Volleyball – Page 2

XXII Women’s Pan American Cup Heads to Colima, Mexico

Posted on July 30, 2025July 30, 2025

COLIMA, Mexico, July 30, 2025. – The city of Colima, in Colima, Mexico, will host the 22nd edition of the NORCECA Senior Women’s Volleyball Pan American Cup from August 3 to 10.

The 2025 Women’s Pan American Cup is part of the qualification process for multiple major events: the 2026 Women’s Pan American Cup, the 2026 NORCECA Women’s Continental Championship, the 2026 Central American & Caribbean Games, and the 2027 Pan American Games. In addition, the tournament awards FIVB World Ranking points.

For South American teams, the CSV (South American Volleyball Confederation) may use FIVB/CSV ranking points earned in Colima to determine qualification for future events.

A total of eleven teams will compete, divided into two pools:

Pool A: Canada, Colombia, Cuba, United States, Venezuela

Pool B: Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Peru, Puerto Rico, Trinidad & Tobago, Mexico (host)

After the round-robin stage, the first-place teams in each pool advance directly to the semifinals. Second and third places will play the quarterfinals. Fourth and fifth will compete for positions 7–10, while the sixth-placed team in Pool B will conclude its participation.

The United States is the tournament’s most successful team, with seven gold medals since the event’s inception in 2002. The Dominican Republic follows with five titles, Cuba with four, and Brazil with three. The current champion is Argentina, which captured back-to-back golds in 2023 and 2024 but will not defend its title this year.

The preliminary round will run from August 3 through 7. Quarterfinals and the 7–10 classification matches are scheduled for August 8. Semifinals and placement matches for 7-8 and 9-10 will take place on August 9, with medal matches and the 5-6 classification wrapping up the competition on August 10.

HISTORIC MEDALS WOMEN’S PAN AMERICAN CUP

YEAR	GOLD	SILVER	BRONZE
2002	CUB	DOM	CAN
2003	USA	DOM	CUB
2004	CUB	USA	DOM
2005	CUB	DOM	BRA
2006	BRA	CUB	DOM
2007	CUB	BRA	DOM
2008	DOM	BRA	ARG
2009	BRA	DOM	PUR
2010	DOM	PER	USA
2011	BRA	DOM	USA
2012	USA	BRA	CUB
2013	USA	DOM	ARG
2014	DOM	USA	PUR
2015	USA	DOM	ARG
2016	DOM	PUR	USA
2017	USA	DOM	PUR
2018	USA	DOM	CAN
2019	USA	DOM	COL
2022	DOM	COL	USA
2023	ARG	PUR	USA
2024	ARG	USA	COL

MEDAL COMPOSITION

COUNTRY	GOLD	SILVER	BRONZE	TOTAL
USA	7	3	5	15
DOM	5	10	3	18
CUB	4	1	2	7
BRA	3	3	1	7
ARG	2	0	3	5
PUR	0	2	3	5
COL	0	1	2	3
PER	0	1	0	1

Guatemala Opens with Straight-Set Victory

Posted on July 30, 2025July 30, 2025

GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala, July 29, 2025.- Guatemala started the Men’s U23 Pan American Cup with a straight-set win 3-0 (25-22, 25-16, 25-19) over Suriname at the Domo Polideportivo in Guatemala City.

Suriname came out strong, playing without hesitation or pressure against the home team, taking an early lead (6-2). Little by little, Guatemala caught up, and by point 15 the score was tied; the hosts eventually claimed the first set.

The second set was very close, with Guatemala maintaining a slim 2-point lead for most of the frame until the point 15, when the Central Americans pulled away to secure the set.

Guatemala dominated Suriname in attacks (43-28), blocks (11-7), and aces (5-2). It was a match with few unforced errors; Guatemala committed 20, while Suriname had only 16.

Jose Perez GUA spikes

José Pablo Pérez led Guatemala with 17 points, including 13 kills, 3 blocks, and 1 ace. Luis Roberto Mendizábal added 10 points for the hosts. For Suriname, Gianni Ritfeld scored 12 points (9 kills, 2 blocks, 1 ace) and Shemar Jameson finished with 10.

Reider Lucas, head coach of Guatemala: “Even though we didn’t play our usual game, it was very unstable with a lot of ups and downs. The goal was to win, even if we didn’t play well.”

“Not every day is a good day, I hope we have better matches in the tournament, but it’s also good to know that when things don’t go as planned, we can still pull off the win,” he added.

Carlos Orta, head coach of Suriname: “I think that regardless of the loss, my players did everything they could to win. We played against a team that just finished competing in the NORCECA Final Four, and they showed a level of play we haven’t reached yet.”

“I think it was a good match; my guys gave their best effort, but the better team won today, and in this case, it was Guatemala,” he concluded.

Wednesday July 30 schedule (Local Time):

2 PM – Dominican Republic vs Belize

4 PM – Mexico vs USA

6 PM – Suriname vs Venezuela

8 PM – Guatemala vs Costa Rica

Venezuela Defeats Costa Rica at U23 Men’s Pan American Cup

Posted on July 30, 2025July 30, 2025

GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala, July 29, 2025. – In the opening match of Pool A at the U23 Men’s Pan American Cup, Venezuela bounced back from losing the first set to defeat Costa Rica 3-1 (21-25, 25-19, 25-16, 25-11) at the Domo Polideportivo in Guatemala City.

The first set was up for grabs until point 18, when Costa Rica pulled ahead and never lost momentum. In the second set, Venezuela trailed most of the way as Costa Rica led up to point 16, but the Central Americans lost their advantage and the South Americans capitalized on the loss of control to win the set and tie the match 1-1.

In the third set, the Venezuelans took control from the start, and in the fourth set, Costa Rica faded away, leaving too many open spaces for Venezuela to execute their attack.

Venezuela outperformed Costa Rica in attacks (53-30) and service aces (5-2). Both teams tied in blocks with 8 apiece.

Venezuela celebrates.

Four Venezuelan players led their team’s offense: Carlos Luis Berrios topped with 16 points, followed by Nixon Gabriel Reyes with 13, Carlos Eduardo Beroes with 12, and Yoisbel Josue Galeno with 11. For Costa Rica, and the match’s top scorer, Dowshel Mc Donald scored 17 points.

Yanni Capuzzi, Venezuela’s head coach, said: “Thank God we started the U23 Pan American Cup on the right foot. The match was a bit complicated for us at the beginning, we missed a lot of serves, but later we made some adjustments in that area, as well as in distribution and how we would work with our setter, and we won. We’re moving forward.”

Cesar Salas, Costa Rica’s head coach, commented: “We had two sides, a very solid and good team in the first set. We did a great job in the second, but from there we became a totally different team. The opponent is very strong, a heavyweight rival, but I can’t justify the fact that we made too many reception errors and completely lost our attack.”

“This is part of what we came here to do – to build and correct. It’s part of the objective, and this match served that purpose,” Salas concluded.

Cuba Advances Directly to the U23 Women’s Pan American Cup Semifinals

Posted on July 30, 2025July 30, 2025

LEÓN, Guanajuato, July 29, 2025.– With an exciting 3-1 (31-29, 21-25, 25-20, 27-25) victory over Mexico, Cuba secured first place in Pool B and a direct ticket to the semifinals of the U23 Women’s Pan American Cup, held at the Domo de la Feria in León, Guanajuato.

Mexico, second in the pool, will play the quarterfinals on Tuesday against Costa Rica. Canada finished in third place, while Nicaragua ended in fourth.

The first set was a high-intensity show that went into extra points, with both teams missing set opportunities. A block by Yalain De La Peña against Andrea Félix sealed the set for Cuba, 31-29.

In the second set, Mexico responded strongly, jumping to a 5-0 lead thanks to Marcela Herrera’s attack and a block, combined with Cuban errors. With Aimé Topete leading the offense, Mexico closed the set 25-21 to even the match.

KATHERINE RAMIREZ ATTACKS AGAINST CUBA

Cuba regained control in the third, capitalizing on ten Mexican errors and with Claudia Tarín leading the attack, took the set 25-20.

The fourth set remained thrilling until the end, with multiple tied scores. With Cuba ahead 24-22, Katherine Ramírez saved Mexico with two consecutive kills to tie it at 24. After another tie at 25, a kill from Tarín and a block by Lisbeysis Hernández against Topete sealed the Cuban victory 27-25.

Cuba dominated at the net with a 15-8 blocking advantage, while Mexico led in attacks 62-57. Both teams scored 3 aces, with Cuba committing fewer errors (26-29).

Cuba’s offense was led by outside hitter Claudia Tarín with 21 points (18 attacks, 2 blocks, 1 ace), followed by opposite Yalain De La Peña with 20 (15 attacks, 5 blocks) and captain Whitney James with 12 points, all on kills.

For Mexico, Aimé Topete topped all scorers with 23 points (22 kills, 1 ace), while Marcela Herrera contributed 12 points.

Cuba’s Coach, Wilfredo Robinson, pointed out, “Mexico put up strong resistance, I congratulate them. Cuba, despite the difficulties of getting here, has been consolidating as the competition has progressed. Today our reception and blocking were good, in fact, all the elements of the game worked.”

Mexico’s Coach, Luis León, commented on his team’s performance, “We made too many mistakes. Yesterday we showed a different team than the one that faced Cuba today, and that cost us the first place in the group and a direct ticket to the semifinals. We still have the same goal of reaching the final.”

Canada to Face Dominican Republic in the Quarterfinals of the U23 Women’s Pan American Cup

Posted on July 29, 2025July 30, 2025

LEÓN, Guanajuato, July 29, 2025.- Canada secured its spot in the quarterfinals of the U23 Women’s Pan American Cup, held at the Domo de la Feria in León, Guanajuato, after defeating Nicaragua in straight sets 3-0 (25-12, 25-, 25-) and will now face the Dominican Republic in the next round.

With this result, Canada finished third in Pool B, while Nicaragua will compete in the classification matches for positions 5 through 8.

Jessica Andrews’ effective blocking was key in the first set, combined with Madyson Saris’ offensive contribution, to give Canada a comfortable win in the opening frame. In the second set, the Canadian offense continued to dominate, with Veronica Dickson joining the attack.

Canada

In the third set, Nicaragua attempted to respond with Karen Bird leading the charge and tying the score at 5-5 in the early points, but defensive errors allowed Canada to pull ahead 14-7 and cruise to victory.

The stats reflected Canada’s dominance in every skill: 40-12 in attacks, 11-1 in blocks, and 9-3 in aces. Nicaragua committed fewer unforced errors (15-23).

Canada’s Veronica Dickson with 15 points (11 attacks, 2 blocks, 2 aces) and Madyson Saris with 11 (9 attacks, 2 aces) were the top scorers of the match. Jessica Andrews stood out with 5 successful blocks.

Canada’s head coach Matt Krueger said: “We come to these tournaments for experiences and for lessons. We’ve learned some lessons and had some great experiences, so today was a great game. We came out and played well and we were focused all day. Tomorrow we are excited for the challenge against the Dominican Republic.”

Nicaragua’s head coach Claudia Noguera stated: “Canada is a very tall team with strong blocking and attacking. We are going to try to improve for what’s ahead. The goal is to finish in a better position than last tournament, and I believe it is very possible to achieve it.”

Dominican Republic Stuns USA at U23 Men’s Pan American Cup

Posted on July 29, 2025July 30, 2025

GUATEMALA CITY, July 29, 2025. The so-called “group of death,” Pool B of the U23 Men’s Pan American Cup, saw the Dominican Republic bounce back from losing the first set to defeat the United States 3-1 (23-25, 26-24, 31-29, 25-16) at the Domo Polideportivo in Guatemala City.

It was a tight match throughout. In the opening set, Dominican Republic was more effective on offense, while the United States dominated at the net with better blocking. After a hard-fought battle, the U.S. managed to take the first set. The Dominicans leveled the score in the second set, forcing the match into at least four sets.

In a thrilling third set (31-29), Dominican Republic completed the comeback to go up 2-1. In the fourth, the Caribbean side built an early lead and held it to secure both the set and the match.

Bruening George USA spikes (2)

The Dominicans outscored the Americans in attacks (62-51), but the U.S. led in blocks (12-4) and aces (4-2). Both teams committed a high number of unforced errors, with Dominican Republic registering 27 and the United States 37.

Adrián José Figueroa was the main offensive weapon for Dominican Republic, scoring 25 points—all on attacks at the net. Albert Molina followed with 16 points, while Antonio de Jesús Albino finished with 15.

For the U.S., three players reached double digits. George Bruening led with 20 points, while Ryan Barnett and Cameron Thorne each added 15. Thorne was the top blocker of the match with five stuffs.

Dante Mañon, head coach of Dominican Republic: “We are completely satisfied. We had a very long trip last night and thought the team would react differently. These young guys are highly motivated; they bring a whole new vision. They came here to win. This tournament can definitely count on us.”

Nicolette Sanlin, head coach of the United States: “We weren’t clean, they were more consistent. They had a better transition game, and we’re still trying to find connections and get into a groove. We hope for more tomorrow. We expect to continue improving, finding our lineup and building relationships between the guys, figuring out the right combination for us and getting better with each consecutive match.”

USA Secures Direct Spot in the Women’s U23 Pan American Cup Semifinals

Posted on July 29, 2025July 30, 2025

LEÓN, Guanajuato, July 29, 2025.- The United States earned its third consecutive straight-set victory by defeating Costa Rica 3-0 (25-18, 25-10, 25-10), clinching a direct ticket to the semifinals of the Women’s U23 Pan American Cup being held at the Domo de la Feria in León, Guanajuato.

With this result, the United States finished first in Pool A and now awaits its opponent for Thursday’s semifinal round. Costa Rica, on the other hand, will play the quarterfinals against the winner between Canada and Nicaragua on Wednesday.

From the opening set, Jurnee Robinson pushed her team ahead with a 13-9 lead, supported by Chloe Chicoine to close the frame, despite a strong offensive performance by Costa Rican opposite Ivanny Sey Blackwood.

JURNEE ROBINSON ATTACKS

In the second set, after making changes to their lineup, the American blocking was key in stopping the Central American offense and maintaining control of the game. The third set followed the same pattern, with the U.S. returning to its starting lineup to seal the 3-0 win.

The United States dominated in attacks with a huge 50-20 advantage and also led in blocks 6-2. Neither team recorded any service aces. The U.S. committed 16 unforced errors compared to Costa Rica’s 19.

Only two players scored in double figures: Jurnee Robinson was the match’s top scorer with 14 points for the U.S., playing in the first and third sets; while Ivanny Sey Blackwood led Costa Rica with 11 points.

Emily Klika, U.S. libero said after the match “This match was a really good opportunity for us to get in our rhythm going into the semifinals. Everyone got a chance to play and contribute, so that was big because we’re going to need them to face bigger matches. We are very excited, and we want to compete for a medal for the USA, you can expect a lot of girls playing with energy, effort and heart”.

Costa Rica’s head coach, Kareem Richards, reflected on the group stage saying, “My team went from less to more. Even though we won the first match and lost the next two, there was clear progress in the athletes’ game. The goal is to keep growing; this is a great opportunity, and we will continue working.”

Hard-Fought Victory for Mexico over Belize in U23 Men’s Pan Am Cup Opener

Posted on July 29, 2025July 29, 2025

GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala, July 29, 2025.- Mexico earned a hard-fought first win at the Men’s U23 Pan American Cup, defeating Belize 3-1 (29-31, 25-21, 25-21, 25-22) at the Domo Polideportivo in Guatemala City.

Belize started the match strong, dominating Mexico in the early points (10-8). It wasn’t until point 18 that the Mexicans managed to even the score in the first set. From there, the lead alternated until Belize pulled away by two points to take it 31-29.

The second set followed a similar pattern; except this time it was Mexico who held the lead throughout. The third set was no different, with Mexico staying a couple of points ahead and eventually turning the match around to lead two sets to one.

Mexico celebrates

Mexico’s offense was dominant, outscoring Belize 67-45 in attacks and leading in blocks 7-2. Both teams scored 3 aces from the service line. Belize was unable to capitalize on the 45 unforced errors committed by Mexico during the match.

Leonardo Maldonado was the top scorer with 22 points, 21 of them from attacks. Jorge Ariel Hernández also scored in double digits for Mexico with 17 points, including 16 kills and 1 block.

For Belize, three players finished in double digits: Eleazar Mejía with 17 points (15 kills, 1 block, 1 ace); Hakan Godoy with 10 points (9 kills, 1 block); and Kaelen Ingram with 10 points (all from attacks).

Mexico’s head coach Renato Junior said, “We started very differently from what we talked about before the match, from what we had planned to do. The nerves affected my team, and we couldn’t do much. We have a lot more to improve, and we’re going to do better things during the tournament.”

Belize’s head coach Albert Humes commented, “I’m very proud of my boys. We had a good practice this morning and did even better today in the match against Mexico. Mexico is a very good team, but this shows that our team was ready to face them, is ready for the competition, and has come to make an impact.”

Dominican Republic Closes Group Stage with Quick Win Over Suriname

Posted on July 29, 2025July 29, 2025

LEÓN, Guanajuato, July 29, 2025.- Dominican Republic wrapped up the group stage of the U23 Women’s Pan American Cup with a convincing 3-0 (25-4, 25-11, 25-7) victory over Suriname at the Domo de la Feria de León, Guanajuato.

With this result, the Dominicans finished Pool A with a 2-1 record and advanced to the quarterfinal round. Suriname, with a 0-3 record, will compete in the classification round for positions 5-8.

The Caribbean squad dominated the stats: 33-10 in attacks, 8-3 in blocks, and 5-0 in service points.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC WINS MATCH AGAINST SURINAME

Alondra Tapia led the offense with 13 points (11 attacks, 2 blocks), followed by Ambar Hernández with 10 points (6 attacks, 2 blocks, 2 aces).

Kirssy Fernández, Dominican Republic’s libero, highlighted: “We finished the group stage with a convincing win. We have adjusted several things since our first match, such as our serving, because our goal is to reach the final.”

On the other hand, Suriname’s libero Ketura Heijmans commented: “I expected more from us. I think we should have played better today; we did better against the United States. We need to improve our communication skills for our upcoming matches and defend more.”

United States Advances to the Round of 16 at the U19 World Championship

Posted on July 29, 2025July 29, 2025

July 29, 2025 – The United States secured a spot in the Round of 16 of the FIVB Boys’ U19 World Championship being held in Uzbekistan, while Puerto Rico, Canada, and Cuba will play for positions 17–24.

United States 3 – Korea 1

The United States defeated Korea 3-1 (25-27, 28-26, 25-22, 25-19) to qualify for the Round of 16, where they will face Bulgaria for a place in the quarterfinals.

The Americans were dominant in attacks (52–44) and blocks (20–2), while Korea held the edge in serving (8–5).

Team captain Grant Lamoureux once again excelled for the U.S. offense, scoring 27 points (20 attacks, 5 blocks, 2 aces). Roman Payne added 14 points (9 attacks, 5 blocks).

Grant Lamoureux USA

Puerto Rico 0 – Turkey 3

Puerto Rico fell to Turkey 0-3 (20-25, 26-28, 22-25) and will now play for positions 17–24 starting Wednesday against Egypt.

Puerto Rico outperformed the Turks in blocking (10–6), while the Europeans led in attacking (45–39) and serving (7–2). Gustavo Antonio Álvarez and team captain Jean Paul González were Puerto Rico’s top scorers with 14 points each. Álvarez recorded 12 attacks and 2 blocks, while González contributed 12 attacks, 1 block, and 1 ace.

Jean Paul Gonzalez PUR

Canada 0 – China 3

Canada lost to China 0-3 (20-25, 17-25, 13-25) and will compete for positions 17–24 starting Wednesday, July 30, against Colombia.

China completely dominated Canada in attacking (37–29), blocking (11–4), and serving (6–0). Tyson Dezutter was Canada’s top scorer with 14 points, all from attacks.

Canada

Cuba 0 – Brazil 3

In a thrilling match, Cuba fell to Brazil 0-3 (18-25, 25-27, 23-25) and will play for positions 17–24, facing Algeria next.

Cuba held the edge in attacking (41–33) and serving (5–3), while Brazil dominated blocking (9–4). The Cubans were hurt by 32 unforced errors committed during the match.

Alessandro González led Cuba with 20 points (18 attacks, 1 block, 1 ace), while Alejandro Rodríguez also reached double digits with 10 points.

Alessandro González CUB

Matches Wednesday July 30 (local time)

Positions 17-24

11:00 AM Puerto Rico vs Egypt

TBD Cuba vs Argelia

TBD Canada vs Colombia

Eighfinals (Round of 16)

2:00 PM United States vs Bulgaria

NORCECA Teams Fall at U19 World Championship

Posted on July 28, 2025July 29, 2025

July 28, 2025. – The four NORCECA teams competing at the U19 Boys’ World Championship all ended up losing their respective matches.

Puerto Rico 0 – Pakistan 3

In Pool A, Puerto Rico lost its chances of qualifying for the finals after falling to Pakistan 0-3 (19-25, 21-25, 17-25). With only one match left in the group stage, Puerto Rico was eliminated after recording four losses and no wins.

Pakistan outperformed Puerto Rico across the board, leading in attacks (40-30), blocks (8-5), and serves (3-0). Jean Paul González was Puerto Rico’s top scorer with 10 points, all on attacks.

PUR

Canada 0 – Bulgaria 3

Canada fell 3-0 (25-17, 25-23, 25-21) to Pool B leaders Bulgaria. Although they still have a mathematical chance of reaching the finals, the odds are stacked against the Canadians, and their path looks extremely complicated.

Canada held the edge over Bulgaria in blocks (6-3) and serves (3-2), while Bulgaria was stronger in attacks (39-32). Ethan Baraniuk with 13 points and Tyson Dezutter with 11 were Canada’s best scorers.

CAN

United States 0 – Brazil 3

In Pool D, the United States was blanked by Brazil 0-3 (21-25, 22-25, 22-25). Despite the loss, the U.S. could still be the only NORCECA team to advance to the Round of 16. To secure their spot, they must defeat Korea on Tuesday.

The U.S. outperformed Brazil in attacks (39-36), while the Brazilians held the edge in blocks (9-7) and serves (3-1). Grant Lamoureux led the American squad with 13 points.

Cuba 2 – Colombia 3

In Pool D, Colombia edged Cuba in five sets 3-2 (26-24, 25-18, 16-25, 17-25, 16-14). The loss sent Cuba into the classification round for positions 17-24. The Cubans finish the group stage with four defeats and no wins.

Cuba topped the South Americans in attacks (66-52) and serves (4-3). Colombia shut down Cuba’s offense at the net, posting 20 blocks compared to just 8 by the Cubans.

Alessandro González led Cuba with 19 points, while Lázaro Marrero (17), Alejandro Rodríguez (14), and Iverson Manuel Toledano (10) all reached double digits.

CUB

Matches Tuesday 29 (Local Time Uzbekistan)

2.00 PM – Puerto Rico vs Türkiye

5.00 PM – Canadá vs China

8.00 PM – Estados Unidos vs Korea

8.00 PM – Cuba vs Brazil

Mexico Maintains Perfect Record at the Women’s U23 Pan American Cup

Posted on July 28, 2025July 29, 2025

LEÓN, Guanajuato, July 28, 2025.- Mexico continued its strong performance at the Women’s U23 Pan American Cup with a straight-set victory over Canada 3-0 (25-17, 25-20, 25-16) at the Domo de la Feria in León, Guanajuato, improving to a 2-0 record in Pool B.

With this result, Mexico and Cuba will face off on Tuesday in an unbeaten showdown for the top spot in the pool and a direct ticket to the semifinals, while Canada will seek its first win against Nicaragua to advance to the quarterfinals.

Mexico took control from the very beginning. In the first set, Mexico built leads of 11-6 and then 14-9, closing comfortably 25-17 thanks to the pressure from the service line, led by Aitana Rettke and Ashly Morales, which disrupted Canada’s reception.

MEXICO CELEBRATING

In the second set, Canada tried to respond with attacks from Madyson Saris and serves from Veronica Dickson, closing the gap to 16-17, but Mexico stayed composed and sealed the 25-20 with Aimé Topete’s offense, supported by Jimena Salinas and Andrea Félix on the attack.

The third set was total domination by Mexico, which quickly jumped to a 14-7 lead and never looked back, finishing 25-16.

