways for them to remain at the heart of the sport – as leaders and mentors.
Over five days, participants will engage in expert-led workshops, connect with global industry leaders and receive personalized mentorship opportunities.
The seminar is open to retiring or recently retired high-performance volleyball and beach volleyball athletes. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and have represented their national team or club at top World or Continental level events.
Speaking about the upcoming seminar, FIVB President Fabio Azevedo stated:
“I am extremely proud that the FIVB is launching ‘Beyond the Court’. Through the seminar, we are turning another pillar of the FIVB Strategic Vision 2032 – ‘Athletes, History and Heritage’ – into reality. Athletes are at the very heart of our sport, and we want to celebrate them, while also empowering them to create new chapters of success. Together as One, we are encouraging future leaders and strengthening bonds across the Global Volleyball Movement.”
FIVB Athletes’ Commission President Louise Bawden added:
“Every athlete reaches a point where the focus begins to shift from performance on the court to what comes next—and that transition isn’t easy. ‘Beyond the Court’ is about recognizing the wide horizon of opportunities beyond playing. It’s great to see the FIVB supporting athletes in building those new pathways—offering the tools, networks and confidence needed to thrive in the next chapter, while staying connected to the sport we love.”
May 14, 2025.- Osvaldo Idel Martinez Arias and Mireya Luis Hernandez have been elected to lead the Cuban Volleyball Federation (FCV), following General Assembly held in Havana on May 9 to define the sport’s leadership for the 2025-2028 cycle.
Osvaldo Idel Martinez Arias, a long-time coach and sport administrator, was elected President, while Mireya Luis, one of the most celebrated figures in international volleyball, was named Vice President. The session was chaired by Cuban Olympic Committee President Roberto Leon Richards and Minister of Sport Osvaldo Vento Montiller.
Martinez’s connection to volleyball spans more than four decades, starting as a physical education teacher in Camaguey before moving into coaching and national team development. His track record includes guiding youth and school teams, international assignments in Venezuela, and leadership within the FCV, where he most recently served as Secretary General.
The strength of the newly elected Executive Committee lies in shared experience and commitment, as he works alongside Mireya Luis and Yumilka Ruiz, both fellow Olympians and former teammates from Camaguey.
Mireya Luis brings exceptional stature and international influence on the role. She is a three-time consecutive Olympic gold medalist, having led Cuba to titles in 1992, 1996 and 2000. She captained Cuba’s golden generation and remains one of the sport’s most recognizable figures.
She currently serves as Executive Vice President of the FIVB and is a member of its Board of Administration and Executive Committee, playing a central role in global governance and development initiatives.
Yumilka Ruiz, also a former Olympic champion and now the national commissioner, joins the FCV executive as a board member, alongside Ricardo Borroto (Secretary General), Lorenzo Martinez (Treasurer), Jorge Sosa, and Jorge Luis Garcia.
The appointments come at a decisive moment, as Cuba prepares for the men’s VNL, World Championships at multiple age levels, and the Junior Pan American Games in both indoor and beach volleyball. Teams are also expected to compete in the NORCECA Beach Circuit and the Beach Pro Tour.
Before Cuba start their VNL campaign in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, they will play two warm-up matches against Argentina in San Juan.
In compliance with the FIVB Regulations, a detailed verification of the documentation for every National Federation election is conducted by the FIVB.
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, May 15, 2025.- A total of 36 duos from 19 different countries will compete in the second stage of the 2025 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour, set to take place from May 16 to 18 on the beautiful beach of Juan Dolio in the Dominican Republic.
Undoubtedly, it will be an event full of talent, energy, and excitement in a paradisiacal setting, featuring 19 men’s teams and 17 women’s teams that confirmed their participation during Thursday’s preliminary meeting.
All teams will give their best in the preliminary round, which kicks off Friday at 8:00 AM, as they aim to advance from the group stage to the knockout round.
Team of United States
On the opening day, 36 group matches will be played, 21 in the men’s division and 15 in the women’s. The preliminary round will conclude on Saturday, along with the quarterfinal matches. Sunday promises to be a spectacular day, featuring the semifinals, the consolation matches, and the grand finale to crown the champions.
Teams:
Men’s Teams: DOM Hayerling De Jesús/Rolvin Maldonado, Ramón De Jesús/Alexander Wilmore; NCA Ruben Mora/Dany López; PUR William Rivera/Cristian Encarnación; USA Timothy Brewster/Ryan Ierna, Lev Priima/Bryan Miller; CAN Dylan Devecseri/Rouzbeh Rahnavard, Cameron Chadwick/Robert Kemp; ISV Garrett Buckling/Devin Van Siclen; MEX Miguel Sarabia/Jorman Osuna, Ines Vargas/Carlos Ayala; CRC Julian Araya/Jhostin Varela; VEN Harrison Riveros/Luis Mendez; TTO Joel Theodore/Stephen Enile; SUR Joshua Dwarkasing/Dean Kasdi; GUA Edgar Maldonado/Luis Garcia; ESA Gabriel Vargas/Carlos Mejia; SKN Julian Bristol/Jededia Pencheon; CAY Stephen Watson/Ricardas Kaziznec.
Women’s Teams: DOM Julibeth Payano/Bethania Almanzar, Yari Cleto/Crismil Paniagua; USA Terese Cannon/Megan Kraft, Hailey Harward/Kelley Kolinske; MEX Susana Torres/Atenas Gutierrez, Yeray Vidaurrazaga, Maria Ramirez; CAN Maya McNabney/Emma Kunaus, Emily Anderson/Amanda Harnett; PUR Allanis Navas/Maria Gonzalez; NCA Socorro Lopez/Lolette Rodriguez; TTO Apphia Glasgow/La Teisha Joseph; VEN Oriana Granadilla/Luisiana Linares; GUA Laura Quiñones/Naomi Monney; ISV Melanie Valenciana/T’ara Austin; CRC Aliza Aguilar/Sofía Vega; ESA Donnina Argueta/Keiry Guzmán; CAY Deajra Tulloch/Maryn McCoombs.
May 15, 2025.- Following an exciting season that culminated with the Paris Olympics in 2024, the biggest men’s international volleyball stars are ready to return to action with their national teams during the Volleyball Nations League 2025.
The rosters of the 18 national teams that will take part in the seventh edition of the event were released and published on the tournament’s website, further increasing the excitement for the initial week of competition, from June 11-15.
Reigning VNL and Olympic champions France will have the entire roster that took them to the top of the podium in Paris available for head coach Andrea Giani, including two-time Olympic MVP and star outside hitter Earvin Ngapeth. Other key players in the French squad are setter Antoine Brizard, middle blocker Barthélémy Chinenyeze, outside hitter Trévor Clévenot, opposite Jean Patry and libero Jenia Grebennikov.
Robertlandy Simón de Cuba
FIVB World Ranking leaders Poland is bringing the majority of their stars back in 2025, with outside hitter Wilfredo Leon, opposite Bartosz Kurek and middle blocker Jakub Kochanowski standing out in the list produced by head coach Nikola Grbić.
World champions Italy also preserved the core that took the team to the top of the world in 2022, having outside hitters Alessandro Michieletto and Daniele Lavia, setter Simone Giannelli and libero Fabio Balaso as key pieces.
Paris bronze medalists the United States will take a different approach, entering the VNL with a squad mostly formed by exciting young players, who will have the opportunity to represent their country and show what they are about in the VNL. Leading the team managed by new head coach Karch Kiraly on the court will be libero Erik Shoji, appointed as the captain, middle blocker Jeffrey Jendryk, setter Micah Ma’a and opposite Kyle Ensing.
Brazil is another country that will have new faces on the court with the absences of longtime pillars Bruno Rezende, Lucas Saatkamp and Yoandy Leal. The only returning player from the Brazilian winning campaign at the Rio 2016 Olympics, star outside hitter Ricardo Lucarelli will be one of the faces of the new squad, alongside opposite Darlan Souza, middle blocker Flavio Gualberto and setter Fernando ‘Cachopa’ Kreling.
With a new coach at the helm in Laurent Tillie, Japan will try to continue its recent rise in the international scene having outside hitters Yuki Ishikawa and Ran Takahashi and libero Tomohiro Yamamoto as their top players.
