Bethania de la Cruz facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Bethania de la Cruz de Peña, born on May 13, 1987, is a talented volleyball player from the Dominican Republic. She is known for her powerful attacks and has won many awards and medals throughout her career. She currently plays for the Omaha Supernovas in the Pro Volleyball Federation. Bethania is especially famous for helping her national team win gold medals at big events like the 2009 NORCECA Championship and the 2010 Pan-American Cup.

Quick facts for kids

Bethania de la Cruz

Cruz in 2020

Personal information

Full name

Bethania de la Cruz de Peña

Nationality

Dominican

Born

May 13, 1987 (age 38)
Santo Domingo

Hometown

Santo Domingo

Height

1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)

Weight

68 kg (150 lb)

Spike

330 cm (130 in)

Block

320 cm (130 in)

Volleyball information

Position

Opposite spiker/Outside Hitter

Current club

Athletes Unlimited Pro Volleyball

Number

National team

2005 -

Dominican Republic

Honours

Women's volleyball

Representing the Dominican Republic
Pan American Games
Gold	2019 Lima	Team
Gold	2023 Santiago	Team
Bronze	2015 Toronto	Team
NORCECA Championship
Gold	2021 Guadalajara	Team
Gold	2019 San Juan	Team
Gold	2009 Bayamón	Team
Silver	2011 Caguas	Team
Silver	2013 Omaha	Team
Bronze	2005 Port of Spain	Team
Bronze	2007 Winnipeg	Team
Pan-American Cup
Gold	2008 Mexicali/Tijuana	Team
Gold	2016 Santo Domingo	Team
Gold	2022 Hermosillo	Team
Silver	2009 Miami	Team
Silver	2011 Ciudad Juárez	Team
Silver	2013 Lima	Team
Silver	2017 Cañete/Lima	Team
Silver	2018 Santo Domingo	Team
Silver	2019 Trujillo and Chiclayo	Team
Bronze	2006 San Juan	Team
Bronze	2007 Colima	Team
Central American and Caribbean Games
Gold	2006 Cartagena	Team
Gold	2014 Veracruz	Team
Final Four Cup
Gold	2010 Chiapas	Team
Silver	2008 Fortaleza	Team
Bronze	2009 Lima	Team

Last updated: October 2013

Bethania de la Cruz's Volleyball Journey
Clubs Bethania Has Played For
Awards and Honors

Bethania de la Cruz's Volleyball Journey

Early Career and Awards (2006-2008)

In 2006, Bethania was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) when her club team, Mirador, won the championship. She also won MVP and Best Scorer awards playing for her country's junior team. She was even named "Dominican Republic Volleyball Player of the Year."

In 2007, Bethania continued to shine. She won the bronze medal with her national team at the Pan-American Cup. She also earned "Best Scorer" awards at both the Pan-American Cup and the NORCECA Championship. Playing for a team in Puerto Rico, she was named MVP of their All-Star Game.

From 2007 to 2008, she played in Japan for the Toray Arrows. Her team won the league championship, and she was chosen as one of the "Best 6" players. For the second time, she was named "Dominican Republic Volleyball Player of the Year" in 2008. That same year, she won silver with her national team at the Final Four Cup, where she was also named "Best Attacker" and "Best Scorer."

Taking a Break and Strong Comeback (2009-2011)

In 2009, Bethania was honored as the "Volleyball Athlete of the Year." She won "Best Spiker" at a World Championship qualification event. A month later, she led her national team to a silver medal at the Pan-American Cup and was named the MVP of the event. After helping her team win the 2009 NORCECA Championship, Bethania took a break from volleyball to start a family.

She returned to the sport in 2010, joining her national team and winning a gold medal at the Final Four Cup. She also played for a local team in the Dominican Republic, helping them reach the finals.

In 2011, Bethania joined a team in Puerto Rico, the Criollas de Caguas. She helped them have an amazing season, setting new records for aces (57) and points (392). Even though she felt she wasn't in her best physical shape, she won the MVP award. She then led her team to win the Puerto Rico League Championship.

Later in 2011, Bethania won the MVP award and a silver medal at the NORCECA Championship. She also played in the Pan American Games, where she was the "Best Scorer." She then moved to Japan to play for the Denso Airybees. At the 2011 World Cup in Japan, she was the "Best Scorer" and "Best Server," showing her incredible talent on the world stage.

Continued Success and Championships (2012-Present)

Because of her great performance in 2011, Bethania was again named "Volleyball Player of the Year" in the Dominican Republic.

From 2014 to 2015, Bethania played for the Turkish club Eczacıbaşı VitrA. She helped them win the CEV Champions League, a major European club competition. This win allowed her team to compete in the 2015 FIVB Club World Championship, which they also won! She was recognized as one of the "Best Outside Spikers" in the Champions League.

In 2019, she joined a club in Indonesia and helped them finish second in their league, also winning the "Best Server" award. She then returned to her home country to play for Mirador, winning the Dominican Republic Superior Volleyball League Championship and being named MVP and "Best Spiker."

After that, she played for Dynamo Kazan in Russia. With this team, she won the 2019 Russian Cup and was again named "Best Server." Her team was declared the league champion in 2020. She was also named "Volleyball Athlete of the Year" for 2019.

