U.S. Girls U18 Team Tops Romania at World Championship

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Sept. 22, 2021) – The U.S. Girls U18 National Team beat Romania on Wednesday, 3-1 (25-21, 25-11, 18-25, 25-16) at the FIVB U18 World Championship in Durango, Mexico.

The U.S. Girls U18 Team (2-0) will continue pool play on Thursday against Puerto Rico (1-1) in a match scheduled for noon PT. Live stream will be available at youtu.be/42sDKlg3IW0.

The U.S. Girls U18 Team had a minor stumble in the third set on Wednesday but recovered admirably.

OFFICIAL STATISTICS * TEAM STATISTICS

“Romania played better in the set we lost,” U.S. Head Coach Jamie Morrison said. “Their serve-receive picked up and that made the match even. I believe on our side we got sloppy, and we lost energy because of it.”

The U.S. led in kills (49-36), blocks (11-8) and aces (7-6). The U.S. hitting efficiency was .398 behind starting setter Alexis Stucky and substitute Bergen Reilly. Romania hit .278.

U.S. middle blocker Maggie Mendelson led all scorers with 17 points on 10 kills, a match-high four blocks and three aces. Outside hitter Harper Murray added 12 points on a team-high 12 kills.

Middle Bekka Allick scored 11 points on seven kills, three blocks and one ace. Opposite Devin Kahahawai had 11 points on seven kills, two blocks and two aces.

Outside hitter Mckenna Wucherer scored nine points on eight kills and one block. Stucky finished with four points on two kills, one block and one ace. Backup outside hitter Julia Blyashov scored three points on three kills.

Libero Laney Choboy was credited with 13 digs and six successful receptions.

2021 U.S. Girls U18 National Team
Name (Pos., Height, Hometown, Region, Club)
1 Laney Choboy (L, 5-3, Raleigh, N.C., Carolina, NC Volleyball Academy)
4 Chloe Chicoine (OH/L, 5-10, Lafayette, Ind., Hoosier, Circle City)
6 Bergen Reilly (S, 6-1, Sioux Falls, S.D., North Country, Kairos Elite Volleyball)
7 Mckenna Wucherer (OH, 6-1, Brookfield , Wis., Badger, Milwaukee Sting)
10 Caroline Jurevicius (OPP, 6-2, Gates Mills, Ohio, Ohio Valley, Academy Volleyball Cleveland)
13 Harper Murray (OH, 6-2, Ann Arbor, Mich., Lakeshore, Legacy Volleyball Club)
14 Alexis Stucky (S, 6-2, Laramie, Wyo., Rocky Mountain, Northern Colorado Juniors)
16 Devin Kahahawai (OH, 6-3, Kailua, Hawaii, Aloha, Spike and Serve)
18 Eloise Brandewie (MB, 6-3, Columbus, Ohio, Ohio Valley, Mintonette)
19 Julia Blyashov (OH, 6-3, San Diego, Calif., Southern California, Wave Volleyball Club)
21 Bekka Allick (MB, 6-4, Waverly, Neb., Great Plains, VC Nebraska)
24 Maggie Mendelson (MB, 6-5, North Ogden, Utah, Intermountain, Hive Volleyball)

Head Coach: Jamie Morrison
Assistant Coach: Michelle Chatman-Smith
Assistant Coach: Alisha Glass Childress
Technical Coordinator: Mike Gee
Team Leader: Meredith Lee
Athletic Trainer: Wyatt Blue

U.S. Schedule for the FIVB U18 World Championship
(All times PT)
Live streams available at youtube.com

Sept. 21: USA def Thailand, 3-0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-23)
Sept. 22: USA def Romania, 3-1 (25-21, 25-11, 18-25, 25-16)
Sept. 23 at noon USA v Puerto Rico
Sept. 24 at 9 a.m. USA v Nigeria
Sept. 25 Rest Day
Sept. 26-29 TBD