International volleyball stars are spread out among every VNL team, including Argentina’s Agustin Loser, Bulgaria’s Aleksandar Nikolov, Canada’s Ryan Sclater, China’s Zhang Jingyin, Cuba’s Robertlandy Simón, Germany’s György Grozer, Iran’s Amin Esmaeilnezhad, the Netherlands’ Nimir Abdel-Aziz, Serbia’s Drazen Luburić, Slovenia’s Tine Urnaut, Türkiye’s Adis Lagumdzija and Ukraine’s Yurii Semeniuk.
Head coaches will have until next week to make last-minute changes in the list, with up to substitutions allowed per team. For each week of the VNL, a team line-up of 12-14 players and up to four reserve players is selected among the 30 on the long list.
The men’s VNL 2025 will start from June 11-15, will pools held in Xi’an, China, Quebec, Canada, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, May 15, 2025. – The 2025 Men’s Volleyball Superior League (LVSM) will kick off on June 6 with the participation of eight teams: Caribes de San Sebastián (defending champions), Mets de Guaynabo (runners-up), Plataneros de Corozal, Patriotas de Lares, Changos de Naranjito, Gigantes de Carolina, Gigantes de Adjuntas, and Cafeteros de Yauco.
This season highlights the highly anticipated return of the Patriotas de Lares and the renewed rivalry between the Caribes and the Mets de Guaynabo, who played an electrifying championship series last year that went to a thrilling seventh match.
While the Caribes will aim for their third consecutive title, the Mets are back with one goal: to rewrite history and claim the championship.
Meanwhile, the Changos de Naranjito have added national team players Arturo Iglesias and Omar Hoyos to their roster.
The Gigantes de Carolina arrive with a revamped squad, featuring Rickyto Vega and Jonathan Rodríguez, both acquired in a trade with Naranjito.
The Plataneros de Corozal announced on their social media that Ramón “Monchito” Hernández Cruz will continue as head coach, assisted by Raúl Papaleo and Carlos Rodríguez. The team will feature players such as Dennis Del Valle, Luzgardo “Galdi” Liciaga, and Arnaldo Torres, among others. Their home court will be the Juan C. Berríos gym in Barranquitas while repairs are finalized at the Coliseo Carmen Zoraida Figueroa in Corozal.
The Gigantes de Adjuntas continue their preparations under the leadership of team owner Salvador Pérez, while the Cafeteros de Yauco are gearing up with a new international reinforcement. It’s a renewed team with the same ambition.
This season will be dedicated to Gregorio “Goyito” Mejill Vega and Francisco “Frankie” Santana Quiñones in recognition of their impact on Puerto Rican volleyball.
“This new edition of the LVSM reflects the passion and growth of our sport. We are proud to honor two great figures in Puerto Rican volleyball and to welcome back the Patriotas de Lares. We also look forward to another thrilling battle among all teams. Without a doubt, we will witness how the level of our league continues to rise.” — Dr. Trabanco, President of the Puerto Rican Volleyball Federation.
May 8, 2025.- A long line of international stars of the highest caliber headline their national team rosters for the upcoming edition of the women’s Volleyball Nations League 2025.
As the 30-player team lists were finalized and published on the VNL competition website, a number of stellar names attract the fans’ attention in exciting anticipation of the first major event on the 2025 volleyball national team calendar.
Defending VNL champions Italy will once again be led by two-time VNL Most Valuable Player Paola Egonu, who was also named MVP of the Paris 2024 Olympic volleyball tournament. In fact, most of the reigning Olympic champions are back on coach Julio Velasco’s squad, including Olympic Dream Teamers Alessia Orro, Anna Danesi, Myriam Sylla and Monica De Gennaro.
In the absence of retired Sarina Koga, VNL 2024 runners-up Japan will be led by new captain Mayu Ishikawa. Rising star Yoshino Sato is also on the team. VNL 2024 Dream Team libero Manami Kojima is among the many other stars in new coach Ferhat Akbas’s selection.
The Best Middle Blocker of last year’s edition, Agnieszka Korneluk, highlights the stellar squad of bronze medalists Poland, along with the likes of fabulous Magdalena Stysiak and rising star Martyna Czyrnianska.
Brazil, who finished fourth in VNL 2024 and took bronze at the Olympics, will feature a long line of outstanding athletes, headlined by their charismatic captain Gabriela Guimaraes, a Paris 2024 Dream Team outside hitter, and featuring quality players like Julia Bergmann, Kisy Nascimento, Rosamaria Montibeller, Macris Carneiro, etc.
Three-time VNL champions and Paris 2024 Olympic silver medalists USA are putting forward a very strong line-up as usual, highlighted by Jordyn Poulter, Avery Skinner, Alexandra Frantti and many others.
The reigning crown bearers of the last two editions of the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship Serbia will be spearheaded by prominent opposite Tijana Boskovic, while her powerful Turkish counterpart Melissa Vargas will lead the reigning European champions and semifinalists at Paris 2024. Among more experienced players like Teodora Pusic, Katarina Lazovic and Maja Aleksic, younger-generation athletes like Hena Kurtagic are expected to shine on Zoran Terzic’s squad, while Daniele Santarelli seems to have kept a core of established Turkish players like Zehra Gunes, Hande Baladin, Ebrar Karakurt, Cansu Ozbay, etc.
Asian champions Thailand, who are getting ready to host the World Championship later this year, are set to offer a solid presence in the VNL with the likes of Chatchu-On Moksri, Pimpichaya Kokram or captain Ajcharaporn Kongyot on the squad. NORCECA champions Dominican Republic will also rely on their top-caliber stars like Brayelin and Jineiry Martinez, Yonkaira Pena or Brenda Castillo.
There will be plenty of world-class talent on the other nine teams as well – Belgium’s Britt Herbots, Bulgaria’s Zhana Todorova, Canada’s Kiera Van Ryk, China’s Gong Xiangyu, Czechia’s Helena Grozer, France’s Helena Cazaute, Germany’s Anna Pogany, Korea’s Kang Sohwi, or Netherlands’ Nika Daalderop, to name a few.
The current lists of 30 players per team are not completely final, as the head coaches can make up to two replacements within the next week. Then, for the participation in each competition week of the VNL, a team line-up of 12-14 players and up to four reserve players is selected among the 30 on the long list.
TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras, May 7, 2025.– In a productive virtual session, the Executive Committee of the Central American Volleyball Association (AFECAVOL) approved key measures to boost volleyball development in the region. Highlights include the official recognition of Final Four tournaments as ranking events for the FIVB World Ranking, the implementation of new competition formats, and confirms El Salvador as host country for the Central American U19 Women’s Championship.
AFECAVOL President Félix Sabio emphasized the need to reach the highest competitive standards in the region. “It is imperative for our zone to pursue the highest standards. If our events don’t grant world ranking points, we limit opportunities for our countries.” In line with FIVB regulations, Sabio stressed the importance of aligning the calendar and competition criteria to avoid disadvantaging any member federation. “We must put aside national interests and think collectively.”
Sabio also stressed that all AFECAVOL member countries must make the effort to participate in the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour stages to be held in Central America. The aim is to promote this discipline throughout the region and secure valuable ranking points for qualification to continental, Pan American, and world events.
Additionally, Sabio shared that during the recent FIVB Board of Administration meeting, it was decided that multi-sport events in the Olympic cycle would not award world ranking points. Consequently, it was confirmed during the discussions that, this year, the Final Four tournaments will be the ranking events for the region, with the Senior Volleyball Cups to be included starting next year to meet FIVB point requirements. The calendar for these ranking events will take place annually between May and October.
New Competition Formats
With the goal of enhancing the sporting spectacle and creating new revenue streams, AFECAVOL agreed to replace the traditional round-robin format with a competition system that includes a preliminary group stage, qualification rounds, semifinals, and medal matches. Each tournament’s regulations will detail the competition format based on the number of participating teams.
El Salvador to Host U19 Women’s Championship
El Salvador has been confirmed as the host of the 15th Central American U19 Women’s Volleyball Championship, scheduled for November 7–15, 2025.
Visibility, Equality, and Development
AFECAVOL will promote and strengthen female representation within the coaching staff of each national team in all women’s competitions in the zone, in compliance with the requirements approved by FIVB and NORCECA. Additionally, members were informed that Carlos Enrique Santis was appointed as the international technical delegate for the 2025 Central American Games in Guatemala, where indoor volleyball will take place from October 15 to 23 at the Teodoro Palacios Flores Gymnasium, and beach volleyball from October 23 to 31 in Jalapa.