Mexico outperformed Canada in kills (39-31) and blocks (8-7), while both teams scored three points from the service line. The key difference was Canada’s 25 unforced errors that benefited Mexico.

Mexico’s Aimé Topete led all scorers with 13 points (11 kills, 2 blocks), followed by Andrea Félix with 11 (10 kills, 1 block). For Canada, Raya Surinx and Madyson Saris led with 8 points each.

Mexican captain María Ximena Cruz highlighted the importance of the victory: “It was a decisive win. We worked as a team without getting anxious because we knew it was an important match that puts us in first place in the pool. Against Cuba we are going for the direct ticket to the semifinals, it will be a tough one and we will stay focused on our game.”

Canada’s team captain, Delaney Watson expressed: “I think we had pieces where we were really great. We are a new team together and we just got to learn to stick up together. The goal tomorrow is to win and advance to the quarterfinals, we’ll work on our game plan and do our best”.

The Haitian Volleyball Federation Launches “Volley Jeunes” to Discover Haiti’s Future Volleyball Stars

Posted on July 28, 2025July 29, 2025

PORT-AU-PRINCE, July 28, 2025.- Amid a social climate marked by instability and limited opportunities for young people, a wave of hope is rising in Haiti with the launch of “Volley Jeunes” at the Ayiti Cheri Gymnasium. This national development program is dedicated to identifying and training the next generation of Haitian volleyball talent.

With the support of NORCECA, Volley Jeunes has become a reality, offering more than a thousand boys and girls between the ages of 8 and 19, from nine cities across the country, the chance to turn volleyball into a pathway to a better future. Over five intensive weeks, these young athletes will train, grow, and work together to build brighter prospects for themselves and their communities.

FHVB President Jean Michel Frédéric François highlighted the program’s deeper meaning:

“Volley Jeunes is much more than a sports initiative; it’s a testament to our faith in Haitian youth. In the face of our country’s heartbreaking realities, the determination in these young faces and their unwavering belief in a better tomorrow give us the courage to persevere and hope beyond what seems possible”.

François expressed his gratitude to the organizations and individuals who made the program possible: “We are deeply thankful to all our partners, especially NORCECA and the Haitian government, for helping make this inaugural edition a reality.”

More than a volleyball program, Volley Jeunes is a message to every young person: your life matters, your talent is worth nurturing, and your future is bright. The FHVB firmly believes that by 2035, the stars born on these courts today will shine on the national and international stage.

Cuba Remains Undefeated at the U23 Women’s Pan American Cup

Posted on July 28, 2025July 29, 2025

LEÓN, Guanajuato, July 28, 2025.- Cuba continued its strong performance at the U23 Women’s Pan American Cup, defeating Nicaragua 3-0 (25-18, 25-19, 25-16) at the Domo de la Feria in León, Guanajuato, to remain undefeated.

Cuba now holds a 2-0 record in Pool B, while Nicaragua falls to 0-2. In the final day of pool play, Cuba will face Mexico, while Nicaragua will take on Canada.

Claudia Basilia Tarin and team captain Whitney James led the Cuban offense in the first set, keeping their team ahead despite Nicaragua’s tough defense and long rallies in which María Roa stood out.

Cuba

In the second set, the teams remained tied until 6-6, but a solid block by Karen Bird and an attack from Marcela Martínez brought Nicaragua within 19-22 before Cuba closed the set.

Cuba controlled the third set from start to finish, although Nicaragua never stopped fighting defensively.

The Cuban attack made the difference with 31 points to 18, also leading in blocking (7-4) and service aces (6-3).

Whitney James and Claudia Tarin were Cuba’s top scorers with 11 and 10 points respectively, while Lianet García contributed 4 blocks. For Nicaragua, Gilmary Smith scored 6 points.

Cuban captain Whitney James said: “After yesterday’s match that went to five sets, today we tried to consolidate some things we need to face Mexico tomorrow. One of them is our connection with the setters.”

Nicaragua’s captain María Roa commented: “We looked good, and our mentality was better today. Several of us had the experience of last year’s Cup and we are motivating the new players. We came here to fight and to show we can put on good performances like we did today. We need to be more focused and put in more effort.”

Guatemala Marks the Start of the Road to Qualify for the 2029 Junior Pan Am Games

Posted on July 28, 2025July 29, 2025

GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala, July 28, 2025.- The 2025 U23 Men’s Pan American Cup, to be held from July 29 to August 3 at the Domo Polideportivo in Zone 13 of Guatemala City, marks the beginning of the qualification pathway for the third Junior Pan American Games in 2029.

For teams of the North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation (NORCECA), the U23 Pan American Cups, both men’s and women’s, held in 2025, 2026, 2027, and 2028, will award ranking points valid for qualification to the 2029 Junior Pan American Games. The qualification process will close on December 31, 2028.

The South American Volleyball Confederation (CSV) will establish its own qualification system.

On the subject, coaches shared their thoughts:

Luis Fernando Castañeda, Guatemala’s assistant coach, said, “It’s a very tough tournament; this category is a prelude to the senior team. The level of every team participating is high, and we will try to do a good job and tournament as hosts.”

Guatemala

United States coach Nicolette Sanlin commented, “This is their first time in an international competition. They are very excited and eager, but ready to show the best of themselves.”

USA

Albert Humes, Belize’s coach, expressed, “I’m very excited and happy to be here. This is not only a stepping stone for the development of the program, but attending this U23 tournament is a plus for our country. Our team is here to give their best and show mutual respect. If we do that, we will do well in this tournament.”

Belize

Jair Morales, Mexico’s assistant coach, pointed out, “There are several experienced teams; a Pan American Cup is always a very important event for us. Our team comes well-prepared and with high aspirations. Our squad will participate in the Junior Pan American Games, and we aim to achieve a good result here to boost our morale heading into Paraguay.”

Mexico

Suriname’s coach Carlos Orta Fellove explained, “This tournament is very important for all countries, especially for us as we are developing our national teams. We have a very young team coming up from U19. Our main goal is to try to win the tournament, but we know it won’t be easy.”

Suriname

Costa Rica’s coach Cesar Salas said, “We’re happy to be in Guatemala. We’ve brought a very young team, about half-and-half in experience. We want to give a new generation the opportunity to contribute to this category. That doesn’t mean we won’t try to win, but we also want to prepare for the next Central American Cup. We want to shape this group since this is their first international experience.”

Costa Rica

Venezuela’s coach Yanni Antonio Capuzzi stated, “We have very high expectations. We believe we can do very well in the group stage and aim to reach the semifinals directly. It’s worth noting that our team is U21, the same one we will take to the U21 Pan American Cup in Canada as preparation for the Bolivarian Games in Peru later this year.”

Venezuela

The Dominican Republic team is arriving at midnight, so their interview will take place on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m.

Dominican Republic Earns First Victory at U23 Women’s Pan American Cup

Posted on July 28, 2025July 29, 2025

LEÓN, Guanajuato, July 28, 2025.- Dominican Republic claimed their first win at the U23 Women’s Pan American Cup after defeating Costa Rica 3-0 (25-9, 25-9, 25-14) on the second day of Pool A action at the Domo de la Feria in León, Guanajuato.

Both teams now hold one win and one loss in the standings.

From the start, the Caribbean side set the pace, taking a 5-1 lead in the opening set, forcing Costa Rican head coach Kareem Richards to call an early timeout. The gap widened quickly to 12-5, with the Dominicans dominating in every skill.

CRC AND DOM BATTLE THE BALL OVER THE NET

Costa Rica attempted to respond in the second set by attacking against the block, but the Dominican squad maintained control. The third set followed the same storyline, with Dominican Republic firmly in command.

Dominican Republic led the stats with a wide margin of 40-17 in attacks, 8-1 in blocks, and 4-1 in aces. They also capitalized on 23 Costa Rican unforced errors while committing only 13 themselves.

Opposite Katielle Alonzo, outside hitter Alondra Tapia, and middle blocker Estrella Puente commanded the Dominican offense with 9 points each. For Costa Rica, Ivanny Blackwood topped all scorers with 10 points.

Katielle Alonzo highlighted her team’s unity after the match, “We dominated all aspects of the game. We played together as always. We want to keep winning; even though we lost to the United States yesterday, it was a very good match.”

Ivanny Blackwood acknowledged the challenge of the match, “This game was much tougher than yesterdays. Dominican Republic is a strong opponent; they have better reach, power, and overall physical conditions than we do. We expected a tough match, but we hoped for a better score. We haven’t been together for long, and there are still things to improve.”

On the final day of pool play, Dominican Republic (1-1) will face Suriname (0-2), while Costa Rica (1-1) will close against the United States (2-0).

United States Dominates Suriname in U23 Women’s Pan American Cup

Posted on July 28, 2025July 28, 2025

LEÓN, Guanajuato, July 28, 2025.- The United States earned their second consecutive victory at the U23 Women’s Pan American Cup with a convincing 3-0 (25-10, 25-13, 25-7) win over Suriname at the Domo de la Feria in León, Guanajuato.

With this result, the Americans remain undefeated in Pool A with a 2-0 record, while Suriname is still searching for their first win after two days of competition.

The United States showed complete dominance, outscoring Suriname in every category: 43-15 in attacks, 5-0 in blocks, and 10-1 in aces. Both teams were close in unforced errors, with the winners committing 14 to Suriname’s 17.

USA WINS MATCH AGAINST SURINAME

Outside hitter Norah Sis of the United States led all scorers with 15 points, tallying 13 kills and 2 aces. Middle blocker Cara Cresse added 11 points, including 9 kills and 2 blocks.

Suriname’s team captain, Lisse Chontelle, led her side with six points.

In the third and final day of pool play, the United States will face Costa Rica, while Suriname will take on the Dominican Republic.

Nora Sis, top scorer of the match said after the win, “We have another game under our belt which is important. Today we controlled our side of the net well and we put a lot of pressure on them with our serving, which allowed us to have good control in defense and transitioning as well”.

Suriname’s Lisse Chontelle spoke about her team “I like the confidence of my team. We are trying to go to the next level. The team is not stressed on the field, and we are going for the best”.

Puerto Rico’s Pedro Molina Named Most Valuable Player of the 2025 NORCECA Men’s Final Four

Posted on July 28, 2025July 28, 2025

PUEBLA, Mexico, July 27, 2025 – Outside hitter and captain of the Puerto Rican national team, Pedro Molina, was named Most Valuable Player of the NORCECA Men’s Final Four held at the BUAP Arena in Puebla, Mexico. He also won the tournament’s best server award.

Pedro Molina’s service was key in the fourth set of the championship-clinching match against Mexico. Also from Puerto Rico, Pelegrín Vargas won the individual award for best hitter.

Pedro Molina Named Most Valuable

For runner-up Mexico, outside hitter Oziel Aguirre received the awards for best hitter and best receiver. Axel Téllez earned the award for second-best blocker.

For the third-place team, the Dominican Republic, Luke Ramírez won the award for best setter, and for the fourth-place team, Guatemala, won five individual awards: Josué González for best defender and best libero, Jason Hernández for best blocker, and Andy Leonardo for best scorer and best opposite number.

Final standings:

1. Puerto Rico

2. Mexico

3. Dominican Republic

4. Guatemala

HISTORICAL MEDALS NORCECA MEN’S FINAL FOUR

Year	Gold	Silver	Bronce
2019	CUB	PUR	MEX
2022	CUB	DOM	MEX
2023	MEX	DOM	PUR
2024	PUR	DOM	MEX
2025	PUR	MEX	DOM

Mexico with a Strong Start at the U23 Pan American Cup

Posted on July 28, 2025July 28, 2025

LEÓN, Guanajuato, July 27, 2025.- Mexico opened the Women’s U23 Pan American Cup with a commanding 3-0 (25-14, 25-14, 25-8) victory over Nicaragua at the Domo de la Feria in León.

The hosts showcased their offensive strength, recording 39 successful attacks against Nicaragua’s 15. They also outperformed in blocking (8-5) and serving (9-1). Unforced errors were similar on both sides, with Mexico committing 15 and Nicaragua 19.

Opposite Andrea Félix led all scorers and was the only player to reach double digits with 10 points, while Gilmary Smith topped Nicaragua with 6 points.

Mexico

On the second day of Pool B action, Mexico (1-0) will face Canada (0-1), while Nicaragua (0-1) takes on Cuba (1-0).

After the victory, Mexico’s head coach Luis León stated: “It’s always good to start the tournament with a win. As the competition progresses, teams will demand more from us. This victory gives us confidence and rhythm. Tomorrow we’ll face Canada; we watched them against Cuba, and they have good qualities, especially physical ones.”

Nicaragua’s head coach Claudia Noguera highlighted the challenge of playing the hosts: “Facing the home team was not easy. We have a young squad built for our future project. We will keep working to improve throughout the tournament.”

USA’s Brooklyn Deleye Named MVP of the U21 Pan American Cup

Posted on July 28, 2025July 28, 2025

ALAJUELA, Costa Rica, July 27, 2025.- Brooklyn Deleye of the United States was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 2025 U21 Women’s Pan American Cup after leading her team to an undefeated campaign that culminated in the championship at the Profesor Jorge Luis Solera Gymnasium in the Monserrat Sports Complex in Alajuela, Costa Rica.

Deleye was also awarded first Best Outside Hitter. Also from team USA, Favor Anyanwu received second Best Middle Blocker and Taylor Parks earned Best Server.

From the runner-up team, Chile, Dominga Aylwin was recognized as Best Scorer.

Costa Rica, third in the tournament, claimed two awards: Melina Abarga as second Best Outside Hitter and Rashanny Solano as Best Libero.

For Canada, Ella McVittie was named Best Setter, Logan King Best Opposite, and Misha Hameed Best Receiver.

Yalyn Victoria Firpo of the Dominican Republic earned first Best Middle Blocker, while Sofia Padron of Mexico was awarded Best Digger.

Final team standings: 1. United States, 2. Chile, 3. Costa Rica, 4. Canada, 5. Dominican Republic, 6. Puerto Rico, 7. Mexico.

Puerto Rico Becomes Two-Time Champion in the NORCECA 2025 Men’s Final Four Against Mexico

Posted on July 28, 2025July 28, 2025

PUEBLA, Mexico, July 27, 2025 – An intense five-set match took place tonight at a BUAP Arena full ofMexican fans. The home team was motivated and took the lead in the first set, but Puerto Rico found motivation and national pride, rallying and securing victory with a score of 3-2 (23-25, 25-21, 22-25, 25-17, 15-9).

The small point difference between the two teams was in blocking and serving. Puerto Rico made 15 effective blocks, compared to 10 for the Mexican team. In aces, Puerto Rico scored 6, while Mexico only 2. In attacks, both teams were consistent and scored a similar number of points, with a difference of 1, for a total of 51 for Mexico and 52 for Puerto Rico.

For Puerto Rico, captain Pedro Molina was crucial in the victory, scoring 17 points, 11 attacks, 1 block, and 5 service aces. Outside hitter Pelegrin Vargas contributed 16 points, 14 attacks, and 2 blocks.

PUR Monsterblock Molina and Rivera

For Mexico, the game was shared among four powerful hitters: Garay, Aguirre, Fuentes, and Rodríguez. Opposite Alexis Garay produced spectacular attacks in key spots that motivated his team, scoring 14 points, 12 on kills, 1 serve, and 1 block. Outside hitter Oziel Aguirre also contributed 14 points, all on kills.

Mexican center Axel Rodríguez excelled in blocking, with 7 points, bringing the home team’s total to 13. Captain Mauro Fuentes scored 13 points, 12 on offense and 1 on block.

Puerto Rico coach Alberto J. Torres commented: “We’re very happy. The team showed great maturity. Playing in Mexico is very difficult. The fans are spectacular, and that caused the guys a bit of anxiety, but they knew how to overcome it.

We’ve been working on a program, and this result helps solidify what we’re doing. I think Pedro Molina’s maturity and the serves he made in the fourth set were commendable because that was the motivation the team needed.”

Mexican coach Carlos Eduardo Schwanke shared: “I’m happy, although a little disappointed with the ending because we started very well, playing at a great pace, but I think they also felt the pressure of playing at home and without having played any previous preparation matches for this tournament.

This is part of a fairly long process, because we’re preparing a team that will be a winner in no time.

As this is the first event with this coaching staff, I’m satisfied. We realize there are many players with great potential. We need to integrate some who are recovering from injuries, but I think it’s a good team.”

Spectacular Reverse Sweep by Cuba over Canada at the U23 Pan American Cup

Posted on July 28, 2025July 28, 2025

LEÓN, Guanajuato, July 27, 2025.- Cuba staged a memorable comeback to defeat Canada 3-2 (18-25, 23-25, 26-24, 25-18, 17-15) in their opening match of the Women’s U23 Pan American Cup held at the Domo de la Feria in León, Guanajuato.

Canada started strong, jumping to a 10-4 lead in the first set, supported by their blocking (4-2) and aces (4-1), with Raya Surinx and Lucy Borowski as their key players. Despite Cuba’s improvement in the second set, the Canadians managed to edge out a tight finish to go up 2-0.

Under pressure, Cuba responded in the third set, sealing it with an ace from Lisania Grafort that kept their hopes alive. In the fourth set, the Caribbean side took an early 7-1 lead, showing smart play and doubling Canada in attack points (16-8), led by Lisania Grafort, Lianet García and Claudia Tarín.

Madyson Saris CAN

The fifth set was electrifying. Canada rallied from 6-9 to tie the score at 9 behind Borowski’s offense. A block from Surinx put the North Americans at match point 14-12, but Cuba answered with a kill from Grafort and a block by Yalain de la Peña to level the score. After exchanging points to 15-15, Yalian de la Peña closed with a powerful spike and Yensy Kindelán sealed the Cuban victory with a block.

Cuba led in attacks 61-59, while Canada held the edge in blocks (13-8) and aces (8-6). The difference came from unforced errors, where the Cubans gave up fewer points (27-34).

Four players from each team scored in double digits. Lisania Grafort led Cuba with 15 points, followed by Whitney James with 13, while Lianet García and Claudia Tarín each tallied 11; Yalain de la Peña added 10. For Canada, Raya Surinx topped all scorers with 19 points, Madyson Saris contributed 18, Lucy Borowski had 17 and Jessica Andrews 12.

In the next Pool B match, Cuba will face Nicaragua, while Canada will go up against hosts Mexico.

Cuban head coach Wilfredo Robinson said, “A victory that truly has a lot of flavor and character. The team knew how to come back and reorganize, even though we had many deficiencies. We must improve our blocking and reception. Canada gave us the opportunity for this great win.”

Matt Krueger, Head coach of Canada spoke “We started off aggressive, we were playing some good volleyball. Credits for Cuba, they turned it around in the third set, they made few switches that gave them that spark, and we couldn’t quite catch up”.

United States, Three-Time Champions of the U21 Pan American Cup

Posted on July 28, 2025July 28, 2025

ALAJUELA, Costa Rica, July 27, 2025.- The United States reaffirmed their continental dominance by claiming their third consecutive title at the U21 Women’s Pan American Cup, defeating Chile in straight sets 3-0 (25-18, 25-14, 25-13) at the Profesor Jorge Luis Solera Gymnasium in the Monserrat Sports Complex in Alajuela, Costa Rica.

The U.S. team captured the crown undefeated and without dropping a single set, earning their fourth title in the history of the tournament (2017, 2022, 2023, and 2025) and their third in a row. For Chile, this silver medal marks their best result in the category after previously winning bronze in 2015.

From the very start, the United States set the tone, taking an early lead in the first set that gave them confidence to close it out. In the second set, the American block came alive, allowing them to maintain full control of the match.

Brooklyn DeLeye USA & Susana Bulnes CHI

The statistics underline the champions’ superiority: 42-15 in attacks, 10-2 in blocks, and 8-2 in service points, sealing a final in which they left no doubts about their strength.

Jadyn Livings and Favor Anyanwu led the United States with 13 points each, the only players from both teams to reach double digits. The U.S. offense was well distributed among 10 different scorers.

For Chile, Dominga Aylwin topped her team with 6 points.

USA head coach Heather Olmstead said after the match: “I am very proud of our group; they kept their focus throughout the entire match and wanted to play for each other. We got a lot of players in, and they executed at the level we wanted to, which is USA Volleyball style. I am happy for the group; they did a great job coming together these past two weeks, and I’m glad they get to celebrate.”

Dominican Republic dominates Guatemala in NORCECA Men’s Final Four

Posted on July 28, 2025July 28, 2025

PUEBLA, Mexico, July 27, 2025 – The match started with a lot of energy from both teams, who reached their third game without winning a single set of this competition. Guatemala fought for every point, taking the third set. However, it was the Dominican Republic who won the match with a score of 4-1 (25-22, 25-20, 20-25, 25-21) and with it, the bronze medal in the NORCECA Men’s Final Four.

Guatemala was superior in attack points with 58 to the Dominican Republic’s 47, however, they committed 32 errors and the Dominican Republic’s 25. The Dominican Republic also dominated in blocks with a total of 14 attacks to Guatemala’s 2.

For the Dominican Republic, outside hitter Héctor Cruz scored the most points with a total of 15, 12 attacks, 2 blocks, and 1 service ace. Opposite Adrián Figueroa had 14 points, 12 attacks, 1 block, and 1 serve.

Guatemala veteran Andy Leonardo led his team with key points to raise the score, connecting on a total of 27 points, 24 of them on attack, 1 block, and 2 on serves. Captain Carlos López scored a total of 16 points, all on attacks, 6 of which were key to winning the third set for his team.

For the Dominican Republic, coach José Gutiérrez commented: “Our goal in coming to this tournament was to gain experience. Yesterday’s match wasn’t that great, but today I think we showed that we have players who can perform at that level in the long run, and we will look to win first place in this event in the future.

We are leaving happy and in good shape, as this group travels to Guatemala tomorrow, and we have several events coming up with the U-23 national team.”

After this result, Guatemala coach Reider Lucas shared: “It’s a hard job for us to get here. The best players are here, and we need to achieve good results to be in this tournament. We fought hard to get the opportunity, but of course, we expected more and couldn’t achieve it. We have to improve and keep working, which is what we have left.

I think the players need maturity, and the way to achieve it is to give them these experiences so they can continue playing and develop them for the future.”

Great Victory for Costa Rica to Win Bronze at the U21 Pan American Cup

Posted on July 28, 2025July 28, 2025

ALAJUELA, Costa Rica, July 27, 2025.- Playing with the support of their home crowd, Costa Rica achieved a historic 3-1 (11-25, 25-18, 25-23, 30-28) victory over Canada on Sunday to claim the Bronze Medal at the U21 Pan American Cup, held at the Profesor Jorge Luis Solera Gymnasium at the Monserrat Sports Complex in Alajuela, Costa Rica.

Canada was dominant in the first set, but Costa Rica found their rhythm in the second to even the match. Backed by their fans, Costa Rica managed to turn things around in the third set to take the lead.

Canada’s lack of focus in the final sets allowed Costa Rica’s solid teamwork and audacity to shine, as they celebrated the bronze medal.

Danna León CRC & Ella McVittie CAN

Canada led in attacks (53-42) and aces (13-7), while Costa Rica was more effective in blocks (7-6) and capitalized on Canada’s 35 unforced errors.

Costa Rica’s top scorer was Raldisha Barley with 13 points, including 8 kills, 3 blocks, and 2 aces. Angelica Rodríguez also reached double digits with 11 points, followed by Ester Abarca with 10.

Canada’s Sophia Hansen was the match’s top scorer with 15 points (13 kills, 2 blocks). Mary Healy added 14 (11 kills, 3 aces), and Logan King contributed 13 points.

Costa Rica’s head coach Braulio Godínez said, “This is an indescribable emotion, one I had only felt when we won Bronze at the Central American and Caribbean Games in 2011.”

“Winning at home feels even more special because it motivates the kids who came to support the national team. I believe this generation is just as talented as the one that represented us at the World Championship. We hope they continue and achieve even greater success,” he concluded.

Costa Rica Opens with a Solid Win Over Suriname at the U23 Women’s Pan American Cup

Posted on July 28, 2025July 28, 2025

LEÓN, Guanajuato, July 27, 2025.- Costa Rica made a strong start in Pool A of the U23 Women’s Pan American Cup, sweeping Suriname 3-0 (25-23, 25-15, 25-18) at the Domo de la Feria in León.

