U.S. Women Clinch Top Seed for 2026 VNL Finals with Sweep of Brazil in Week Three Finale

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 12, 2026) – The U.S. Women’s National Team clinched the top seed for the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) finals with an impressive 3-0 (26-24, 25-22, 25-16) victory over Brazil on Saturday in Osaka, Japan. The U.S. entered the match ranked fourth in the world with Brazil ranked second.

The U.S. finished 10-2 in VNL pool play and will play the eighth seed in the quarterfinals of the VNL finals, which will be held in Macao, China, beginning on July 22.

The U.S. finished with a 46-42 advantage in kills, 13-9 in blocks (7-1 in the final set) and made seven fewer errors (15-8). Brazil served one more ace (3-2).

“I think we are about a six or seven (on a scale of 10), but I am kind of a pessimist. I like what we are doing, and I think we are going in the right direction,” said U.S. head coach Erik Sullivan. “I feel like we got better as the weeks progressed. I don’t care what seed we are. We are just going to be focused on our next opponent. We’re excited to be in the finals.”

Outside hitter Avery Skinner led all players with 18 kills and 21 points, adding three blocks and five digs.

“Winning that match, especially getting three points puts us in a good spot. Brazil is a really good team, so that’s a great win for us today. Things were working but we know they are very good and could have come back. For us it was about every point being locked in,” Skinner commented.

Opposite Jordan Thompson scored 16 points on 14 kills and two blocks, while also contributing 10 digs. Outside Logan Eggleston finished with 14 points on a match-best five blocks to go with seven kills and an ace. She also led all players with 12 digs.

Setter Jordyn Poulter led the offense to a .311 hitting percentage. Libero Lexi Rodriguez recorded a match-high seven successful receptions. Middle blocker Dana Rettke scored six points on three kills and three blocks, and middle Asija O’Neal totaled four points on three kills and an ace.

Brazil started the match scoring five of the first six points, forcing the U.S. to take a quick timeout. A great dig by Eggleston led to a Skinner kill to cut the deficit to two points, 8-6. Thompson scored three U.S. points in a row on a block and two kills, the second when she won a joust, to give the U.S. its first lead, 13-12. Skinner scored on a back row attack for a 16-14 lead before Brazil scored twice to even the score.

A Thompson kill and a Skinner kill against a triple block put the U.S. up by three, 19-16. Skinner scored on a sharp angle for a 22-19 lead, but Brazil scored the next three points to square the set again. Eggleston and Skinner scored to give the U.S. set point, 24-23, and it appeared that the set ended on a hitting error, but Brazil successfully challenged a block touch. Eggleston delivered a kill and then her strong serve led to a Skinner kill on an overpass to give the U.S. the opening set. Skinner scored nine points on eight kills and a block, while Thompson totaled seven points on six kills and a block.

Back-to-back blocks by Eggleston and Rettke gave the U.S. a 6-4 lead in the second set. The U.S. still led 8-6 when Brazil went on a 7-1 run to take a 13-9 advantage. Responding with an 8-4 streak, the U.S. tied the set at 17 on a Skinner kill off the block after a strong Eggleston dig and took the lead on a Rettke block. Skinner scored three points and a Thompson kill put the U.S. ahead 23-20. Brazil scored the next two points, the second on a block, but the U.S. took a two-set lead with Skinner’s fifth kill and sixth point of the set followed by a Brazil hitting error.

Rettke scored on an overpass and Eggleston finished a play that featured an incredible one-handed ball over the net by Poulter to give the U.S. a 5-2 advantage in the third set. After Skinner scored on a tip to make it 8-7, Brazil scored the next three points, including two on back-to-back aces. The U.S. trailed by three points, 13-10, before going on a 15-3 run to end the match. Eggleston blocks tied the set at 13 and the put the U.S. up 17-14 and 18-15. An Eggleston ace pushed the lead to five points, 20-15. The U.S. completed a 6-0 run to set up match point with an Eggleston ace, Rettke block, and a kill and block by Skinner.

