Colombians overwhelm Puerto Rico to reach gold medal match

COLIMA, Mexico, August 9, 2025 – Colombia defeated Puerto Rico 3-0 (25-23, 25-17, 25-17) in straight sets in the semifinals to advance to the gold medal match at the XXII Senior Women's Pan American Volleyball Cup being held at the Multifunctional Auditorium of the Unidad Deportiva Morelos in Colima, Mexico.

Colombia led by a wide margin in attacks 50-33 and in serves 5-2, while Puerto Rico led in blocks 10-5.

Laura Grajales and Ana Karina Olaya both scored 18 points as the Colombian team's top attackers, followed by Valerin Carabali, who added 12.

Paola Santiago led Puerto Rico with 11 points, followed by Neira Ortiz and Decelise Champion, who each added 9.

Guilherme Schmitz, Colombia coach: “We played very well today, we knew we had a very strong opponent, but we managed to neutralize their team's main strengths and were very efficient in the key moments, I'm very happy because this is my first time leading the Colombian team, and I'm already headed to a final.”

Juan Carlos Núñez, Puerto Rico coach: “Nothing, they knocked us out, when they adjusted their serve, which was very strong, we couldn't create chances, Colombia defended very well and did more than we did, we had an offensive slump where we couldn't go toe-to-toe with them, and nothing, good execution by Colombia, bad by us.”