Technical Training and Digital Tools
It was also announced that member countries are required to train at least three referees per country in the use of the electronic scoresheet via the FIVB e-learning platform. This tool, key to the professionalization of volleyball in the region, will be mandatory for referees and scorers in official tournaments. Additionally, during the U23 Men’s Pan American Cup in Guatemala from July 27 to August 4, AFECAVOL VIS staff will receive training as part of the Zonal Development Plan approved during the AFECAVOL General Assembly. This training responds to NORCECA’s push for the standardization and strengthening of zonal associations. The goal is for each national federation, or each zonal association, to have VIS supervisors to reinforce the statistical structure and ensure continuous growth.
In his closing remarks, President Sabio highlighted AFECAVOL’s commitment to seriousness and professionalism. “We must ensure that the majority of countries participate in all competitions and that our authorities recognize that, as a Zonal Association, we are working responsibly, promoting mass participation and raising the competitive level. AFECAVOL will continue to implement technological tools and stay at the forefront of international trends. Our zone is moving forward.”
LAUSANNE, Switzerland, May 7, 2025.- The FIVB is proud to present the second edition of its Empowering the Global Volleyball Movement leaflet, a report outlining the impressive progress made in growing the sport of volleyball and empowering its community worldwide.
The second edition of Empowering the Global Volleyball Movement is now available here. It offers a comprehensive look at a new era of volleyball, driven by a mission to make volleyball more accessible, impactful and a force for positive societal change.
This latest edition highlights the exciting progress made during FIVB President Fabio Azevedo’s first 100 days in office, a period defined by driving progress towards the FIVB Strategic Vision 2032. Work is well underway to strengthen opportunities for global volleyball development while deepening engagement with stakeholders across the Global Volleyball and Olympic Movements.
Among the many milestones celebrated in this edition are the successful Brahmaputra Volleyball League Season 5 Finals, a testament to volleyball’s power to inspire and unite at grassroots level, and the recent FIVB Board of Administration meeting. In addition, the FIVB has expanded its collaborative efforts, forging new partnerships and reinforcing existing ones to amplify volleyball’s reach and impact worldwide.
This period has also seen continued efforts to empower women and youth, building on the success of the initiatives launched in late 2024 , and setting the stage for more in the months ahead. With a dynamic and packed calendar for 2025, the FIVB remains fully committed to driving progress and serving the Global Volleyball Movement – Together as One.
ISTANBUL, Türkiye, May 7, 2025.- The FIVB this week met with the leadership of the Turkish Olympic Committee (TOC) at its headquarters in Istanbul, following the country’s successful hosting of the European Volleyball Confederation (CEV) Champions League Volley 2025 Final Four Women on 3-4 May.
The meeting focused on further strengthening volleyball development in Türkiye and celebrating the nation’s continued success in the global game. It was hosted by TOC President Ahmet Gülüm, a former captain of the Türkiye men’s national volleyball team and long-time advocate for the development of sport in the country. Also in attendance were TOC Treasurer Mustafa Tankut Turnaoğlu, TOC Board Member Özkan Mutlugil, who has previously served as a FIVB Board of Administration member, CEV Vice President and Treasurer, and Turkish Volleyball Federation (TVF) President, as well as the TOC Secretary General Neşe Gündoğan.
Representatives from the Global Volleyball Movement included FIVB President Fabio Azevedo, CEV President and FIVB 2nd Executive Vice-President Roko Sikirić, TVF Director of International Relations and Organizations Department Nilüfer Basak Shimonsky, FIVB General Sports Director Steve Tutton, Volleyball World Chief Business Officer Guido Betti, and FIVB Head of International Affairs and Communications Anna Manuelian.
During the meeting, the FIVB presented its Strategic Vision 2032, a roadmap for advancing the sport through the pillars of professionalism, integration, empowerment and mass participation. Aligned with its motto, “Together as One”, the FIVB delegation reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with the TOC and TVF to further grow volleyball in Türkiye.
Türkiye has become a global powerhouse in volleyball, particularly in the women’s game, with the national team achieving historic successes and clubs consistently performing at the highest levels in international competitions. The recent CEV Final Four underscored the country’s ability to host world-class events and engage fans worldwide. The country is set to host the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) women’s pool in Istanbul later this year.
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, May 6, 2025.- With the participation of 38 coaches from Aruba, Curaçao, Colombia, Haiti, Panama, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and the Dominican Republic, the NORCECA-FIVB Regional Volleyball Development Center in Santo Domingo, has officially launched the International Level I Coaching Course.
The five-day course, which includes both theoretical and practical sessions, is led by FIVB Instructor Ariel Sainz Rodríguez from Cuba. He is joined by renowned sports experts Bernardo Mesa, Alexander Gutiérrez (Venezuela), Marcos Kwiek (Brazil), Juvenal Collado, and Víctor Figueroa both from the Dominican Republic.
Opening ceremony
The opening ceremony was presided over by Professor Nelson José Ramírez, Director of the Development Center, and featured welcoming remarks from Mr. Ramón García, President of the Dominican Volleyball Federation. Also in attendance was Professor Neftalí Ventura, representing the Minister of Sports, who congratulated all national and international participants for their dedication to enhancing their knowledge of the most advanced volleyball techniques.
Special recognition was given to Professor Nelson José Ramírez for his efforts to promote sports education not only in the Dominican Republic but also in countries such as Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guatemala, and Mexico, among others.
The course is being held at the Albergue Olímpico and the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center, with the support of the NORCECA Volleyball Confederation, led by Mr. Cristóbal Marte, and the National Institute of Physical Education.
This significant initiative underscores the region’s commitment to the professional development of volleyball coaches and the overall advancement of the sport across the continent.
Jamaica, May 6, 2025.- The Jamaica Volleyball Association’s 2025 Club League concluded in thrilling fashion over the weekend, with the University of the West Indies (UWI) women and Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) men emerging Champions in the finals held at the GC Foster College of Physical Education and Sport.
In the Women’s division, reigning champions University of the West Indies (UWI) successfully defended their title, securing a dominant victory over the Mico Old Students Association (MOSA) in straight sets 25-15, 25-10, 25-17.
UWI Women
The Men’s final featured a highly anticipated rematch of last year’s championship showdown between the University of the West Indies (UWI) and the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF).
In what proved to be a fiercely contested final that went the distance and culminated in a nail-biting fifth set, Jamaica Defence Force emerged victorious once again, retaining their championship crown, winning 3 sets to 2 (25-23, 21-25, 25-21,19-25, 15-9).
CUL- DE- SAC, St Lucia, May 4, 2025.- St Lucia’s durable duo of Joseph Clercent and Sheldon Descartes has champed the 2025 Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association (ECVA) Senior Beach Volleyball Championship here at the Cul- de- Sac Bay.
A come from behind, 2-1 (18-21, 21-16, 15-8) win over Bermuda’s Benjamin Barnet and Sean Tucker, gave Clercent and Descartes their third straight lien on the title.
Reflecting on their continued success in the championships, Joseph said, “It is an honour to win again, because we put in the work, and in order to get the results, you have to put in the work. I am glad that the youngsters want to challenge us and that is good for the sport in this region”.
On behalf of silver medalist – Bermuda, Tucker expressed delight in at least being ranked in the top two of the championships.
“It is deflating to lose in the gold medal match. We really wanted to win, but second is big for Bermuda in general and we are really proud of how we performed. Coming up against the home country, back-to-back champions in the final, they gave us a big challenge, and ended up prevailing, as they are a very skillful team”.
The finalists emerged from the semi-finals in contrasting styles over their opponents.
Clercent/ Descartes beat St Kitts and Nevis’ Bristol /Pencheon 2-1(18-21, 21-16, 15-8), while Barnett/ Tucker outlasted Mervin Mingo and Bill Frederick of Dominica Two, 2-0 (32-30, 21-16).
The Bristol/ Pencheon pair went on to secure third place and the bronze medal for their country, by defeating Mingo/ Frederick 2-1(21-19, 10-21, 15-11).
CUL- DE- SAC, St Lucia, May 4, 2025.- The St. Kitts and Nevis combination of Shajunee Gumbs and Shanicia Dyer have champed the Women’s segment of the 2025 Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association (ECVA) Senior Beach Volleyball Championship here at the Cul- de- Sac Bay.
Gumbs and Dyer registered a 2-0 (21-14, 22-20) win over Bermuda’s Hailey Moss and Megan Hands in the gold medal match.
