U.S. Women Advance to 2025 Worlds Quarterfinals after Sweep of Canada

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Sept. 1, 2025) – The U.S. Women’s National Team advanced to the quarterfinals at the 2025 FIVB World Championship with a solid 3-0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-21) sweep of Canada in Bangkok, Thailand.

The U.S. (4-0) will play on Sept. 4 against the winner of the Türkiye-Slovenia match (time TBA).

“I’m really happy, obviously, with the win,” head coach Erik Sullivan said. “Having a little break between pool play and having to transfer cities… I thought we were in a nice little rhythm, so having to break that up with a couple days was a little bit concerning for me. But I love the way that we came out and competed. There’s always some things we can clean up in the gym. We get a couple days to do that.”

The U.S. led Canada in kills (42-38) and blocks (11-6), but Canada had one more ace (4-3). The U.S. scored 19 points off of Canada errors while only giving up 12.

Match Statistics (PDF)

Avery Skinner and Sarah Franklin led the U.S. with 13 points; Avery on 12 kills and one block, and Franklin with nine kills and three blocks. Madi Skinner scored 12 on 10 kills, one block and an ace.

Chiaka Ogbogu was a force in the middle throughout the match with six kills, one block and one ace. Dana Rettke, playing in a little more than just one set, scored four points with a kill and three blocks. Tia Jimerson replaced Rettke and had one kill.

Stephanie Samedy scored three points (two kills, one block), and Jordyn Poulter had a kill and a block while leading the offense to a .638 hitting percentage.

Morgan Hentz patrolled the back court and led the team in digs (11). She had five successful receptions while Avery Skinner had 7.

The first set was a close battle through the first half, with neither team getting an edge. The U.S. moved ahead 16-14 on an Avery Skinner block, and then 19-16 on a Canada unforced error. A block from Rettke and Madisen Skinner increased the lead to four, 20-16. Ogbogu’s ace increased the lead to five, and another block from Rettke and Franklin made it 22-16.

A Canada service error gave the U.S. set point, and Samedy came in to get the final kill for a 25-18 win. The U.S. outblocked Canada 7-0 in the set, led by Rettke with three. Rettke and Avery Skinner both had four points.

“Our staff did a good job of putting the scout together,” Sullivan said. “Our players did a great job of executing it. I thought we did a nice job getting our hands over the net, putting some pressure on them offensively to have to tip and throw and try to find the edges.”

Canada had the early lead in set two, up 8-5 after a terrific rally that finished with a Canadian block. Canada kept a one-point advantage until kills by Franklin and Skinner put the U.S. ahead 16-15. At 18-18, the U.S. scored three straight on an Ogbogu kill, Madisen Skinner/Ogbogu block and Franklin kill to take the lead for good. Two blocks for the U.S. made it 24-20, and after a Canada kill, Franklin put down a ball for the win.

Madi Skinner and Franklin each had five points in the set, with Ogbogu scoring four.

The U.S. jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the final set and never relinquished the advantage, up by as many as four points. Canada closed the gap to two at 18-16, but the U.S. scored four straight to go ahead 22-16. Samedy closed the match with a kill for a 25-21 win.

Aery Skinner and Sarah Franklin each had six points in the set, with Madi Skinner scoring five.

“We had a lot of opportunity in the third set that I think we let get away from us,” Sullivan commented. “Those are always concerning sets for me because I felt like we should have been up 10 or 12 points and we’re up two or three and allowed them to stay in it.  We didn’t get caught up in the moment too much. When we did give up a point, I felt like we came right back and scored one right away. Just a great all-around effort. I’m happy with where we’re at. We just need to get a little bit better in the next couple days.”

U.S. Women’s VNL Finals Roster

No. Name (Pos., Ht., Hometown, College, USAV Region)
2 Jordyn Poulter (S, 6-2, Aurora, Colo., Illinois, Rocky Mountain)
3 Avery Skinner (OH, 6-1, Katy, Texas, Kentucky, Lone Star)
5 Ali Frantti (OH, 6-1, Spring Grove, Ill., Penn State, Great Lakes)
6 Morgan Hentz (L, 5-9, Lakeside Park, Ky., Stanford Univ., Pioneer)
7 Lexi Rodriguez (L, 5-5, Sterling, Ill., Univ. of Nebraska Great Lakes)
9 Madisen Skinner (OPP, 6-2, Katy, Texas, Univ. of Kentucky and Univ. of Texas, Lone Star)
13 Amber Igiede (MB, 6-3, Baton Rouge, La., Univ. of Hawaii, Delta)
16 Dana Rettke (MB, 6-8, Riverside, Ill., Univ. of Wisconsin, Great Lakes)
22 Sarah Franklin (OH, 6-4, Lake Worth, Fla., Univ. of Wisconsin, Florida)
24 Chiaka Ogbogu (MB, 6-2, Coppell, Texas, Univ. of Texas, North Texas)
25 Tia Jimerson (MB, 6-3, Sugar Hill, Ga., Univ. of Ohio, Southern)
32 Saige Ka’aha’aina-Torres (S, Honolulu, Hawaii, Univ. of Texas, Aloha)
33 Logan Eggleston (OH, 6-2, Brentwood, Tenn., Univ. of Texas, Southern)
34 Stephanie Samedy (OPP, 6-2, Clermont, Fla., Minnesota, Florida)

Coaches
Head Coach: Erik Sullivan
Assistant Coach: Mike Wall
Second Assistant Coach: Brandon Taliaferro
Second Assistant Coach: Tayyiba Haneef-Park
Second Assistant Coach: Joe Trinsey
Team Manager: Rob Browning
Team Doctors: William Briner, James Suchy, Chris Lee, Andrew Gregory
Physiotherapist: Kara Kessans
Dietitian: Shawn Hueglin
Physical Trainer: Shannon Boone
Mental Performance Coach: Katy Stanfill
Performance Analyst: Virginia Pham
Technical Coordinator: Blake Omaritan
Team Leader: Shannon Slatter

U.S. Schedule

Pool Play-All times Pacific
Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
Aug. 22: USA def. Slovenia, 3-1 (25-23, 17-25, 25-22, 25-14)
Aug. 24: USA def. Argentina, 3-1 (25-14, 23-25, 25-12, 25-17)
Aug. 26: USA def. Czechia, 3-0 (26-24, 25-20, 25-15)

Playoffs
Bangkok, Thailand
Round of 16: USA def. Canada, 3-0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-21)
Quarterfinals: Sept. 4, USA vs. TBA