Defending champions Dominican Republic have qualified for a sixth consecutive NORCECA Women's Continental Championship final ©Getty Images

Puerto Rico will face the defending champions Dominican Republic in North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation (NORCECA) Women’s Continental Championship after the pair won their semi-finals, while hosts Mexico secured fifth place at Costa Rica’s expense in Guadalajara

A 3-1 victory for Puerto Rico against Canada booked their place in the gold medal match as they triumphed 25-18, 19-25, 25-23, 25-20 at the Estadio de Voleibol Yoli Ramírez.

Canada had beaten Puerto Rico in their group A encounter, but opposite hitter Brittany Abercrombie’s 22 points contributed to the Puerto Ricans success as they reached only their second NORCECA Women’s Continental Championship final.

The team coach Fernando Morales was thrilled at how the players performed in the Mexican city.

"We prepared our game plan studying Canada and the girls followed it," said Morales.

"The credit is all theirs, they trusted themselves when they lost the third set, the trusted the plan when things were difficult.

"We served better in this match, so Canada had difficulties in receiving and weren’t able to perform their fast rhythm of play."

Canada against Puerto Rico had been the bronze medal match in the previous three editions of the NORCECA Women’s Continental Championship, with the Canadians partly avenging defeats in 2013 and 2015 with a win in 2019.

Puerto Rico’s only previous gold medal match appearance was on home soil in Bayamón in 2009, when they lost over five sets to Dominican Republic.

After a straight sets win against the United States, this will be Dominican Republic’s sixth consecutive appearance in the final, having triumphed in 2009 and 2019 and earned silver after defeats to the United States in 2011, 2013 and 2015.

The US became Olympic champions at Tokyo 2020 earlier this month, but were represented by their B team at the Continental Championship.

Outside hitter Bethania De La Cruz and opposite hitter Gaila González both notched 17 points for the Dominican Republic as they recorded a 25-16, 25-18, 25-20 victory.

Both Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic have earned places at the International Volleyball Federation Women’s World Championship by reaching the final.

In the day’s other match, hosts Mexico overcame Costa Rica 25-15, 25-10, 25-15 to secure fifth place.

The bronze medal match between Canada and the US is due to take place tomorrow, followed by the final between Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic.