Dominican Republic, Colombia, Puerto Rico women’s volleyball at Central American and Caribbean Games, Santo Domingo; three Empowerment teams sweep podium

Dominican Republic, Colombia, Puerto Rico women’s volleyball at Central American and Caribbean Games, Santo Domingo; three Empowerment teams sweep podium

Empowerment beneficiaries excel at regional and zonal volleyball competitions – FIVB

The women’s teams of Australia, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, the Philippines, Puerto Rico and Thailand, the men’s teams of Australia and Korea, and the youth boys’ teams of Bulgaria and Romania, all supported by FIVB Volleyball Empowerment, earned medals at regional and zonal volleyball competitions last week.

Central American and Caribbean Games – women’s volleyball in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Three teams supported by FIVB Volleyball Empowerment – the Dominican Republic, Colombia and Puerto Rico – occupied the entire women’s volleyball podium at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo.

The Dominican Republic has so far been granted a total of USD 1,050,000 in FIVB Volleyball Empowerment coach support for their women’s volleyball national team, trained by Brazilian head coach Marcos Kwiek. The Federacion Colombiana de Voleibol has been allocated a total of USD 399,000 in FIVB Volleyball Empowerment coach support for their national volleyball teams, in addition to another USD 92,500 in volleyball equipment and USD 6,000 for a national team coach development knowledge transfer program. The Colombian women’s national team is guided by Brazilian coach Guilherme Schmitz. The Federacion Puertorriquena de Voleibol has been funded with USD 84,000 in FIVB Volleyball Empowerment coach support for their women’s volleyball national team, trained by Juan Carlos Nunez and Jose Mieles. The federation’s volleyball department has also received USD 75,000 in equipment.

At the Central American and Caribbean Games, hosts Dominican Republic cruised through their five matches undefeated, dropping only a set along the way, in a Pool B game against Puerto Rico. They also beat Costa Rica and Cuba in the pool and moved on to the semifinals, where they mastered another victory over Puerto Rico, this time by 3-0 (25-21, 25-15, 28-26). In the gold medal showdown (pictured in the main photo; source: NorcecaInfo) , the Caribbean Queens delighted the home fans with a 3-0 (25-19, 25-19, 25-21) win over Colombia.

Colombia topped Pool A unbeaten, after a five-set battle with Venezuela and straight-set wins over Trinidad & Tobago and Mexico. Then, they put together a 3-1 (25-19, 25-19, 17-25, 25-23) semifinal victory over Cuba to secure at least a silver medal.

Puerto Rico, who finished third in Pool B, went on to shut out Mexico in the quarterfinals. They bounced back from their semifinal loss to the home team with a 3-0 (26-24, 25-23, 25-18) sweep of the bronze medal game against Cuba.

Cuba, Mexico, Venezuela, Costa Rica and Trinidad & Tobago took the places from fourth to eighth in the final standings.

Dominican Republic’s 33-year-old outside hitter Yonkaira Pena was honored as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) and on the tournament’s Dream Team along with setter Niverka Marte (Dominican Republic), opposite Regla De La Pena (Cuba), outside hitter Brayelin Martinez (Dominican Republic), middle blockers Geraldine Gonzalez (Dominican Republic) and Jineiry Martinez (Dominican Republic), and libero Brenda Castillo (Dominican Republic). Castillo also picked up the awards for Best Digger and for Best Receiver. Dominican Republic’s Gaila Gonzalez was recognized as the Best Server, while Regla De La Pena emerged as the Best Scorer.

Central American and Caribbean Games – women’s volleyball: results, standings and statistics

EAVA Men’s Volleyball Championship in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

FIVB Volleyball Empowerment beneficiaries Korea triumphed as Eastern Asian zonal champions at the EAVA Men’s Volleyball Championship in Ulaanbaatar. Japan, with silver, and hosts Mongolia, with bronze, completed the podium.

The Korea Volleyball Association has so far been allocated a total of USD 357,000 in FIVB Volleyball Empowerment coach support for their national volleyball teams. Their men’s teams are benefitting from the expertise of Brazilian coach Issanaye Ramires. In addition, the national federation has been granted USD 6,000 for a national team coach development knowledge transfer program and USD 11,500 in volleyball equipment.