The U.S. ended the match with Skinner’s fifth kill and sixth point of the set. Eggleston totaled six points on four blocks, a kill and an ace.

U.S. Women’s Week Three Roster for 2026 VNL

No. Name (Pos., Ht., Hometown, College, USAV Region)
1 Micha Hancock (S, 5-11, Edmond, Okla., Penn State, Oklahoma)
2 Jordyn Poulter (S, 6-2, Aurora, Colo., Univ. of Illinois, Rocky Mountain)
3 Avery Skinner (OH, 6-1, Katy, Texas, Univ. of Kentucky, Lone Star)
6 Morgan Hentz (L, 5-9, Lakeside Park, Ky., Stanford, Pioneer)
7 Asjia O’Neal (MB, 6-3, Southlake, Texas, Univ. of Texas, North Texas)
8 Lexi Rodriguez (L, 5-5, Sterling, Ill., Univ. of Nebraska Great Lakes)
10 Simone Lee-Wank (OH, 6-1, Menomonee Falls, Wisc., Penn State, Badger)
11 Saige Ka’aha’aina-Torres (S, 6-0 Honolulu, Hawaii, Univ. of Texas, Aloha)
12 Jordan Thompson (OPP, 6-4, Edina, Minn., Univ. of Cincinnati, North Country)
16 Dana Rettke (MB, 6-8, Riverside, Ill., Univ. of Wisconsin, Great Lakes)
24 Chiaka Ogbogu (MB, 6-4, Coppell, Texas, Univ. of Texas, North Texas)
27 Madi Kubik-Banks (OH, 6-4, West Des Moines, Iowa, Univ. of Nebraska, Iowa)
29 Molly McCage (MB, 6-3, Spring, Texas, Univ. of Texas, Lone Star)
33 Logan Eggleston (OH, 6-1, Brentwood, Tenn., Univ. of Texas, Southern)
34 Stephanie Samedy (OPP, 6-2, Clermont, Fla., Univ. of Minnesota, Florida)

Head Coach:  Erik Sullivan
Assistant Coach: Tayyiba Haneef-Park
Assistant Coach: Brandon Taliaferro
Assistant Coach: Rob Browning
Statistician: Virginia Pham
Physiotherapist: Kara Kessans
Physical Trainers: Shannon Boone, Shawn Hueglin
Mental Performance Coach: Nicole Davis
Team Doctors: Lori Boyajian-O’Neill, James Suchy, Chris Koutures, Mark Hutchinson
Team Manager: Shannon Slatter

U.S. Women’s Schedule for the 2026 Volleyball Nations League
Matches will be shown live and on demand on VBTV.
(All times PDT)

Week 1: Quebec City, Quebec
June 3 USA def. Ukraine, 3-0 (25-16, 25-17, 25-23)
June 4 Canada def. USA, 3-0 (25-22, 25-22, 30-28)
June 5 USA def. France, 3-2 (25-21, 23-25, 27-25, 23-25, 15-11)
June 7 USA def. Germany, 3-0 (25-22, 25-15, 25-12)

Week 2: Pasig City, Philippines
June 16 USA def. Dominican Republic, 3-0 (25-20, 25-19, 25-12)
June 18 USA def. Czechia, 3-0 (25-17, 25-12, 25-16)
June 20 USA def. Italy, 3-0 (27-25, 25-20, 25-16)
June 20 USA def. Serbia, 3-1 (25-22, 18-25, 25-16, 25-19)

Week 3: Osaka, Japan
July 7 USA def. Thailand, 3-0 (25-21, 25-18, 25-20)
July 8 Poland def. USA, 3-2 (20-25, 25-20, 25-23, 18-25, 15-12)
July 9 USA def. Türkiye, 3-2 (22-25, 25-23, 27-29, 25-21, 15-8)
July 11 USA def. Brazil, 3-0 (25-24, 25-22, 25-16)