U.S. Girls U17 to Play for Gold at 2026 Pan Am Cup

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (May 30, 2026) – The U.S. Girls U17 National Team defeated Canada, 3-0 (25-21, 25-11, 25-17) in the semifinal round of the 2026 NORCECA Girls U17 Pan American Cup on Saturday in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. The U.S. (3-0) will meet Venezuela (4-0) in the gold medal match on Sunday at 3 p.m. PT.

MATCH STATISTICS

The U.S. dominated on offense with 40 kills to just 16 for Canada, while making 10 fewer errors (29-19). The U.S. led 9-6 in blocks and 4-3 in service aces.

Middle blocker Madlen Gloessner led all player with 11 points on eight kills and a match-high three blocks. Outside hitter MC Crutcher also reached double digits with 10 points on a match-best nine kills plus a block. She also shared the team lead with six digs.

“Shout out to Canada for always applying pressure to us. I’m glad my team made it through. We play for each other, and we had a great match. I’m glad we made it to the final,” Crutcher said.

Opposite Mesa Jameson recorded seven kills and a block for eight points, while outside Makayla Matuszko also totaled eight points on six kills and two aces. She was the only player with more than one ace and tied for the team lead with six digs. Jameson shared the team lead with libero Hope Hengler with five successful receptions.

Setters Sophia Gregg and Chloe Burbage ran the offense that hit at a .280 clip, while Canada hit -.165.

Trailing 9-8 in the opening set, the U.S. scored four consecutive points to take the first three-point lead of the match. Jameson scored four of the first 12 U.S. points with three kills and a block. A Gloessner kill and block extended the margin to four points, 14-10, leading to a Canada timeout. The U.S. kept the pressure on with kills by Gregg and Gloessner for a six-point advantage. Jameson’s fifth kill of the set put the U.S. up 21-15. Canada responded with three quick points to cut the deficit in half but could not close the gap further. Gloessner’s fourth kill ended the set.

The second set began with a trio of Canada hitting errors. Another Jameson kill gave the U.S. a 10-5 lead. After dropping the next two points, the U.S. went on a 7-0 run for a 17-7 lead with Gloessner and Gregg recording blocks and Matuszko serving an ace during the stretch. The margin reached 11 points, 19-8, on a Crutcher kill. A Burbage ace gave the U.S. set point and Matuszko’s fourth point of the set on a kill put the U.S. up two sets to none.

Matuszko started the third set with an ace to give the U.S. a lead it would never relinquish. A kill and block on consecutive plays by Gloessner made it 5-1. Canada tried to stop the momentum with a timeout after a Crutcher kill pushed the lead to five points, 8-3, but the U.S. followed with a Crutcher kill and Waller block. The U.S. stretched the lead to 11 points, 17-6, on a Matuszko kill. Middle blocker McKenzie Andrews’ third kill of the set gave the U.S. a 21-8 lead. Canada scored nine of the next 12 points before the U.S. ended the match on a Shiloh Braddick block.

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 def. Canada, 3-0 (25-21, 25-11, 25-17)
May 31: Gold Medal Match, USA vs. Venezuela, 3 p.m.