FIVB Volleyball Empowerment beneficiaries the Dominican Republic and Mexico claimed gold and bronze, respectively, at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games women’s volleyball tournament, with Brazil lining up between them with silver.
The Dominican Republic women’s national team, which has so far been allocated a total of CHF 510,000 of coach support through the Volleyball Empowerment programme, crowned a fantastic season with the prestigious title in Chile on Thursday. Earlier this summer, Las Reinas del Caribe won gold at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Salvador, took silver at the 2023 NORCECA Final Six Pan American Cup at home, triumphed at the 2023 NORCECA Senior Women’s Volleyball Continental Championship in Canada, and stunningly topped the final standings at the Olympic Qualification Tournament in China to book their ticket to next year’s Olympic Games in Paris.
Brazilian head coach Marcos Kwiek’s squad produced a 3-0 (26-24, 25-16, 25-19) sweep of the final match against Brazil to add the Pan American Games crown to the team’s impressive list of achievements. The victory also saw them defend their 2019 title and add a third gold to their medal collection in the competition, which also contains a 2003 gold and a 2015 bronze. Meanwhile, the Brazil women’s team improved their Pan American Games podium count to four gold, four silver and two bronze medals.
“We had many commitments, very important competitions, and we achieved all the goals we set,” Kwiek commented. “We came here as favourites, knowing our quality, and I believe we didn’t disappoint. Mission accomplished!”
Dominican Republic’s Santiago 2023 victory photo (Photo credits: norceca.net)
To reach the Santiago 2023 final, the Dominican Republic first topped Pool B without dropping a single set in the three matches against hosts Chile, Mexico and Colombia. The only set they lost was in their 3-1 (16-25, 25-19, 25-20, 25-17) semifinal victory over Argentina. In the other semifinal, Mexico pushed Brazil to a fifth-set decider before the South Americans could celebrate a 3-2 (25-17, 22-25, 27-25, 22-25, 15-13) win.
In Thursday’s third-place match, Mexico persevered through another five-set battle, this time achieving a 3-2 (22-25, 25-23, 22-25, 25-18, 15-13) victory over Argentina to claim their first Pan American Games medal since 1975. It was their fourth bronze in the history of the competition. Mexico’s showcase also contains a Pan American Games gold from the inaugural volleyball tournament they hosted in their capital back in 1955.
Mexico has been allocated a total of CHF 460,000 as FIVB Volleyball Empowerment targeted coach support for its men’s and women’s volleyball and beach volleyball national teams over the past two years. In addition, the Mexico women’s national volleyball team has benefited from CHF 72,000 of application-based coach support in 2020.
“My players achieved a historic result,” said Mexico’s Italian coach Nicola Negro. It has been 48 years since Mexico won a medal at the Pan American Games. I believe that the Olympic Qualification Tournament in China prepared us to compete at this level. We arrived with great confidence, had a good tournament here, and I hope this medal marks the beginning of a new journey.”
The teams of Chile, Colombia, Puerto Rico and Cuba lined up from fifth to eighth in the final standings.
The Dominican Republic team captain and setter Niverka Marte was selected as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament. Ivone Martinez from Mexico, as well as opposite Sabrina Machado (Brazil), outside hitters Brayelin Martinez (Dominican Republic) and Yonkaira Pena (Dominican Republic), middle blockers Neira Ortiz (Puerto Rico) and Lorena Viezel (Brazil), and libero Camila Gomez (Colombia) made up the Dream Team of the competition. Yonkaira Pena also received the recognition for Best Server. Puerto Rico’s Shara Venegas took the Best Receiver award. Host country Chile also pocketed two individual awards. Beatriz Novoa was the Best Scorer of the tournament, while Carla Ruz was honoured as the Best Digger.
Pan American Games Santiago 2023 – women’s volleyball results
