Decelise Champion scores 34 points as PR tops Mexico, secures spots in world championship & Olympic qualifier
- The San Juan Daily Star
- 43 minutes ago
- 3 min read
By THE STAR STAFF
Decelise Champion’s outstanding 34-point performance led Puerto Rico to a comeback five-set victory over Mexico (25-16, 23-25, 23-25, 25-17 and 15-11) and a fifth-place finish at the 2026 Women’s NORCECA Continental Championship at Prof. Ricardo Gioriver Arias Volleyball Palace in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
With the win, Puerto Rico (3-3) secured a berth in the 2027 FIVB Women’s World Cup and claimed the final spot for the NORCECA Olympic Qualifier, scheduled for this Friday and Saturday at the same site.
Canada beat the United States in straight sets to claim the tournament title, while Cuba took third place with a straight-sets victory over the Dominican Republic.
Champion’s offensive outburst made her the tournament’s top scorer. Paola Santiago added 11 points, while Valeria Vázquez contributed nine points for Puerto Rico.
Sofía Maldonado led the attack for Mexico with 21 points, followed by Grecia Castro with 17 points and Uxue Guereca with 16.
“Matches between us and Mexico are always like this,” Puerto Rico coach Juan Carlos Núñez said. “We had discussed before the game that it didn’t matter how we won -- 3-0, 3-1, or 3-2 -- the important thing was to stay calm. We lost two sets where we had a chance to win, but my girls, when they need to dig deep, they fight hard on the court. I am very proud of them.”
Puerto Rico controlled the first set, winning 25-16 while committing only three errors compared to Mexico’s eight. The Mexicans rallied to win two tightly contested sets by identical 25-23 scores and take a 2-1 lead in the match.
Mexico was in a position to close out the match during the fourth set, which was tied at 15 points. From that point on, Puerto Rico took control; with Champion making key scoring contributions, Puerto Rico won 10 of the final 12 points to take the set 25-17 and force a tie-breaker.
Puerto Rico maintained its momentum in the fifth set, establishing a 7-3 lead, but Mexico fought back to even the score at 10-10. The Puerto Ricans stepped up at the decisive moment, however, winning five of the next six points. Champion delivered key attacks in the closing stages before a Mexico error sealed the 15-11 victory.
In the fifth set, Mexico had a 7-6 edge in attacks, but Puerto Rico outblocked its opponent 4-3 and committed only one error compared to five by Mexico.
Champion earns individual tournament honors
Champion led the tournament’s individual awards, earning honors as Second Best Spiker and Best Scorer, reaffirming her offensive impact and her growth in international volleyball.
The Puerto Rico attacker’s performance was pivotal for the national team throughout the competition, positioning her among the event’s top performers and solidifying Puerto Rico’s competitive standing on the continental stage, the island volleyball federation noted.
The NORCECA Confederation announced the complete individual awards for the tournament, as follows:
Most Valuable Player (MVP): Kacey Jost (Canada); First Best Spiker: Simone Lee (United States); Second Best Spiker / Best Scorer: Decelise Champion (Puerto Rico); First Best Blocker: Geraldine González (Dominican Republic); Second Best Blocker: Chiaka Ogbogu (United States); Best Setter: Gretell Moreno (Cuba); Best Opposite: Regla de la Peña (Cuba); Best Libero / Best Defender: Yanisleidis Sánchez (Cuba); Best Receiver: Abagayle Guezen (Canada); Best Server: Paola Rivera (Mexico).
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