Suriname came out firing, taking an early 11-5 lead in the opening set behind the unstoppable scoring of middle blocker Shomantla De Graven. Costa Rica remained patient, rallying to tie the score at 18 and capitalizing on Suriname’s 11 unforced errors to secure the set.

The Central American side built a comfortable lead in the second set (18-10) and maintained control to close the match in straight sets.

Costa Rica

Costa Rica held a 36-29 advantage in kills and led 8-4 in aces, while Suriname was stronger at the net with an 8-4 edge in blocks. Costa Rica also benefited from 27 errors by Suriname, while committing 15 of their own.

Costa Rica’s opposite hitter Ivanny Sey Blackwood topped all scorers with 14 points, all on kills. Outside hitter Cailynn Griffith led Suriname with 9 points.

Costa Rica (1-0) will face the Dominican Republic (0-1) next, while Suriname (0-1) will meet the United States (1-0).

Kareem Richards, head coach of Costa Rica, said after the match, “The first set was normal because the first match is always tough, and Suriname was able to follow the game plan they had prepared. What I want to highlight is my team’s ability to bounce back and then finish the match in a calmer way.”

Miguel Misidjang, head coach of Suriname, reflected “We were winning at the beginning of the game and then we started making unforced errors that killed the game. The players stopped believing in themselves, but still, I am proud of the girls. I know we can come out and play better in the next games”.

Puerto Rico Finishes Sixth at the Women’s U21 Pan American Cup

Posted on July 27, 2025July 28, 2025

ALAJUELA, Costa Rica, July 27, 2025. – Puerto Rico claimed sixth place at the Women’s U21 Pan American Cup after defeating Mexico 3-2 (25-11, 26-28, 21-25, 25-13, 15-9) at the Gimnasio Profesor Jorge Luis Solera of the Monserrat Sports Complex in Alajuela, Costa Rica.

The match began evenly, with Mexico committing several unforced errors early on (six by the first technical timeout), while Puerto Rico gradually built confidence and gained the lead point by point. The second set mirrored the first, with Mexico reacting after the 12th point and managing to take the set in a tight finish. Mexico then forced a fourth set by winning the third, but Puerto Rico dominated the fourth with a wide margin to push the match to a tie-break, where they sealed the victory.

PUR celebrates

Puerto Rico was more effective in attacks (61-44) and service aces (9-3). Mexico led in blocks (12-10) but committed more unforced errors (32-27).

Puerto Rico’s Chareika Carrión set a tournament record for most attacks in a single match, scoring 31 points, including 26 kills, 2 blocks, and 3 aces. Valeria Núñez also scored in double digits for Puerto Rico with 15 points (10 kills, 3 blocks, 2 aces).

For Mexico, Mariana del Rocío Hernández led the scoring with 15 points (14 kills, 1 block), followed by Dariana Rodríguez with 12 points. Diana Sofia Favela and Brenda Sofia Esquivel each contributed 11 points.

Puerto Rico’s assistant coach Karmari Vélez stated, “Winning this match was extremely important for the girls’ confidence and for learning to handle tough situations. We came with high expectations and now we’re heading straight to the World Championship. We need to keep working and preparing even more.”

USA Sweeps Dominican Republic in Women’s U23 Pan American Cup Opener

Posted on July 27, 2025July 28, 2025

LEÓN, Guanajuato, July 27, 2025. – The United States opened the Women’s U23 Pan American Cup with a straight-set victory over the Dominican Republic 3-0 (27-25, 25-19, 25-21) at the Domo de la Feria in León, Guanajuato.

The first set was a tight back-and-forth battle with no clear dominant team. USA reached set point at 24-22, but a surprise set and a kill from Alondra Tapia tied the score at 24-24. After another tie at 25-25, the U.S. capitalized on two set points as opposite hitter Jurnee Robinson delivered back-to-back plays, first scoring on an attack and then sealing the set with a block.

The United States adjusted their blocking in the second set, pulling ahead 14-8 and maintaining control to take the frame comfortably. The third set mirrored the first with both teams trading points, but the U.S. closed strong to secure the sweep.

USA celebrates

USA held the advantage in kills (43-35) and blocks (9-5), while the Dominican Republic edged slightly in aces (3-2). Both sides committed a similar number of errors, with the U.S. at 22 and the Dominican Republic at 23.

Jurnee Robinson led the Americans with 13 points, including a match-high five blocks and eight kills. Outside hitter Eva Hudson and middle blocker Ifennamaka Cos-Okpalla contributed 10 points each.

For the Dominican Republic, opposite hitter Katielle Alonzo scored a match-high of 15 points, supported by outside hitter Alondra Tapia with 10.

Pool A next match USA faces Suriname, Dominican Republic against Costa Rica.

The U.S. Head Coach, Marie Zidek commented after the win “It was a tough opponent. Dominican Republic plays a very intelligent game and early on they were exposing our block and getting a lot of kills. We made an adjustment in the second set to position a little bit different on defense, which helped us and then our arms found the ball a little bit better”.

Wagner Pacheco, Head Coach of the Dominican Republic, expressed his satisfaction, “The girls played well. This is our first match of the year, just imagine what we can achieve. It was a good game, I’m really happy.”

Torres and Gutiérrez Claim Mexico’s First Gold of the Season in Paramaribo

Posted on July 27, 2025July 28, 2025

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, July 27, 2025. – Mexico’s Susana Torres and Atenas Gutiérrez were crowned champions, capturing Mexico’s first gold medal of the season after defeating USA’s Piper Ferch/Erin Inskeep in a thrilling final, 2-1 (8-21, 21-16, 18-16), at the fifth stop of the 2025 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour, held at the Telesur Cul Complex courts in Paramaribo.

In the semifinals, Gutiérrez and Torres defeated Canada’s Kaylee and Emma Glagau 2-0 (21-16, 21-19). Meanwhile, the American duo Ferch/Inskeep had no trouble overcoming Suriname’s Tammenga/Frankel 2-0 (21-10, 21-13).

1ST PLACE FEMALES – MEXICO

The bronze medal went to Canada’s Kaylee and Emma Glagau, who overcame the home team of Janneke Tammenga/Chagnaz Frankel in straight sets, 2-0 (21-9, 21-14).

In the battle for fifth place, the U.S. Virgin Islands’ Melanie Valenciana and Cristina Almeida dominated the host pair Chayeney Soedamah/Chanice Myr with a 2-0 victory (21-7, 21-16).

Seventh place went to fellow Surinamese players Margaret Ketura and Charice Frankel.

Other results of the day included: SUR3 Soedamah/Myr vs. SUR2 Ketura/Frankel 2-0 (21-16, 21-19), MEX Torres/Gutierrez vs. CAN Glagau/Glagau 2-0 (21-16, 21-19), and USA Ferch/Inskeep vs. SUR1 Tammenga/Frankel 2-0 (21-10, 21-13).

Crabb Brothers Strike Gold in Paramaribo After Thrilling 36-34 Set in the Final

Posted on July 27, 2025July 28, 2025

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, July 27, 2025. – The American duo Taylor and Trevor Crabb captured the title at the fifth stop of the 2025 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour, defeating Mexico’s Antonio Lares/Carlos Ayala in a thrilling final 2-0 (21-18, 36-34) on the courts of the Telesur Cul Complex in Paramaribo. The marathon second set, ending 36-34, became the most intense of the season.

The Crabb brothers reached the gold medal match after overcoming compatriots Derek Bradford/Zephyr Dew in three sets 2-1 (15-21, 21-18, 15-12). In the other semifinal, Lares/Ayala defeated Canada’s Cameron Chadwick/Robert Kemp 2-0 (21-19, 21-15).

USA

The bronze medal went to Bradford/Dew, who prevailed over Chadwick/Kemp in straight sets 2-0 (21-18, 21-17).

Fifth place went to the home team of David Pinas/Keven Sporkslede, who edged Elkreen Morton/Zendai Richards of Saint Kitts 2-0 (22-20, 25-23). Fellow Surinamese players Dean Kasdi/Anferney Schmeltz secured seventh place after defeating Joshua Dwarkasing/Ethan Asimia 2-0 (21-17, 21-17).

Ninth place was claimed by the U.S. Virgin Islands duo Jared Brown/Cole Sommers.

Other results of the day were: SUR3 David Pinas/Keven Sporkslede d SUR2 Dean Kasdi/Anferney Schmelt 2-1 (20-22, 21-17, 18-16), SKN Elkreen Morton/Zendai Richards d SUR1 Joshua Dwarkasing/Ethan Asimia 2-1 (21-13, 16-21, 15-10), USA Taylor Crabb/Trevor Crabb d USA2 Derek Bradford/Sephyr Dew 2-1 (15-21, 21-18, 15-12).

Chile Defeats Costa Rica to Advance to the U21 Pan American Cup Final

Posted on July 27, 2025July 27, 2025

ALAJUELA, Costa Rica, July 26, 2025.- Chile defeated Costa Rica 3-0 (25-15, 25-14, 25-23) to advance to the final of the U21 Women’s Pan American Cup, held at the Profesor Jorge Luis Solera Gymnasium of the Monserrat Sports Complex in Alajuela, Costa Rica.

The Chilean team overcame the pressure of a packed crowd at the Sports Complex, taking control of the match from the start. By the time they reached the second technical timeout of the first set, Chile already held a comfortable lead (16-10).

In the second set, Costa Rica pushed back, but after tying the score at 14 points, Chile regained control and did not allow the hosts to score again. The third set was the most contested, but in the end, the South Americans’ experience prevailed as they came from behind to seal the victory.

Dominga Aylwin CHI

Dominga Aylwin had an outstanding performance for Chile, scoring 20 points, including 15 kills, 4 blocks, and 1 ace. Francisca Vásquez added 11 points, 3 of them on aces. For Costa Rica, Angelica Rodríguez led the scoring with 11 points.

Chile outperformed Costa Rica in every category of the game: attacks (39-30), blocks (10-4) with Aylwin and Nielsen standing out with 4 and 3 respectively and serves (7-2).

Chile will face the United States in the gold medal match at 5:00 p.m., while Costa Rica will play for the bronze at 3:00 p.m. against Canada.

Eduardo Guillaume, head coach of Chile, said, “I am incredibly happy. We are a country that has been growing in volleyball, and these results are very encouraging to keep working hard and pushing forward. I believe this is the first time Chile plays the final of a Pan American Cup, regardless of the category, just as it was the first time that we beat Canada, so these are things that show we are improving.”

“That makes me and the whole team extremely happy,” he concluded.

Mexico defeats Dominican Republic in the NORCECA Men’s Final Four

Posted on July 27, 2025July 27, 2025

PUEBLA, Mexico, July 26, 2025 – With an opening point from captain Mauro Fuentes, a full BUAP Arena, and three consecutive aces from Axel Rodríguez, Mexico demonstrated superiority from the start of the first set, securing a 3-0 victory (25-19, 25-18, 25-19) against Dominican Republic.

One of the errors Mexico made yesterday in the match against Guatemala was its serves; however, in this match, they improved dramatically, scoring eight service points compared to just one from the Dominican Republic. In attacks, the Mexican team doubled its opponent’s effectiveness with 47 points, compared to 23 from the Dominican Republic.

MEX celebrates

Mexican opposite hitter, Ridl Alexis Garay, scored the most points in the match, with a total of 15, 13 of them on attacks, 1 on blocks, and 1 on a service. Garay commented, “We’re happy with this win. It was something we’ve been working on for months at training camp. I think we were a little nervous about being the home team yesterday, but today we knew how to work with that and embrace the support of the fans.

We know tomorrow’s game will be tough. Puerto Rico is coming with a full team, and we hope it’s a great match, and we’ll go for the win.”

Aguirre again scored key points for Mexico, adding a total of 13, 12 of them on attacks and 1 on blocks. For the Dominican Republic, Moisés A. Ortíz contributed the most points for his team, with a total of 7, 5 of them on blocks and 2 on attacks.

The Dominican middle blocker shared, “I’m happy with the work I did in the match, but more than mine, the team’s. Both teams played very well. Mexico had the advantage of winning, but it was difficult. This was a very important game, and even though we lost, we took home the knowledge and continue to praise our country in every game.”

Tomorrow, Mexico will face Puerto Rico. Both teams are coming off wins in their first two matches and will be fighting for first place in this NORCECA Men’s Final Four.

United States, first team to qualify for the U21 Pan American Cup final

Posted on July 27, 2025July 27, 2025

ALAJUELA, Costa Rica, July 25, 2025.- The United States became the first team to secure a spot in the U21 Pan American Cup final after defeating Canada 3-0 (25-17, 25-19, 25-20) in the tournament being held at the Profesor Jorge Luis Solera Gymnasium of the Monserrat Sports Complex in Alajuela, Costa Rica.

As predicted, the Americans came out strong from the start, not giving the Canadians a chance to even breathe. Team captain Brooklyn DeLeye led the offense from the beginning, finishing the first set with 7 attack points and 3 service aces. The Canadians never gave up on any point and fought fiercely until the very end.

The United States dominated in attacks (42-18) and serves (9-2), while Canada held the edge in blocking (6-5). The Americans also capitalized on the 30 unforced errors committed by Canada.

USA celebrates

Brooklyn DeLeye was the best player of the match, excelling in both reception and attack, finishing with a total of 18 points (14 attacks and 4 aces). Besides Brooklyn, only one other American reached double digits, Jadyn Livings with 10 points. Logan King led Canada with 8 points (7 attacks).

The United States will play the final this Sunday, July 27 at 5:00 p.m. against the winner of the other semifinal between Costa Rica and Chile. Canada will play for the bronze medal at 3:00 p.m. against the losing team.

Heather Olmstead, USA Head Coach, said after the match “That was a great match. Canada played great, we had to really dig deep. I liked the way we just problemed solved and stayed creative. I think Brooklyn brought some big heat and big swings; Taylor did a good job offensively. We’re excited to be representing the USA in another match, another opportunity to play together as a group, so we’re super grateful. The crowd was awesome”.

Puerto Rico Earns Second Victory in NORCECA Men’s Final Four Against Guatemala

Posted on July 27, 2025July 27, 2025

PUEBLA, Mexico, July 26, 2025 – Puerto Rico has become increasingly decisive in the NORCECA Men’s Final Four, earning its second victory 3-0 (25-21, 25-16, 25-19) against Guatemala.

Guatemala started the match with great enthusiasm, just as in the first match yesterday against Mexico, managing to take a couple of points ahead of its opponent during the set. It was in the final points that Puerto Rico stepped up its attacks, distracting Guatemala’s defense, which was unable to contain them.

In the second and third sets, Puerto Rico was far superior throughout. The key to the victory was the huge difference in decisive attacks (43-18). Once again, Pelegrin Vargas led Puerto Rico with 12 points, including 9 on attack and 3 blocks.

PUR celebrates

Vargas commented: “I think the group has bonded well, and depending on the role I play in each match, I’ll be there for the team as needed. Today we rotated a bit to allow the younger players to play, and we also had to support them.

We have bigger tournaments coming up, so we’re getting back into the swing of things. Personally, I was out of action for 5-6 months, and I think it’s a good return.

I was very surprised by the great organization of the tournament and the warmth of the Mexican crowd, although it certainly won’t be the same tomorrow against them.”

For Guatemala, Jason Hernández scored 7 points, 5 of them on blocks, and their veteran Andy Leonardo scored 6 points, 5 of them on attack and 1 ace.

The captain of Guatemala, Carlos López, shared: “We started off in good spirits again, but as Puerto Rico picked up the pace, we started making more mistakes.

We’re happy with the work the juniors did; this was their opportunity, and they came in to solve many situations in the match well. That’s our intention: to take advantage of the high level of these opponents to gain experience.”

For Guatemala, this is their second loss in the competition, with a match to play tomorrow against the Dominican Republic.

Dominican Republic Secures Fifth Place at U21 Pan American Cup

Posted on July 26, 2025July 27, 2025

ALAJUELA, Costa Rica, July 26, 2025.- The Dominican Republic claimed fifth place at the Women’s U21 Pan American Cup after defeating Mexico 3-0 (25-23, 25-22, 25-19) in the tournament held at the Profesor Jorge Luis Solera Gymnasium of the Monserrat Sports Complex in Alajuela, Costa Rica.

The match started as a back-and-forth battle with no clear dominance from either team. After point 15, Mexico managed to pull ahead, but the Caribbean squad tied the score at 22 and took the set, leading with 17 attack points and 4 blocks.

The second set mirrored the first, with alternating control and increasingly contested points featuring longer rallies. The Dominican Republic took command in the third set.

Jismeily Flete DOM

The Dominicans outperformed in attacks (45-37) and blocks (8-4), while Mexico held the edge in serving (6-2).

Victoria Firpo of the Dominican Republic finished the match with 16 points, including 11 attacks, 4 blocks, and 1 ace, while Julie Millaray Arias contributed 12 points. For Mexico, Paula Miranda scored 13 points, with 9 attacks, 1 block, and 3 aces.

Mexico will face Puerto Rico on Sunday, July 27 at 1:00 p.m. to compete for sixth and seventh place in the tournament.

After the match, Dominican Republic’s Brazilian head coach Alexandre Ceccato commented, “In the end, it was a good result for me. The team is good; it’s a U19 squad, and finishing fifth is not bad. My intention was to be among the top four teams in the tournament, but it wasn’t possible. Next Sunday, we’re off to Indonesia to play the World Championship in this category.”

The Road to the 2029 Junior Pan American Games Qualification Begins in León

Posted on July 26, 2025July 27, 2025

LEÓN, Guanajuato, July 26, 2025.- The 2025 U23 Women’s Pan American Cup, to be held from July 27 to August 1 at the Domo de La Feria in León, Guanajuato, marks the beginning of the qualification path for the third Junior Pan American Games in 2029.

For the teams from the North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation (NORCECA), the U23 Pan American Cups, both women’s and men’s, held in 2025, 2026, 2027 and 2028, will award ranking points valid for qualification to the 2029 Junior Pan American Games. The qualification process will close on December 31, 2028.

On this matter, the coaches shared their thoughts:

Matthew Krueger, Head Coach of Canada: “The goal of this tournament and the summer for NextGen (that’s how we call our program) is to get them ready to play a possible senior team. We’ve been training since the beginning of June, we had some tryouts beforehand, and we’ve been working hard. I’m excited to see how our girls can compete against the best in our conference and it’s going to be a good challenge for us”.

Kareem Richards, Head Coach of Costa Rica: “We have several objectives, both short and medium-term. Due to the number of competitions Costa Rica is currently participating in, we don’t have the full roster that will go to the Junior Pan American Games in Asunción. In the short term, for the players who are going to Asunción, we want them to gain the necessary experience to stand out in Paraguay. In the long term, we aim to continue identifying and developing those athletes who can make the leap to the senior national team.”

Wilfredo Robinson, Head Coach of Cuba: “We are aiming to keep the crown, that’s our dream. The players are excited about the responsibility they’ve been given. If reaching the final isn’t possible, we want to win a medal. This is a great opportunity to prepare for the Junior Pan American Games in Asunción.”

Wagner Pacheco, Head Coach of the Dominican Republic: “It will be a very tough competition; there are teams with a very high level. We had scrimmage matches with Mexico and Cuba, and both teams are well-prepared and look strong. This is the first time the United States is taking part in this competition, and they always have a very good level. Only a couple of my players here will not be competing in the Junior Pan American Games.”

Luis León, Head Coach of Mexico: “This is the group that will compete in Asunción in a few days. This tournament worked out perfectly to prepare us for the Junior Pan American Games. The goal is to reach the finals, fight for a spot on the podium, and I believe we have the team to compete.”

Claudia Noguera, Head Coach of Nicaragua: “We come well-prepared and highly motivated for the competition, which we know has a very high level. It is important for Central American countries to participate in tournaments against higher-level teams because that prepares the athletes for the future. We believe that the development of our region has risen due to participating at higher levels, and the teams’ pace and playing systems have greatly improved.”

Miguel Misidjang, Head Coach of Suriname: “The preparation of Suriname was good, we’ve been practicing for about three months, and we just finished second place in the CAZOVA U23 event, which has been good leading into this tournament. We are missing two players that couldn’t attend, because of other commitments. What we are looking for in this tournament, knowing upfront that other countries are much stronger, is a development campaign. We are focused on developing each player and the team, which is young, but we want them to have the experience”.

Marie Zidek, Head Coach of the United States: “This is the U.S. first time we’re competing in this tournament, we needed to get organized. We are very excited to be here; it’s a great opportunity for our players to continue to perform in high-level competitions against many countries that play a strong game. This is a difficult age group, some players are in university, some are transitioning first year Pro, but we are excited about the potential to compete and more players developing in the pipeline is our goal. We will focus on bringing a strong game for ourselves, trying to produce as many points as possible and then we will have to adapt to the teams we face”.

United States Wins Again at the U19 World Championship

Posted on July 26, 2025July 26, 2025

July 26, 2025.– The United States earned its second victory at the Men’s U19 World Championship taking place in Uzbekistan. Meanwhile, Puerto Rico, Canada, and Cuba remain winless after three matches.

United States 3, Colombia 2

A brilliant performance by U.S. captain Grant Lamoureux, who scored 31 points, led his team to a 3-2 (25-19, 19-25, 25-18, 30-32, 15-9) victory over Colombia on the tournament’s third day. The U.S. now sits in third place in Pool D with 2 wins and 1 loss.

Grant Lamoureux had an outstanding afternoon, tallying 31 points, including 5 aces, 25 kills, and 1 block. Roman Payne contributed 16 points, William Dryden added 11, and Thomas Henige chipped in with 10.

The U.S. outperformed Colombia in kills (66-47), blocks (9-3), and service aces (9-8).

Grant Lamoureux USA

Puerto Rico 0, Uzbekistan 3

Puerto Rico fell once again, this time against host Uzbekistan 0-3 (18-25, 21-25, 14-25). It was the third straight loss for the Puerto Rican team, jeopardizing their chances of advancing to the knockout stage. Puerto Rico now stands at 0-3 in Pool A.

Puerto Rico held a slight edge in blocks (7-6), but 28 unforced errors cost them dearly. Uzbekistan dominated in kills (34-25) and service aces (7-3).
Team captain Jean Paul González led Puerto Rico with 9 points, including 8 kills and 1 ace.

Jean Paul Gonzalez PUR

Canada 1, Algeria 3

Canada once again took the first set but couldn’t maintain their advantage, losing 1-3 (25-19, 26-28, 28-30, 21-25) to Algeria. Despite battling hard in every set, the Canadians suffered their third consecutive defeat, leaving them at 0-3 in Pool B.

Canada led in kills (53-45), but Algeria outperformed them in blocks (11-8) and service aces (9-3). The match was plagued by unforced errors, with Canada committing 37 and Algeria 35.

Tyson Dezutter’s 21 points weren’t enough to carry Canada, despite solid contributions from Ethan Baraniuk (13), Kai Miles (12), and Aiden Vandenheuvel (11).

Tyson Dezutter CAN

Cuba 0, Finland 3

Cuba suffered its third straight loss, falling to a surprising Finland 0-3 (23-25, 20-25, 15-25). The Europeans, who had already upset the U.S. earlier in the tournament, continued their strong run by sweeping the Caribbean side. Cuba now sits at 0-3 in Pool D.

Finland controlled the match from start to finish, leading in kills (32-25), blocks (10-4), and aces (7-1). Alessandro González was Cuba’s top scorer with 12 points.

Alessandro Gonzalez CUB

Match Schedule for Monday, July 28

Sunday is a rest day for all teams. The tournament resumes on Monday, July 28, with the following matches for NORCECA teams (local time):

2:00 p.m.: Puerto Rico vs Pakistan

2:00 p.m.: Canada vs Bulgaria

8:00 p.m.: Cuba vs Colombia

8:00 p.m.: United States vs Brazil

Mexico Earns First Victory Against Guatemala in NORCECA Men’s Final Four

Posted on July 26, 2025July 26, 2025

PUEBLA, Mexico, July 25, 2025 – The BUAP Arena witnessed a hard-fought match from start to finish tonight between the host nation and Guatemala, where Mexico earned its first victory in the NORCECA Men’s Final Four in front of spectators that consistently supported the home team.

In three thrilling sets, the match concluded with a score of 3-0 (27-25, 28-26, 30-28). Guatemala was superior in effective attacks with a total of 43 to Mexico’s 41, and in blocking points, 12-9. Andy Leonardo was the Guatemala´s top scorer, adding 15 total points, 13 of them on attacks, 1 on aces, and 1 on blocks.

Mexican outside hitter Oziel Aguirre, in his first experience with the senior team, led his team with 18 points, 15 on kills and 3 blocks, becoming the player with the most total points on the first day of competition.

Mexico celebrates

At the end of the match, Aguirre commented: “We’re here to give our best, and I want to keep working hard to contribute as much as I can to the team. It’s great to play at home with the fans supporting us.

This is just the beginning; it’s the first game, but we’re going to keep improving, getting into the swing of things, and I hope it turns out as well as possible.”

Mexico’s captain commented, “I think the victory was a good first step, but not how we got it.

I think we have a lot to improve, especially on the service line. There were specific moments where we missed serves and gave away a large number of points to Guatemala at the end of the set. Perhaps it was a mix of nervousness, pressure, and indecision that we need to work on, but playing at home with our families is always very motivating, and we’re sure to improve.”

Guatemala’s captain shared, “We come to these events knowing they’re high-level events. The three opposing teams are strong, and today the team gave their all. We never gave up. In the third set, we were way down and we managed to tie it, on the verge of winning, but our mistakes cost us the match.

It leaves us feeling good, especially because of the participation of the U-23 youth team. They played very well, and that motivates us.”

Tomorrow, Guatemala will face Puerto Rico, and Mexico will face the Dominican Republic.

Chilean Victory Over Mexico Secures a Spot in the Semifinals

Posted on July 25, 2025July 26, 2025

ALAJUELA, Costa Rica, July 25, 2025.– Chile earned a place in the semifinals of the U21 Women’s Pan American Cup after defeating Mexico 3-0 (25-15, 25-20, 25-17) in the tournament held at the Professor Jorge Luis Solera Gymnasium at the Monserrat Sports Complex in Alajuela, Costa Rica.

Chile dominated the first set, taking a significant lead early on. In the second set, Mexico started ahead, but the Chileans gradually closed the gap and turned the score around at point 16, maintaining the advantage to close out the third set comfortably.

Chile outperformed in attacks (42-23) and blocks (7-1), while Mexico held the edge in serves (5-4).

Martina Allende CHI

Petra Schwartzman led Chile and the match with 13 points, including 11 attacks and 2 blocks. Dominga Aylwin also scored in double digits with 10 points, all from attacks. For Mexico, Brenda Sofia Esquivel topped the scoring with 8 points.

On Saturday 26, Chile will face Costa Rica in the second semifinal at 7:00 p.m. The first semifinal will be at 5:00 p.m. between the United States and Canada.

Before the semifinals, Mexico will face the Dominican Republic at 3:00 p.m. for fifth place. The loser of that match will play Puerto Rico on Sunday to determine sixth and seventh place.

Martina Allende, Chile’s libero, said: “We are super happy; we’ve been working hard for a long time, and now we’re obtaining the rewards and celebrating this semifinal qualification. Tomorrow, we face Costa Rica. Playing against the home team is tough, but we are going to give it everything we have.”

Canada Defeats Dominican Republic to Reach the Semifinals

Posted on July 25, 2025July 26, 2025

ALAJUELA, Costa Rica, July 25, 2025.– Canada defeated the Dominican Republic 3-1 (25-20, 22-25, 25-23, 25-18) to secure a spot in the semifinals of the U21 Women’s Pan American Cup, held at the Professor Jorge Luis Solera Gymnasium at the Monserrat Sports Complex in Alajuela, Costa Rica.

In the first set, the Canadians managed to maintain a 3- to 4-point lead, which guaranteed them the set. The second set was closer, with the Dominican Republic closing the gap and coming back to tie the match at one set apiece.

It was a match filled with net attacks and strong blocking, as both teams showcased their power. In the end, Canada outperformed in attacks (55-50) and dominated from the service line (10-0). The Dominican Republic led in blocks (11-10).

Misha Hameed CAN

Canada had four players scoring in double digits: Logan King led with 20 points (17 attacks, 1 block, 2 aces), followed by Mary Healy with 15 points, Ella Piskorz with 14 (including 4 blocks), and Élodie Lalonde with 12 points.

For the Dominican Republic, Shantal Rivera topped the scores with 15 points, all from attacks, while Victoria Firpo contributed 12 points (9 attacks, 3 blocks).

Canada now awaits the result of the other quarterfinal to determine their semifinal opponent, while the Dominican Republic will play for fifth place against the loser of the match between Mexico and Chile.

Misha Hameed, Canada’s libero: “I think our big focus was being warriors, it’s our team value. Digging, finding grit, and just persevering through adversity was big for us, and not getting down on ourselves during those tough moments. I think that in the second and third sets they really tested us, but in the fourth set we showed more of that grit that we’ve been working on the whole week”.

Aurelina Ruiz, Dominican Republic’s libero: “We feel really good despite the loss because it was a great match, a very hard-fought game. Canada is a very strong team.”

Puerto Rico Wins Over Dominican Republic in First Match of NORCECA Men’s Final Four

Posted on July 25, 2025July 26, 2025

PUEBLA, Mexico, July 25, 2025 – In the first match of the NORCECA Men’s Final Four, Puerto Rico defeated the Dominican Republic 3-0 (26-24, 25-20, 25-21) at the BUAP Arena.

With an opening point by Pelegrin Vargas, the top attacker in this match with 13 total points, the scoring opened in favor of Puerto Rico. The Dominican Republic reacted immediately, outscoring their opponent at the start of the first set, which was tied 24-24 and decided in the final points in favor of Puerto Rico with an ace from their captain, Pedro Molina.

In the second and third sets, Puerto Rico showed superiority in attack, blocking, and serving from the start, securing victory in an exciting match. Puerto Rico outscored its opponent 42-35 in attack points, 8-4 in effective blocks, and 4-2 in aces. Dominican Republic hitter Héctor Cruz added 14 total points, 13 on attacks and one on serve. For Puerto Rico, opposite Klistan Lawrence tied his teammate Vargas with 13 points, 9 on attacks, 3 blocks, and 1 serve.

PUR – Rivera serve

Captain Pedro Molina scored 9 points for his team. At the end of the match, he commented: “We’ve been preparing for this all summer and are very confident about what’s coming.

Like in all tournaments, it’s a bit difficult for us to get into the swing of things here because of the altitude we’re at. But as the match progressed, we found our rhythm, and I know that with each passing set, we’re feeling better and more confident. Very excited for the upcoming matches.”

For Dominican Republic, captain Henry Tapia said: “We started well, with a lot of energy and enthusiasm, but these are matches that make us realize how we’re really doing. The reception didn’t help, nor did the ball distribution.

Personally, I recognize that, knowing my potential, I know I needed to give more of myself to the team, but sometimes we get discouraged by some mistakes that make us lose focus of the game.”

Tomorrow, Puerto Rico will face Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic will face the host team, Mexico. Live broadcasts of the matches can be viewed on the Mexican Volleyball Federation’s YouTube page.

Guatemala to Host Men’s U23 Pan American Cup

Posted on July 25, 2025July 25, 2025

GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala, July 25, 2025 .– The 2025 edition of the Men’s U23 Pan American Cup will be held from July 29 to August 3 at the Multisport Dome in Guatemala City, with the participation of eight national teams.

At a press conference with local media, the National Volleyball Federation of Guatemala provided details of the competition.

The tournament will begin with a group stage. The teams finishing second and third in each group will advance to the quarterfinals, while the first-place teams will qualify directly for the semifinals.

Domo

The teams have been divided into two groups: Group A features the host country Guatemala, along with Costa Rica, Suriname, and Venezuela. Group B includes reigning champions Mexico, as well as Belize, the Dominican Republic, and the United States.

Mexico captured the title at the previous edition held in Paramaribo, Suriname, after defeating Peru in the final. Cuba earned the bronze medal by defeating Guatemala.

Throughout the history of the tournament, Cuba has been the most successful team with three titles (2014, 2018, and 2023), followed by Mexico with two championships. Argentina and Brazil have each won the title once.

Preliminary Round Schedule

July 29

2:00 pm Mexico vs Belize

4:00 pm Dominican Republic vs United States

6:00 pm Costa Rica vs Venezuela

8:00 pm Guatemala vs Suriname

July 30

2:00 pm Dominican Republic vs Belize

4:00 pm Mexico vs United States

6:00 pm Suriname vs Venezuela

8:00 pm Guatemala vs Costa Rica

July 31

2:00 pm Mexico vs Dominican Republic

4:00 pm United States vs Belize

6:00 pm Suriname vs Costa Rica

8:00 pm Guatemala vs Venezuela

HISTORIC MEDALS MEN’S U23 PAN AMERICAN CUP

YEAR	GOLD	SILVER	BRONZE
2012	BRA	ARG	DOM
2014	CUB	MEX	DOM
2016	ARG	CUB	CHI
2018	CUB	MEX	GUA
2021	MEX	PUR	DOM
2023	CUB	DOM	PER
2024	MEX	PER	CUB

MEDAL COMPOSITION

COUNTRY	GOLD	SILVER	BRONZE	TOTAL
CUB	3	1	1	5
MEX	2	2	0	4
ARG	1	1	0	2
PER	0	1	1	2
BRA	1	0	0	1
DOM	0	1	3	4
PUR	0	1	0	1
CHI	0	0	1	1
GUA	0	0	1	1

United States Defeats Cuba, Canada and Puerto Rico Fall at U19 World Championship

Posted on July 25, 2025July 25, 2025

July 25, 2025.- On the second day of the U19 Boys’ World Championship being held in Uzbekistan, the United States won a NORCECA clash against Cuba, while Canada and Puerto Rico suffered their second losses of the tournament.

United States 3, Cuba 1

Cuba couldn’t hold on to its first-set lead and ended up falling to the United States 3-1 (17-25, 25-19, 25-15, 25-21) on day two of competition. With this result, the U.S. moves to 1-1, while Cuba drops its second match. Pool D is currently led by Korea and Finland (2-0), followed by Brazil and the United States (1-1), with Cuba and Colombia at the bottom (0-2).

U.S. captain Grant Lamoureux led all scorers with 18 points, including 13 kills, 1 block, and 4 aces. Middle blocker Román Payne also reached double figures, playing a key role at the net to deny several Cuban attacks. Payne tallied 13 points (6 kills, 6 blocks, 1 ace).

Team USA outperformed Cuba in kills (43-42) and blocks (15-4), while both teams were tied in aces (5 each).

USA vs CUB

Puerto Rico 0, Belgium 3

Puerto Rico dropped its second match of the tournament with a 0-3 (21-25, 21-25, 16-25) loss to Belgium. Pool A is led by Pakistan and Argentina (2-0), followed by Uzbekistan and Belgium (1-1), with Türkiye and Puerto Rico still winless (0-2).

Puerto Rico held a slight edge in blocks (6-5), but Belgium dominated in kills (49-20) and aces (6-2). Gustavo Antonio Álvarez led Puerto Rico with 10 points (8 kills, 1 block, 1 ace).

PUR

Canada 1, Japan 3

Canada couldn’t capitalize on taking the first set and fell 1-3 (29-27, 11-25, 23-25, 20-25) against Japan. Pool B is topped by France and Bulgaria (2-0), followed by China and Japan (1-1), while Canada and Algeria remain winless (0-2).

The Canadians led in blocks (12-9) but committed 32 unforced errors. Japan held the advantage in kills (46-41) and aces (8-5). Tyson Dezutter was Canada’s top scorer with 17 points (16 kills, 1 block). Ken Jasmir Ahmad Farooq and Sowa Maeda also reached double digits with 13 points each, with Maeda contributing 3 blocks for Japan.

CAN

Schedule July 26 (Local time)

Puerto Rico vs Uzbekistán 5:00pm

Canadá vs Argelia 5:00pm

Cuba vs Finlandia 8:00pm

Estados Unidos vs Colombia 8:00pm

Dominican Republic Defeats Mexico at the U21 Pan American Cup

Posted on July 25, 2025July 25, 2025

ALAJUELA, Costa Rica, July 24, 2025.– Dominican Republic closed the group stage with a 3-0 win (25-18, 25-17, 29-27) over Mexico, securing a spot in the quarterfinals as the second-place team in Pool A of the U21 Women’s Pan American Cup, held at the Jorge Luis Solera Gymnasium of the Monserrat Sports Complex in Alajuela, Costa Rica.

Throughout the match, the Dominican squad focused on building a strong offense, scoring nearly 50% of their total points through net dominance. Mexico was unable to read the Caribbean team’s attack.

Dominican Republic outperformed Mexico in attacks (42-25) and blocks (10-6), while both teams were tied with 5 aces each.

Dominican Republic

Shantal Rivera led the way for the Dominican Republic with 21 points (16 attacks, 2 blocks, and 3 aces). Team captain Victoria Firpo contributed 11 points (7 attacks and 4 blocks). For Mexico, Mariana del Rocío Hernández was the top scorer with 9 points.

With the win, the Dominican Republic advances to the quarterfinals to face Canada this Friday, July 25, at 5:00 p.m. (local time). The other quarterfinal match will feature Mexico, third in Pool A, taking on Chile, second in Pool B, at 7:00 p.m. (local time).

Dominican captain Victoria Firpo said, “I’m really happy. We need to put in more effort in the next match and play a little more calmly because today we ended the match feeling very anxious.”

Mexican captain Sofía Padrón commented, “Honestly, I’m not satisfied because we didn’t get the result we wanted. But what I did like about the team is that we fought until the end. Now we must keep pushing to get better results moving forward.”

Khaya Gordon Named MVP of the 7th U23 Central American Women’s Championship

Posted on July 25, 2025July 25, 2025

BELIZE CITY, Belize, July 24, 2025.– Khaya Gordon of Team Belize was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 7th AFECAVOL U23 Central American Women’s Championship, which concluded successfully with the host team winning the title at home.

Khaya Gordon also received the award for First Best Outside Hitter, while her teammate Nisaan Martínez was recognized as the Best Opposite of the tournament.

ÁLBUM PREMIACIÓN

Best players

Sasha Kawas of Honduras claimed three individual awards: Best Receiver, Second Best Outside Hitter, and Top Scorer. Her teammate, Virginia Herdocia, earned the award for
Firs Best Middle Blocker.

From El Salvador, Alejandra Flores took home the honors for Best Digger and Best Libero.

María Santa Cruz of Guatemala was awarded Best Server, while her compatriot Jimena Castellanos was recognized as Best Setter. From Panama, Sofía Centella earned the award for Second Best Middle Blocker.

Belize Crowned Undefeated Champions of the 7th U23 Central American Women’s Championship

Posted on July 25, 2025July 25, 2025

BELIZE CITY, Belize, July 24, 2025.- Belize was crowned undefeated champions at the 7th AFECAVOL U23 Central American Women’s Championship after defeating Guatemala 3-1 (25-9, 25-15, 21-25, 25-10) in the final match of the tournament.

This is Belize’s first-ever title in the U23 category, earned with a flawless 4-0 record. Guatemala secured second place with a 3-1 win-loss record.

Belize’s superior power made the difference, outscoring Guatemala in attacks 44-32 and dominating from the service line with a remarkable 17 aces to just 4 from their opponents. The Belizeans also led in blocks 12-8 and handled pressure better, conceding only 15 unforced errors compared to Guatemala’s 23.

Guatemala

Nissan Martínez led Belize’s offense with 20 points, supported by Khaya Gordon with 15. For Guatemala, María Santa Cruz was the top scorer with 15 points.

ÁLBUM BIZ v GUA

After the match, Belize head coach José Fontes said: “We’re very happy with this championship. We must acknowledge the quality of the Guatemalan team. The key to winning the title was our players’ focus and commitment to defense. We have strong offensive potential, a solid blocking system, and our service game was very effective.”

On the other side, Guatemala head coach William Fernández stated: “Congratulations to the Belize team. We struggled with our court reception, and that cost us the match. Without a doubt, Belize was the best team of the tournament. Second place is still a good result, we aimed to reach the final, we fought as hard as we could, but it wasn’t enough. Now we just have to work even harder for next time.”

USA Advances Directly to the Semifinals of the U21 Women’s Pan American Cup

Posted on July 24, 2025July 25, 2025

ALAJUELA, Costa Rica, July 23, 2025.– The United States secured first place in Pool B with a 3-0 (25-18, 25-19, 25-11) win over Chile, qualifying directly to the semifinals of the U21 Women’s Pan American Cup being held at the Profesor Jorge Luis Solera Gymnasium in the Monserrat Sports Complex in Alajuela, Costa Rica.

Although Chile challenged the U.S. team, it wasn’t enough to stop the North Americans from comfortably controlling the match. The U.S. only trailed in the second set, but they quickly regained control. In the final set, the Americans surged ahead and dominated convincingly.

The United States led the match in every scoring category: attacks (33-24), blocks (11-4), and service aces (7-3). It was a match with few unforced errors, Chile committed 24, while the U.S. had 18.

USA celebrates

The U.S. distributed its attacks evenly across all zones of the court, which contributed to Jadyn Livings being the top scorer with 10 points (9 attacks, 1 block).

Francisca Vásquez led Chile, also scoring 10 points (8 attacks, 2 service aces).

Chile will face the third-place team from Pool A in Friday’s quarterfinals, determined by the upcoming match between the Dominican Republic and Mexico. The U.S. awaits its semifinal opponent for Saturday, July 26.

Brooklyn DeLeye, captain of the United States, commented, “It was a really good match against Chile. They put up a great fight. They were a very strong attacking team, but I’m super proud of how our team responded. From the beginning, we knew they would come at us aggressively, so we just matched that energy and came out with everything we had.”

Petra Schwartzman, Chile’s captain, said, “We’re happy with what we’ve accomplished in these three matches. Now we have a chance to reach the semifinals. We have a tough game tomorrow, and we’ll prepare and give it our all to keep moving forward. We knew the U.S. would be a tough opponent; they always have very strong teams.”

Canada Advances to U21 Pan Am Cup Quarterfinals

Posted on July 24, 2025July 25, 2025

ALAJUELA, Costa Rica, July 23, 2025. – Canada defeated Puerto Rico 3-0 (25-11, 25-23, 25-20) to claim third place in Pool B at the U21 Women’s Pan American Cup, securing a spot in the quarterfinals of the tournament taking place at the Profesor Jorge Luis Solera Gymnasium in the Monserrat Sports Complex in Alajuela, Costa Rica.

Puerto Rico started strong the first set, but Canada quickly regrouped and turned the match around. The second and third sets were much more competitive and a complete contrast to the first.

Despite the closer scores in the last two sets, Canada came out on top, leading in attacks (40-28), blocks (8-2), and aces (6-2).

Chareika Carrion PUR

With this win, Canada will face the second-place team from Pool A (either the Dominican Republic or Mexico) in the quarterfinals on Friday. Puerto Rico, on the other hand, will play for sixth place on Saturday.

Canada’s Sophia Hansen was the top scorer of the match with 16 points (14 attacks, 2 blocks), while teammate Jessica Bergstrom stood out once again, contributing 11 points (5 attacks, 4 blocks, 2 aces). Jessica was once again the top blocker of the match, just like yesterday.

Chareika Carrión was Puerto Rico’s leading player with 11 points, all from attacks.

Ella McVittie, Canada’s captain, said: “I think this was necessary. We needed to fight back, and we did. I believe it was a full team effort. We talked about it before the match, about how everyone needed to contribute a little, and I’m happy we accomplished that today.”

Chareika Carrión, Puerto Rico’s captain, commented: “Honestly, I don’t feel happy at all. I know we prepared really well, but we didn’t give our best in every match.”

Honduras Claims Third Place at the VII Central American U23 Women’s Championship

Posted on July 24, 2025July 25, 2025

BELIZE CITY, Belize, July 24, 2025.– Honduras defeated El Salvador 3-0 (25-19, 25-15, 25-9) to secure third place at the VII AFECAVOL Central American U23 Women’s Championship.

Honduras finished the tournament with a 2-2 win-loss record, while El Salvador ended with a 1-3 record, placing fourth.

Three players from Honduras reached double digits in scoring, led by Sasha Kawas with 18 points, followed by Virginia Herdocia with 11 and Dazly Duran with 10.

Sasha Kawas HON

For El Salvador, team captain Allison Méndez was the top offensive contributor with 10 points.

Honduras dominated the match from start to finish, outperforming El Salvador in attacks (41-22) and service aces (12-5). Both teams were even in blocks (4-4), but El Salvador committed more unforced errors, giving up 18 points compared to Honduras’ 12.

ÁLBUM HON v ESA

After the match, Honduras’ coach Leonel Ulloa stated: “This third-place finish was what we had projected, without underestimating anyone. Against El Salvador, I expected a better performance, we have the bad habit of not maintaining our level. We’re leaving not fully satisfied; we think we could have done better.”

Meanwhile, Allison Méndez, captain of El Salvador, said: “We feel a bit disappointed because we didn’t play the game we were expecting. We lacked the mindset to apply more pressure and didn’t have the courage to keep attacking strongly. Looking ahead, this team has to improve a lot, both individually and collectively.”

NORCECA Teams Open U19 Boys’ World Championship with Losses

Posted on July 24, 2025July 24, 2025

July 24, 2025.- The U19 Boys’ World Championship kicked off this Thursday in Uzbekistan, but NORCECA teams were unable to secure victories on opening day.

POOL A

Argentina earned a straight-set victory over Puerto Rico (25-19, 25-21, 25-23), with Federico Debonis and Mauro Gay combining for a total of 32 points. Puerto Rican captain Jean Paul González was the only player on his team to reach double digits, scoring 13 points.

Puerto Rico held the edge in blocks (9-8), but Argentina outperformed them in attacks (42-28). Neither team recorded any service aces.

PUR

POOL B

At the Sport University Center, Canada initially surprised France by taking the first set, but the Europeans bounced back to win 3-1 (22-25, 25-22, 25-20, 25-20).

Reuben Veith led the Canadian side with 16 points, including 13 kills. Tyson Dezutter and Ethan Baraniuk also reached double digits with 10 points apiece.

Canada led in blocks (8-3), while France was superior in attacks (53-45) and service aces (5-1).

CAN

POOL D

Finland came from behind to defeat the United States 3-1 (17-25, 25-17, 25-21, 25-20), powered by a 17-point performance from Kaapo Vanhatupa. Viktor Viljamaa and Kasper Vesanen added 14 and 12 points, respectively.

Finland’s defense made the difference, outblocking the Americans 11-6.

For Team USA, Grant Lamoureux and Elan Taylor each scored 13 points, with Payne Roman contributing 12.

In the final match of the day, Korea, bronze medalists in 2023, swept Cuba 3-0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-20), led by 18 points from Lee Junho and 16 from Bang Kangho. Korea led in kills (47-41), blocks (7-4), and service aces (3-1).

Yosdani Medina was Cuba’s top scorer with 16 points.

USA

Friday, July 25 Schedule (Local Time):

Puerto Rico vs Belgium – 11:00 AM

Canada vs Japan – 5:00 PM

United States vs Cuba – 8:00 PM

Coaches Share High Expectations for the NORCECA Men’s Final Four

Posted on July 24, 2025July 24, 2025

PUEBLA, Mexico, July 24, 2025 – One day before the start of the NORCECA Men’s Final Four, the participating teams are ready to compete for the title of this fifth edition. The coaches shared their impressions and expectations for the tournament, which will be held from July 25 to 27 at the BUAP Arena.

Carlos Eduardo Schwanke, coach of Mexico: “This event will be an opportunity to test the players and our system of play against important opponents, since we are entering the competition without any previous friendly matches, so it is very important for the process we are undertaking with the team.

For us, as a new coaching staff, this is a special occasion because it will be our first competition in Mexico, and we have high expectations from the Mexican public. We hope they will strongly support the team and that it will be a great event for everyone.”

Alberto J. Torres, Puerto Rico coach: “We’re bringing a group similar to the one that played a year ago in Puerto Rico, and we’re bringing three U-21 players. We want to test them in this competition. But after winning this tournament in Puerto Rico, our expectation is to win here as well.

They’re a young team, but already have a lot of international experience, and there are some very iconic players in Puerto Rico who will be participating in this event, and we hope to put on a great show for the Mexican public.”

