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n” “nPHILIPPINES. The Dominican Republic women’s national volleyball team secured its first victory this Saturday in the 2026 Volleyball Nations League (VNL) by defeating Japan, the fifth-ranked team in the world, 3-1 (17-25, 25-20, 28-26, and 25-23) in a Group 5 match held in the Philippines.
n” “nWith the victory, the so-called Queens of the Caribbean ended a six-game losing streak and improved their record to one win and six losses in the competition.
n” “nThe Dominican offense was led by Flormarie Heredia Colón, who added 17 points. Also standing out were Jineirys Martínez with 14 units, Yonkaira Peña with 13, and Alondra Tapia with 11.
n” “nBrayelin Martínez played a key role, entering during the decisive moments of the last three sets and scoring fundamental points to seal the Dominican comeback. In the third set, she tied the score on several occasions and helped steer the victory in a set that ended 28-26.
For Japan, the most outstanding were Yukiko Wada with 17 points and Yoshino Sato with 16.
n” “nAfter falling in the first set 25-17, the Caribbean team reacted thanks to a more aggressive game, solid defensive work, and greater effectiveness in blocking. Libero Yaneiris Rodríguez stood out in reception and defense, while setter Niverka Marte directed the team’s offense with precision.
n” “nIn the fourth and final set, the Dominican Republic took a 14-10 lead with a four-point run, fueled by three consecutive spikes from Alondra Tapia. From then on, they maintained control to secure a victory that boosts the confidence of the team led by the national coaching staff.
The Queens of the Caribbean will conclude their participation in the second week of the VNL this Sunday, when they face Czechia at 4:00 AM (Dominican time). Afterward, they will travel to Hong Kong to compete in the third and final week of the tournament’s preliminary phase.
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