Girls U17 Grabs Second Win at 2025 NORCECA Continental Championship

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Nov. 5, 2025) – MC Crutcher and Taylor Johnson each scored 12 points as the U.S. Girls U17 National Team defeated Mexico, 3-0 (25-16, 25-22, 25-15) Wednesday at the NORCECA U17 Continental Championship in San Jose, Costa Rica.

The U.S. (2-0) will take on Cuba in the team’s third match of the tournament on Nov. 6 at 12 p.m. PT. Cuba lost to Mexico 3-0 on Tuesday and faces Puerto Rico later today.

The U.S. led Mexico in kills (33-25), blocks (10-3) and aces (9-6).

USA Volleyball head coach Tayyiba Haneef-Park used a different lineup from the one that defeated Puerto Rico Tuesday. Crutcher scored her 12 points on nine kills, one block and two aces, while Johnson had seven kills, three blocks and two aces.

“Mexico did a great job of making us adjust at difficult moments and putting pressure on us at points in the game. Great job to them for that,” Johnson said. “I’m proud of us for sticking together. We did a great job of mentally staying in the game and controlling what we can.”

Madison Middleton had 11 points (six kills, one block and a team-high four aces), and Madlen Gloessner had three kills and a team-high four blocks for seven points.

Setter Ellie Enger had four kills and an ace, and Julia Masselink had four kills and a block. Libero Bella Osborn led the U.S. with 12 digs.

In set one, the U.S. broke open a close game at 5-4 by scoring four straight for a 9-4 lead. The U.S. led by as many as six at 13-7 after a Masselink kill, but Mexico closed the gap to three at 13-10. Up 14-11, the U.S. offense took over, including aces from Johnson and Middleton, and a kill from Enger for a 21-13 lead. A Middleton block gave the U.S. a 23-14 lead, and two Mexico attack errors closed the set, 25-16.

Set two was close throughout, with the U.S. leading by just one at 21-20. A Crutcher kill and Johnson block made it 23-20, but Mexico came back with two kills for 23-22. Middleton scored the last two points on a kill and an ace for the 25-22 win.

The U.S. jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the third set, but Mexico chipped away, tying the set at 11. At 12-12, the U.S. scored four straight to make it 16-12 and continued to pull away. The U.S. won the last two points on blocks by Gloessner and Crutcher.

U17 Girls National Team Roster for NORCECA Continental Championship

Name (Pos., Height, Birth Year, Hometown, High School, USAV Region)
1 Mckenzie Andrews (MB, 6-5, 2010, Grosse Pointe, Mich., Mercy High School, Lakeshore)
3 (C) Lexi Coleman (OH, 6-0, 2010, Northville, Mich., South Lyon East High School, Lakeshore)
4 MC Crutcher (OH/OPP, 5-11, 2011, Mansfield, Texas, Mansfield High School, North Texas)
5 Kaelyn Easton (S, 5-11, Saline, Mich., Mercy High School, Lakeshore)
6 Ellie Enger (S/OPP, 6-1, 2010, Apopka, Fla., Orangewood Christian High School, Florida)
7 Madlen Gloessner (MB, 6-5, 2010, Wheat Ridge, Colo., Lakewood High School, Rocky Mountain)
10 Mesa Jameson (OPP/OH, 6-2, Cottage Grove, Minn., Eagan High School, North Country)
11 Taylor Johnson (OH/OPP, 6-0. Lewisville, Texas, Hebron High School, North Texas)
13 Julia Masselink (OH, 6-2, 2010, Sioux Falls, S.D., Harrisburg High School, North Country)
15 Madison Middleton (MB, 6-1, 2010, Roswell, Ga., St. Francis High School, Southern)
16 Maya Ogbogu (OH, 6-0, 2010, Parker, Texas, Allen High School, North Texas)
17 Bella Osborn (L, 5-4, 2010, Plano, Texas, Plano Senior High School, North Texas)

Alternates
2 Chloe Burbage (S, 6-1, 2010, Cary, N.C., Green Hope High School, Carolina)
9 Grace Hengler (L, 5-6, 2010, Frisco, Texas, Coram Deo High School, North Texas)
12 Lola Loncar (L, 5-5, 2010, Concord, Ohio, Lake Catholic High School, Ohio Valley)
14 Mikayla Matuszko (OPP/OH, 6-3, 2010, Wellington, Fla., The King’s Academy, Florida)
18 Shaun Waller (MB, 6-3, 2010, Franklin, Tenn., Centennial High School, Southern)

Coaches
Head Coach: Tayyiba Haneef-Park (U.S. Women’s National Team assistant coach, Olympian)
Assistant Coach: Laura “Bird” Kuhn (Pro Volleyball Federation, Atlanta Vibe)
Assistant Coach: Amir Lugo-Rodriguez (SC Rockstar/Cal State Long Beach)
Performance Analyst: Noel Carpio (NTDP)
Athletic Trainer/Team Doctor: Chris Cornell (Coduhi Clinic)
Team Lead: Alex Purvey (NTDP)

Schedule

All times PT
Nov 4: USA def. Puerto Rico, 3-0 (25-13, 25-17, 25-11)
Nov. 5: USA def. Mexico, 3-0 (25-16, 25-22, 25-15)
Nov. 6: USA vs. Cuba, 12 p.m.
Nov. 7: Quarterfinals
Nov. 8 Semifinals and classification
Nov. 9: Medal matches and classification