José Gutiérrez, coach of the Dominican Republic: “The foundation of our team is 11 U-23 players, and our goal in this competition is to give them experience as part of their preparation for the Junior Pan American Games, which will be held in August in Asunción, Paraguay. In this transition and long-term generational change, we are proposing, they are accompanied by our captain, Román Tapia, a 33-year-old key figure on the Dominican team.

Mexico has been the home of men’s events for many years, and we know the passion that exists among the fans who support their teams, so we expect a spectacular event as always.”

Reider Lucas, Guatemala coach, said: “We’re coming with a fairly young team because we prioritized preparation for the Junior Panamanian Games in Paraguay. 10 players are from this team, and some of them are also from the senior team.

We know we’re coming to a high-level event in the NORCECA region, and all the teams are very well prepared. We want to take advantage of the opportunity to raise our level of play by going out to fight in every match.”

The teams had the opportunity to conduct field reconnaissance training today, and tomorrow they will begin their matches with the Dominican Republic vs. Puerto Rico match at 6:00 PM.

Cuba Aims for Second Consecutive U23 Women’s Pan American Cup Title

Posted on July 24, 2025July 24, 2025

LEÓN, Mexico, July 24, 2025. – Reigning champions Cuba will look to defend their title at the U23 Women’s Pan American Cup, set to take place from July 27 to August 1 at the Domo de la Feria in León, Guanajuato, Mexico.

Cuba captured their first-ever U23 Pan American Cup title in the previous edition by defeating the Dominican Republic 3-1 (26-24, 22-25, 25-21, 25-20) in the gold medal match, held at the Xalapa International Velodrome in Veracruz. It was a historic breakthrough, marking the first time since the tournament’s inception in 2012 that a team other than the Dominican Republic claimed the championship.

In addition to their 2024 gold medal, Cuba has earned three bronze medals in past editions (2014, 2016, and 2018).

The Dominican Republic remains the tournament’s most decorated team, with six gold medals and one silver.

This year’s competition will feature eight teams split into two pools. Pool A includes Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Suriname, and the United States. Host nation Mexico is placed in Pool B alongside defending champions Cuba, Canada, and Nicaragua.

Preliminary Round Schedule

July 27

2:00 pm Dominican Republic vs United States

4:00 pm Suriname vs Costa Rica

6:00 pm Cuba vs Canada

8:00 pm Mexico vs Nicaragua

July 28

2:00 pm Suriname vs United States

4:00 pm Dominican Republic vs Costa Rica

6:00 pm Cuba vs Nicaragua

8:00 pm Mexico vs Canada

July 29

2:00 pm Dominican Republic vs Suriname

4:00 pm Costa Rica vs United States

6:00 pm Nicaragua vs Canada

8:00 pm Cuba vs Mexico

HISTORIC MEDALS WOMEN’S U23 PAN AMERICAN CUP

YEAR	GOLD	SILVER	BRONZE
2012	DOM	BRA	ARG
2014	DOM	COL	CUB
2016	DOM	ARG	CUB
2018	DOM	PER	CUB
2021	DOM	MEX	PUR
2023	DOM	MEX	ARG
2024	CUB	DOM	MEX

MEDAL COMPOSITION

COUNTRY	GOLD	SILVER	BRONZE	TOTAL
DOM	6	1	0	7
CUB	1	0	3	4
MEX	0	2	1	3
ARG	0	1	2	3
BRA	0	1	0	1
COL	0	1	0	1
PER	0	1	0	1
PUR	0	0	1	1

Belize Remains Undefeated and Aims for the Top at the 7th AFECAVOL U23 Women’s Central American Championship

Posted on July 24, 2025July 24, 2025

BELIZE CITY, Belize, July 23, 2025.– The Belizean team displayed their full strength to secure a comfortable 3-0 victory (25-16, 25-20, 25-18) over Honduras, maintaining their unbeaten record and keeping their hopes alive to battle for the top spot on the final day of the 7th AFECAVOL U23 Women’s Central American Championship.

Belize will face Guatemala in the feature match of the fifth and final day of the tournament, with both teams entering the contest undefeated with identical 3-0 win-loss records.

In the other match of the day, El Salvador will take on Honduras in a duel that will determine the third-place finisher of the event.

Belize

Belize dominated in attack points 34-23, blocks 27-6, and service aces 16-6. Both teams were nearly even in points from unforced errors, with Belize scoring 19 and Honduras 18.

Offensively for Belize, Khaya Gordon led with 16 points, supported by Nissan Martínez with 14. For Honduras, Sasha Kawas scored nine points, while Valeria Núñez and Andrea Aceituno contributed six points each.

ÁLBUM BIZ v HON

After the match, Belize captain Gareth Bruce stated, “We prepared well for this match; we knew Honduras is a tough team. We’ve trained hard to come out and win, and we have a lot of confidence in each other, that’s important to get the victories. For our last match, we’re well prepared. We know that facing Guatemala will be the toughest match of the tournament, but we feel ready to succeed.”

Meanwhile, Honduras captain Dazly Durán said, “Belize has very tall, well-trained players, and it was really hard for us to figure things out. But I feel like we played a good match. We still have a chance to go for a medal. We close against El Salvador in a tough match, but we’re going to give it our all, in search of the win.”

Costa Rica Secures Semifinal Spot After Defeating Mexico

Posted on July 23, 2025July 24, 2025

ALAJUELA, Costa Rica, July 23, 2025.– Costa Rica secured a spot in the semifinals of the U21 Women’s Pan American Cup after defeating Mexico 3-0 (25-6, 25-17, 25-23) at the tournament being held at the Profesor Jorge Luis Solera Gymnasium in the Monserrat Sports Complex in Alajuela, Costa Rica.

Costa Rica stunned Mexico in the first set with a dominant 25-6 victory, powered by 16 attack points. Mexico was unable to decipher Costa Rica’s game throughout the set. In the second set, the Mexicans tried to even things out, but after the 13-point mark, the Central Americans pulled away again to take the set.

The third set was the most competitive, with Mexico nearly forcing a fourth set, but Costa Rica closed it out to seal the win.

CRC vs MEX

With the victory, Costa Rica clinched first place in Pool A and now awaits its semifinal opponent for Saturday, July 26.

Mexico will face the Dominican Republic at 7:00 PM (local time) on Thursday, July 24, to determine second and third place in the pool. Both teams will advance to the quarterfinals on Friday, July 25.

Costa Rica dominated the match from start to finish, outperforming Mexico in attacks (43-20), blocks (10-8), and service points (5-4).

Angélica Rodríguez led the Central American offense with 19 points (15 attacks, 3 blocks, 1 ace). Raldisha Barley and Melina Ester Abarca each added 14 points, while Fernanda Moraga also scored in double digits with 11 points.

For Mexico, Mariana del Rocío Hernández was the top scorer with 7 points (4 attacks, 2 blocks, 1 ace).

Costa Rica’s head coach Braulio Godínez, visibly pleased, said, “I’m very satisfied. Playing at home comes with great responsibility. We knew it was a high-level tournament and hoped to get one win, now we have two, so we’ll enjoy this moment. We know that by finishing first in our pool, tougher matches await us, but we’ve done a great job, the fans are happy, and now we’ll aim for an even bigger surprise.”

Mexico’s head coach Héctor Lozano commented, “We started off a bit unfocused. Playing against the home team took a toll (the crowd was very intense). Little by little, we improved our performance. We have the team to do more, and as the tournament progresses, we’ll show the level that Mexico is capable of.”

The BUAP Arena is ready to host the NORCECA Men’s Final Four

Posted on July 23, 2025July 24, 2025

PUEBLA, Mexico, July 23, 2025. – The Benemerita Universidad Autonoma de Puebla (BUAP) Arena is ready to host the teams that will compete in the fifth edition of the NORCECA Men’s Final Four, which begins on July 25, 2025.

The event’s control committee and organizing committee inspected the facilities, equipment, and all the necessary facilities for the important international competition, which will take place from July 25 to 27, 2025.

Alberto Arreola, competition director, led the supervision of each work area that will host the event. He commented: “The venue is first-class and meets all the requirements of NORCECA and the FIVB regarding its facilities and court setup. My appreciation to the organizing committee, which has done a great job.” They have given us every opportunity to have an excellent event”.

The opening ceremony is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., prior to the host Mexico’s match against Guatemala.

The live broadcast of the Final Four can be viewed on the Mexican Volleyball Federation’s YouTube channel.

The event will award the champion a ticket to the NORCECA Men’s Olympic Continental Championship and provide teams with FIVB World Ranking points.

Guatemala Secures Podium Finish at the 7th U23 Central American Women’s Championship

Posted on July 23, 2025July 24, 2025

BELIZE CITY, Belize, July 23, 2025.- Guatemala secured a place on the podium and remained undefeated at the 7th AFECAVOL U23 Central American Women’s Championship after defeating Panama 3-0 (25-23, 25-18, 25-16) in the opening match of the fourth day of competition.

Guatemala now holds a flawless 3-0 win-loss record and faces a crucial match against Belize on the final day, which will determine the medal colors for both teams. Meanwhile, Panama concludes the tournament winless in four matches.

ÁLBUM GUA VS PAN

María Santa Cruz GUA

María Santa Cruz led Guatemala’s offense with 14 points, supported by Dulce Trigueño with 11. For Panama, Diana Osorio scored nine points, and Ekaterina Ureña added eight.

Guatemala dominated in attack points 46-22 and in blocks 8-5 but gave away more points through unforced errors 23-14. Both teams were even in service points at 7-7.

Following the win, Guatemala’s captain Jimena Castellanos said, “We’re very happy with the result. In the last U23 championship, we finished in fourth place, so we already see this participation as a win. We’re going all out in our next match against Belize. Panama is a team that defends very well; they made us work hard. It wasn’t an easy match, despite the score.”

Panama’s captain Ruth Rivas stated, “I leave feeling proud of my team because they’re a very talented group, despite the youth of many of its members. We couldn’t get past Guatemala in our final match, but we gave it everything we had. I think we lacked a bit more maturity, and even though we didn’t win a match, the girls gained valuable experience.”

Chile Defeats Canada in Four Sets and Shares Group Lead

Posted on July 23, 2025July 24, 2025

ALAJUELA, Costa Rica, July 23, 2025. – Chile defeated Canada in four sets 3-1 (25-22, 25-18, 22-25, 25-17) and now shares the top spot in Group B of the U21 Women’s Pan American Cup with the United States. The tournament is taking place at the Profesor Jorge Luis Solera Gymnasium at the Monserrat Sports Complex in Alajuela, Costa Rica.

In the first set, Chile built an early 3-point lead that they held throughout to go up 1-0. In the second set, they took control from the start with a 5-point advantage and maintained it until the end.

The third set was a back-and-forth battle, with Canada winning their first set of the tournament. The fourth and final set followed a similar pattern, but Chile came out on top to seal the victory.

Chile led in attacks (46-43), while Canada dominated in blocks (11-7). Both teams were tied in aces (5-5). Chile capitalized on Canada’s 39 unforced errors to secure the win.

Lalonde Elodie CAN

Petra Schwartzman led Chile in scoring with 15 points (11 attacks, 2 blocks, and 2 aces). Dominga Aylwin also reached double digits with 13 points (12 attacks and 1 block). For Canada, Élodie Lalonde led with 18 points (17 attacks and 1 block), while Jessica Bergstrom added 11 points and set a tournament record for most blocks in a single match with 7.

Chile will face the United States on Thursday, July 24 at 5:00 PM (local time) to determine the group winner and a direct ticket to the semifinals. The loser of that match will advance to the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, Canada will face Puerto Rico at 3:00 PM (local time) in a match that will decide a spot in the quarterfinals.

Chile’s head coach Eduardo Guillaume said, “This is an extraordinary result for us. I think it’s the first time we’ve ever beaten Canada at any level, and it fills us with joy. We played a great match with a lot of character. We overcame a team that is physically and technically equal or even better than us, and that makes this victory even more emotional.”

Canada’s head coach Olivier Faucher commented, “Congratulations to Chile, they played great today, they didn’t give us anything. On our side, we couldn’t pass the ball, so our offense became really predictable. We had problems passing the ball well and that’s the main piece of our execution. I think we have to battle a little bit more, fight for every point, and our mindset must be on competing, to bring energy to the court because winning is not easy at this level. We’ll learn from this, grow together as a group, and come back tomorrow stronger.”

Second Victory for USA at U21 Women’s Pan American Cup

Posted on July 23, 2025July 23, 2025

ALAJUELA, Costa Rica, July 23, 2025. – The United States earned their second win at the U21 Women’s Pan American Cup by defeating Puerto Rico 3-0 (25-13, 25-7, 25-15) at the start of the second day of competition, held at the Profesor Jorge Luis Solera Gymnasium in the Monserrat Sports Complex in Alajuela, Costa Rica.

USA took a quick lead in the opening set and widened the gap as the set progressed. In the second set, the Americans once again pulled ahead comfortably, reaching an 8-0 scoreline. They maintained control in the third set as well.

The United States dominated the match across all fundamentals: attacks (37-13), blocks (7-2), and service aces (5-0). Except for two players who started the previous match, the team used a different lineup today.

There were 46 unforced errors in the match, 26 by Puerto Rico and 20 by the USA.

Bayless Blaire USA

Blaire Bayless stood out on offense for the U.S., leading all scorers with 14 points, including one block and one ace. Elizabeth Andrew was the top blocker with 3 blocks and also contributed 8 points, the second-highest scorer for her team.

For Puerto Rico, Valeria Chloe Núñez led with 4 points, all from attacks at the net.

With this result, the United States remains undefeated with 2 wins and 10 points. Puerto Rico, on the other hand, suffers its second loss and is still searching for its first win.

USA will close out the pool-play on Thursday at 5:00 p.m. (local time) against Chile, while Puerto Rico will face Canada at 3:00 p.m. (local time).

USA head coach Heather Olmstead said, “We used a different lineup because we wanted to give everybody an opportunity to play, as they’ve all been working really hard this past week and a half. We’re comfortable with anyone on our roster going out and playing brand USA-volleyball. We know anyone can go in at any time, because we’re going to need everyone throughout the tournament. This was a good opportunity to show how strong we can be as a group, with everyone’s different playing styles.”

“The entire team did a good job supporting each other through the various changes. We stayed focused and did a nice job earning this second victory. We’re still fine-tuning our serve-pass game, but offensively our setters are doing a great job putting our hitters in rhythm, and I think everyone is contributing in different ways. We’re excited to play every match,” Olmstead concluded.

Puerto Rico’s head coach José Ricardo Rivera Guinand commented, “We’re playing good volleyball, but my offense isn’t flowing, right now I’m relying solely on our captain Chareika Carrión. If the rest of the team doesn’t start contributing offensively, the entire game becomes more difficult. We’re getting great match experience and have improved substantially from yesterday. We’ll keep trying to compete, we still have one game left and we can still reach the quarterfinals.”

United States Falls to Italy, Misses Out on Semifinals at 2025 Women’s VNL

Posted on July 23, 2025July 23, 2025

July 23, 2025. – The U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team was eliminated from the 2025 Volleyball Nations League (VNL) on Wednesday after falling to defending champions Italy 0-3 (22-25, 21-25, 26-28) in the quarterfinals at Atlas Arena in Łódź, Poland.

In a rematch of the Paris 2024 Olympic final, the Americans fought hard, especially in the third set, but couldn’t force a fourth against an Italian side that showed superior offensive efficiency. With the loss, Team USA is out of the semifinals and ends its campaign in this year’s tournament.

Sarah Franklin USA

Avery Skinner, one of three Olympic medalists on the squad, led the U.S. scorers with 11 points, all from attacks. Sarah Franklin followed with 8 points (7 kills and 1 block) in a young team that showed plenty of fight but couldn’t match the European powerhouse in strength and experience.

“I think we know each other well, and that makes it fun because it forces us to be creative,” said Skinner, who played her last club season in Italy. “I’m proud of the team for not giving up until the very end. We’re a young group, and we’ve been building week by week. The summer continues, we’ve got the World Championship ahead and we’re going to keep working.”

Throughout the match, the U.S. trailed Italy in kills (36 to 50), aces (4 to 5), and committed fewer unforced errors (17 to Italy’s 23), but it wasn’t enough to stop the undefeated Italian side.

Despite the elimination, the U.S. team showed clear growth throughout the tournament, going head-to-head with global powerhouses and laying important groundwork for the upcoming World Championship and the next Olympic cycle. The team’s youth and long-term potential are promising signs for the next phase of its development.

El Salvador rallies past Panama in the VII Central American U23 Women’s Championship

Posted on July 23, 2025July 23, 2025

BELIZE CITY, Belize, July 22, 2025. – El Salvador came from behind to edge Panama in an intense five-set battle 3-2 (8-25, 15-25, 25-23, 25-20, 15-8), earning their first victory in the VII AFECAVOL Central American U23 Women’s Championship.

The match featured a remarkable rally on the penultimate point of the fifth set, lasting nearly 1:56 minutes and involving 81 touches before El Salvador secured their 14th point. Finally, an opponent error gave them the win.

With this result, El Salvador improves to 1-2, while Panama remains winless with a 0-3 record.

Ekaterina Ureña PAN

Panama handed away 40 points on unforced errors, compared to 38 by El Salvador, a key factor in the outcome. Panama also led in attack points (43-36), blocks (10-7), and aces (10-6), but struggled to close the match despite several opportunities.

Allison Méndez and Paola Juárez led El Salvador with 16 points apiece, the only players on their team to reach double digits.

For Panama, Janeth Fuentes scored 16 points, Karla Alonso added 15, and Sofía Centella contributed 11.

ALBUM DE FOTOS ESA vs PAN

After the victory, El Salvador captain Allison Méndez said, “Thanks to God we earned our first win, and thanks to my teammates who fought until the end. We lost the first two sets, but when you’re down, you have to learn to fight back and that’s what we did in this match. We know this is a learning process for us, as we’re a team for the future, but we’re growing from this experience.”

Janeth Fuentes, Panama’s top scorer, commented, “We had many chances to win the match, but we made things difficult for ourselves. We could have achieved a good result. I think what hurt us was failing to block at key moments. This was our best performance in the tournament so far, we were hopeful to win and fight for third place.”

Hard-Fought Victory for Guatemala at the VII Central American U23 Women’s Championship

Posted on July 22, 2025July 23, 2025

BELIZE CITY, Belize, July 22, 2025.- Guatemala came out on top of a fierce five-set battle against Honduras with a 3-2 (25-11, 25-27, 22-25, 28-26, 15-13) victory that keeps their hopes alive for a top-podium finish at the VII AFECAVOL Central American U23 Women’s Championship.

The match could have gone either way, with Guatemala leaning on the experience of its players to prevail under pressure against a resilient Honduran team that never backed down.

Guatemala’s stronger service game made a difference, outscoring Honduras 16-6 in aces. They also led in attack points 53-51. Honduras had the edge in blocking 13-10 but gave up more points on unforced errors, 36 to 32.

Annika Graniolati GUA

María Santa Cruz led the Guatemalan offense with 24 points, including 10 aces, 12 kills, and 2 blocks. Dulce Trigueño added 17 points, and Annika Graniolati contributed 10.

For Honduras, Sasha Kawas scored 22 points, Dazly Durán had 15, and Shantte Siliezar finished with 13.

Guatemala now holds a 2-0 record and will next face Panama. Honduras stands at 1-1 and will take on Belize in their upcoming match.

ALBUM DE FOTOS GUA vs HON

Commenting on the win, Guatemala’s head coach William Fernández said, “It was a very tough battle for both teams, the match was decided in the final set by just two points. Both teams made adjustments that paid off at different moments, but I must congratulate Honduras for never giving up, even after a difficult first set. Above all, I applaud our team for finishing the match with grit. We had to rely on the character and experience of our players to win those crucial points.”

Honduras coach Marvin Ulloa added, “I always tell our players that we’re not only here to win, but also to put on a show. If we play good volleyball, we can win as well. Against Guatemala, it was a great match that added a lot to the event. In the end, nerves and a lack of experience from some of our players may have affected us a bit.”

Costa Rica Stuns Dominican Republic at the U21 Women’s Pan American Cup

Posted on July 22, 2025July 23, 2025

ALAJUELA, Costa Rica, July 22, 2025. – In front of a packed gymnasium and with unwavering home support, Costa Rica delivered the biggest surprise of the opening day by sweeping the Dominican Republic 3-0 (25-19, 25-14, 25-15) at the U21 Women’s Pan American Cup, at the Professor Jorge Luis Solera Gymnasium in the Monserrat Sports Complex in Alajuela.

Costa Rica started strong in the first set, capitalizing on five unforced errors by the Caribbean side within the first eight points. The early confusion forced Dominican coach Alexandre Ceccato to call a technical timeout at point 11 to settle his team.

The pattern continued in the second set, with nerves again taking a toll on the Dominican players, who committed another 10 unforced errors, paving the way for the home team.

Puente Estrella Glorybell (17 – DOM), Álvarez Cortés Sheyla (10 – CRC) & Barley Morgan Nhya (4 – CRC)

Throughout the match, Costa Rica made the most of the Dominican Republic’s 30 unforced errors and also held the advantage in attacks (35-25), blocks (7-4), and service aces (3-1).

Angélica Rodríguez led Costa Rica’s offense with 14 points, 12 on kills and 2 on blocks. Virelys Shantal Rivera led the Dominican Republic, scoring 12 points (7 attacks, 4 blocks, and 1 ace), and was the top blocker of the match.

Costa Rica’s Angélica Rodríguez said, “They played well, but we’ve been training for this for years, and we’re finally seeing the results. I’m proud of the team and of the work we did together. I’m very happy with the number of points I scored, but it was all thanks to the team.”

Dominican Republic coach Alexandre Ceccato commented, “We made too many mistakes. I think my team felt the pressure from the crowd. They’re very young, but they have what it takes to overcome that pressure and play better. We still have Mexico, who are strong, we’ll see what we can do to challenge them.”

United States Opens Title Defense with Victory at Women’s U21 Pan American Cup

Posted on July 22, 2025July 23, 2025

ALAJUELA, Costa Rica, July 22, 2025.- The United States began their Women’s U21 Pan American Cup title defense with a 3-0 (25-18, 25-15, 25-13) victory over Canada, kicking off their campaign for a third consecutive title at the Profesor Jorge Luis Solera Gymnasium in the Monserrat Sports Complex, Alajuela, Costa Rica.

The U.S. team had a slow start, falling behind 1-6 in the opening set, but gradually recovered to tie the score at 13. From there, they took control and won the set 25-18. The second set was evenly matched until point 10, when the Americans pulled ahead and closed it out 25-15. In the third set, the defending champions dominated from start to finish.

USA’s team captain Brooklyn DeLeye led all scorers with 16 points, 14 on attacks. Kamryn Gibadlo also reached double digits with 11 points (10 attacks, 1 ace), while Favor Anyanwu contributed 10 points, including 4 blocks.

Anyanwu Favor – DeLeye Brooklyn (USA)

For Canada, Élodie Lalonde was the top scorer with 7 points, and Logan King added 6 points.

USA outperformed Canada in attacks (44-20), blocks (7-3), and aces (9-4). Canada took advantage of 19 unforced errors by the U.S.

Brooklyn DeLeye, U.S. team captain, said, “It’s a wonderful atmosphere to play in. All the hard work we’ve put in this past week led to this victory. I’m very proud of this team.”

Élodie Lalonde of Canada said, “Winning or losing at this point doesn’t mean much—we’re growing as a team and haven’t been together for long. Obviously, we came out as strong as we could. It was a great opportunity to learn as a team and coaching staff. We saw a lot of positives throughout the match and growth despite not taking the win. We started very strong; our setter had a great serve, but midway through the set we played more tentative, and that gave the U.S. an advantage.”

Puerto Rico closes the gap in world rankings with eyes on the Nations League

Posted on July 22, 2025July 23, 2025

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, July 22, 2025. – The Women’s National Team of Puerto Rico continues its strong rise after being crowned champions at the NORCECA Final Four held this past weekend in Manatí, earning a thrilling five-set victory over Mexico.

This marks Puerto Rico’s third consecutive gold medal in the event and fifth overall, following a silver in 2019 and bronze in 2022.

The victory propelled Puerto Rico to 16th in the FIVB World Ranking — a key step in their journey toward qualifying for the 2026 Volleyball Nations League. The qualification window remains open until December.