Before facing off in the final, Gumbs/ Dyer had overcome Clio Phillip/ Tenayestlni Joseph of St. Lucia Team Three 2-0(21-15, 21-18), while Moss/ Hands ensured that there will be a new champion, by defeating Grenada Team One of Thornia Mitchell/ Renisha Stafford, 2-0(26-24, 21-15).
However, Mitchell/ Stafford did not leave empty handed, as they got the better of Phillip/ Joseph, 2-0 (22-20, 21-13), to claim the bronze.
Elated on the country’s triumph, Dyer said: “I am very, very happy for the win, more so my partner, who is relatively new to Beach Volleyball. It is more gratifying as we learned each other’s style of play along the way”.
“We did not win any of our matches in the pool round, but we kept saying that since we can win a set, we can win a match, and we went unbeaten from the Round of 12, straight to the final”.
Magnanimous in their defeat, both Moss/ Hands believed that they are better players, after the three days of competing in the championship.
Moss thus summed up, “ We are proud of how we played and our improvement throughout the Championships. After all, it is an improvement from last year’s showing. We gained a lot of experience, especially how to lift ourselves from the low points”
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, May 4, 2025.- The Criollas de Caguas were crowned champions of Puerto Rico’s Women’s Superior Volleyball League (LVSF) this Sunday, dethroning the defending champions, the Cangrejeras de Santurce, in Game 6 of the KIA Finals Series held at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan.
Caguas sealed the title with a 3-1 (23-25, 25-23, 25-13, 25-21) victory, clinching the series four games to two and securing the 15th championship in franchise history.
With the match tied at one set apiece, the Criollas tightened their net defense and pulled ahead, reaching the second technical timeout with a 15-7 lead following an attack by Temi Thomas Ailara off Santurce’s block. They then extended the lead to 16-7 after a hitting error by Helena Grozer into the antenna.
Santurce never recovered. Caguas reached set point at 24-13 after a hitting error by the Cangrejeras and closed the set on the next play due to a double contact by setter Mynelis Rivera.
In the fourth and final set, Caguas led at both technical timeouts, narrowly at 8-7 in the first, and 16-13 in the second, helped by a hitting error from Andrea Rangel.
Santurce tied it to 18 with a spike from Rangel, but the Criollas held firm. Kristin Lux kept the pressure on from the service line and closed out the match, and the championship, with back-to-back aces.
Lux scored 30 points (26 kills, 1 block, and 3 aces) and was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Finals Series. Temi Thomas and Kath Bell added 16 and 15 points, respectively.
For Santurce, Andrea Rangel led with 25 points, followed by Kara McGhee with 15 and Helena Grozer with 12.
In overall stats, Caguas outperformed Santurce in attacks (62-57), blocks (9-3), and aces (7-1). However, Santurce led in digs (96-91), receptions (41-38), and assists (21-16).
The Cangrejeras were without their captain, Debora Seilhamer, who was absent due to a medical emergency.
VARADERO, Cuba, May 4, 2025.- Corinne Quiggle and Megan Rice of the United States earned their first international podium finish by winning the women’s tournament of the opening stage of the 2025 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour, held in this renowned resort destination.
The American duo accomplished the goal they had set for themselves by convincingly defeating Mexico’s Susana Torres and Atenas Gutiérrez in straight sets, 21-12 and 21-18, to return home with the desirable top prize.
“We’re very happy because this is only our second international event. We set this goal, and we achieved it. I first came to Varadero in 2016 with a different partner and we finished fifth. I’m thrilled,” said Corinne.
USA Corinne Quiggle-Megan Rice
Her partner, Megan, added, “We’ve felt great here. The beaches are beautiful, and so are the people. There’s a strong culture and Cuban athletes are very professional and full of warmth.”
The bronze medal went to local favorites Kailin Garrido and Maykelin Drik, who battled hard against Mexico’s Yeray Vidaurrazaga and María Ramírez in a match that went to a tie-break, finishing 21-18, 12-21, 15-8.
Earlier on Sunday in the semifinals, Corinne and Megan defeated Kailin and Maykelin 2-0 (21-15, 21-18), showcasing a level of play that confirmed their title chances at a venue where Quiggle placed fifth back in 2016.
In the all-Mexican semifinal, Susana and Atenas beat Yeray and María in straight sets (21-16, 26-24). A foot injury briefly paused the match in the second set, but Atenas recovered and helped seal the win.
Canada’s Amy Ozee and Darby Dunn took fifth place after an injury forced a withdrawal by one of their compatriots, Dana Roskic or Katarina Pantovic, from the opposing team.
Seventh place went to Puerto Rico’s Camila Nazario and Karla Sánchez after a 2-1 victory (18-21, 21-12, 15-12) over Honduras’ Zoe Ebanks and Shanna Rivera, one of only five matches in the tournament to go to three sets.
Cuba’s second team, Amanda Armenteros and Selena Spek, finished ninth after defeating Nicaragua’s Socorro López and Lolette Rodríguez in straight sets (21-12, 21-13).
Rounding out the standings were Suriname’s Chagnaz Frankel and Sharon Balkaran in 11th place after defeating Trinidad and Tobago’s Apphia Glasgow and La Teisha Joseph 2-0 (21-12, 22-20), and Venezuela’s Oriana Bermúdez and Luisiana Linares in 13th, after dominating Dominican Republic’s Crismil Paniagua and Yari Cleto 2-0 (21-16, 21-12).
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, May 4, 2025.- What should have been a vibrant and emotional celebration for the Criollas de Caguas and their fans, after winning the KIA Finals Series of the LVSF, was marred by an unexpected incident that sparked outrage and concern.
As the team and its supporters celebrated their championship, secured in four sets over the Cangrejeras de Santurce, the lights at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum were abruptly turned off, disrupting the award ceremony and jeopardizing the safety of those in attendance.
Dr. César Trabanco, president of the Puerto Rican Volleyball Federation, addressed the situation, emphasizing that beyond the interruption of the trophy presentation, his main concern was the safety of everyone present, especially children and the elderly, who were suddenly exposed to a potentially hazardous situation due to the sudden loss of lighting. “This isn’t just about a disrupted event, it’s about an act that put the well-being of those there to celebrate at risk. Safety must be the top priority at any sporting venue, and incidents like this should never happen under any circumstances,” Trabanco stated, visibly concerned.
The sound system also went out, affecting the Cangrejeras de Santurce, who were waiting to receive their runner-up trophy.
While the exact cause of the blackout remains unclear, reports confirmed there were no electrical failures in the area that could justify the interruption. This makes the incident even more troubling, as it is not considered an isolated case. A similar situation occurred during the 2023 finals held at the same venue, in a series against Corozal.
The continued lack of corrective measures to ensure uninterrupted award ceremonies leaves a poor impression and raises doubts about commitment to safety and respect for the sport.
Additionally, the live broadcast of the match on the digital platform Island Hub, used by the Cangrejeras’ management to stream games online via a pay-per-view model, was interrupted multiple times during the match. Paying fans voiced their frustration, as they invested in the service and were unable to watch the end of the game.
A night that was meant to honor the effort and talent of the Criollas ended on a sour note.
The Federation, teams, and fans all deserve celebrations that are carried out with respect and safety, upholding the spirit of the sport and its positive impact on the community.
VARADERO, Cuba, May 4, 2025.- Cubans Noslen Díaz and Jorge Luis Alayo were crowned kings of the first stage of the 2025 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Circuit, successfully held at this traditional venue since 2011.
Díaz and Alayo, ranked in the FIVB world top ten, claimed their first gold on home soil by convincingly defeating the experienced Nicaraguan duo of Rubén Mora and Dany López in two easy sets, 21-10 and 21-12.
“For us, this medal carries a tremendous sense of honor, pride, and sacrifice, it’s a gift to the Cuban people, and we’re incredibly happy. Playing here is very motivating; it’s a chance to be seen in our homeland and have our family and friends cheering nearby,” said an passionate Alayo to the press.
CUB Noslen Diaz-Jorge Luis Alayo
His towering partner added, “This means a lot to us. We’ve wanted to win gold here for four years. We’ve earned five medals on the world tour, but never in Varadero. This is our gift to the people and all who support us. We’ll keep fighting to bring more victories, and we’re thrilled that the final stage of this circuit is scheduled to be held right here on this wonderful beach.”
