U.S. Girls U19 National Team Headed to 2025 Worlds Final After Dominating Poland

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 12, 2025) – The U.S. Girls U19 National Team will look to defend its World U19 title on Sunday after the squad defeated Poland 3-0 (25-14, 25-18, 25-19) at the 2025 FIVB Girls U19 World Championship on Saturday in Osijek, Croatia.

The gold medal match will pit the U.S. against the winner of the Türkiye/Bulgaria semifinal. Watch the final on July 13 at 9:15 a.m. on VBTV or on the Volleyball World YouTube channel.

The U.S. has medaled in the last three World Championships for the age group. The 2023 World Championship, where the team won gold, was the first one contested as a U19 championship. Previously, FIVB held Worlds as a U18 event, and the U.S. won bronze in 2021 and gold in 2019.

It was the second time at the World Championship that Poland and the U.S. squared off. The first match was closely contested, with Poland winning 16-14 in the fifth set. But this time, it was all USA.

The U.S. held the lead in kills (37-26), blocks (12-3) and aces (8-3).

Outside hitter Suli Davis led the U.S. with 18 points on 13 kills, three blocks and two aces. Opposite Henley Anderson had six kills, three blocks and two aces for 11 points, and middle blocker Jordan Taylor had seven kills and one block for eight points.

Gabrielle Nichols and Cari Spears also scored eight points, with Nichols collecting four kills, three blocks and an ace, and Spears notching six kills, one block and an ace. Devyn Wiest had one ace.

Libero Lily Hayes led the team with eight digs and seven successful receptions. Setter Genevieve Harris led the strong U.S. offense, and also scored three points.

The first set was all USA with a balanced offensive attack. Davis scored six points on five kills and a block, and Spears had three kills and a block. The U.S. had five blocks compared to zero for Poland.

The U.S. jumped out to a big lead in set two before allowing Poland to sneak within one at 11-10. The U.S. scored five of the next six to stretch the lead to 16-11. A U.S. service error and a Poland ace cut the lead to three at 16-13.  Poland’s first block of the evening cut it back to two at 17-15. Another U.S. ace gave the team a three-point lead and Poland did not get any closer. The U.S. closed out the set on a Nichols kill, a block from Anderson and Nichols, and a kill from Anderson.

The third set was the biggest test for the U.S., with Poland jumping out to a 9-6 lead. The U.S. tied it at 10 after a Spears ace and Poland attack error, and the U.S. took the lead at 13-12 with a Taylor kill. Taylor and Spears then went up for a block to extend the lead to 14-12, and an Anderson ace made it 15-12. The U.S. continued to extend its lead by winning eight of the next 10 points for 23-14. After three points for Poland to make it 23-17, Suli Davis attacked out of the back row for a kill to reach match point. A U.S. service error and a Poland ace cut the lead to 24-19. A Harris dump gave the match to the U.S.

2025 U19 National Team Roster for World Championship

(Name, Pos., Birth Year, Height, Hometown, School, Region)
3 Jordan Taylor (MB, 6-5, 2007, Houston, Texas, University of Minnesota, Lone Star)
5 Lily Hayes (L, 5-9, 2007, Tampa, Fla., Berkeley Prep HS, Florida)
6 Suli Davis (OH, 6-1, 2007, Euless, Texas, Brigham Young University, North Texas)
8 Abbey Emch (MB, 6-3, 2007, New Waterford, Ohio, University of Pittsburgh, Ohio Valley)
10 Isabelle Hoppe (S, 5-8, 2008, Gibsonia, Pa., Pine Richland HS, Ohio Valley)
11 Kelly Kinney (OH/OPP, 6-2, 2007, West Palm Beach, Fla., The Kings Academy, Florida)
12 Genevieve Harris (S, 5-11, 2007, Raleigh, N.C, Cardinal Gibbons HS, Carolina)
13 Gabrielle Nichols (MB, 6-3, 2007, Winston Salem, N.C., Penn State University, Carolina)
16 Cari Spears (OH, 6-3, 2007, Dallas, Texas, University of Texas, North Texas)
17 Lameen Mambu (OH, 6-0, 2007, Chantilly, Va., Georgia Tech, Chesapeake)
19 Henley Anderson (OPP/OH, 6-3, 2007, Dripping Springs, Texas, Dripping Springs HS, Lone Star)
20 Devyn Wiest (OH, 6-3, 2007, Peoria, Ariz., University of Utah, Arizona)

Alternates
1 Izzy Mogridge (S, 5-11, 2007, Lutz, Fla., Berkeley Prep HS, Florida)
2 Charlotte Vinson (OPP, 6-2, 2007, Muncie, Ind., Yorktown HS, Hoosier)
4 Kalyssa Blackshear (MB/OPP, 6-4, 2007, Torrance, Calif., University of Louisville, Southern California)
7 Ayanna Watson (OH/OPP, 6-3, 2007, Henderson, Nev., Bishop Gorman HS, Southern California)
9 Natalie Wardlow (MB/OPP, 6-5, 2007, Lincoln, Neb., Lincoln Southeast HS, Great Plains)
15 Logan Bell (L, 5-11, 2007, Beech Grove, Ind., Roncalli HS, Hoosier)
18 Aniya Warren (L, 5-8, 2007, Lockport, Ill., Benet Academy, Great Lakes)

Coaches
Head Coach: Keegan Cook (Minnesota)
Assistant Coach: Alyssa D’Errico (Utah)
Assistant Coach: April Sanchez (New Mexico)
Performance Analyst: Jon Wong (Florida State)
ATC: Cherryl Bueno (Coast to Coast AthletiCare)
Team Lead: Courtney Smith (NTDP)

2025 FIVB Girls U19 World Championship Schedule
All times Pacific/Osijek, Croatia
Matches live on VBTV and Volleyball World YouTube

July 2: USA def. Spain, 3-1 (22-25, 25-16, 25-12, 25-23)
July 3: USA def. Peru, 3-0 (25-19, 25-18, 25-18)
July 4: Poland def. USA, 3-2 (25-23, 23-25, 25-17, 25-27, 16-14)
July 6: Bulgaria def. USA, 3-2 (25-15, 16-25, 27-25, 13-25, 15-5)
July 7: USA def. Türkiye, 3-1 (25-19, 20-25, 25-22, 25-23)
July 8: Round of 16: USA def. Germany, 3-2 (25-18, 26-28, 17-25, 25-15, 15-13)
July 11: Quarterfinals, USA def. Italy, 3-2 (31-29, 23-25, 20-25, 30-28, 15-8)
July 12: Semifinals, 12:15 p.m.: USA def. Poland, 3-0 (25-14, 25-18, 25-19)
July 13: Final: USA vs. TBA, 9:15 a.m.