While the 16th spot does not yet guarantee direct qualification, Puerto Rico significantly narrowed the gap, now just 2.01 points behind Ukraine, currently in 15th place and occupying the last qualifying spot. National team head coach Juan C. Núñez emphasized the importance of every achievement and reaffirmed the team’s focus:

“I’m not going to stress the girls. We’ll take it as the game dictates. I’m very pleased with the team’s performance — this is just the beginning, and we still have work to do,” Núñez said optimistically.

This ranking also places Puerto Rico in close competition with Argentina, who sit in 17th, trailing by 1.04 points.

With three major tournaments ahead — the XII Pan American Cup, the World Championship in Thailand, and the NORCECA Final Six — the team has concrete opportunities to earn the points needed to secure qualification.

Puerto Rico’s recent performance is not only a sporting achievement but also a statement of unity, focus, and continued progress.

Chile opens U21 Pan American Cup with victory over Puerto Rico

Posted on July 22, 2025July 22, 2025

ALAJUELA, Costa Rica, July 22, 2025. – Chile kicked off the U21 Women’s Pan American Cup in dominant fashion, defeating Puerto Rico 3-0 (25-14, 25-17, 25-23) at the Profesor Jorge Luis Solera Gymnasium at the Monserrat Sports Complex in Alajuela, Costa Rica.

Chile took control from the start, reaching the first technical timeout with a five-point lead at 8-3. In the second set, Puerto Rico tried to even the match, but after point 10, the Chileans regained command and pulled away comfortably.

Chile celebrates

Dominga Aylwin led the South American squad with 17 points (16 kills and 1 ace), while team captain Petra Schwartzman also reached double digits with 12 points (10 kills, 1 block, and 1 ace). For Puerto Rico, Chareika Carrión was the match’s top scorer with 18 points, all from attacks.

Chile dominated all statistical categories, attacks (42-33), aces (5-2), and blocks (7-3).

Karla Molina, Consul of the Chilean Embassy, was present throughout the match supporting the team. She said, “It’s always emotional to see fellow Chileans here, and even more so with a first victory. It truly feels special to be far from home and watch them represent our country and our sport as ambassadors, it’s an incredible feeling.”

Dominga Aylwin shared after the match, “I’m super happy with our team’s victory. This tournament is part of our preparation for the World Championship. We entered the game with strong conviction, and the result was a win, so I’m really excited.”

Chareika Carrión of Puerto Rico commented, “It was our first match, and we started very unfocused. In the third set, we got more organized, and I hope we can show more of what our team is capable of in the upcoming games.”

Belize on Steady Course at the VII Central American U23 Women’s Championship

Posted on July 21, 2025July 22, 2025

BELIZE CITY, Belize, July 21, 2025.- Belize faced little resistance on its way to a second victory at the VII Central American U23 Women’s Championship, closing out Monday’s action with a commanding 3-0 (25-5, 25-10, 25-11) win over El Salvador.

Belize now has two wins in as many matches and will rest during the tournament’s third day. El Salvador, on the other hand, suffered its second loss and will face Panama in its next match.

Belize used its height advantage to dominate, racking up 44 attack points compared to El Salvador’s 11. They also led with service points 16-0 and shut down El Salvador’s limited attempts to fight back with a 2-1 edge in blocks.

Belize celebrates

Khaya Gordon, Fatoumata Camara, and Nisaan Ramirez each tallied 14 points for Belize. For El Salvador, Allison Méndez contributed four points.

ALBUM DE FOTOS BIZ vs ESA

After the win, Belize coach José Fontes said, “It was a relatively easy victory, but what I take away from this match is the attitude of our captain (Gareth Bruce), who is dealing with the emotional loss of a loved one. She’s still doing a great job in this tournament. We know our next two matches will be more demanding, so we need to prepare and not let confidence get the better of us.”

El Salvador coach Dany Calderón commented, “I think the lack of attention that some countries give to national team development processes often comes at a high cost, and that’s affecting us now. Generational changes also play a role, we’ve brought 11 players who are U19, and among them some are U15 and U17. The experience they lack can only be gained in competitions like this, so this is the only way forward.”

Honduras Earns First Victory at the 7th U23 Central American Women’s Championship

Posted on July 21, 2025July 22, 2025

BELIZE CITY, Belize, July 21, 2025. – Honduras opened its campaign at the 7th AFECAVOL U23 Central American Women’s Championship with a comfortable 3-0 (25-16, 25-11, 25-12) win over Panama on the tournament’s second day of action.

After resting on the first day of competition, Honduras secured its first win, while Panama suffered its second loss of the event.

With a stronger offensive display, Honduras asserted dominance by outperforming Panama in key areas: 37-15 in attack points, 6-4 in blocks, 6-2 in service aces, and committed fewer unforced errors (18 to 26).

Honduras

Sasha Kawas led the Honduran offense with 17 points, while Dazy Durán and Shantte Siliezar contributed eight points each. For Panama, Janeth Fuentes stood out with seven points.

Following Honduras’ successful debut, team captain Dazy Durán said: “We’re very happy to start this tournament on the right foot. This win helps us build some confidence heading into our second match, which will be tougher against Guatemala. Panama is a team that defends very well, but we stayed focused and worked well together.”

On Panama’s side, team captain Ruth Rivas reflected after the match: “We feel a bit frustrated because I truly believe we can do more than what we’ve shown. We always keep a positive attitude, even when we’re trailing, because letting our spirits drop completely would only make it worse. But we’re committed to pushing ourselves and giving our best in every match.”

All Set for the Start of the U21 Women’s Pan American Cup

Posted on July 21, 2025July 21, 2025

ALAJUELA, Costa Rica, July 21, 2025. – This morning, the preliminary interviews for the participating teams of the U21 Women’s Pan American Cup were held in the Quetzal Room at the Hilton Garden Inn City Mall in Alajuela.

The head coaches of the seven participating teams shared their insights and expectations for the tournament, which will take place from July 22 to 27 at the Monserrat Sports Complex Gymnasium in Alajuela, Costa Rica.

This event brings together promising youth talent from across the continent, providing international exposure and continuing their development in high-performance competition.

Héctor Lozano, Head coach of Mexico said: “We come with very high expectations. We’ve had great preparation and worked hard over the past few days. The competition is tough, with many high-level teams. Our team has a mix of experience and newcomers, some have international exposure, while others play key roles in their clubs.”

José Ricardo Rivera Guinand, Head coach of Puerto Rico, commented: “As for our expectations, last year in Canada we won the silver medal. We hope to at least repeat that achievement. We’re going to make the most of this tournament as preparation for the World Championship coming up soon in Indonesia.”

Heather Olmstead, Head coach of USA stated: “We’re glad to be here in Costa Rica representing the United States. We’re going to come out to compete, fight, and play as a team, doing our best with the best style of volleyball we can. We’ll rely on each other as a new group and see if we can start shaping our identity throughout the week. We know we’re going to face great competition, starting tomorrow against Canada, so we’re excited to compete.”

Eduardo Guillaume, Head coach of Chile said: “This is a tournament with very strong teams. We are in the same group as Puerto Rico, Canada, and the United States. Costa Rica is our direct rival. After this tournament, we head to the World Championship in Indonesia, so this event and the opponents we face here are great preparation for us.”

Olivier Faucher, Head coach of Canada, expressed: “We are excited about the competition. We’ve been training with this group for a week and are looking forward to the opportunity to play against strong opponents in our group, which will help us gain momentum ahead of the World Championship next month. We want to step on the court every day to win, but also to improve and continue building our team.”

Alexandre Ceccato, Head coach of Dominican Republic stated: “I believe this is a very strong championship. We’re bringing a U19 team, it’s going to be tough, but we’re going to try to reach the semifinals. This tournament also serves as preparation for the World Championship next month in Indonesia, as we plan to take the same group of players currently here in Costa Rica.”

Braulio Godínez, Head coach of Costa Rica shared: “This is a great opportunity for Costa Rica to promote volleyball here in Alajuela. It’s a place where many neighboring cantons practice the sport, so they can come and support our players. I believe our team has performed well; at one point, they placed fourth in a NORCECA event in the previous age category. It’s a group we believe in and have great faith in for the future.”

Before the tournament, the Control Committee inspected the court and facilities where the event will take place, confirming that everything is in excellent condition.

Match Schedule for July 22:

3:00 p.m. Chile vs Puerto Rico

5:00 p.m. United States vs Canada

7:00 p.m. Opening Ceremony

7:15 p.m. Costa Rica vs Dominican Republic

Puebla Set to Host Fifth Edition of NORCECA Men’s Final Four

Posted on July 21, 2025July 21, 2025

PUEBLA, Mexico, July 21, 2025. – Puebla is ready to welcome top-level men’s volleyball as it hosts the fifth edition of the NORCECA Men’s Final Four tournament, set to take place from July 25 to 27 at the state-of-the-art Arena BUAP.

The competition will feature reigning champions Puerto Rico, along with Dominican Republic, Guatemala, and host nation Mexico, battling in a round-robin format across three days of high-level action.

In addition to the NORCECA Men’s Final Four title, teams will earn FIVB World Ranking points, contributing to their qualification campaigns for the 2026 FIVB Volleyball Nations League and the 2027 FIVB World Championship. Moreover, the tournament champion will secure a spot in the Senior NORCECA Men’s Olympic Continental Championship.

Teams are scheduled to complete preliminary inquiries and official preparations on the eve of the tournament that kicks off on Friday, July 25.

Competition Schedule:

Friday – July 25

6:00 pm Dominican Republic vs Puerto Rico

8:00 pm Mexico vs Guatemala

Saturday – July 26

6:00 pm Puerto Rico vs Guatemala
8:00 pm Mexico vs Dominican Republic

Sunday – July 27

5:00 pm Dominican Republic vs Guatemala
7:00 pm Mexico vs Puerto Rico

HISTORIC MEDALS NORCECA MEN’S FINAL FOUR

YEAR	GOLD	SILVER	BRONZE
2019	CUB	PUR	MEX
2022	CUB	DOM	MEX
2023	MEX	DOM	PUR
2024	PUR	DOM	MEX

VNL 2025 Men’s Finals: qualified teams confirmed for Ningbo showdown

Posted on July 21, 2025July 21, 2025

July 21, 2025.- The Volleyball Nations League (VNL) 2025 men’s competition will reach its conclusion in Ningbo, China, as eight national teams compete for the title in a five-day knockout tournament. The finals will be held at the Ningbo Beilun Sports and Art Centre from 30 July to 3 August, bringing together the top seven teams from the preliminary phase alongside host nation China.

This year’s preliminary round, which ran from 11 June to 20 July, introduced a revised format and spanned nine cities around the world, producing a tightly contested table from start to finish. The competition featured world-class volleyball across every match week, with little separating the teams vying for a place in the final eight.

The qualified teams are:

Brazil, Italy, France, Japan, Poland, Slovenia, Cuba, and China (host country)

The final stage of the competition in Ningbo will be hosted in a single-elimination format. Quarterfinals will be played on Wednesday and Thursday, with matches scheduled for 15:00 and 19:00 local time. Friday will serve as a rest day before the semifinals on Saturday, followed by the bronze medal match at 15:00 and the gold medal match at 19:00 local time on Sunday 3 August.

The quarterfinal matchups are:

Italy vs Cuba – 30 July at 15:00 local time

China vs Brazil – 30 July at 19:00 local time

France vs Slovenia – 31 July at 15:00 local time

Poland and Japan – 31 July at 19:00 local time

Now in its seventh edition, the VNL continues to evolve, with the 2025 men’s season seeing some of the best competition ever, with a number of matches decided by narrow margins.

All matches will be streamed live on VBTV.

VNL 2025 – Match Schedule & Results

The stage is set. Not long until the VNL 2025 men’s champions are decided!

Wilmarie Rivera named the Most Valuable Player at NORCECA Women’s Final Four

Posted on July 21, 2025July 21, 2025

MANATÍ, Puerto Rico, 20 de julio de 2025.- Wilma Rivera, setter of the Puerto Rico National Team, was recognized this Sunday as the Most Valuable Player of the NORCECA Women’s Final Four at Juan Aubin Cruz Abreu Coliseum in Manati, Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico’s setter contributed with 8 points, 4 aces and 4 kills, in the gold medal match against Mexico, and played a key role in securing the team’s third consecutive title and the ticket to the Senior’s NORCECA Women Olympic Continental Championship.

Also from Puerto Rico, Karla Santos was awarded as the first Best Spiker, alongside her teammates Neira Ortiz and Diana Reyes were named Best Blockers, Paola Santiago Best Scorer, Shara Venegas Best Digger and Decelise Champion Best Opposite.

From Mexico, Argentina Ung was awarded as Best Setter and outside hitter Samantha Bricio as Second Best Spiker.

Costa Ricans Lakysha Thompson was named Best Server while Maria Castro received the recognition of Best Receiver and Best Libero.

Final Ranking:

1. Puerto Rico

2. Mexico

3. Costa Rica

4. Trinidad and Tobago

HISTORIC MEDALS NORCECA WOMEN’S FINAL FOUR

Year	Gold	Silver	Bronze
2019	CAN	PUR	MEX
2022	MEX	CUB	PUR
2023	PUR	CRC	TTO
2024	PUR	MEX	CUB
2025	PUR	MEX	CRC

Belize Makes a Strong Statement at the VII AFECAVOL U23 Women’s Central American Championship

Posted on July 20, 2025July 21, 2025

BELIZE CITY, Belize, July 20, 2025. – Belize delivered a dominant performance in their opening match of the VII AFECAVOL U23 Women’s Central American Championship, earning a convincing 3-0 victory (25-14, 25-6, 25-17) over Panama.

Belize showcased their powerful blocking and solid attacking game, leaving Panama with no chance to recover.

The home team controlled every aspect of the match, outscoring Panama in attack points 37-9, blocks 13-0, and service aces 5-2, although they committed more unforced errors, 26 to Panama’s 20.

Belize celebrates

ÁLBUM JUEGO BIZ VS PAN

ÁLBUM INAUGURACIÓN

Khaya Gordon led Belize’s offense with 16 points, followed by Nisaan Martinez with 12. For Panama, Ekaterina Ureña contributed 6 points and Janeth Fuentes added 5.

Commenting on the victory, Belize’s head coach José Fontes said, “A win is always important. We weren’t satisfied with our performance in the first set, but that’s normal for an opening match of a tournament. We improved significantly in the second set, and in the third, we had some good moments, although we slowed down a bit. We made some changes to give our younger players a chance, but the key takeaway is the win and getting the team into rhythm to achieve our ultimate goal.”

On the other side, Panama’s coach Eric Lucero shared, “The girls were a bit nervous; most of them have very little international experience. Belize’s blocking surprised us more than we expected. We knew we were up against a team with good height, strong blocking, and a powerful attack, and I think that had a psychological impact on our players due to their lack of experience.”

Puerto Rico claims third consecutive NORCECA Women’s Final Four title

Posted on July 20, 2025July 21, 2025

MANATÍ, Puerto Rico, July 20^TH, 2025.- Puerto Rico secured a three-peat victory defeating Mexico in an exciting five-set thriller (25-19, 24-26, 25-18, 20-25, 15-13) in NORCECA Women’s Final Four celebrated in Juan Aubin Cruz Abreu Coliseum at Manati, Puerto Rico.

With the win, Puerto Rico books a direct ticket to the 2026 Senior’s NORCECA Women Olympic Continental Championship.

This is the third gold medal in a row for Puerto Rico in this event and 5 medals overall since they won silver in 2019 and bronze in 2022. For Mexico this is their second consecutive silver medal, in the past edition of 2024 they also fell to Puerto Rico. They have a bronze medal won in 2019 and a gold medal winning the championship to Puerto Rico in 2022.

Puerto Rico finished the NORCECA Women’s Final Four undefeated with 3-0 record and Mexico with 2-1.

Decelise Champion PUR

Puerto Rico opened strong, taking the first set 25–19 behind the sharp execution of their outside hitters. It was a battle throughout the second set and answered with resilience, capitalizing on back-to-back Puerto Rican errors to steal the set in extra points 26–24. Puerto Rico surged with aggressive attacks and blocks for a 25–18 win, but Mexico held firm in the fourth, using tough serving and blocking to push the match to a tie-break. It was a nail-biting match, but Puerto Rico prevailed to clinch their third championship in a row.

Puerto Rico led 65-61 in attacks, 11-10 in blocks and 6-5 in serves, Mexico committed 27 errors and Puerto Rico 25.

Opposite Decelise Champion topped Puerto Rico scorers with 22 points (20 attacks and 2 blocks) joined by outside hitter Karla Santos with 19 points.

Mexico’s leading attackers were outside hitter Samatha Bricio with 18 points and opposite Sofia Maldonado with 16.

Juan Carlos Núñez, Puerto Rico’s coach: “We knew the match was going to be intense; they brought out their best talent. We played at home seeking qualification for the 2026 VNL, and in every match where we have the opportunity to earn points, we have to play to win. Offensively, we were at their level, and defensively, we played well. Now we have two days of rest, and then we begin training for the Pan American Cup.”

Decelise Champion, opposite of Puerto Rico: “It’s an honor and a great feeling because we’ve worked hard to get here. The match was very close, we had our ups and downs, but in the end, we were able to play together and get the win. We kept going point by point. Now it’s time for a lot of hard work and preparing for the upcoming competitions.”

Samantha Bricio, outside hitter of Mexico: “Puerto Rico clearly has a very good block; we have to work on how to improve. Today they were better than us. Our goal now is the Pan American Cup, which will help us prepare for the World Championship and perform at our best.”

Nicola Negro, head coach of Mexico: “First and foremost, congratulations to Puerto Rico for the victory. It was a very intense match that ended in five sets, but I always have great respect for Puerto Rican volleyball. I want to congratulate my players because we are in a new process of growth, and it was a match we played point by point.”

Guatemala Opens with a Win at the VII U23 Central American Women’s Championship

Posted on July 20, 2025July 21, 2025

BELIZE CITY, Belize, July 20, 2025. – Guatemala got off to a strong start at the VII AFECAVOL U23 Central American Women’s Championship with a comfortable 3-0 (25-19, 25-11, 25-16) victory over El Salvador in the opening match of the tournament.

It was a one-sided affair, with Guatemala in full control throughout, although El Salvador showed brief flashes of promise at the start of the match.

For Guatemala, María Santa Cruz led the offense with nine points, including seven kills and two aces. Jimena Castellanos and Annika Graniolati added eight points each.

Guatemala celebrates

El Salvador’s top scorer was Paola Juárez, who tallied six points in the match.

Guatemala dominated in attack points (34-12) and aces (11-6), while both teams were even in blocks with three apiece.

ALBÚM DE FOTOS GUA vs ESA

Following the win, Guatemala’s head coach William Fernández said, “The first match is always tough for any team. Congratulations to El Salvador for their performance, and especially to our team for earning the victory in three sets. The key to our success was our setting and finishing, even though we had some issues with our serve early on that we later corrected.”

Meanwhile, El Salvador’s coach Efraín Calderón commented, “We need to work more on our reception and be more consistent in finishing sets. For many of our players, this is their first tournament, and that has an impact. Guatemala has many experienced players in the U23 category, and that really helps them maintain their rhythm throughout the match.”

Costa Rica secures bronze in NORCECA Women’s Final Four with victory over Trinidad and Tobago

Posted on July 20, 2025July 21, 2025

MANATÍ, Puerto Rico, July 19th, 2025.- Costa Rica swept Trinidad and Tobago (26-24, 25-14, 25-15) to win the Bronze Medal at the fifth edition of NORCECA Women’s Final Four on Sunday at Juan Aubin Cruz Abreu Coliseum in Manati, Puerto Rico.

Costa Rica finishes the event in third place with 1-2 record and Trinidad and Tobago in fourth with 0-3. This is Costa Rica’s second medal in the history of the event after they finished in second place in 2023.

Trinidad and Tobago held strong in a tightly contested first set, but Costa Rica’s serving proved decisive in a 26–24 extra-point win. Costa Rica made some changes, but Trinidad and Tobago put up a fight. Costa Rica gained control supported by Lakysha Thompson’s offense and won set two 25-14. The Costa Ricans continue pressuring with serve and attacks to claim the third set 25-15.

Costa Rica led 41-30 in attacking points and serves 8-4 while Trinidad and Tobago held a slight 4-3 margin in blocks. Costa Rica committed 15 unforced errors and Trinidad and Tobago 24.

Lakysha Nicolle Thompson CRC

Lakysha Thompson, middle blocker of Costa Rica: “I’m very happy with the match. Participating in this event is motivating and inspiring, allowing me to continue growing. We prepared very well mentally as a team. We worked very hard on blocking and attacking and set goals to win every set. Now it’s time to train hard and support my teammates for our upcoming events.”

José Miguel Briceño, coach of Costa Rica: “We achieved our goal with this bronze. It was an event that demanded a lot from start to finish. The first set was a battle, but we prevailed. Our player, Lakysha, was instrumental and made a significant difference in the second set. Now we need to continue working with the national teams to prepare for future events.

Delicia Pierre, outside hitter of Trinidad and Tobago: “In my opinion today’s match was one of the better games that we’ve played during the tournament. I think there’s room to improve in every game we play and again it wasn’t too bad since we worked on some of the things we needed to improve. I’m pleased with the things that we were able to work on. Now we go back home to do a lot of work and improve some of the skills to get stronger for our next competitions”.

Stewart Daymian, coach of Trinidad and Tobago: “We really had a very high expectations, it was a reality check for us. Some things we did achieve and some others we need to work on. It’s a little disappointing but we will be back. In the first set I noticed the other team made adjustment and we did not, they put pressure on the serve affecting our passing and that is something we needed to work. Next, we have our players playing some important tournaments and our main goal is to do a good job at the Caribbean Championship in August”.

Cuba Qualifies for the 2025 VNL Finals

Posted on July 20, 2025July 21, 2025

July 20, 2025 .– Despite losing to China, the Cuban Men’s National Team secured a spot in the 2025 Volleyball Nations League (VNL) Finals thanks to a series of favorable results that placed them seventh in the final standings. Among the teams that helped Cuba’s cause was the United States, whose loss to Japan worked in Cuba’s favor. Meanwhile, Canada closed the tournament with a win, spoiling Ukraine’s hopes of advancing to the Finals.

Cuba Falls to China but Still Clinches Finals Berth

The Caribbean side fell to China but managed to qualify for the Finals in seventh place due to the outcomes of other matches.

Cuba had the chance to seal its qualification without depending on other teams but failed to capitalize on it and had to wait until the end of the day to find out whether they would be traveling to Ningbo, China, for the Finals from July 30 to August 3.

Cuba would have secured its spot in the final round by defeating China in Gdańsk but instead suffered a five-set loss, 2-3 (25-20, 23-25, 25-15, 22-25, 17-19).

The team finished the preliminary round with six wins and 20 points.

Despite a spectacular 31-point performance from star outside hitter Marlon Yant, who tallied 29 kills and two blocks, Cuba couldn’t clinch the victory. Team captain and fellow outside hitter Miguel Ángel López added 17 points (14 kills, two blocks, and one ace).

“China did a great job today,” said José Massó. “They fought for every point, all the time. We didn’t apply enough pressure to win the match. We fought, but I think we also need to improve in that area, because sometimes we don’t do enough.”

Marlon Yant CUB

Japan Advances to VNL Finals After Sweep Over USA

Japan became the sixth team to clinch a spot in the Men’s Volleyball Nations League Finals, joining Brazil, Italy, France, Poland, and host China, after a dominant 3-0 (25-21, 25-19, 25-23) victory over the United States.

With a new lineup, the U.S. team put up a fight, especially in the third set. Their offensive effort was led by outside hitter Jordan Ewert, who scored 13 points on attacks with an impressive 68% efficiency. Opposite Gabriel García (Gabi) contributed 10 points, including the team’s only two aces.

The U.S. ended the preliminary phase in 11th place with a 6-6 record, tied in wins and losses with Cuba (the last team to qualify), Iran, Ukraine, and Bulgaria.

USA vs Japon

Canada Upsets Ukraine, Ends Europe’s Finals Hopes

Canada closed its 2025 VNL campaign with a valuable 3-1 win over Ukraine (25-21, 25-27, 31-29, 25-21) in Ljubljana, a result that eliminated the Europeans from contention for the Finals in Ningbo and indirectly helped Cuba qualify.

With this performance, Canada wrapped up its campaign showing competitive grit and dashing the dreams of one of the tournament’s revelation teams.

