U.S. Women's Sitting Sweeps Canada at 2025 World Cup

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Oct. 14, 2025) – The sweep-fest at the 2025 World ParaVolley World Cup continued Tuesday afternoon as the U.S. Women’s Sitting Team defeated Canada 3-0 (25-13, 26-24, 25-23) at the Turnstone Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

The U.S. (2-1) will play Germany (1-2) Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. All matches will be live streamed on the Turnstone YouTube channel.

It was Canada’s first loss of the tournament and moved the U.S. into second place in the standings with seven points. Brazil is first with a 3-0 record and nine points.

Both teams had 23 kills in the match, and the U.S. had 10 aces to Canada’s six. Canada out-blocked the U.S. 8-6.

“I thought it was a great match. We definitely played up and down; still need to clean up some errors. We hung in, and for the most part kept aggressive, which is what we need to do, and living with the pressure is good for them,” U.S. head coach Bill Hamiter said.

Raelene Elam led the U.S. with 11 points on eight kills and three aces. Nicky Nieves had nine points on six kills, one block and two aces. Emma Schieck was tremendous from the serving line, collecting four aces, a couple at crucial junctures. She added four kills.

Tia Edwards and Gia Cruz both scored five, with Edwards having an ace, two kills and two blocks, and Cruz with three kills and two blocks. Annie Flood had one block.

The U.S. was on fire in the first set, rolling out to a 7-0 lead against its North American counterpart. Canada could never make up the difference as the U.S. cruised to a 25-13 win.

The U.S. led by five at 17-12 in the second set, but the Canadians chipped away to tie it 20. At 22-22, a Canada service error gave the U.S. the edge, and a Cruz block led to set point. U.S. setter Alexis Patterson served long and a Canada ace tied it at 24. Edwards and Cruz followed up with two straight kills for the 2-0 match lead.

Canada was on the offensive in the third, jumping out to a 5-0 lead. After the U.S. scored five of the next six points to move within one, Canada pulled ahead again with four straight, 10-5. Canada was up by eight at 15-7 when the U.S. began to make its move.

“I tell them ‘this is why we we are here, to live in these moments'” Hamiter said about talking to his team during high-pressure situations. “‘How are you going to deal with it? You can either go up or down, so let’s see what you’re going to do.'”

Two aces from Schieck helped cut the lead to four at 15-11. The U.S. found itself down by six again at 21-15 when the tide turn. A kill from Schieck, two Canada errors, an Edwards block and a Patterson ace closed the gap to 22-21. Canada went ahead 23-21, but Schieck made it 23-22 on a kill. Two straight Canada errors gave the U.S. match point. Schieck, who served an ace on championship point at the Tokyo Paralympics, ran it back with another ace for the win.

U.S. Women’s Sitting Team Roster for World Cup

No  Name (Position, Height, Hometown)
2 Bethany Zummo (L, 5-3, Dublin, Calif.)
3 Alexis Patterson (S/L, 5-4, Waseca, Minn.)
4 Maddy Ball (DS, 5-7, Delray Beach, Fla.)
9 Tia Edwards (OH/MB, 5-7, Skiatook, Okla.)
10 Kari Ortiz (L, 5-6, Washington, D.C.)
12 Emma Schieck (OH, 5-7, Statesville, N.C.)
13 Gia Cruz (S, 5-5, San Antonio, Texas)
15 Kendra Hall (5-7, Westfield, Ind.)
16 Nicky Nieves (MB/OH, 5-10, Kissimmee, Fla.)
17 Jessie West (OH, 5-8, Edmond, Okla.)
18 Courtney Baker (MH, 5-9, Crofton, Ky.)
21 Annie Flood (S, 5-7, Salem, Ore.)
24 Raelene Elam (OH, 6-1, St. George, Utah, Northern California)

Head Coach: Bill Hamiter
Assistant Coach: Grace Campbell
Performance Analyst: Jeff Hicks
Athletic Trainer: Samantha Carter
Mental Performance Coach: Brooke Lamphere
Team Manager: Jon Aharoni

Schedule

All times Pacific
Oct. 12: Italy def. USA, 3-2 (18-25, 18-25, 25-22, 25-17, 16-14)
Oct. 13: USA def. Netherlands, 3-0 (25-19, 25-20, 25-13)
Oct. 14: USA def. Canada, 3-0 (25-13, 26-24, 25-23)
Oct. 15: USA vs. Germany, 10:30 a.m.
Oct. 16: USA vs. Brazil, 12:30 p.m.
Oct. 17: Playoff rounds
Oct. 18: Medal Matches