U.S. Girls U19 Team Ends 2025 Pan American Cup Pool Play 3-0
The U.S. Girls U19 National Team completed pool play undefeated after a 3-1 (20-25, 25-20, 25-14, 27-25) over Puerto Rico on Thursday in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 27, 2025) —The U.S. Girls U19 National Team secured its spot in the gold medal match of the 2025 NORCECA Pan American Cup with a 3-0 (25-22, 25-14, 25-20) win over the Dominican Republic in the first semifinal match on Friday in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
The U.S. (4-0) will meet the winner of the second semifinal between Mexico and host Canada for gold tomorrow, Saturday, June 28 at 1 p.m. PT.
For the fourth time in as many matches, the U.S. held a double-digit margin in kills (41-26). The U.S. squad had one more block (6-5) and ace (5-4), and two fewer errors.
Each of the match’s top four scorers were U.S. players with Megan Hodges leading the way with 14 points on 12 kills, a block and an ace. Middle blocker Taylor Harrington (six kills, two blocks and match-high three aces) and outside hitter Olivia Henry (nine kills and two blocks) each scored 11 points, with Henry recording a team-high seven successful receptions.
Libero Cala Haffner posted a match-best with 12 digs and finished with six successful receptions. Setter Taimane Ainu’u led the U.S. offense to a .276 hitting percentage. Outside Westley Matavao added nine points on eight kills and an ace and was second on the team with seven digs.
“It was a really fun match tonight,” Matavao said. “Each of us did our jobs and we played as one unit. We had a really good time out there on the court. I’m so excited for the final tomorrow. Go USA!”
A Hodges kill gave the U.S. a 17-14 lead in the first set before the Dominican Republic scored six of the next eight points to take a 20-19 lead. The U.S. rebounded after a timeout to end the set on its own 6-2 run. After a Dominican Republic error, the U.S. took the lead for good on a Harrington ace, Hodges kill and Rautenberg kill.
Hodges ended the set with her fourth kill and sixth point. Harrington added three kills to her ace for four points, and Henry notched four points on three kills and a block.
After falling behind 4-0 to start the second set, the U.S. took control with a 17-3 run to amass a 10-point lead. Harrington scored five points on three kills, a block and an ace in that stretch and for the set, while Montavao contributed five points on four kills and an ace.
The third set went back and forth before the U.S. used a four-point to take the lead for good at 19-16. Henry started the stretch with a kill and a block. Hodges scored on an overpass to extend the lead to five points, 23-18, and scored again for a 24-20 lead. An error ended the match.
Hodges led all players with five kills in the final set. Henry added four points on three kills and a block.
2025 U.S. Girls U19 National Team for the NORCECA Pan American Cup
(Name, Position, Height, Birth Year, Hometown, High School, Region)
1 Taimane Ainu’u (S, 5-11, 2009, Kapolei, Hawaii, Iolani HS, Aloha)
2 Nejari Crooks (OPP, 6-1, 2009, High Point, N.C., Wesleyan Christian Academy, Carolina)
3 Cala Haffner (L, 5-8, 2009, Fort Wayne, Ind., Carroll HS, Hoosier)
4 Taylor Harrington (MB, 6-3, 2009, Arlington, Va., Wakefield HS, Chesapeake)
5 Olivia Henry (OH, 6-5, 2009, Bayside, N.Y., IMG Academy, Florida)
6 Megan Hodges (MB/OPP, 6-5, 2009, Ladera Ranch, Calif., San Juan Hills HS, Southern California)
7 Marissa Jones (S, 6-2, 2009, Atlanta, Ga., Woodward Academy, Southern)
8 Kari Knotts (OH, 6-3, 2010, Marietta, Ga., Hightower Trail MS, Southern)
11 Westley Matavao (OH, 6-0, 2009, Ontario, Calif., Mater Dei HS, Southern California)
13 Shayla Rautenberg (MB, 6-3, 2009, Pleasant Dale, Neb., Milford HS, Great Plains)
14 Ireland Real (OH, 6-4, 2009, San Clemente, Calif., Santa Margarita Catholic HS, Southern California)
18 Kyla Williams (MB, 6-4, 2009, Cleveland, Ohio, Gilmour Academy, Ohio Valley)
Alternates
9 Pulelehua Laikona (L, 5-8, 2009, Gilbert, Ariz., Mesa HS, Arizona)
10 Leilani Lamar (OH, 6-2, 2009, Tampa, Fla., Tampa Preparatory School, Florida)
12 McKenna McIntosh (OH, 6-1, 2009, Stockton, Calif., St. Mary’s HS, Northern California)
15 Josalyn Samuels (S, 6-1, 2009, Harrisburg, S.D., Harrisburg HS, North Country)
16 Marlee Steiner (MB, 6-4, 2009, St. Louis, Mo., Lindbergh HS, Gateway)
17 Caroline Ward (OPP, 6-0, 2009, Lizton, Ind., Tri-West Hendricks HS, Hoosier)
19 Shaye Witherspoon (OH, 6-3, 2009, Wildwood, Mo., Lafayette HS, Gateway)
Coaches
Head Coach: Jamie Morrison (Texas A&M)
Assistant Coach: Michelle Chatman Smith (LOVB)
Assistant Coach: Maggie Eppright (LOVB)
Performance Analyst: Michael Bouril (Mississippi State)
Athletic Trainer: Rebecca Himes (PVF)
Team Lead: Alex Purvey (NTDP)
2025 Girls U19 Pan American Cup Schedule
All times Pacific
All matches will be livestreamed on Volleyball Canada YouTube
June 24: USA def. Venezuela, 3-0 (25-9, 25-23, 25-21)
June 25: USA def. Mexico, 3-0 (25-21, 25-21, 25-23)
June 26: USA def. Puerto Rico, 3-1 (20-25, 25-20, 25-14, 27-25)
June 27: USA def. Dominican Republic, 3-0 (25-22, 25-14, 25-20)
June 28: 1 p.m. Gold Medal Match, USA vs. Canada/Mexico
Stories
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