In Pool B in Ulaanbaatar, Korea beat Japan in four sets, Chinese Taipei in five sets, and Macao in straight sets. In the semifinals, they mastered a 3-0 (25-21, 25-22, 25-20) shutout of Pool A runners-up China, and in the final, they once again outplayed Japan in four sets, 3-1 (40-38, 25-17, 23-25, 25-22), to pick up the title.

After squeezing out a 3-2 (27-25, 25-23, 23-25, 18-25, 15-12) victory in their semifinal against Mongolia, Japan settled for silver.

The home team recovered with a 3-1 (25-16, 25-22, 19-25, 25-23) win over China in the third-place playoff to celebrate the bronze.

China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong and Macao, in that order, finished from fourth to seventh.

Korea’s 25-year-old opposite Hojin Shin received the MVP nomination, while their Empowerment head coach Issanaye Ramires was named the Best Coach of the tournament.

EAVA Men’s Volleyball Championship: results, standings and statistics

OZVA Men’s and Women’s Volleyball Championships in Mangliao, Guam

Both the men’s and the women’s national teams of FIVB Volleyball Empowerment funded Australia celebrated the Oceania zonal titles at the OZVA Volleyball Championships in Mangliao, Guam. The teams of New Caledonia and Wallis & Futuna claimed silver and bronze in the men’s tournament, while American Samoa and hosts Guam completed the women’s podium.

Volleyball Australia has so far benefited from USD 1,331,500 worth of FIVB Volleyball Empowerment coach support for their national volleyball teams, in addition to USD 6,000 for a national team coach development knowledge transfer program. Their men’s team benefits from the expertise of coach Daniel Ilott, while the women’s squad works under the supervision of coach Russell Borgeaud.

In the men’s OVZA Championship in Guam, Australia shut out the Cook Islands and Papua New Ginea, and outlasted Wallis & Futuna in five sets to win Pool B. Then, the Australians hammered out a 3-0 (25-14, 25-10, 25-17) sweep of their semifinal against the home team, and followed up with a 3-0 (25-17, 25-18, 25-19) gold medal victory over New Caledonia.

New Caledonia won Pool A without losing any sets, but in the semis, they also survived a five-set duel with Wallis & Futuna to celebrate a 3-2 (23-25, 22-25, 25-19, 25-23, 15-11) win.

Wallis & Futuna bounced back with a 3-1 (25-21, 21-25, 25-9, 25-21) victory over Guam in the bronze medal game.

Guam, Papua New Guinea, Palau, the Cook Islands and American Samoa occupied the places from fourth to eighth in the final standings.

OZVA Men’s Volleyball Championship: results and standings

The women’s national team of Australia topped Pool B in Guam after a five-set win over American Samoa, a shutout of New Caledonia and a four-set victory over Wallis & Futuna. In the semis, the Volleyroos mastered a 3-0 (25-6, 25-11, 25-17) straight-setter against the Marshall Islands to face American Samoa again in the gold medal match. It went 3-1 (25-17, 25-22, 23-25, 25-20) Australia’s way.

In the other semifinal, American Samoa hammered out a 3-0 (25-19, 25-9, 25-7) shutout of Guam. The home team came back with a 3-0 (25-20, 26-24, 25-15) sweep of the bronze medal playoff against the Marshall Islands.

The Marshall Islands, New Caledonia, Palau, Wallis & Futuna and the Cook Islands lined up in the places from fourth to eighth in the final standings.

OZVA Women’s Volleyball Championship: results and standings

SEA Women’s V Cup in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Chiang Mai in Thailand hosted the second tournament of this year’s SEA Women’s V Cup. Supported by FIVB Volleyball Empowerment, the home team and the Philippines finished in the top two places, while the bronze went to Indonesia.