The bronze medal went to their compatriots Damián Gómez and Eblis Veranes, who dominated Puerto Rico’s Arnaldo Y. Torres and Cristian Encarnación in straight sets, 21-10 and 21-9, a remarkable achievement considering they debuted in Varadero just a year ago with a ninth-place finish.
In the semifinals, Noslen and Jorge Luis defeated Damián and Eblis 2-0 (21-16, 21-10), while the Nicaraguans Rubén and Dany edged out the Puerto Ricans Torres and Encarnación in a hard-fought 2-1 (21-16, 19-21, 17-15) battle, with the Caribbean pair pushing them to the limit in a thrilling tie-break that could have gone either way.
Fifth place went to Americans Troy Field and Ryan Wilcox, who outplayed Canada’s Steven Abrams and Tynan Gannett 2-0 (21-15, 21-19).
Seventh place was secured by fellow Americans Charles Siragusa and Dexter Campbell after defeating William Clements and Devin Van Siclen of the U.S. Virgin Islands in straight sets, 21-15 and 21-16.
Mexico’s Miguel Sarabia and Jorman Osuna finished ninth by nonattendance after one of the players of the Canadian duo, Martin Licht and Luke de Greeff, was injured and unable to compete. The eleventh position went to Costa Rica’s Justin Solano and Jevan Coronado, who overcame Honduras’ Jairo Gálvez and Irvin Reyes 2-0 (21-18, 21-10).
Mexico’s Antonio Vargas and Carlos Andrés Ayala defeated Venezuela’s Enyenser Delgado and Juliangel Zaid in a tight 2-1 match (21-23, 21-19, 20-18) to claim 13th place.
They were followed by Trinidad and Tobago’s Stephen Enile and Joel Theodore, who beat Suriname’s Joshua Dwarkasing and Dean Kasdi 2-0 (21-15, 21-11), and the Dominican Republic duo Hayerling De Jesús and Rolvin Maldonado, who won over Guatemala’s Andy Blanco and Luis García 2-0 (21-15, 21-18) to round out the standings from 15th to 18th place.
VARADERO, Cuba, May 3, 2025.- Both Cuban duos, along with teams from Nicaragua and Puerto Rico, secured their spots in the men’s semifinal round of the 2025 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour, taking place on the courts near the Barceló Arenas Blancas Hotel.
The highest-ranked team in the tournament, Cubans Noslen Díaz and Jorge Luis Alayo, will face fellow countrymen Damián Gómez and Eblis Veranes, young, energetic players who have made remarkable progress since their debut last year at this same venue.
The other semifinal will feature Nicaragua’s Rubén Mora and Dany López against Puerto Rico’s Arnaldo Y. Torres and Cristian Encarnación.
NCA-Mora (1) – Lopez (2)
For Olympians Díaz and Alayo, this semifinal is particularly meaningful, as they have yet to claim the top spot on the podium in the last two Varadero editions, settling for bronze in 2023 and silver last year.
In Saturday’s quarterfinals, Díaz and Alayo dominated Americans Charles Siragusa and Dexter Campbell, cruising to a convincing 2-0 victory with scores of 21-7 and 21-11.
Gómez and Veranes had a tougher challenge in the first set but found their rhythm in the second, defeating U.S. Virgin Islands’ Williams Clements and Devin Van Siclen 2-0 (28-26, 21-13).
Meanwhile, Puerto Ricans Torres and Encarnación overcame a rough second set to edge Americans Troy Field and Ryan Wilcox in three sets (21-16, 14-21, 15-10).
The final ticket to the penultimate round went to Nicaragua’s Mora and López, who won the tournament’s longest and most hard-fought match so far. After one hour and eight minutes, they triumphed over Canadians Steven Abrams and Tynan Gannett in three sets (22-24, 28-26, 15-12).
Day’s Results (pool-play):
A: Diaz/Alayo (CUB) a Sarabia/Osuna (MEX) 2-0 (21-15, 21-9) y a De Jesús/Maldonado (DOM) 2-0 (21-16, 21-12), Field/Wilcox (USA) a Sarabia/Osuna (MEX) 2-0 (21-17, 21-14), Esyenser/Juliangel (VEN) a De Jesus/Maldonado (DOM) 2-0 (21-16, 21-21)
B: Torres/Encarnación (PUR) a Licht/de Greeff (CAN) 2-0 (21-15, 21-19), Blanco/García (GUA) a Siragusa/Campbell (USA) 2-0 (24-22, 24-22), Lares/Carlos Andrés (MEX) a Blanco/Garcia (GUA) 2-0 (21-17, 21-13), Siragusa/Campbell (USA) a Torres/Encarnación (PUR) 2-1 (21-19, 17-21, 15-8)
C: Gómez/Veranes (CUB) a Enile/Theodore (TTO) 2-0 (21-18, 21-6), Abrams/Gannett (CAN) a Solano/Coronado (CRC) 2-0 (21-9, 21-17), Abrams/Gannett (CAN) a Enile/Theodore (TTO) 2-0 (21-11, 21-10)
D: Clements/Van Siclen (ISV) a Gálvez/Reyes (HON) 2-0 (21-17, 21-14), Mora/López (NCA) a Clements/Van Siclen (ISV) 2-0 (21-18, 25-23), Gálvez/Reyes (HON) a Dwarkasing/Kasdi (SUR) 2-1 (21-17, 18-21, 15-7)
VARADERO, Cuba, May 3, 2025.- Two teams from Mexico, one from Cuba, and one from the United States have advanced to the women’s semifinals of the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Circuit, which concludes this Sunday on the sands of the renowned tourist resort.
The Mexican duos of Susana Torres/Atenas Gutiérrez and Yamilet Vidaurrazaga/María Jimena Ramírez, the Cuban pair of Kailin Garrido/Maykelín Drik, and the American team of Corinne Quiggle/Megan Rice were victorious in their respective quarterfinal matches.
This Sunday morning, the two Mexican teams will face off across the net semifinals, while the representatives from the United States and Cuba will clash in the other.
In the quarterfinals, Kailin and Maykelín advanced by defeating Puerto Ricans Camila Nazario and Karla Sánchez in straight sets (21-15, 21-11), marking their third win of the tournament, which is part of their preparation for the 2025 Junior Pan American Games in Asunción.
USA-Corinne Quiggle-Megan Rice
Next, Corinne Quiggle and Megan Rice of the United States cruised over Varadero’s soft white sands against Honduras’ Jeanette Ebanks and Shanna Rivera, winning comfortably with set scores of 21-5 and 21-7.
Meanwhile, the two Mexican and two Canadian teams faced each other, with the first win going to Latin Americans Susana Torres and Atenas Gutiérrez, who claimed a 2-0 (21-15, 21-19) victory over Canadians Dana Roskic and Katarina Pantovic.
The women’s day concluded with a hard-fought win by Yamilet Vidaurrazaga and María Jimena Ramírez over Amy Ozee and Darby Dunn in the closest match of the round, finishing 21-18 and 26-24.
Among these semifinalists, the only team without World Beach Pro Tour experience is the Cuban pair, while the Mexican and American players have competed in both Elite and Challenge level events.
In addition to the semifinals, Sunday’s schedule includes classification matches from fifth place onward and will end with the gold and bronze medal matches.
CAGUAS, Puerto Rico, April 2, 2025. – The defending champions, Cangrejeras de Santurce, kept their title hopes alive on Friday night by sweeping the Criollas de Caguas (25-18, 25-21, 25-21) in the KIA Finals Series of the Women’s Volleyball Superior League (LVSF).
Coming into the match down 1-3 in the series and having lost the previous three matches in straight sets, Santurce faced a packed Roger Mendoza court ready to witness a championship celebration.
Up two sets, the Cangrejeras maintained their rhythm and took a 16-14 lead in the third set thanks to a successful attack by Andrea Rangel from zone two, going off Stephanie Enright’s block. Later, Rangel delivered an ace followed by a back-row attack from Tamara Otene to extend the lead to 19-15. Caguas struggled to recover.
Santurce reached set point at 24-20 with a block on Enright, and it was Otene who sealed the victory with a clean attack from zone two.
After the match, Cangrejeras setter Andrea Fuentes praised her team’s character, saying they overcame the 1-3 series deficit with determination: “Coming here tonight, to a court ready to celebrate, and being able to win in straight sets shows how much character we have,” said the young setter from Caguas.
Fuentes highlighted team unity and mental composure as key factors in the win. She also stated that she feels no internal conflict playing against Caguas, explaining that at this stage of her career, she prepares to face any opponent with the same mindset.
Meanwhile, Criollas middle blocker Diana Reyes acknowledged her team’s struggles at the net and with passing but emphasized that the series is not over yet: “Now we just need to go to practice tomorrow (Saturday), focus on what went wrong, fix it, and head into Sunday ready,” she concluded.
Offensively, Andrea Rangel led Santurce with 22 points (14 attacks, 3 blocks, and 5 aces). Tamara Otene added 15, Kara McGhee scored 14, and Helena Grozer chipped in with 11 points.
No player from Caguas reached double digits; Kath Bell was their top scorer with 9 points.
The Cangrejeras dominated in all facets of the game; 47-34 in attacks, 12-3 in blocks, 7-4 in aces, 54-51 in digs, 43-34 in passes, and 18-10 in assists.
The series now returns to the Roberto Clemente Coliseum, home of the Cangrejeras, for Game 6, scheduled for Sunday at 6:12 p.m.
CUL- DE- SAC, St Lucia, May 2, 2025.- The sunbaked venue did not deter the women from giving it their all on day one of the 2025 Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association (ECVA) Senior Beach Volleyball Championships here at the Cul de Sac Bay.
At the end of the day’s high energy action, the winners of Pool C and D, Dominica and St. Lucia, respectively, were determined.
Topping Pool C was Dominica’s Joeanna Pascal and Zahidu Henry, who defeated Grenada’s duo of Teasis Jones and Sienna Dominique 2-0 (21-15, 21-10) and won on forfeiture from Marie Therese St Clair and Kurtrice Jules of St Lucia.
Meanwhile, Pool D was champed by the St Lucia’s Kerin Neptune and Erica Gaspard. They recorded a 2-1 (15-21, 21-18, 15-9) win over Antigua and Barbuda’s Jassania Joseph and Rayana Regis. Neptune and Gaspard then defeated Hailey Moss and Megan Hands of Bermuda, 2-0(21-13, 21-19).
Also on day one, in Pool A, St Lucia’s Denila Prospere and Chenoa Evans trumped 2-0(21-16, 21-10) over Anguilla ‘s Lavesha Richardson and Deandre Fleming. This, after Richardson and Fleming had overcome St Vincent and the Grenadines’ Nikita Campbell and Veronique Matthews, 2-1 (11-21, 21-16, 15-4).
In Pool B, there were wins for St Lucia and Grenada.
The St Lucian combination of Tenayestlgni Joseph and Clio Phillip defeated St Kitts and Nevis’ Shajunee Gumbs and Shanicia Dyer 2-1(21-15, 18-21, 15-12). Likewise, Grenada’s Thornia Mitchell and Renisha Stafford beat Gumbs and Dyer 2-1(13-21, 21-18, 15-8).
Pool A and B winners will be decided on day two. In Pool A, Prospere/ Evans meet Campbell, with Mitchell and Stafford facing Joseph and Phillip in Pool D decider.
The other preliminary match on day two features Moss/ Hands versus Joseph/ Regis, as Pool D closes off.
Following the completion of the preliminary matches, the playoff takes place to determine the matchups in the quarter finals against the winners of the four pools.
CUL- DE- SAC, St Lucia, May 2, 2025.- St Lucia Team One, Dominica Two, Grenada Team Two and Dominica Team One, finished day one with two wins each, to lead their respective pools in the Men’s segment of the 2025 Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association (ECVA) Senior Beach Volleyball Championships here at the Cul de Sac Bay.
St Lucia Team One of Sheldon Descartes and Joseph Clercent were clinical in Pool A play, beating Bermuda’s Benjamin Barnett and Sean Tucker of Bermuda, 2-0(21-18, 21-9). Descartes and Clercent also offloaded Anguilla’s duo of Aiden Hazzard and Da’ Qwan Fredericks, 2-0(21-14, 21-16).
Dominica’s Team Two of Mervin Mingo and Bill Frederick beat Julian Bristol and Jedediah Pencheon 2-0(21-18, 21-12) then swished the duo of Ronaldo Franklyn and Shadron Delpesche of St Vincent and the Grenadines also 2-0(21-9, 21-14).
Meanwhile, Grenada’s Team Two comprising Zerick Walcott and Kibose Hamilton, headed up Pool C.
They had the better of St Lucia Team Two, of Peter Emmanuel and Jentezen Joseph, 2-0(21-13, 21-14) and recorded a hard fought 2-1(21-19, 20-22, 15-12) win over Antigua and Barbuda’s pair of Khaliq Joseph and Cairon Davis.
Completing the double victors on the day, was Dominica Team One, comprising Tyrel Robinson and Yahn Florent who were unbeaten in Pool D.
Robinson/ Florent defeated St Lucia Team Three of Diallo Albert and Lindan Clarke, 2-0(21-12, 21-7,) and overcame Grenada Team One of Christopher Oxford and Isaac Nelson, 2-0(21-18, 21-18)
The pool winners earn direct tickets to the quarterfinals.
Day two features the playoffs in Round of 12, with eight teams other than the pool winners. The quarterfinals pit the pool winners matched up against the Round of 12 winners.
Round of 12: Barnett/ Tucker vs Albert/ Clarke; Franklyn/ Delpesche vs Emmanuel /Joseph; Joseph/ Davis vs Bristol/ Pencheon; Oxford/ Nelson vs Hazzard/ Fredericks
VARADERO, Cuba, May 2, 2025.- Pairs from five countries remain undefeated and have strong chances of advancing this Saturday to the quarterfinals of the first phase of the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Circuit, taking place on four courts set up near the Barceló Arenas Blancas hotel.
The host duo Kailin Garrido/Maykelin Drik in Pool A, Puerto Ricans Camila Nazario/Karla Sánchez and Americans Corinne Quiggle/Megan Rice in Pool B, and Canadians Amy Ozee/Darby Dunn along with Mexicans Susana Torres/Atenas Gutiérrez in Pool C all won their first two matches.
Susana Torres (1)-Atenas Gutiérrez (2) MEX
Also, the pair of Dana Roskic/Katarina Pantovic from Canada and the Mexican duo Susana Torres/Atenas Gutiérrez in Pool D secured victories and have equal chances to advance on Saturday when the preliminary round concludes.
First day results:
Grupo A: Ebanks/Rivera (HON) a Glasgow/Joseph (TTO) 2-0 (21-14, 21-14) , Kailin/Drik (CUB) a Ebanks/Rivera (HON) 2-0 (21-9, 21-16),
Grupo B: Nazario/Sanchez (PUR) a Frankel/Balkaran (SUR) 2-0 (21-3, 21-8), Quiggle/Rice (USA) a Frankel/Balkaran (SUR) 2-0 (21-8, 21-4) .
Grupo C: Torres/Gutiérrez (MEX) a Ori/Luisiana (VEN) 2-1 (21-11, 25-27, 15-8), Ozee/Dunn (CAN) a Amanda/Spek (CUB) 2-0 (21-17, 21-13), Ozee/Dunn (CAN) a Ori/Luisiana (VEN) 2-0 (21-15, 21-14), Torres/Gutiérrez (MEX) a Amanda/Spek (CUB) 2-0 (21-11, 21-19).
Grupo D: Roskic/Pantovic (CAN) a Paniagua/Cleto (DOM) 2-0 (21-6, 21-16), Vidaurrazaga/Ramírez (MEX) a López/Lolette (NCA) 2-0 (21-13, 21-13), Roskic/Pantovic (CAN) a López/Lolette (NCA) 2-0 (21-15, 21-16), Vidaurrazaga/Ramírez (MEX) a Paniagua/Cleto (DOM) 2-0 (21-11, 22-20).
VARADERO, Cuba, May 1, 2025.- Both Cuban teams and Nicaragua’s duo were the only undefeated squads in the opening of pool play at the 2025 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour, which kicked off its season in this tourist hotspot.
Noslen Díaz and Jorge Luis Alayo lived up to their status as tournament favorites, defeating Venezuela’s Enyenser Delgado and Juliangel Zaid 2-0 (21-19, 21-16), and the U.S. team of Troy Field and Ryan Wilcox, also in straight sets (21-17, 21-19) in Pool A.
Their fellow Cubans, Damián Gómez and Eblis Veranes, also picked up two victories, this time in Pool C, beating Costa Rica’s Justin Solano and Jevan Coronado 2-0 (21-12, 21-14), and Canada’s Steven Abrams and Tynan Gannett 2-0 (21-18, 21-15). They had a bye in their third match.