In 2021, Bethania finished second in the Athletes Unlimited Volleyball league in the United States, showing her consistent high performance. She was named "Volleyball Player of the Year" in the Dominican Republic once more. She also played for Altay Volleyball Club in Kazakhstan.

In 2024, Bethania played for the Omaha Supernovas in the first season of the Pro Volleyball Federation. She also competed in the fourth season of Athletes Unlimited Pro Volleyball.

Clubs Bethania Has Played For

Deportivo Nacional (2001–2004)
Mirador (2004–2006)
Vaqueras de Bayamón (2007)
Toray Arrows (2007–2008)
GS Caltex (2008–2009)
Navarrete (2010)
Mirador (2010)
Criollas de Caguas (2011)
Denso Airybees (2011–2012)
GS Caltex (2012–2014)
Eczacıbaşı VitrA (2014–2015)
Dinamo Moscow (2016–2017)
Savino Del Bene Scandicci (2017-2018)
Jakarta Pertamina Energi (2019)
Mirador (2019)
Dynamo Kazan (2019–2020)
Athletes Unlimited Volleyball (2021-2024)
Altay Volleyball Club (2021/22)
Omaha Supernovas (2024–)

Awards and Honors

Individual Awards

2006 Dominican Republic League "Most Valuable Player"
2006 Dominican Republic League "Best Spiker"
2006 NORCECA Junior Championship "Most Valuable Player"
2006 NORCECA Junior Championship "Best Scorer"
2006 TV Azteca's Women Stars Volleyball Cup "Most Valuable Player"
2007 Puerto Rican League "Best Attacker"
2007 Puerto Rican League All-Star Game "Most Valuable Player"
2007 NORCECA Championship "Best Scorer"
2007 Pan-American Cup "Best Scorer"
2007 Pan-American Games "Best Scorer"
2007 Dominican Republic "Volleyball Player of the Year"
2007-08 Japan V.Premier League Best 6
2008 Final Four Cup "Best Scorer"
2008 Final Four Cup "Best Attacker"
2008 Salonpas Cup "Best Attacker"
2008 Dominican Republic "Volleyball Player of the Year"
2008–2009 Korean V-League "All-Star"
2008–2009 Korean V-League "Best Attacker"
2010 World Championship NORCECA Qualification "Best Spiker"
2009 Pan-American Cup "Most Valuable Player"
2009 Pan-American Cup "Best Server"
2011 Puerto Rican League "Most Valuable Player"
2011 Puerto Rican League "Best Scorer"
2011 Puerto Rican League "Best Server"
2011 NORCECA Championship "Most Valuable Player"
2011 Dominican Republic "Volleyball Player of the Year"
2011 Pan American Games "Best Scorer"
2011 World Cup "Best Scorer"
2011 World Cup "Best Server"
2012 Summer Olympics NORCECA qualification tournament's MVP
2011–2012 Japanese League – "Best Scorer"
2011–2012 Japanese League – "Best Server"
2011–2012 Japanese League – "Best 6"
2013 NORCECA Championship "Best Outside Hitter"
2014 Pan-American Cup "Best Outside Spiker"
2014–15 CEV Women's Champions League "Best Outside Spiker"
2017 Pan-American Cup "Best Outside Spiker"
2019 Indonesian Proliga – "Best Server"
2019 Dominican Republic Superior Volleyball League – "Most Valuable Player"
2019 Dominican Republic Superior Volleyball League – "Best Spiker"
2019 Pan American Games "Best Outside Hitter"
2019 Pan American Games "Most Valuable Player"
2019 NORCECA Championship "Best Server"
2019 Russian Cup – "Best Server"
2021 NORCECA Championship "Best Outside Spiker"
2021 Dominican Republic "Volleyball Player of the Year"
2022 Athletes Unlimited "Individual Champion"
2022 Athletes Unlimited "Best Outside Hitter"

Beach Volleyball Medals

2006 National Championship — Bronze Medal

National Team Medals

Senior Team

2006 TV Azteca's Women Stars Volleyball Cup — Gold Medal

Junior Team

2006 NORCECA Women's Junior Continental Championship U-20 — Silver Medal

Club Medals

2006 Dominican Republic Torneo Superior del Distrito Nacional — Champion, with Mirador
2007 Japan Empress's Cup — Champion, with Toray Arrows
2007-08 Japan V.Premier League — Champion, with Toray Arrows
2011 Puerto Rican League — Champion, with Criollas de Caguas
2011-12 Japan V.Premier League — Bronze medal, with Denso Airybees
2012–13 Korean League – Runner-Up, with GS Caltex
2012–13 Korean Cup — Champion, with GS Caltex
2013–14 Korean League — Champion, with GS Caltex
2014–15 CEV Champions League — Champion, with Eczacıbaşı VitrA
2014–15 Turkish Women's Volleyball League – Bronze medal, with Eczacıbaşı VitrA
2015 FIVB Club World Championship – Champion, with Eczacıbaşı VitrA
2016 Russian Cup — Runner-Up, with Dinamo Moscow
2016–17 Russian Championship – Champion, with Dinamo Moscow
2019 Indonesian Proliga — Runner-Up, with Jakarta Pertamina Energi
2019 Dominican Republic Superior Volleyball League — Champion, with Mirador
2019 Russian Cup — Champion, with Dynamo Kazan
2019–20 Russian Championship – Champion, with Dynamo Kazan

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