Outside hitter Skyler Varga was the standout performer of the match, delivering a stellar offensive performance with 27 points (24 kills, two blocks, and one ace), a match-high. Opposite Jordan Canham also made his presence felt with 14 points (13 kills and one block).

Although Canada was not in the race for a Finals berth, the North Americans left a strong impression in the final stretch of the tournament, overcoming a rival that controlled its own fate. The team displayed depth, determination, and solid overall performance in a high-stakes match.

Canada celebrates

Puerto Rico Makes History with Referees Officiating at the NORCECA Women’s Final Four

Posted on July 20, 2025July 20, 2025

MANATÍ, Puerto Rico, July 20, 2025. – A historic moment in continental volleyball will unfold this Sunday at 5:00 p.m. at the Juan Aubín Cruz Coliseum, as two Puerto Rican referees will take the court for the opening match of the NORCECA Women’s Final Four between the senior national teams of Costa Rica and Trinidad & Tobago.

For the first time at this competitive level, the Puerto Rican duo of Eric Quirindongo (First Referee – R1) and Maricela Candelaria (Second Referee – R2) will officiate an official senior-level national team match in a NORCECA tournament. The only previous instance of two Puerto Rican referees working together in this capacity was at the U17 level, making this appointment an unprecedented milestone for Puerto Rican officiating.

“In the first match, Maricela Candelaria and Eric Quirindongo will be officiating. I believe this is the first time two Puerto Rican referees serve as R1 and R2 in a NORCECA senior national team match. It had happened before, but only at the U17 level,” said Arnaldo “El Abuelo” Piñero, referee supervisor, with clear excitement.

Meanwhile, Dr. César Trabanco, President of the Puerto Rican Volleyball Federation, celebrated the historic assignment as a testament to the quality and professionalism of Puerto Rico’s officiating corps. “This is a proud moment for our federation. The presence of local referees in such leading roles reaffirms our commitment to the technical development of the sport at every level,” he stated.

With this recognition, the FPV continues to demonstrate its leadership in the comprehensive development of both athletic and technical talent, raising Puerto Rico’s name across the international volleyball stage.

Puerto Rico extends their winning streak at the NORCECA Women’s Final Four

Posted on July 19, 2025July 20, 2025

MANATÍ, Puerto Rico, July 19th, 2025.-Puerto Rico swept Trinidad and Tobago (25-17, 25-9, 25-) to extend their winning streak at the NORCECA Women’s Final Four at the Juan Aubin Cruz Abreu Coliseum.

Trinidad and Tobago started strong with a three-point lead (11-8) forcing Puerto Rico to call for their first time out. The set was leveled but Puerto Rico prevailed 25-17. After making changes for set two, Puerto Rico kept their dominance in attacks and serves for a straight set win.

Puerto Rico held a huge 41-17 advantage in kills, 7-2 in blocks and 9-0 in aces, while committing 16 unforced errors against 18 from Trinidad and Tobago.

Outside hitter Paola Santiago led the offense for Puerto Rico with 12 points while Valeria Vazquez contributed with 9 points. Destiny Leon was the best scorer for Trinidad and Tobago with 8 points.

Puerto Rico attack

Paola Santiago, outside hitter from Puerto Rico: “It feels incredible to play in front of the Puerto Rican fans; representing Puerto Rico in Puerto Rico is a dream come true. We always come to every match with the mentality of winning and giving our best performance, and we were all taken by surprise by Trinidad and Tobago’s intensity until the 17th point on the first set, but we managed to capitalize on those last points. We must prepare our serves better and play hard. Mexico is a great team, and it’s going to be a great battle.

Destiny Leon, middle blocker from Trinidad and Tobago: “We tried our best and did a very good job on the first set and I think once we get more training, and we can watch films and the other teams that will be able to come against them and perform better. Once we take the time and practice tomorrow and really focus, we can come against Costa Rica and put up a fight.”

Puerto Rico is looking for a three-peat and will play for the championship of the NORCECA Women’s Final Four against Mexico while Trinidad and Tobago will face Costa Rica for the third place.

Participating teams will be awarded FIVB World Ranking points valid for the qualification process to the 2026 FIVB Volleyball Nations League and the FIVB World Championship 2027. Additionally, the champion team will earn the qualification to the Senior’s NORCECA Women Olympic Continental Championship.

Mexico dominates Costa Rica for second win at NORCECA Women’s Final Four

Posted on July 19, 2025July 20, 2025

MANATÍ, Puerto Rico, July 19th, 2025.- Mexico remains unbeaten at NORCECA Women’s Final Four with a straight-set victory over Costa Rica (25-15, 25-13, 25-18) at the Juan Aubin Cruz Abreu Coliseum.

Costa Rica fought the beginning of the match keeping the score close, but Mexico put pressure with the serve and adjusted the defense to win 25-15. The Mexicans came strong with a 9-1 lead in the second set, Costa Rica tried to comeback but lost the set 25-13. Mexico started set three trailing by three points (4-7) and had to make adjustments to overcome Costa Rica.

The Mexican team was dominant in the attack points 38-19, blocking 7-4 and service aces 11-2 but committed more errors than Costa Rica 21-19.

Melanie Parra led Mexico with 11 points followed by Grecia Castro with 8 points. For Costa Rica, Tamara Espinosa and Tatiana Sayles finished with 6 points each.

Melanie Parra, outside hitter of Mexico: “I’m very happy to be back on the national team, starting over, and being with this group of girls. I feel very happy to be able to represent Mexico again. It was a good match. The Costa Ricans played very well, and I think we played better, but there’s no easy match, and for the next match, we need to improve our serve and reception, which are our weaknesses.”

Tamara Espinosa, outside hitter of Costa Rica: “I think it was a pretty tough match at the start. As the match progressed, we improved as a team. In the end, we gave opportunities to some of the U-23 girls who are training for the Junior Pan American Games. I’m very happy because today’s match against Mexico we saw a lot of progress. When we started enjoying the match and letting go of that fear, everything flowed better. For tomorrow, we need a lot of concentration and focus on what we can do. Stay calm and trust in ourselves.

Tomorrow, Mexico (2-0) will play for the championship of the NORCECA Women’s Final Four against host team Puerto Rico, while Costa Rica (0-2) will play for third place against Trinidad and Tobago.

Everything Set for the VII AFECAVOL U23 Women’s Central American Championship

Posted on July 19, 2025July 19, 2025

BELIZE CITY, Belize, July 19, 2025. – The national teams of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, and Belize have declared themselves ready for the VII AFECAVOL U23 Women’s Central American Championship, an event that brings together the region’s rising volleyball talents.

Despite the notable absence of Nicaragua and Costa Rica, the tournament promises an exciting battle for the title. Two matches will be played each day from July 20 to 24 at the Belize City Civic Center.

ÁLBUM ENTREVISTAS PRELIMINARES

Regarding the event, Belize’s head coach José Fontes said: “We have a well-balanced team, with some experienced players and some very young ones. We hope the team improves with each match. We know the level of these tournaments has grown a lot; we respect all teams, and the one that performs best will win the championship.”

Belize

Guatemala’s head coach William Fernández stated: “Our goal is to play the best we can and reach the final match undefeated. There are five teams in this competition, so the fight will be very intense. Guatemala is well-prepared—we trained hard for six months.”

Guatemala

Honduras’ head coach Marvin Ulloa explained: “We’re coming with a mostly young team, but with a certain level of experience. We hope to have a good tournament. We know the participating teams are well-prepared and of good level, so it will be a very competitive event. Our goal is to win a medal.”

Honduras

Gabriela Funes, assistant coach of El Salvador, mentioned: “Our team is well-prepared. It’s a squad full of young talent looking to perform at their best. Our goal is to finish among the top three. This event is a stepping stone before the senior category, so we hope our athletes give their best and apply what they’ve learned.”

El Salvador

Panama’s head coach Eric Lucero pointed out: “With this participation, we want to start a new process in Panamanian women’s volleyball. We’re bringing a very young team, with many players below the age limit for this event. We’re thinking about the future, looking for players with good physical profiles to reach the highest level in Central America. We know our Central American neighbors are more developed in this category, especially Belize, which has a very tall team. That’s why our main focus is on developing our players.”

Panama

USA and Canada Lose, Jeopardizing Their Hopes of Reaching the Finals

Posted on July 19, 2025July 19, 2025

July 19, 2025. – The United States and Canada suffered defeats in their respective matches on Saturday in the Men’s Volleyball Nations League (VNL), complicating their chances of qualifying for the tournament finals.

USA Falls to Germany in Five Sets

In a hard-fought, back-and-forth match, Germany earned a 3-2 (25-22, 22-25, 17-25, 25-15, 15-12) victory over the United States on Saturday in front of over 5,000 fans in Chiba, Japan.

The United States dropped to 10th place with a 6-5 record, tied with Cuba, Ukraine, Slovenia, and Bulgaria, still holding onto a mathematical chance of making the Finals. In their final match on Sunday, July 20, they will face powerhouse Japan, currently in 5th place with a 7-4 record.

Even if the U.S. wins, they will have to wait for the outcome of all remaining matches to determine which teams will secure the five remaining spots, as Brazil and Italy have already qualified for the Finals regardless of their results, and China is also through as the host nation.

Germany moved up to 11th place in the current VNL standings with a 5-6 record and 17 points, and they too remain in contention for a quarterfinal berth.

For the U.S., opposite Kyle Hobus was the top scorer of the match with 18 points. Outside hitter Ethan Champlin added 14, while his fellow outside Nolan Flexen recorded three aces and finished with 12 points.

Erik Shoji USA

Canada Falls to Serbia

Canada started strong but couldn’t hold their lead, eventually losing 1-3 (25-15, 22-25, 18-25, 22-25) to Serbia, missing a key opportunity to keep their Finals hopes alive.

Brodie Hofer led Canada’s offense with 15 points, including 14 kills, while Isaac Heslinga added 14 points, including 2 blocks.

Canada outperformed Serbia in blocking, 8-4, but the Europeans had the edge in attacking (53-50) and serving (4-3).

Final Day of Preliminary Round

In Japan, the United States will face the home team at 19:20 local time. In Slovenia, Canada takes on Ukraine at 13:00 local time. In Poland, Cuba will close out the round for NORCECA with a match against China at 13:30 local time.

U21 Women’s Pan American Cup in Alajuela, Costa Rica

Posted on July 19, 2025July 19, 2025

ALAJUELA, Costa Rica, July 19, 2025. – The stage is set for the 2025 edition of the U21 Women’s Pan American Cup, which will take place from July 22 to 27 at the Montserrat Multisport Complex in Alajuela, Costa Rica.

The tournament will feature seven national teams competing in two pools. Pool A includes the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and host nation Costa Rica, while Pool B consists of the United States (reigning champions), Canada, Chile, and Puerto Rico.

The United States enters as the two-time defending champion after winning the 2022 and 2023 editions, bringing their total to three gold medals, including the first one in 2017. The Americans will aim to make history by claiming a third consecutive title this year.

Matches begin on Tuesday, July 22, with the finals scheduled for Sunday, July 27.

Preliminary Round Schedule:

July 22:

3:00pm Chile vs Puerto Rico

5:00pm United States vs Canada

7:00pm Costa Rica vs Dominican Republic

July 23:

3:00pm United States vs Puerto Rico

5:00pm Chile vs Canada

7:00pm Costa Rica vs Mexico

July 24:

3:00pm Puerto Rico vs Canada

5:00pm United States vs Chile

7:00pm Mexico vs Dominican Republic

Year by Year pódiums

YEAR	GOLD	SILVER	BRONZE
2011	PER	DOM	CUB
2013	MEX	DOM	COL
2015	DOM	ARG	CHI
2017	USA	ARG	CUB
2019	CUB	DOM	PER
2022	USA	ARG	MEX
2023	USA	MEX	CUB

Composite Medal Table

COUNTRY	GOLD	SILVER	BRONZE	TOTAL
USA	3	0	0	3
DOM	1	3	0	4
MEX	1	1	1	3
CUB	1	0	3	4
PER	1	0	1	2
ARG	0	3	0	3
CHI	0	0	1	1
COL	0	0	1	1

Puerto Rico overpowers Costa Rica to kick off NORCECA Women’s Final Four

Posted on July 18, 2025July 19, 2025

MANATÍ, Puerto Rico, July 19th, 2025.- Puerto Rico started on a high note beating Costa Rica 3-0 (25-12, 25-10, 25-7) in their opening match of NORCECA Women’s Final Four at the Juan Aubin Cruz Abreu Coliseum in Manati, Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico and Costa Rica fought at the beginning of the first set but Puerto Rico’s experience prevailed blocking away the Costa Ricans to win 25-12. Supported by their powerful serve and consistency in blocking, Puerto Rico dominated the rest of the match winning in straight sets.

The Puerto Ricans were dominant, leading 42-16 in attacks, 13-0 in blocks, and 7-0 in service points. Puerto Rico gave away 12 points from unforced errors compared to 13 from Costa Rica.

Puerto Rico

Shara Venegas, captain of Puerto Rico: “I’m very happy with our first match in our first tournament of the summer. We have many new players, and I think the veterans and the new players complemented each other well, and I’m very satisfied with today’s match. We must continue improving the consistency and serves in our individual game to reach the goals we want.”

Juan Carlos Núñez, coach of Puerto Rico: “For us, this is our first match. We didn’t have any preparation games, and we were evaluating our game and how we played. It was a match where I was able to see all the players in action and prepare for tomorrow’s match. We have to continue aligning as a group since half of the players are new, and we have to continue working to be more aggressive on our serves.”

María Castro, captain of Costa Rica: “It was a tough match. We knew Puerto Rico was going to go all out since they were at home, and we came in with the goal of doing a good job. In the end, things didn’t go as we thought. They had a great block and a very good serve. We tried to follow our coach’s instructions, and some things went well for us, others didn’t, but they helped us prepare for tomorrow’s match.”

José Briceño, coach of Costa Rica: “We knew it was going to be a very tough match emotionally, technically, tactically, since we were going to face the host and had the crowd on their side. At times, we had good rallies, but Puerto Rico’s block was quite overwhelming for our hitters, and their setter’s serve greatly affected our reception. I think we’ll get better and better, and we want to give all the players plenty of practice so they can get into their rhythm and develop.”

Costa Rica will play versus Mexico on day two of the tournament while Puerto Rico will face Trinidad and Tobago.

Before the match, a small inauguration ceremony took place with the presence of Manati’s Mayor Mr. José Sánchez González, Secretary of State Madam Rosachely Rivera Santana, President of NORCECA Mr. Cristóbal Marte Hoffiz, the Director of Recreation and Sports Madam Pamela Rosado and the President of the Puerto Rican Federation Mr. César Trabanco.

The mayor of Manati expressed the importance of this tournament in the municipality for the sport, to help develop tourism and the economy. Also, he said to be honored that this event was brought to the city which will open the door to bring more high-level volleyball competitions at the international level.

The Secretary of the State was very excited for this tournament taking place in Manati: “This event is very important for Puerto Rico to develop the tourism and the sport. We thank the mayor for his support and for having this event celebrated here. I’m very happy to have the opportunity to host all these countries and witness the support of fans.

Mexico opens NORCECA Women’s Final Four defeating Trinidad and Tobago

Posted on July 18, 2025July 19, 2025

MANATÍ, Puerto Rico, July 18th, 2025. Mexico kicked off the NORCECA Women’s Final Four with a dominant 3-0 (25-8, 25-11, 25-14) win over Trinidad and Tobago at the Juan Aubin Cruz Abreu Coliseum in Manati, Puerto Rico.

Mexico quickly jumped to a 6-0 lead with a block from Karina Flores. Trinidad and Tobago tried to keep up, but Gloria Ung’s tactical serving led them into a nine-point advantage. In the second set Mexico took full advantage of Trinidad and Tobago mistakes taking a 11-3 lead thanks to the offense of Sofia Maldonado. Trinidad and Tobago fought at the beginning of the third set with Mexico’s new rotation, but the Mexicans gained their rhythm and won the set 25-14.

Mexico outperformed Trinidad and Tobago in attacks (39-15), serves (4-1) and blocks (8-1). Trinidad and Tobago capitalized on 24 errors while Mexico finished with 16.

Mexico celebrates

Middle Blocker Karina Angelica Flores was the top scorer for the winning team with 11 points followed by the opposite Sofia Maldonado with 10 points. For Trinidad and Tobago, Delicia Pierre finished with 5 points and middle blocker Destiny Leon with 4 points.

Nicola Negro, head coach of Mexico: “For us, it was a good match, only affected by the serve errors in the final set. It was a match we played in an orderly fashion, doing what we had to do. We must improve a lot for tomorrow. It’s the first game of the season, and it was a good match for the first game, but there’s always room for improvement.”

Jocelyn Urias, Captain of Mexico: “It’s great to be able to return for another year with the national team and play here representing Mexico. I feel like we’re confident in doing our job. Before we go in and play, I tell the girls to work on our own game with a lot of respect for the opponent, but at the same time, we have a lot of room for improvement. The idea is to give everyone a chance to get into rhythm and prepare for tomorrow’s game.”

Daymian Stewart, coach of Trinidad and Tobago: “First, I’m happy for all the girls as we said this tournament is the first of the season and give us an idea where we are and there are some things we need to work on, but I’m satisfied with the overall performance of the girls. For tomorrow’s match we need to make an adjustment at blocking; the girls were playing a little timid at times looking for more control and power but at this level we need to hit the ball”

Kaylon Cruickshank, captain of Trinidad and Tobago: “It was a very good game. I’m really happy with the performance of my team. This was the first time we played at this level and I’m happy that even though we were down in points, we fought till the end. I think that in the third set we improved in our passing, and we adjusted our defense, and we were able to make more points. For tomorrow we need to work a little more in defense and in confidence.”

On the second day of the event, Mexico will face Costa Rica while Trinidad and Tobago will play host team Puerto Rico.

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

Posted on July 18, 2025July 18, 2025

July 19, 2025.- The United States earned their second win in Week 3 of Men’s VNL 2025 on Friday, while Canada got their first win and moved away from relegation. Cuba broke their winning streak and lost their first match of the week.

USA beat Argentina and surpass them in race for VNL Finals

Robinson leads the Americans to victory despite an impressive 30 points from Kukartsev.

USA made an important step in the race for the spots in the men’s Volleyball Nations League Finals. In Friday’s opening game in Chiba, Japan, they beat one of their direct rivals for qualification – Argentina – in four sets and rose to ninth place in the current VNL standings, on a 6-4 win-loss record and 16 points. In the heated race for the quarterfinal vacancies, the Americans are one of the five teams with six wins each, lined up in the places from fifth to ninth. Argentina, on the other hand, dropped to 11^th place on 5-5 and 14, but are still well in contention for the tickets to Ningbo.

USA capitalized mostly on the many unforced errors by their South American opponents to earn a 3-1 (25-23, 20-25, 25-20, 25-23) victory. 22-year-old outside hitter Cooper Robinson led the way to success with 20 points to his name, including the match winner. To his 18 kills in attack, he added one ace and one kill block. Middle blocker Merrick McHenry impressed with a 79% success rate in attack. He authored two of USA’s six aces in the match to finish with 13 points. So did opposite Kyle Ensing.

“This was super fun! We had some great energy on the court. It was really great to play with some of the guys again, so I had a blast! It was a very important win. We needed to win this one. If we had lost, we would have been out of contention, so this was a huge win,” Robinson told VBTV. “The crowd here is amazing! I love all these fans. They are so energetic and passionate about the game of volleyball, so I can’t wait to play here next year.”

Cooper Robinson USA

France stop Cuba in Gdańsk

In Gdańsk, defending champions France showed strength to hand Cuba their first upset at the Ergo Arena after back-to-back victories this week, winning the match between the teams 3-2 (20-25, 25-15, 23-25, 25-21, 15-9).

The victory took the reigning Olympic champions to third place in the VNL standings, with seven wins and 20 points. Cuba continue inside the qualification zone, in sixth place, with six victories and 19 points.

Opposite Théo Faure topped all scorers, with 20 points (19 kills, one ace) registered, two more than outside hitter Trévor Clévenot, who left the court with 14 kills, three aces and one block to his name.

“We’re very happy because it was a very difficult and important match,” outside hitter Mathis Henno said. “We know Cuba have a great team and we tried to push against them. It was not easy, but we got the result and we’re proud of it.”

Opposite Jose Masso, who delivered 17 points (13 kills, three aces, one block), and outside hitters Marlon Yant and Miguel Ángel López, who scored 16 and 14, respectively, were Cuba’s most productive offensive weapons.

Cuba attack

Canada defeated the Netherlands

Canada earned a 3-0 victory (25-22, 25-20, 25-15) over the Netherlands this Friday, securing their first win of the week and fourth overall in the tournament. With the result, Canada moved further away from the relegation zone and climbed to 14th place.

The Canadians outperformed the Europeans throughout the match. They led in attacks (43-35), dominated in blocks (5-1), and had the edge in service points (2-0). It was a closely contested match with few unforced errors, Canada committed 21, while the Dutch made 25.

Xander Ketrzynski was Canada’s top offensive player, scoring 16 points, 15 of them from attacks. Isaac Heslinga contributed 12 points (11 from attacks), while team captain Fynnian McCarthy added 10 points (7 attacks, 1 block, and 2 aces).

Canada celebrates

Schedule of matches on Saturday July 19

Cuba has the day off. In Japan, the U.S. plays against Germany at 7:30 PM (local time). In Slovenia, Canada faces Serbia at 4:30 PM (local time).

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

Posted on July 18, 2025July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025.- The FIVB and Volleyball World have officially confirmed the Netherlands as the host nation for the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships 2027.

The decision follows a highly competitive bidding process, with three shortlisted countries submitting strong proposals. While all bids were recognized for their quality and potential to contribute to the sport’s global growth, the Netherlands presented the most ambitious and wide-reaching concept built around four cities.

The Dutch National Federation (Nevobo) has significant experience in delivering major volleyball events, such as the Volleyball Nations League and the FIVB Volleyball World Championships and has proven ability to engage communities across different regions.

Speaking about the confirmation of the 2027 Beach Volleyball World Championships host, FIVB President Fabio Azevedo commented:

“The Beach Volleyball World Championships 2027 in the Netherlands marks both a comeback and a bold step forward, in line with the FIVB Strategic Vision 2032 aiming to strengthen the Global Volleyball Movement. We are confident this championship will set new standards for excellence, innovation, sustainability and community engagement, and we look forward to working with NEVOBO (the Dutch Volleyball Federation) and local partners to make it an unforgettable celebration, on and off the sand. With a passionate fanbase and a proven track record, including the highly successful 2015 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships hosted across four cities, the Netherlands is ready to deliver a great World Championships once again.”

Volleyball World Chief Business Officer Guido Betti added:

“The Netherlands’ approach to the World Championships goes beyond hosting a tournament, it’s about building a lasting legacy for beach volleyball across the entire country. We are seeing beach volleyball, and its competitions growing rapidly, and the Netherlands’ approach is exactly what we want to see shaping the future of the sport.”

President of Nevobo, Peter Sprenger noted:

“Hosting the 2027 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships is not just about a single tournament, it’s about planting a seed for sustainable growth and lasting social and economic benefits. Building on our 15-year strategy of organizing international indoor and beach volleyball events, we have seen firsthand how the sport can inspire communities and attract new fans. As beach volleyball’s popularity continues to rise worldwide as well in the Netherlands, this event will attract many new sport enthusiasts, inspiring new generations and strengthening community bonds. We believe it will create a thriving legacy that elevates beach volleyball across the country and the world for years to come.”

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

Posted on July 18, 2025July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025.- The Volleyball Nations League (VNL) 2025 women’s competition is heading to its thrilling conclusion in Łódź, Poland, where the top eight teams will battle it out for the title over five high-stakes days.

From 23 to 27 July, the renowned Atlas Arena will be the stage for the final round of the tournament, in a knockout format that promises non-stop world-class volleyball.

Watch the Volleyball Nations League on VBTV

Emerging from a competitive preliminary phase that stretched from 4 June to 15 July, the seven highest-ranked teams will join host nation Poland in the final phase.

The eight teams that have secured their spots in Łódź are:

Italy, Brazil, Japan, Poland, Türkiye, China, USA and Germany

Volleyball Nations League 2025: full schedule and results

The quarterfinal round will take place across the opening two days of the Finals. Two matches will be played each day, beginning at 16:30 and 20:00 local time on both Wednesday and Thursday.