Jorge Alayo CUB
Also undefeated on this sunny day were Nicaragua’s Rubén Mora and Dany López, who dominated Suriname’s Joshua Dwarkasing and Dean Kasdi 2-0 (21-11, 21-4), and Honduras’ Jairo Gálvez and Irvin Reyes 2-0 (21-7, 21-11) in Pool D.
Pool play will conclude Saturday morning, followed by the quarterfinals. Semifinals and medal matches are scheduled for Sunday at the beautiful venue near the Barceló Arenas Blancas hotel.
Results first day:
Pool A: Díaz/Alayo (CUB) a Esyenser/Juliangel (VEN) 2-0 (21-19, 21-16), Field/Wilcox (USA) a De Jesús/Maldonado (DOM] 2-0 (21-17, 21-11), Diaz/Alayo (CUB) a Field/Wilcox (USA) 2-0 (21-17, 21-19), Esyenser/Juliangel (VEN) a Sarabia/Osuna (MEX) 2-0 (21-17, 21-19), Sarabia/Osuna (MEX) a De Jesús-Maldonado 2-0 (21-18, 21-10), Field/Wilcox (USA) a Esyenser/Juliangel (VEN) No Show.
Pool B: Lares/Carlos Andrés (MEX) a Siragusa/Campbell (USA) 2-0 (21-16, 21-16), Licht/de Greeff (CAN) a Blanco/García (GUA) 2-0 (21-13, 21-15), Siragusa/Campbell (USA) a Licht/de Greeff (CAN) 2-1 (21-15, 19-21, 15-8), Lares/Carlos Andrés (MEX) a Torres/Encarnacion (PUR) 2-0 (21-17, 21-16), Torres/Encarnación (PUR) a Blanco/García (GUA) 2-1 (18-21, 21-13, 15-11), Licht/de Greeff (CAN) a Lares/Carlos Andrés (MEX) No Show.
Pool C: Gómez/Veranes (CUB) a Solano/Coronado (CRC) 2-0 (21-12, 21-14) y a Abrams/Gannett (CAN) 2-0 (21-18, 21-15), Solano/Coronado (CRC) a Enile/Theodore (TTO) 2-0 (21-17, 21-9).
Pool D: Mora/López (NCA) a Dwarkasing/Kasdi (SUR) 2-0 (21-11, 21-4) y a Galvez/Reyes (HON) 2-0 (21-7, 21-11), Clements/Van Siclen (ISV) a Dwarkasing/Kasdi (SUR) 2-0 (21-15, 21-18).
VARADERO, Cuba, April 25, 2025.- Canada, the United States, Mexico, and Cuba are seen as the countries with the strongest podium chances, as each will have two teams competing in the men’s tournament of the 2025 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Circuit in Varadero.
The host nation is counting on the strong form of its top duo, Noslen Díaz and Jorge Luis Alayo, thanks to their impressive start this year on the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour. However, despite playing at home, they have yet to claim the top spot in Varadero, settling for bronze in 2023 and silver in 2024.
“I think third time’s the charm, but we respect all our opponents, no one comes to a tournament to lose,” said Alayo.
Mexico arrived on the island under the guidance of the renowned Brazilian coach Ricardo Santos, Olympic champion in Athens 2004, silver medalist in Sydney 2000, and bronze medalist in Beijing 2008.
Canada and the United States have traditionally been among the most successful teams at this event, which also marks the beginning of the qualification process for the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo.
Eighteen matches will be played this Friday as the qualification round kicks off, continuing Saturday with the decisive matches that will determine who advances to the quarterfinals.
Pool A: Noslen Diaz-Jorge Luis Alayo (CUB), Troy Field-Ryan Wilcox (USA), Miguel Sarabia-Jorman Osuna (MEX), Enyenser Delgado-Juliangel Zaid (VEN) y Hayerling De Jesus-Rolvin Maldonado (DOM)
Pool B: Martin Licht-Luke de Greeff (CAN), Antonio Vargas-Carlos Andrés Ayala (MEX), Charles Siragusa-Dexter Campbell (USA), Andy Blanco-Luis Garcia (GUA) y Arnaldo Torres-Cristian Encarnación (PUR)
Pool C: Steven Abrams-Tynan Gannett (CAN), Damián Gómez-Eblis Veranes (CUB), Justin Solano -Jevan Coronado (CRC) y Stephen Enile-Joel Theodore (TTO)
Pool D: Ruben Mora-Dany López (NCA), William Clements-Devin Van Siclen (ISV), Jairo Galvez-Irvin Reyes (HON) y Joshua Dwarkasing-Dean Kasdi (SUR)
VARADERO, Cuba, April 25, 2025.- Fourteen teams from eleven countries will compete at the opening of the 2025 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Circuit, which will take place from this Friday through Sunday on courts near the Barceló Arenas Blancas Hotel.
Canada, Mexico, and Cuba will each field two pairs, while the United States, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Suriname, Nicaragua, Honduras, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela will each participate with one team.
This circuit awards points toward the continental and world rankings and also marks the start of the qualification process for the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo. With the aim of securing spots for that multi-sport event, South American nations Venezuela and Colombia are also included.
Among the standout competitors in this tourist city – a regular host of the NORCECA Tour since 2011 – are Mexico’s Susana Torres and Atenas Gutiérrez, medalists at several stops and participants this year in the World Pro Beach Tour in Yucatán (Challenge) and Quintana Roo (Elite), under the guidance of Brazilian coach Regis Castro, a bronze medalist at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Also with World Pro Tour appearances, though with different partners, are American Corinne Quiggle and Canadian Dana Roskic.
Pool A: Kailin Garrido-Maykelin Drik (CUB), Zoe Ebanks-Shanna Rivera (HON), and Apphia Glasgow-La Teisha Joseph (TTO)
Pool B: Corinne Quiggle-Megan Rice (USA), Camila Nazario-Karla Sánchez (PUR) and Chagnaz Frankel-Sharon Balkaran (SUR)
Pool C: Amy Ozee-Darby Dunn (CAN), Amanda Armenteros-Selena Spek (CUB), Susana Torres-Atenas Gutiérrez (MEX) and Oriana Bermudez-Luisiana Linares (VEN)
Pool D: Dana Roskic-Katarina Pantovic(CAN), Crismil Paniagua-Yari Cleto (DOM), Yeray Vidaurrazaga-María Ramírez (MEX) and Socorro López-Lolette Rodríguez (NCA)
CUL- DE- SAC, St Lucia, May 1, 2025: Eight countries, twenty- four teams all together will be toughing it out in the sand in the 2025 Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association (ECVA) Senior Beach Volleyball Championships here at the Cul de Sac Bay.
At stake is the coveted prize of champion, as twelve teams each are listed in both genders.
The St Lucia pair of Sheldon Descartes and Joseph Clercent, champions in 2023 and 2024, will be looking to make it three in succession, as Men’s winners, while Grenada’s Thornia Mitchell and Renisha Stafford, are confident of retaining the Women’s title, they champed last year.
The teams are divided in four Pools, with three teams stashed in each pool.
Men’s Play
Pool A St Lucia: Sheldon Descartes/ Joseph Clercent; Anguilla: Aiden Hazzard/ Da’ Qwan Frederick; Bermuda: Benjamin Barnett/ Sean Tucker
Pool B St Vincent and the Grenadines: Ronaldo Franklyn/ Shadron Delpesche; St Kitts and Nevis: Julian Bristol/ Jedediah Pencheon; Dominica: Mervin Mingo/ Bill Frederick
Pool C Antigua and Barbuda: Khaliq Joseph/ Cairon Davis; St Lucia: Peter Emmanuel/ Jentezen Joseph; Grenada: Zerick Walcott/ Kibose Hamilton
Pool D Dominica: Tyrel Robinson/ Yahn Florent; Grenada: Christopher Oxford/ Isaac Nelson; St Lucia: Didllo Albert/ Lindan Clarke
Women’s Play
Pool A St Lucia: Denila Prospere/ Chenoa Evans; Anguilla: Lavesha Richardson/ Deandre Fleming; St Vincent and the Grenadines: Nikita Campbell/ Veronique Matthews
Pool B Grenada: Thornia Mitchell/ Renisha Stafford; Shajunee Gumbs/Shanicia Dyer; St Lucia: Tenayestlgni Joseph/ Clio Phillip
Pool C Dominica: Joeanna Pascal/ Zahidu Henry, St Lucia: Marie Therese St Clair/ Kurtrice Jules; Grenada: Teasis Jones/ Sienna Dominique
Pool D Bermuda: Hailey Moss/ Megan Hands; Antigua and Barbuda: Jassania Joseph/ Rayana Regis; St Lucia: Kerin Neptune/ Erica Gaspard
Twenty- one matches, twelve in Men’s play and nine among the Women’s pools, are carded for day one.
