Dominican Republic Outlasts Puerto Rico in

Epic Five-Set Battle to Claim Final Six Bronze

GUADALAJARA, Jalisco, September 21, 2025. – The Dominican Republic captured its first-ever bronze medal at the NORCECA Women’s Final Six, outlasting Puerto Rico in an epic five-set clash 3-2 (25-22, 20-25, 19-25, 25-23, 15-13) on Sunday at Unidad Deportiva López Mateos in Guadalajara.

This result adds to the Dominican Republic’s impressive Final Six history, which already includes three gold medals (2021, 2022, 2024) and a silver in 2023. The Dominicans closed the tournament with a 3-4 record, while Puerto Rico finished 2-5.

Puerto Rico had swept the Dominican Republic in the preliminary round, but the rematch proved to be a battle of wills.

The Dominicans stormed to a 5-0 lead in the opening set behind the offensive firepower of Massiel Matos and Alondra Tapia, taking advantage of Puerto Rico’s early errors. Puerto Rico responded with solid blocking from Neira Ortiz and Decelise Champion and sharp hitting from Paola Santiago to level the score at 12-12. From there, the teams traded points until Matos delivered a key kill and Geraldine González stuffed Santiago at the net to secure the first set.

Puerto Rico controlled the second set from start to finish, with Valeria Vázquez and Ortiz effectively shutting down Matos and Tapia at the net. Champion and Santiago maintained the offensive pressure, and Champion’s final kill sealed the set, tying the match at one apiece.

The third set saw Puerto Rico jump to a 5-1 lead, with Alba Hernández joining the scoring and Champion continuing her strong offensive run. The Dominicans clawed back to even the score at 14-all, but Puerto Rico regained control with Ortiz’s blocking and Vázquez’s attacks to take a 2-1 match lead.

Puerto Rico built a 12-8 advantage in the fourth set, with Ortiz and Hernández scoring two key blocks over Matos and Guillen. Champion and Santiago kept the pressure high, but the Dominicans refused to back down. Samaret Caraballo delivered a crucial block on Ortiz to tie the set at 23-23, followed by a big kill from Florangel Terrero and another from González to force a decisive fifth set.

In the tiebreak, the Dominican Republic earned match point at 14-12 with a kill from Guillen that rebounded off Ortiz’s block. Ortiz denied the first match point with a block on Matos, but González finished the job with a clever tip in the middle, clinching the bronze medal for the Dominican Republic.

The Dominican Republic held a slight edge in attacks (63-61), while Puerto Rico led in blocks (15-12) and aces (6-3). Both teams committed 26 errors.

Madeline Guillén led the Dominican Republic with 24 points, followed by Alondra Tapia with 17 and Massiel Matos with 13. Decelise Champion of Puerto Rico topped all scorers with 25 points, while Valeria Vázquez added 17, Paola Santiago 16, and Neira Ortiz contributed 14 points, including a match-high nine blocks.

Marcos Kwiek, Head Coach of the Dominican Republic, said after the victory: “It was a good match. The players need to get used to this level of play and pressure. It’s good for their growth. It’s good that they go through these situations so they can grow as players and understand that nothing comes easy.”