Puerto Rico Earns First Win Beating

Dominican Republic in Five Sets

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras, May 27, 2026.– Puerto Rico earned its first victory at the Girls’ U17 Pan American Cup after surviving a roller coaster five-set battle against Dominican Republic, winning 3-2 (16-25, 25-21, 26-28, 25-20, 15-8) in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

Puerto Rico finished Pool A with a 1-1 record. Dominican Republic (0-1) will face the United States (1-0) in its final pool-play match. The top two first ranked teams from the preliminary round advance directly to the semifinals, while the third-ranked first placed team advances to the quarterfinals.

Dominican Republic opened the match strongly behind the offensive efforts of Shanty Perez, Paola De Jesús Dionicio and Leandry Almonte. Their attacking efficiency neutralized Puerto Rico and helped the Dominicans secure the first set comfortably.

The second set featured closer scores throughout. Middle blocker Eliany Quiñones delivered key points for Puerto Rico, helping her team maintain the lead from start to finish. Dominican Republic’s efforts were difficult as they committed nine unforced errors. Quiñones closed the set with a powerful kill after a reception error by Dominican libero Ella Genao.

Puerto Rico again took control of the third set with Elizmar Vazquez contributing effectively in offense and blocking. Camila Colon joined the effort as Puerto Rico built a comfortable four-point lead at 17-13. Carinialys Kuilan also played an important role in keeping Puerto Rico ahead. Dominican Republic rallied from behind, narrowing the gap to 20-18 after a kill by Johanna Fanil Hernández and consecutive Puerto Rican mistakes tied the score at 20-all. Hernández then pushed the Dominicans ahead 23-21. Puerto Rico responded to tie at 23 with a block by Anna Aquino on Perez and another Dominican error. In a thrilling finish, both teams missed opportunities to close the set before Perez scored three consecutive attack points to give Dominican Republic a 2-1 lead in the match.

The fourth set mirrored the intensity of the third. Puerto Rico led behind effective plays from Aquino and Quiñones, while Arianna Pantojas added valuable contributions. Puerto Rico’s 14-9 advantage in kills proved decisive in forcing a fifth set.

Dominican Republic recovered from an early 3-6 deficit in the tie-break to level the score at 6-all with attacks from Almonte and Perez, combined with a Puerto Rican defensive error. Puerto Rico regained momentum with kills from Quiñones and Pantojas to move ahead 10-7 and remained in control the rest of the way. Arianna Pantojas sealed the victory with a powerful attack.

Puerto Rico held a significant advantage in serves (11-5) and benefited from 36 Dominican errors compared to 28 of their own. Dominican Republic led in attacks (60-51). Both teams recorded nine blocks.

Four Puerto Rican players finished in double figures: Anna Aquino with 14 points, Eliany Quiñones with 14, Arianna Pantojas with 12 and Carinialys Kuilan with 12.

Dominican opposite hitter Shanty Ivette Perez and outside hitter Leandry Almonte led all scorers in the match with 26 and 24 points respectively.

Puerto Rico’s head coach, Leira Ortiz, expressed satisfaction with the victory: “There is always a rivalry between Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico in every category. It is exciting to have earned this victory. It was a hard-fought match. Their outside hitters caused us a lot of trouble, so we made some adjustments and were able to get the win.”

Prisilla Rivera, head coach of Dominican Republic, indicated that players at this age can quickly lose concentration: “That is normal, and because of that we had difficulties with some rotations due to their age, and that cost us at important moments. Puerto Rico played a great match, managed to maintain the pressure, and I congratulate them. We still have a long road ahead of us.”