Costa Rica didn’t just reach the semifinals of the 12th Central American Games Guatemala City—they dominated them. On October 19 and 20, 2025, at the Teodoro Palacios Flores Gymnasium, both the men’s and women’s national volleyball teams advanced unbeaten, turning what was already a strong campaign into a historic sweep. By the time the final whistle blew on October 21, Costa Rica had captured gold in both tournaments, the women securing their ninth title in program history and the men their first since 2013. It wasn’t just about winning. It was about control. Precision. Grit.
Men’s Team Outlasts Honduras with Net Dominance
The men’s team, coached by César Salas, didn’t need fireworks to beat Honduras 3-0 on October 19. Just cold, calculated volleyball. The final score—25-17, 25-20, 26-24—told the story. Honduras out-attacked Costa Rica 41-38 and even edged them in service aces, 3-2. But here’s the twist: Honduras committed 25 unforced errors. Costa Rica? Just 13. And then there was the blocking. Eleven to four. That’s not luck. That’s coaching. That’s execution."In the first two sets, we played aggressively at the net," Salas said after the match. "We did it very well. The third set was harder to close because we rotated the setter to keep Felipe active. We made some mistakes, and Honduras threw us off with their own rotation. But in the end, our experience won. Nacho’s serve was decisive."
That experience showed. Costa Rica had already swept Belize 3-0 in their opening match, then followed it with a 3-1 win over Nicaragua—dropping only one set across five matches. Their consistency was absurd. In a tournament where momentum shifts on a single serve, they rarely blinked. Now, they faced Nicaragua again in the final, this time winning 3-1 (25-22, 21-25, 25-17, 25-19). The turning point? A 7-0 run in the fourth set, capped by a thunderous block from middle hitter Diego Mora.
Women’s Team Ends 8-Year Drought with Clinical Precision
If the men’s team was a well-oiled machine, the women’s squad was a symphony. On October 20, they faced host nation Guatemala in a sold-out gym, where the crowd roared like a hurricane. The Guatemalan team, led by standout María Andrea Santacruz, fought hard. They tied the first set at 23-23. But then came Yuliana González, the setter whose calm under pressure turned chaos into control. She found outside hitter Ana Victoria Rojas for key kills, and Tannia Carazo turned the net into a wall. A 25-23 win in the opener set the tone. The second? 25-12. The third? 25-12 again."We’ve been working on motivation," González said after the semifinal. "That’s one of Costa Rica’s main strengths. We’re already in the final, and I’m very excited because the Central American Games hadn’t been played since 2017. Our goal is to bring home the gold again."
They did more than that. In the final on October 21, they faced Nicaragua—a team that had stunned Belize 3-1 in the semis. This time, Costa Rica didn’t just win. They erased any doubt. 25-20, 25-20, 25-19. Lakysha Thompson finished with 18 kills, and Tatiana Sayles sealed the match with a block over Aury Álvarez. It was their ninth gold in women’s volleyball at the Central American Games. The last time they won? 2017. The last time Guatemala won? Never. They took bronze after beating Belize 3-1.
Why This Matters Beyond the Medals
The 12th Central American Games hadn’t been held since 2017, delayed by funding issues and pandemic disruptions. For athletes like González and Salas, this wasn’t just another tournament. It was validation. For young players watching in San José, it was proof that consistency beats hype. Costa Rica didn’t have the biggest rosters or the loudest crowds. But they had structure. They had leadership. They had patience.Meanwhile, Guatemala’s performance—especially in the women’s tournament—showed promise. Their home crowd was electric. Their young middle blockers improved dramatically. But they still lack the depth Costa Rica has built over the last decade. Honduras and Belize, while competitive, continue to struggle with error management. The gap isn’t closing—it’s widening.
What’s Next for Costa Rican Volleyball?
With gold in hand, the focus shifts to the 2026 NORCECA Championship qualifiers. Both teams will be seeded high, and the women’s squad, now with nine titles, will be targeted as the team to beat. Salas hinted at integrating two 19-year-old setters from the national development program into next year’s training camp. "We’re not resting," he said. "We’re building."For now, the country celebrates. In San José, billboards read: "Nueve Oros. Nada Más." Nine Golds. Nothing More. And for a nation that’s never had a professional volleyball league, that’s more than enough.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Costa Rica’s teams manage such low error counts?
Costa Rica’s coaching staff prioritized disciplined serve-receive and transition play throughout training. The men’s team averaged just 11.6 unforced errors per match, compared to Honduras’s 20.4. The women’s team reduced errors by 37% from 2017 to 2025 through video analysis and targeted drills. Their setters, especially Yuliana González, were trained to minimize risky sets under pressure.
Who are the key players to watch in future tournaments?
Beyond established stars like Yuliana González and Lakysha Thompson, keep an eye on 19-year-old opposite hitter Daniela Jiménez, who saw limited play in the 2025 Games but posted a 42% attack efficiency in exhibition matches. On the men’s side, middle blocker Diego Mora, who blocked six attacks in the final, is being scouted by clubs in Mexico and Brazil.
Why hasn’t the Central American Games been held since 2017?
The event was delayed due to a combination of funding shortfalls, political instability in host nations, and the global pandemic. The 2021 edition was canceled outright, and Guatemala was only confirmed as host in early 2024 after El Salvador withdrew. This 2025 edition was the first to be held on a strict four-year cycle since 2001.
How does Costa Rica’s success compare to past champions?
Costa Rica’s nine women’s golds now tie them with Cuba for the most in Central American Games history. The men’s team, with two golds since 2001, is climbing—this win ends a 12-year drought. Only Mexico and Panama have won more total volleyball medals in the event’s 70-year history, but Costa Rica is now the only nation to win both men’s and women’s gold in the same Games since 2006.
