Bethania de la Cruz facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal family name is de la Cruz and the second or maternal family name is de Peña.

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 de Peña, born on May 13, 1987, is a famous volleyball player from the Dominican Republic. She plays for the Omaha Supernovas in the Pro Volleyball Federation. Bethania is well-known for helping her national team win gold medals in big championships, like the NORCECA Championship in 2009 and the Pan-American Cup in 2010.

Bethania's Volleyball Journey
Teams Bethania Has Played For
Awards and Achievements
- Individual Awards
- Team Medals and Championships
See also

Bethania's Volleyball Journey

Early Career and Awards (2006-2007)

In 2006, Bethania helped her Dominican club team, Mirador, win the championship. She was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) for her amazing performance. That same year, playing with the Junior National Team, she won MVP and "Best Scorer" awards at the U-20 NORCECA Championship. Her team earned a silver medal.

Bethania also won the MVP award at the "2006 TV Azteca's Women Stars Volleyball Cup" in Mexico. She even won a bronze medal in beach volleyball at the 2006 National Championship. Because of all these achievements, she was named "Dominican Republic Volleyball Player of the Year."

In 2007, Bethania won a bronze medal with her National Team at the Pan-American Cup. She also received the "Best Scorer" award at both the Pan-American Cup and the NORCECA Championship. She played for a team in Puerto Rico, where she was named MVP of the All-Star Game and "Best Spiker" for the season.

Playing in Japan and Korea (2008-2009)

From 2007 to 2008, Bethania played for the Toray Arrows in Japan's V.Premier League. Her team won the league championship, and she was recognized as one of the "Best 6" players. For the second time, she was named "Dominican Republic Volleyball Player of the Year" in 2008.

With her National Team, she won a silver medal at the 2008 Final Four Cup. She also earned "Best Attacker" and "Best Scorer" awards at this event. Later, she played for the GS Caltex team in South Korea for the 2008-2009 season. In 2009, she was named "Volleyball Athlete of the Year" by the Dominican Republic Guild of Sport Writers.

Bethania won the "Best Spiker" award at the 2010 World Championship NORCECA Qualification. A month later, she led her National Team to a silver medal at the 2009 Pan-American Cup and was named the MVP of the event. After helping her team win the 2009 NORCECA Championship, she took a break for maternity leave.

Return to the Court (2010-2011)

After her break, Bethania returned to the National Senior Team in 2010. They won the gold medal at the 2010 Final Four Cup. She also played for a local team, Navarrete, helping them reach the finals of the Santiago Intermunicipal Championship.

In 2011, Bethania joined the Criollas de Caguas team in Puerto Rico. She helped them win the regular season with an impressive record. Bethania set new records for serves (57 aces) and points (392), earning the MVP award for the season. She also set a playoff record with 9 aces in one match. Her team went on to win the Puerto Rico League Championship.

Bethania won the MVP award and a silver medal at the 2011 NORCECA Championship. She also played in the 2011 Pan American Games in Mexico, where she was the "Best Scorer." Later that year, she joined the Denso Airybees club in Japan. At the 2011 World Cup in Japan, Bethania won "Best Scorer" and "Best Server" awards. She was the top scorer four times during the competition.

Champions League Success (2012-2015)

For her outstanding performances in 2011, Bethania was named "Volleyball Player of the Year" in the Dominican Republic. She joined the Turkish club Eczacıbaşı VitrA and helped them win the 2014–15 CEV Champions League in 2015. She was recognized as one of the "Best Outside Spikers" in the competition.

Winning the Champions League qualified her club for the 2015 FIVB Club World Championship, which her team also won.

Recent Years (2016-2024)

In 2019, Bethania played for the Jakarta Pertamina Energi club in Indonesia, helping them finish second in the league and winning the "Best Server" award. She then returned to Mirador in the Dominican Republic, winning the League Championship and being named MVP and "Best Spiker."

After that, she moved to Russia to play for Dynamo Kazan. With this club, she won the Russian Cup gold medal and another "Best Server" award. Dynamo Kazan was declared the season's champion due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Bethania was also named "Volleyball Athlete of the Year" in 2019, sharing the award with Brayelin Martinez.

In 2021, Bethania finished second in the American league Athletes Unlimited Volleyball, showing her continued strength in the sport. She was again named "Volleyball Player of the Year" in the Dominican Republic. For the 2021 Club World Championship, she played for the Altay Volleyball Club from Kazakhstan.

In 2024, Bethania de la Cruz played for the Omaha Supernovas in their first season in the Pro Volleyball Federation. She also competed in season 4 of Athletes Unlimited Pro Volleyball.

Teams 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 Achievements

Individual Awards

Bethania has won many individual awards throughout her career, including:

Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards for various leagues and championships (e.g., 2006 Dominican Republic Torneo Superior, 2006 U-20 NORCECA Championship, 2009 Pan-American Cup, 2011 Puerto Rican League, 2011 NORCECA Championship, 2019 Dominican Republic Superior Volleyball League, 2019 Pan American Games, 2022 Athletes Unlimited).
Best Scorer awards (e.g., 2006 U-20 NORCECA Championship, 2007 Pan-American Cup, 2007 NORCECA Championship, 2008 Final Four Cup, 2011 Puerto Rican League, 2011 Pan American Games, 2011 World Cup, 2011–2012 Japanese League).
Best Spiker or Best Attacker awards (e.g., 2006 Dominican Republic Torneo Superior, 2007 Puerto Rican League, 2008 Final Four Cup, 2008 Salonpas Cup, 2010 World Championship NORCECA Qualification, 2019 Dominican Republic Superior Volleyball League).
Best Server awards (e.g., 2009 Pan-American Cup, 2011 Puerto Rican League, 2011 World Cup, 2011–2012 Japanese League, 2019 Indonesian Proliga, 2019 Russian Cup, 2019 NORCECA Championship).
She was also named "Dominican Republic Volleyball Player of the Year" multiple times (2007, 2008, 2011, 2019, 2021).
In 2015, she was recognized as one of the "Best Outside Spikers" in the CEV Women's Champions League.

Team Medals and Championships

Bethania has helped her teams win many medals and championships:

Beach Volleyball

2006 National Championship — Bronze Medal

National Team (Senior)

2006 TV Azteca's Women Stars Volleyball Cup — Gold Medal
Pan American Games: Gold (2019, 2023), Bronze (2015)
NORCECA Championship: Gold (2009, 2019, 2021), Silver (2011, 2013), Bronze (2005, 2007)
Pan-American Cup: Gold (2008, 2016, 2022), Silver (2009, 2011, 2013, 2017, 2018, 2019), Bronze (2006, 2007)
Central American and Caribbean Games: Gold (2006, 2014)
Final Four Cup: Gold (2010), Silver (2008), Bronze (2009)

National Team (Junior)

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

Club Teams

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