The quarterfinal matchups are:

Italy vs USA – 23 July at 16:30 local time (14:30 GMT)

Poland vs China – 23 July at 20:00 local time (18:00 GMT)

Japan vs Türkiye – 24 July at 16:30 local time (14:30 GMT)

Brazil vs Germany – 24 July at 20:00 local time (18:00 GMT)

Friday will serve as a crucial recovery and preparation day before the semifinals take centre stage on Saturday. The first semifinal will begin at 16:00 local time (14:00 GMT), with the second following at 20:00 local time (18:00 GMT).

The final day of competition, Sunday 27 July, will see the bronze medal match held at 16:00 local time (14:00 GMT), followed by the grand finale for gold at 20:00 (18:00 GMT).

Now in its seventh season, the VNL has continued to bring even more excitement to international volleyball, and the 2025 women’s edition has proven to be one of the most tightly contested to date.

All matches from the Finals in Łódź will be streamed live and on-demand on VBTV, with thousands expected to pack Atlas Arena to witness the world’s best in action.

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

Posted on July 18, 2025July 18, 2025

BELIZE CITY, Belize, July 18, 2025. – Excitement is building as Central America prepares for the seventh edition of the AFECAVOL U23 Women’s Championship, set to take place from July 20 to 24 at the Belize City Civic Center, where a new champion will be crowned.

The tournament will feature five national teams: El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, and host nation Belize.

The absence of defending champions Nicaragua paves the way for a new regional titleholder. In the previous edition, held in 2024 in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Nicaragua ended Costa Rica’s dominance, as they were aiming for a sixth consecutive title.

The competition will follow a round-robin format, with two matches played daily, promising excitement from start to finish.

AFECAVOL U23 FEMENINO

Competition Schedule

July 20

4:30pm Guatemala vs El Salvador

7:30pm Belize vs Panama

July 21

5:00pm Honduras vs Panama

7:30pm Belie vs El Salvador

Jully 22

5:00pm Guatemala vs Honduras

7:30pm El Salvador vs Panama

July 23

5:00pm Guatemala vs Panama

7:30pm Belize vs Honduras

July 24

5:00pm Honduras vs El Salvador

7:30pm Belize vs Guatemala

Year by Year Podium

YEAR	GOLD	SILVER	BRONZE
2012	CRC	GUA	HON
2014	CRC	NCA	GUA
2016	CRC	GUA	ESA
2019	CRC	BIZ	NCA
2022	CRC	HON	GUA
2024	NCA	CRC	BIZ

Cuba Stuns Poland and Holds on to Seventh Place

Posted on July 17, 2025July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025. – The Caribbean downed the FIVB World Ranking leaders in front of 9,000 Polish fans. Cuba headed to Gdańsk for the third and last week of the Volleyball Nations League 2025 Preliminary Phase aware that they’d need to score big wins in order to qualify for the tournament’s Finals.

On Thursday, the Cubans delivered for the second day in a row. After outlasting direct rivals Bulgaria in a thrilling five-set match on Wednesday, they shocked FIVB world number one Poland in front of over 9,000 home fans at the Ergo Arena, claiming a 3-1 win (22-25, 25-19, 25-21, 26-24). It was Cuba’s first victory over Poland since 2010, significantly boosting their hopes of reaching the Finals.

Miguel Angel Lopez CUB

The three points earned with the victory were vital for Cuba to remain in the qualification zone — they currently sit in seventh place with six wins and 18 points. They trail France (fifth) and Ukraine (sixth) only due to a lower set ratio. Poland ranks fourth with seven wins and 20 points.

Outside hitter Marlon Yant once again led Cuba’s offense, scoring 18 points (15 kills, two aces, and one block). Opposite José Massó added 15 points, outside hitter Miguel Ángel López had 12, and middle blocker Javier Concepción contributed 10.

“It wasn’t a surprise for us because we always fight hard,” said Concepción. “Our goal today was to maintain a high level the entire time, and we’re very happy with the win — there was a lot of emotion at the end. But this is just a small step; we still have a long way to go. We’re happy, but this isn’t over yet.”

Poland’s top scorers were opposite Kewin Sasak (11 points, all from kills) and outside hitter Tomasz Fornal, who tallied seven kills, two aces, and one block.

Friday, July 18 Match Schedule:

In Japan, the United States faces Argentina at 3:30 PM (Local Time). In Poland, Cuba plays against France at 4:30 PM (Local Time). In Slovenia, Canada plays the Netherlands at 8:00 PM (Local Time).

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

Posted on July 17, 2025July 18, 2025

MANATÍ, Puerto Rico, July 17^th, 2025.- Coaches of the teams at the NORCECA Women’s Final Four taking place at Manatí, Puerto Rico from July 18-20 commented about their expectations ahead of the competition during the preliminary inquiry expecting a high-level competition and to gain experience for their future events.

Juan Carlos Núñez, Head coach of Puerto Rico: Our first home tournament begins with high expectations, with our goals this summer is to have a strong representation and earn points in pursuit of qualification for the 2026 FIVB Volleyball Nations League.

My team is a mix of veteran and young players. It’s an interesting mix, and it’s important for these young players to gain experience. We have several training sessions before tomorrow’s match to get off to a good start. It’s a deeper team than last year’s because we have more experienced players to take on the challenge of the summer.

Puerto Rico

Nicola Negro, Head coach of Mexico: This is our first event of the season where we have a young group, and we’ve been making a lot of changes. It’s the beginning of an Olympic cycle, and the goal is to start building our game. Prior this event, we had a training camp at the high-performance center in Mexico, as well as several friendly matches with teams from the United States, all with the goal of having a strong season.

We have a stable roster, the addition of about four athletes coming from college, and the return of Samantha Bricio, a very important player for our team, and we are very positive.

Mexico

José Miguel Briceño Torres, Head coach Costa Rica: We begin our national team participation phase with an eye toward this year’s regional tournaments, which include the Final Four and the Central American Games.

We have an experienced team and young players, and we want to prepare them to develop their game in this event. Since the beginning of the year, we’ve been training twice a week and have also used the national tournament to give the players a rhythm. Our goal is for the players to experience what it’s like to play against teams that will demand technical and tactical demands from them, expecting a progressive performance in this event.

Costa Rica

Daymian Stewart, Head coach Trinidad and Tobago: We are honor to be here and play at this level and for us is a big initial of our international season. Our main goal is the Caribbean championship in the Bahamas, so this is part of our preparation. We will face very tough opponents, but we expect Costa Rica to be the closes to our level and give them a challenge and to put our best foot forward against Puerto Rico and Mexico.

It is a new team. We are transitioning from the team that qualified from the world championship in 2018. We have some young players as young as 15 years old so this is an opportunity to give them exposure at this level, and this will really prepare us to continue dominating in our zone.

Trinidad and Tobago

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

Posted on July 16, 2025July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025. – Cuba’s victory over Bulgaria and USA’s win against Türkiye boosted both teams’ chances of qualifying for the 2025 Men’s VNL Finals. Meanwhile, Canada fell further behind in the standings after losing to Slovenia.

Cuba tops Bulgaria and stays alive

Deep in the battle for a spot in the Finals, Cuba secured the first of several victories it will need this week to earn a ticket to Ningbo in thrilling fashion.

The Caribbean squad came from behind twice before edging out Bulgaria in a five-set thriller, 3-2 (23-25, 25-16, 23-25, 27-25, 15-13), and is now within the qualification zone.

Cuba jumped from ninth to seventh place with five wins and 15 points, putting them in a stronger position to advance. The loss to a direct rival dropped Bulgaria to 12th place, with four wins and 12 points.

Cuban star outside hitter Marlon Yant led all scorers with 23 points (18 kills, three blocks, and two aces), returning to the top of the VNL scoring charts with 172 points. Making his first appearance in this edition of the tournament, middle blocker Robertlandy Simón was on fire, contributing 19 points (13 kills and six blocks). Opposite José Massó (16), middle blocker Javier Concepción (15), and outside hitter José Miguel Gutiérrez (11) also reached double digits.

“We’re happy with the win because Bulgaria is a good team,” said Simón. “They’re younger, but they can compete with anyone. Tomorrow, we have another tough match against Poland, and we’re going to fight again.”

Marlon Yant Herrera CUB

USA sweeps Türkiye and climbs the standings

The United States delivered a solid performance in their first match of the week in Chiba, defeating Türkiye in straight sets 3-0 (26-24, 25-21, 25-19), a result that helped them leapfrog Germany in the VNL standings.

The win lifted the Americans to 10th place with five victories and 13 points, holding the same 5-4 record as Cuba, Slovenia, and Argentina. Türkiye, on the other hand, sits in 16th place with two wins and six points and remains at risk of relegation.

Opposite Gabi García led Team USA with 15 points, including 13 kills and two aces. Ethan Champlin added 13 points, one more than fellow outside hitter Cooper Robinson.

“It was a great win against a tough team,” said García. “We need every point we can get to make it to the Finals, and it was a big day for us. Now we have to keep it going. I think we played really well as a team, and I’m excited to see where this takes us.”

USA celebrates

Canada falls to Slovenia

Canada couldn’t hold on to its first-set lead and ended up falling to host team Slovenia 1-3 (25-21, 21-25, 19-25, 21-25).

While the Canadians out-blocked Slovenia 10-6, it was the Europeans who prevailed in attacks (51-44) and service aces (6-4). Slovenia also capitalized on Canada’s 33 unforced errors, compared to just 28 of their own.

Outside hitter Brodie Hofer was Canada’s top scorer with 11 points (8 kills and 3 blocks), while Xander Ketrzynski added 10 points, all from kills.

Fynnian McCarthy – Brodie Hofer CAN

Thursday, July 17 Match Schedule

USA and Canada will rest. Cuba faces Poland at 20:00 local time in Gdańsk, Poland.

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

Posted on July 16, 2025July 16, 2025

MANATÍ, Puerto Rico, July 16^th, 2025.- Puerto Rico is set to defend its title at the fifth edition of the NORCECA Final Four Women’s tournament taking place from July 18 to 20 in Manati, Puerto Rico.

Four national teams, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Mexico and Trinidad and Tobago, will compete in pursuit of the championship, following Cuba’s withdrawal due to unexpected travel complications.

Participating teams will be awarded FIVB World Ranking points valid for the qualification process to the 2026 FIVB Volleyball Nations League and for the qualification to the FIVB World Championship 2027.

As the back-to-back reigning champion, Puerto Rico is one of the top contenders aiming to defend their title. In the last tournament held in Puerto Rico, the host team finished first, Mexico second and Cuba secured the third seed.

The competition will feature three days of round-robin matches starting this Friday at the Juan Aubin Cruz Abreu Coliseum, which is set to accommodate up to 8,000 spectators.

Competition Schedule:

Friday – July 18

6:00 pm Trinidad & Tobago vs Mexico

8:00 pm Puerto Rico vs Costa Rica

Saturday – July 19

6:00 pm Mexico vs Costa Rica

8:00 pm Puerto Rico vs Trinidad & Tobago

Sunday – July 20

5:00 pm Trinidad & Tobago vs Costa Rica

7:00 pm Puerto Rico vs México

HISTORIC MEDALS NORCECA WOMEN’S FINAL FOUR

Year	Gold	Silver	Bronze
2019	CAN	PUR	MEX
2022	MEX	CUB	PUR
2023	PUR	CRC	TTO
2024	PUR	MEX	CUB

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

Posted on July 15, 2025July 15, 2025

MALONEY, AROUCA, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, JULY 13, 2025: Trinidad and Tobago’s Opposite Hitter Jahreef Miguel was named the ‘Most Valuable Player’ of the Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) Under-23 Men’s Championship hosted by the T&T Volleyball Federation (T&TVF) at the Maloney Indoor Sports Arena on Sunday.

Miguel also collected the ‘Best Opposite’ award after helping his team to a 21-25, 25-20, 30-28, 23-25, 15-10 win over Suriname in the final.

Individual Awards CAZOVA U23 Men

In addition to Miguel, his team-mates Jerome Morrison “Best Setter”, Rayon Dickson “Best Libero” and ‘Best Digger’, and Michael Burkett ‘Best Receiver’

Despite the loss in the final, Suriname players also collected a number of individual awards with Shemar Jameson “First Best Outside Hitter” and ‘Best Scorer’. Anfernee Lee Aleong ‘Second Best Outside Hitter’, and captain Faiq Lobo ‘First Best Middle Blocker’.

Martinique’s Kenan Melinard “Second Best Middle Blocker’ and Guadeloupe’s Crane Zackary “Best Server’ collected the other awards.

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

Posted on July 15, 2025July 15, 2025

MALONEY, AROUCA, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, JULY 13, 2025: As was expected Martinique captain Maelyss Melinard-Chanteur was deservedly named the ‘Most Valuable Player’ of the Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) Under-23 Women’s Championship hosted by the T&T Volleyball Federation (T&TVF) at the Maloney Indoor Sports Arena on Sunday.

Melinard-Chanteur captured the award, one of two on the night after firing her team too 23-25, 25-15, 25-21, 25-19 triumph over Suriname in the tournament decider while she was also named the ‘Second Best Outside Hitter’.

Women Individual Awards CAZOVA U23

Not to be left out, Martinique’s Dorianne Chadet, Emeline Kalt and Alice Budon were all award winners as well copping the ‘Second Best Middle Blocker’, ‘Best Setter’ and ‘Best Libero’ accolades respectively.

Suriname’s Shaniva Balkaran was named ‘First Best Outside Hitter 1’, while her teammate Cailynn Griffith nabbed both the ‘Best Digger’ and ‘Best Opposite’ awards.

Curacao’s Phelipa Giovienelly copped the ‘First Best Middle Blocker 1’ and Trinidad and Tobago trio Natassia Baptiste ‘Best Server’, Jordanne Hutchinson ‘Best Receiver’ and L’fe Roberts ‘Best Scorer’ awards.

Final Week of Men’s VNL Preliminary Round Begins

Posted on July 15, 2025July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025. – The final week of Preliminary Round matches for the Men’s Volleyball Nations League (VNL) begins this week, with teams battling for a spot in the quarterfinals. The Final Round will be held in Ningbo Beilun, China, starting on July 30.

As the host nation, China has already secured a place in the quarterfinals, leaving the remaining 15 teams to compete for the seven remaining spots.

Canada

Currently:

Cuba sits in 9th place with a 4-4 record (13 points)
USA is in 13th place, also with a 4-4 record (10 points)
Canada is in 14th place with 3 wins and 5 losses (11 points)

Brazil tops the standings with 7 wins and 1 loss, followed by Poland and Italy, both with 6 wins and 2 losses.

Given the standings, USA, Cuba, and Canada must aim to win their remaining matches to have a chance at qualifying for the single-elimination Final Round.

NORCECA Teams’ Match Locations:

USA plays in Chiba, Japan, alongside Argentina, Brazil, Türkiye, Germany, and Japan.

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

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

Match Schedule:

July 16

USA vs Türkiye

Cuba vs Bulgaria

Canada vs Slovenia

July 17

USA and Canada rest

Cuba vs Poland

July 18

USA vs Argentina

Cuba vs France

Canada vs Netherlands

July 19

Cuba has a rest day

USA vs Germany

Canada vs Serbia

July 20

USA vs Japan

Cuba vs China

Canada vs Ukraine

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

Posted on July 14, 2025July 15, 2025

July 14, 2025.– The three-week Preliminary Round of the 2025 Women’s Volleyball Nations League came to an end this Sunday, with the United States clinching the last spot for the Finals in 8th place. Meanwhile, the Dominican Republic and Canada finished in 12th and 16th place, respectively.

USA Falls to China in Thrilling Five-Set Match

The United States couldn’t hold onto its two-set lead and eventually lost to China in a thrilling five-set battle, 2-3 (25-18, 25-19, 21-25, 16-25, 16-18), concluding the Preliminary Round in 8th place with 7 wins and 5 losses.

In a tightly contested match, the U.S. led in blocks (10-9) and aces (4-1), while China held a slight edge in attacks (67-64) and capitalized on 28 American unforced errors, compared to their own 25.

Outside hitter Sarah Franklin was phenomenal, leading all scorers with 32 points, including 29 kills and 3 blocks. Taylor Mims added 10 points (9 kills and 1 block).

The quarterfinals begin on July 23, followed by the semifinals on July 26, and the championship match on July 27. The eight teams advancing to the Final Round in Łódź, Poland, are: 1. Italy, 2. Brazil; 3. Japan; 4. Poland; 5. China; 6. Türkiye; 7. Germany; 8. United States.

Matches will be held in Łódź, Polonia.

Sarah Franklin USA (1)

Canada wraps up 2025 VNL with a solid performance against Thailand and secures its place in VNL

Canada’s women’s national team closed out their 2025 Volleyball Nations League campaign with a hard-fought 3-2 win (17-25, 25-23, 30-28, 23-25, 15-13) over Thailand on Sunday in Arlington. Although Canada had already secured its spot in the VNL 2026 before the match, the team showed determination to end on a high note, finishing in 16th place with three wins and ten points.

Outside hitter Hilary Johnson was the standout performer with 25 points (22 kills, 2 blocks, 1 ace), while middle blocker Emily Maglio had a strong two-way game with 19 points, including 10 kills, 8 blocks, and 1 ace.

“It feels amazing to finish with a win,” said Johnson after the match. “We worked really hard throughout the tournament. Wins didn’t come easily, so ending like this is a big reward. I’m proud of my team. Now we rest and then get back to the gym with new teammates to keep growing together.”

Despite the loss, Thailand achieved their goal of remaining in the 2026 VNL by taking two sets, which gave them the single point needed to avoid relegation—sending Korea to the bottom spot. Thailand closed the tournament with a 2-10 record and 6 points.

For Canada, this victory serves as a morale boost ahead of upcoming international competitions. While they fell short of qualifying for the Finals, the team showed clear improvement and promising development, with a mix of rising talent and experienced leaders forming a strong foundation for the program’s future.

Korea, who had competed in every VNL edition since its inception, is now relegated. Their best result was 12th place in the inaugural 2018 edition. Korea will be replaced in the 2026 VNL by the highest-ranked national team in the FIVB World Ranking that did not compete in 2025.

Canada

Dominican Republic Ends 2025 VNL in 12th After Loss to Germany

The Dominican Republic wrapped up its 2025 VNL campaign with a 3-1 (25-20, 25-13, 21-25, 25-21) loss to Germany on Sunday in Arlington, closing the Preliminary Phase in 12th place.

The “Caribbean Queens” finished with five wins and 13 points, missing out on a place in the Finals in Łódź but displaying competitiveness against some of the world’s top teams.

In the final match, opposite Gaila González led the Dominican offense with 15 points (12 kills, 3 aces). Despite taking the third set and showing fight throughout the match, the team couldn’t match the European side’s pace in key moments.

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

Posted on July 14, 2025July 15, 2025

July 14, 2025. – The U.S. Girls U19 National Team earned the silver medal at the 2025 Girls U19 World Championship after falling in the final to Bulgaria, 3-1 (21-25, 25-16, 25-17, 29-27) on Sunday in Osijek, Croatia.

The U.S. has medaled in the last four World Championships for the age group. The 2023 World Championship, where the team won gold, was the first one contested as a U19 championship. Previously, FIVB held Worlds as a U18 event, and the U.S. won bronze in 2021 and gold in 2019.

The match was close statistically as the U.S. finished with a one-point advantage in kills (46-45) and blocks (11-10), while Bulgaria served eight aces compared to five for the U.S. The key statistic was Bulgaria committing 14 fewer errors (37-23).

Henley Anderson USA

Outside hitter Suli Davis, who was named Best Outside Hitter, led the U.S. in points (17), kills (13), aces (3), digs (16) and successful receptions (4). Libero Lily Hayes finished with 14 digs.

Outside Cari Spears totaled 12 points on 10 kills and two blocks, while middle blocker Jordan Taylor shared match-high honors with four blocks to go with seven kills for 11 points. Henley Anderson was named Best Opposite and had seven points on five kills and two blocks in the final.

Suliane Davis USA

11th-Place Match

Chinese Taipei secured 11th place with a 3-1 (25-21, 30-28, 17-25, 25-15) victory over Mexico at the Trstenik Gymnasium, dominating the offensive battle with 70 successful attacks to Mexico’s 48. Sixteen-year-old opposite Xu Zhen-Xuan led the Asian team with 20 points (18 kills, 1 block, 1 ace). Mexico’s top scorers were middle blocker Aitana Rettke Tanguma (10 kills, 1 ace, 5 blocks) and outside hitter Angélica Jazmín Torres (15 kills, 0 aces, 1 block), both finishing with 16 points.

USA part of Dream Team: Suliane Davis (Second Best Outside Hitter) and Henley Anderson (Best Opposite).

Final Standings – FIVB U19 Women’s World Championship 2025:

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

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

Posted on July 14, 2025July 15, 2025

MALONEY, AROUCA, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, JULY 13, 2025: Host Trinidad and Trinidad were crowned the first champions of the Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) Under-23 Men’s Championship hosted by the T&T Volleyball Federation (T&TVF) at the Maloney Indoor Sports Arena on Sunday.

This was after the Calypso Spikers led by captain Nicholas Williams defeated Suriname in a sometimes heated but enthralling contest 21-25, 25-20, 30-28, 23-25, 15-10 with the captain rightfully sinking the match winning point for the host off a failed block by Suriname.

The win avenged a loss also in five sets to the same opponents in their final round-robin match on Saturday night and secured the lone qualification spot to the Junior Pan American Cup next year.

Commenting on the win, Trinidad and Tobago Head Coach Sean Morrison the win was a result of hard work, total effort and sacrifice by his players and coaching staff.

Williams added, “We faced a really good Suriname team, and we had to dig deep to get the win and credit to my teammates for pulling it off.”

Cuban-born Suriname coach, FIVB Development Coach, Carlos Orta, Suriname was quick to admit that he felt the Trinidad and Tobago was a much more complete team than his.

Orta said, “Player for player, I believe Trinidad and Tobago has the best team in the competition, but my team is also a good team, which made for a very good contest.”

“We fought a good game today, and we were fighting and giving our all and both teams played well, but in the end, I think Trinidad and Tobago was better.

Faiq Lobo, Captain of Suriname, said, “I hate being second, but it was a good game and Trinidad and Tobago played better.”

“We fought hard, and they also fought hard, but it just wasn’t our day today.”

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

Posted on July 14, 2025July 15, 2025

MALONEY, AROUCA, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, JULY 13, 2025: Martinique lifted the title in the Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) Under-23 Women’s Championship hosted by the T&T Volleyball Federation (T&TVF) when they dethroned Suriname (3-1) at the Maloney Indoor Sports Arena.

Inspired by France-based captain Maelyss Melinard-Chanteur, Martinique was made to work hard for their victory by a stubborn Suriname team who won the first set, 25-23, before the eventual champions prevailed 25-15, 25-21, 25-19 to seal their ticket to the Junior Pan American Cup next year.

The win was similar to their round-robin meeting on the opening night of the tournament which Martinique also won in four sets.

An elated Eddy Erialc, Head Coach of Martinique women’s team said he was very happy for the win by his team but also thanked Suriname for a very good match.

“In our first match against Suriname, we had a much easier time, but today, they lifted their game as champions do and made it a very good level contest and a hard game to play.”

Melinard-Chanteur added, “I’m very happy that my team won, as my last time in Trinidad at the youth level I ended up with the silver medal, so to win this time is a really good feeling.”

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

Posted on July 14, 2025July 15, 2025

MALONEY, AROUCA, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, JULY 13, 2025: Host Trinidad and Tobago ended their campaign in the Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) Under-23 Women’s Championship on a high with a win over Curacao for the bronze medal.

Winners over the same opponents on Thursday’s first day of competition in five sets, the Deon Hutchinson-coached ‘Calyspo Spikers’ won 25-12, 25-13, 25-20 inspired by another solid outing from captain L’fe Roberts.

Speaking after the win, Hutchinson credited his players for battling against the odds throughout the tournament to come away with the win.

He said, “We had a tough loss to Suriname on Saturday night which resulted in us missing the chance to play the gold medal match. But the girls came back today very strong and determined to get the bronze medal and they did just that.”

“Credit to Curacao for their strong effort as well, but today the girls were determined to finish on a high,’ stated Hutchinson.