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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (May 28, 2026) – The U.S. Girls U17 National Team advanced to the semifinals of the 2026 NORCECA Girls U17 Pan American Cup by defeating the Dominican Republic 3-0 (25-12, 25-19, 25-14) to conclude pool play on Thursday in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
The U.S. (2-0) will compete in the semifinal round on Saturday at either 6 p.m. or 8 p.m. PT.
The U.S. more than doubled the Dominican Republic offense with 44 kills to just 20. The U.S. dominated in blocks (10-3) and service aces (9-1).
“Today was a tremendous team effort behind the service line. Combined with strong reception and blocking, we were able to keep our middles involved from start to finish. Our pins also played a great match,” said U.S. head coach Marie Zidek. “Dominican Republic is a tough, versatile team, but we absolutely improved our ability to earn and stack points. We have a lot to build on and we’re excited to keep this momentum going.”
Outside hitter Piper Coady led all players with 14 points on 10 kills, adding three aces and a block. Opposite Mesa Jameson scored 13 points on 10 kills, two aces and a block.
Middle blocker Jael Smith totaled 11 points on eight kills and a match-best three blocks. Madlen Gloessner added seven points on seven kills, a block and an ace. Opposite Naomi Stevenson (five kills) and middle McKenzie Andrews (three kills, one block, one ace) each contributed five points.
Two Jameson kills sparked a 5-0 U.S. start to the match. Jameson served an ace for a 10-1 lead. Coady produced consecutive aces to push the advantage to 12 points, 16-4. Jameson recorded her sixth point of the set with a block to make it 19-6. A kill and block by Smith gave the U.S. a 22-8 advantage. Jameson (six) and Smith (five) combined for 11 points in the set, just one fewer than all of the Dominican Republic.
The Dominican Republic stayed close for much of the second set, trailing by just a point as late as 14-13. Another Jameson kill stretched the lead to three points, 16-13, and promoted a Dominican Republic timeout. A Smith kill gave the U.S. a four-point lead for the first time in the set, 18-14. Coady’s fifth kill of the set put the U.S. out in front, 21-17, while Jameson’s fifth kill made it 22-18. Coady added a late ace to finish the set with six points. Two Dominican Republic hitting errors ended the set and gave the U.S. a two-set advantage.
A five-point run gave the Dominican Republic its largest lead of the match, 7-2, early in the third set. The lead remained at five points, 9-4, before the U.S. ran off eight consecutive points, keyed by blocks from Gloessner and Coady, and back-to-back aces by Shiloh Braddick. A Gloessner kill and ace helped put the U.S. ahead 17-12. A Braddick block started a six-point stretch that gave the U.S. match point, 24-13. Andews ended the match with her third kill and fifth point of the set.
2026 U.S. Girls U17 Pan Am Cup Roster
Name, Position, Height, Hometown, School, Region
1 McKenzie Andrews – MB, 6-5, Grosse Pointe, Mich. Mercy HS, Lakeshore
2 Chloe Burbage – S, 6-1, Cary, N.C., Green Hope HS, Carolina
4 MC Crutcher – OH, 5-11, Mansfield, Texas, Mansfield HS, North Texas
7 Madlen Gloessner – MB, 6-5, Wheat Ridge, Colo., Lakewood HS, Rocky Mountain
10 Mesa Jameson – OPP, 6-2, Cottage Grove, Minn., Eagan HS, North Country
12 Shiloh Braddick – OH, 6-1, Acworth, Ga., Etowah HS, Southern
14 Mikayla Matuszko – OH, 6-3, Wellington, Fla., The King’s Academy, Florida
17 Bella Osborn – L, 5-4, Plano, Texas, Plano Senior HS, North Texas
18 Shaun Waller – MB, 6-3, Franklin, Tenn., Centennial HS, Southern
20 Piper Coady – OH, 6-2, Newport Beach, Calif., Newport Harbor HS, Southern California
22 Sophia Gregg – S, 6-2, Chandler, Ariz., Perry HS, Arizona
23 Hope Hengler – L, 5-2, Frisco, Texas, Coram Deo Academy, North Texas
25 Jael Smith – MB, 6-2, Carson, Calif., Mater Dei HS, Southern California Southern Nevada
27 Naomi Stevenson – OPP, 6-1, Chapel Hill, N.C., Seaforth HS, Carolina
Coaches
Head Coach: Marie Zidek (DePaul University)
Assistant Coaches: Heather Olmstead (NTDP), Joshua Walker (Baylor)
Performance Analyst: Joe Skinner (Texas A&M)
Athletic Trainer: Cherryl Bueno (Coast to Coast AthletiCare)
Team Lead: Alex Purvey (NTDP)
Schedule
All times Pacific
May 26: USA def. Puerto Rico, 3-0 (25-17, 25-20, 28-26)
May 28: USA def. Dominican Republic, 3-0 (25-12, 25-19, 25-14)
May 29: Quarterfinals (USA received a bye)
May 30: Semifinals, USA vs. TBA, 6/8 p.m.
May 31: Medal Matches
The U.S. Girls U17 National Team made its first appearance in a Pan American Cup a successful one with a 3-0 (25-17, 25-20, 28-26) victory over Puerto Rico on Tuesday Tegucigalpa, Honduras. The team made its international debut last year, taking gold at the 2025 NORCECA Women’s U17 Continental Championship.
USA Volleyball has announced the 14 Girls U17 athletes who will represent the United States at the 2026 NORCECA Girls U17 Pan American Cup. It’s the first time a U.S. U17 girls team has competed in this event.
USA Volleyball has announced the 28 athletes selected to the 2026 U.S. Girls U17 National Team which will represent the United States in its second year of international competition at both the 2026 NORCECA Girls U17 Pan American Cup and the 2026 FIVB Girls U17 World Championship. It’s the first time a U.S. U17 girls team has competed in either event.
