U.S. Girls U19 Open 2023 World Championships With Five-Set Win Over Korea

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (August 1, 2023) – The U.S. Girls U19 National Team began play at the FIVB Girls U19 World Championship on Tuesday with a 3-2 (25-21, 19-25, 25-21, 23-25, 15-10) victory over Korea in Osijek, Croatia.

The U.S. returns to the court at 6 a.m. PDT on Wednesday against Japan.

MATCH STATS (PDF)

Outside hitter Abby Vander Wal led all players with 26 points on 19 kills (with a .541 hitting percentage efficiency), four blocks, and three aces. Middle blocker Ayden Ames contributed 18 points on 13 kills and a team-high five blocks, while opposite Abigail Mullen also reached double digits with 12 points on seven kills, two blocks, and three aces.

The match was nearly even in blocks (U.S. 14-13) and aces (Korea 10-9), but the U.S. recorded a 63-49 advantage in kills.

Nine U.S. players registered at least one kill with seven posting four or more. Middle blockers Jaela Auguste and Favor Anyanwu each finished with six kills, outside hitter Teraya Sigler totaled five, and outside hitter Emerson Sellman added four. Anyanwu’s hitting percentage was .625 and Auguste hit .455.

“I thought we played a gritty version of volleyball. We talked about consistently learning even within matches and we did a really good job of doing that,” U.S. Head Coach Jamie Morrison said. “Everybody came ready to play and a lot of people’s numbers were called. Overall, I’m happy and we are going to continue to get better throughout this tournament.”

Libero Olivia Mauch totaled 16 digs and nine successful receptions.

Neither team led by more than two points in the first set until the U.S. scored three consecutive points with the score tied at 19. The U.S. finished the set with a 17-10 advantage in kills.

Korea ran off nine points in a row early in the second set to take a 15-6 lead to even the match.

The U.S. dropped six of the first seven points of the third set, they but used a 13-3 run to take a 14-9 lead. Korea pulled within three points, 20-17, but could get no closer.

Korea jumped out to a 13-7 lead in the fourth set before the U.S. went on a 10-3 run to take a one-point lead, 17-16. Korea scored seven of the next nine points to move ahead, 23-19, and held on to send the match to a deciding set.

Back-to-back aces gave Korea a 4-2 lead in the fifth set, but a pair of aces by setter Campbell Flynn led the U.S. on a 5-1 run to take an 8-5 lead. The U.S. led by as many as six points (14-8) in the 15-10 set win to take the match. Vander Wal and Anyanwu each recorded three kills in the set with Sigler adding two.

There are 24 teams from around the world competing at the World Championship.

U.S. Girls U19 Roster for the 2023 FIVB World Championship

Name (Position, Height, Birth Year, Hometown, School, USAV Region)
2 Jaela Auguste (MB, 6-2, 2006, Spring, Texas, Grand Oaks HS, Lone Star)
3 Charlie Fuerbringer (S, 5-11, 2006, Hermosa Beach, Calif., Mira Costa HS, Southern California)
4 Ayden Ames (MB, 6-4, 2006, Prosper, Texas, Prosper HS, North Texas)
5 Favor Anyanwu (MB, 6-2, 2006, Rowlett, Texas, Sachse HS, North Texas)
6 Campbell Flynn (S, 6-3, 2006, Rochester Hills, Mich., Mercy HS, Lakeshore)
9 Ava Falduto (L, 5-7, 2006, Elmhurst, Ill., IC Catholic Prep, Great Lakes)
11 Becca Kelley (OH, 6-3, 2005, Rockwall, Texas, University of Oregon, North Texas)
12 Olivia Mauch (L, 5-6, 2005, Bennington, Neb., Bennington HS, Great Plains)
13C Emerson Sellman (OH, 6-4, 2005, Burtonsville, Md., The Academy of the Holy Cross, Chesapeake)
15 Abigail Mullen (Opp, 6-3, 2006, Kansas City, Mo., Liberty HS, Heart of America)
17 Teraya Sigler (OH, 6-2, 2006, Horizon HS, Scottsdale, Ariz., Arizona)
19 Abby Vander Wal (OH, 6-3, 2006, Elmhurst, Ill., Timothy Christian HS, Great Lakes)

Head Coach: Jamie Morrison
Assistant Coach: Michelle Chatman Smith
Assistant Coach: Maggie Eppright
Performance Analyst: Kyle Thompson
ATC: Chris Cornell
Team Lead: Jon Wong

Alternates
1 Lizzy Andrew (MB, 6-5, 2005, Ridgefield, Wash., Ridgefield HS, Columbia Empire)
7 Carly Gilk (OPP, 6-2, 2006, Brooklyn Park, Minn., Champlin Park HS, North Country)
8 Kaci Demaria (OH, 6-4, 2007, San Pedro, Calif., Palos Verdes HS, Southern California)
10 Noemie Glover (Opp, 6-2, 2005, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., University of Oregon, Southern California)
14 Skyler Pierce (OH, 6-2, 2005, Lenexa, Kan., Olathe Northwest HS, Heart of America)
16 Cari Spears (OH, 6-3, 2007, Dallas, Texas, Prestonwood Christian Academy, North Texas)
18 Izzy Starck (S, 6-1, 2006, Melbourne, Fla., Viera HS, Rocky Mountain)

U.S. Schedule for the 2023 FIVB Girls U19 World Championship
Matches will be shown on the Volleyball World YouTube channel
All times PDT
Aug. 1: USA def. Korea, 3-2 (25-21, 19-25, 25-21, 23-25, 15-10)
Aug. 2: at 6 a.m. USA vs Japan
Aug. 3: at 6 a.m. USA vs Mexico
Aug. 5: at 12 p.m. USA vs Poland
Aug. 6: at 8 a.m. USA vs Serbia
Aug. 7: Round of 16 and classification matches
Aug. 9: Quarterfinals and classification matches
Aug. 10: Semifinals and classification matches
Aug. 11: Finals