ASUNCION, Paraguay, April 30, 2025.- In an emotional ceremony at the Ignacio A. Pane Municipal Theater in Asuncion, Paraguay, the medals for the II Junior Pan American Games were unveiled.
The medals, which were created inspired by the guarania, a musical expression that embodies the Paraguayan soul, have the score of Jejuí (first guarania) in their design.
As the sun set over the heart of the Mother of Cities, the iconic Ignacio A. Pane Municipal Theater welcomed guests to a special evening that celebrated culture, history, and sport. In a ceremony filled with symbolism, one of the most anticipated emblems of the Games was revealed: the official medal of the Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025—a piece that honors Paraguay’s soul and identity.
During this symbolic evening, with words shared by Camilo Pérez López Moreira, President of the Paraguayan Olympic Committee and IOC member; Neven Illic, President of Panam Sports; and César Ramírez Caje, Minister of Sports, the most emblematic symbol of the event was officially unveiled: the medal of the Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025.
Inspired by the guarania, a musical expression that embodies the Paraguayan soul, the medal was presented alongside an emotional reinterpretation of Jejuí, the first guarania composed by José Asunción Flores, the father of the genre.
With just 100 days to go before the most important youth sporting event of the continent, Asunción is preparing to welcome hundreds of young athletes who will chase Olympic glory and seal their dreams with the highest honor worn on their chest: the medal.
From Inspiration and Design to a Symbol of Continental Sport
One hundred years ago, in Asunción, a young José Asunción Flores, at just 21, composed a piece whose emotional depth and lyrical beauty would come to define the Paraguayan spirit. He translated the emotions of an entire people into song, immortalizing the Paraguayan soul in the form of the guarania. This legacy, now recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, was the starting point for designing the ASU2025 medal.
The Local Organizing Committee, in collaboration with biographer Antonio Pecci—who provided invaluable insights into Flores’ life—and with the brilliant work of María Victoria Sosa Zárate, Director of the Asunción Symphony Orchestra, who succeeded in visually translating the score of Jejuí—the first guarania—into the official design of the medal. After countless hours of research and design, the medal took shape with a minimalist aesthetic, deeply rooted in the cultural identity of Paraguay.
The front of the medal begins with the characteristic 6/8 tempo of the guarania and continues with the musical notes of Jejuí, engraved within the staff that circles most of the medal’s edge. On the back, the inscription reads: “Tribute to the Centennial of the Guarania: Jejuí.” This icon will accompany each athlete as a reminder that Asunción was a turning point on their path to glory—just as it was for the creator of the genre that represents us.
Jejuí x ASU2025
As part of this tribute, Jejuí was reinterpreted by the National Symphony Orchestra. This moving version was performed live during the gala, filling the Ignacio A. Pane Municipal Theater with its sound. A renewed rendition that conveys the strength and energy that will define the Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025.
In total, 1,077 medals will be awarded at ASU2025: 333 gold, 333 silver, and 411 bronze.
The Junior Pan American Games will officially open in Asunción on August 9 and run through August 23, bringing together over 4,000 athletes from across the continent to make history.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, April 30, 2025.- The Criollas de Caguas earned their third victory over the Cangrejeras de Santurce, moving just one win away (3-1) from claiming the Kia Final Series title of the Women’s Volleyball Superior League (LVSF) of Puerto Rico.
Caguas won in straight sets, 3-0 (27-25, 25-18, 26-24).
With the visitors up two sets, both teams split the technical timeouts in the third set. Santurce led the first one 8-7, with Neira Ortiz performing effectively through the middle. Caguas took the second technical timeout at 16-15 thanks to an attacking error by Helena Grozer, whose hit from zone four got caught in the net.
Kath Bell of Criollas
Attacking from zone four, Santurce’s Andrea Rangel committed an error that gave the Criollas a three-point lead (18-15). Santurce responded with pressure, showing strong net play and defense. After trailing 21-24, they rallied with three consecutive points to tie the set and force extra points. However, their surge wasn’t enough to extend the match.
The Criollas earned set point at 25-24 when Sofía Victoria broke through the Cangrejeras’ block. On the next play, Temi Thomas Ailara sealed the win for Caguas with an attack from zone four.
Following the victory, Criollas libero Okiana Valle De Jesús said:
“This series isn’t over yet; we have to come out and play again on Friday. That’s our focus. It’s not over until the final point is played and the whistle blows.”
She revealed that Caguas’ key to success, winning nine straight sets so far, has been staying focused on the present:
“We’re not thinking about the future or the championship. We’re going game by game, point by point, trying to do our best and make adjustments in the moment to win the first set, then the second, and the third, and ultimately the match. Most of all, we hope to close the series in Caguas and enjoy it,” she concluded.
The top scorers for Caguas were Kath Bell with 18 points, followed by Temi Thomas Ailara with 15, and Kristin Lux with 11.
For Santurce, Tamara Otene led with 15 points, followed by Neira Ortiz with 12, and Kara McGhee with 10.
The series returns to Caguas this Friday at the Roger Mendoza Coliseum at 8:00 p.m.
Las Cangrejeras de Santurce are the defending champions.
LAUSANNE, Switzerland, April 30, 2025.- The FIVB welcomed a senior delegation from Orlando, Florida, to the Volleyball House in Lausanne for high-level discussions centered on strategic collaboration and the advancement of volleyball initiatives in the region.
The Orlando delegation was led by Mayor Buddy Dyer (City of Orlando), Mayor Jerry Demings (Orange County) and Jason Siegel, President & Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Orlando Sports Commission.
The visit began with a tour of the Volleyball House, followed by a formal presentation of the FIVB Strategic Vision 2032 by FIVB President Fabio Azevedo. This long-term framework is built on four key pillars: Professionalism, Integration, Empowerment, and Mass Participation. These principles are designed to ensure the continued global development of volleyball, with a focus on broad accessibility, growth and positive impact.
During the visit, discussions were held on the potential hosting and activation opportunities in Orlando in the lead-up to the Olympic Games LA28. This follows a highly successful Olympic Games Paris 2024 for the USA in volleyball. The USA clinched the silver medal in the women’s competition and bronze in the men’s competition.
The discussions today demonstrate the FIVB’s ongoing efforts to further elevate the profile of volleyball and amplify its reach and impact around the world.
LAUSANNE, Switzerland, April 29, 2025.- FIVB President Fabio Azevedo and the FIVB Volleyball Foundation President Dr Ary Graça met with representatives from the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) and the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS). Their meeting aimed to further deepen their growing collaboration aimed at transforming lives through volleyball and education.
The KIIT and KISS delegation was led by Dr Achyuta Samanta, Founder of KIIT and KISS, and Dr Varun Suthra, the universities’ Director of International Relations.
During the meeting, both parties discussed a wide range of exciting initiatives, including further collaboration opportunities through volleyball events, expanded coach education opportunities and beach volleyball coaching support for the universities. Discussions also included a prospective FIVB visit to a KIIT-KISS Centre of Excellence, scholarship opportunities for talented athletes and joint celebrations for World Volleyball Day, which was recently confirmed by the FIVB Executive Board as 7 July.
This meeting builds upon the landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in October 2024 between the FIVB Volleyball Foundation, KIIT and KISS. The agreement marked a new chapter in the organization’s shared mission to drive youth participation in volleyball and open pathways for education, empowerment and development through sport.
The strength of this partnership was demonstrated during the KISS Volleyball Foundation Festival in Bhubaneswar, India, in October 2024 which set a Guinness World Record for the most players in a volleyball exhibition match, bringing together 430 participants. The festival welcomed more than 40,000 children, including 5,000 young volleyball players, in a powerful celebration of the sport’s ability to unite and inspire.
Through the FIVB’s Strategic Vision 2032, the FIVB is committed to creating more opportunities for young people through volleyball, and the collaboration with KIIT and KISS helps to make volleyball more accessible, impactful and a force for positive societal change worldwide.
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