The Thailand Volleyball Association has been granted a total of USD 420,000 in FIVB Volleyball Empowerment coach support for their national volleyball teams, in addition to USD 138,000 worth of volleyball equipment and another USD 6,000 for a national volleyball team coach development knowledge transfer program. Their women’s teams are working under the supervision of coaches Kiattipong Radchatagriengkai and China’s Feng Kun. The Philippine National Volleyball Federation has been assisted with a total of USD 915,500 in coach support from FIVB Volleyball Empowerment, some of which has been tagged to their women’s volleyball national teams benefitting from the expertise of Thai coach Anusorn Bundit. In addition, the national federation of the Philippines has received USD 75,000 in volleyball equipment.

Thailand won their second SEA Women’s V Cup trophy in 2026 and finished the season undefeated. They did not lose a single set at home in Chiang Mai, with a 3-0 (25-19, 25-17, 25-19) win over the Philippines, a 3-0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-12) win over Indonesia and a 3-0 (25-20, 25-10, 25-15) win over Vietnam.

The Philippines managed four-set wins over the other two opponents – 3-1 (22-25, 25-23, 25-21, 25-22) against Vietnam and 3-1 (25-13, 23-25, 25-19, 33-31) against Indonesia – to bring home silver. The only five-setter of the tournament was delivered in the tournament opener. Indonesia beat Vietnam by 3-2 (20-25, 18-25, 25-22, 25-20, 15-9), which eventually got them the bronze, while Vietnam were left winless in fourth place.

Thailand’s 29-year-old outside hitter Sasipaporn Janthawisut was once again nominated MVP of the tournament and made the Dream Team, accompanied by setter Pornpun Guedpard (Thailand), opposite Alyssa Jae Solomon (Philippines), outside hitter Ejiya Laure (Philippines), middle blockers Thatdao Nuekjang (Thailand) and Thi Bich Thuy Tran (Vietnam), and libero Indah Guretno (Indonesia).

SEA Women’s V Cup tournament 2: results and standings

BVA U17 Men’s Volleyball Balkan Championship in Tirana, Albania

FIVB Volleyball Empowerment beneficiaries Bulgaria and Romania earned gold and bronze, respectively, at the BVA U17 Men’s Volleyball Balkan Championship in Tirana. Turkiye picked up silver.

The Bulgarian Volleyball Federation has so far been funded with a total of USD 210,000 in FIVB Volleyball Empowerment coach support for their national volleyball selections. Their men’s teams benefit from the expertise of Italian coach Gianlorenzo Blengini. In addition, the BFV has received USD 167,000 in volleyball equipment. The Federatia Romana de Volei has so far been granted USD 168,000 in FIVB Volleyball Empowerment coach support for their volleyball national teams, in addition to USD 11,500 in volleyball equipment. Their men’s selections train under the supervision of coach Sergiu Stancu.

Bulgaria started the tournament in Albania with a five-set loss to Turkiye, but after a straight-set win over Kosovo, they finished Pool B runners-up. In the semifinals, the Bulgarians mastered a 3-0 (25-20, 25-21, 25-21) victory over Pool A winners Romania, and then, in the gold medal showdown, they got back at Turkiye with a 3-2 (25-22, 22-25, 25-18, 14-25, 15-7) win to conquer the title of the southern European zone.

Romania won their pool with straight-set wins over Serbia and hosts Albania, and after losing to Bulgaria in the semis, they met Serbia again for the bronze and claimed it with another 3-0 (25-12, 26-24, 25-12) sweep.

In the other semifinal, Turkiye produced a 3-0 (25-19, 25-23, 25-21) shutout of Serbia to secure a spot in the final and on the podium.

Serbia, Albania and Kosovo took the places from fourth to sixth.

Bulgaria’s 15-year-old outside hitter Milko Bagdasarov claimed the MVP honors. His teammates Emilian Dinchev and Krastin Ilov grabbed the awards for Best Setter and for Best Middle Blocker. The Best Libero recognition was earned by Romania’s Valeriu Verciuc. The Best Opposite and the Best Outside Hitter prizes went to Turkiye’s Kuzey Kaan Koc and Deniz Tirpanci, respectively.

BVA U17 Men’s Volleyball Balk