U.S. Women Sweep Cuba to Open Pan Am Cup

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Sept. 11, 2026) – The U.S. Women’s National Team earned its first win in a 3-0 (25-16, 25-15 , 25-20) sweep of Cuba on Friday at the 2026 NORCECA Pan American Cup in León, Guanajuato, Mexico. Despite limited training time together, the U.S. led in attacks (44-21), blocks (6-3) and aces (5-2), committing 24 fewer errors (51-75) than its opponent.

The U.S. will continue pool play at 7 p.m. PT tomorrow against host Mexico.

Middle Onye Ofoegbu led all players in points with 13 on 10 kills and 3 blocks. Outside hitter Jess Mruzik also earned 10 points on 10 kills with 15 digs while opposite Temi Thomas-Ailara ended with 7 kills and one block. Outside hitter Caitie Baird showcased her all around game with 8 points on 4 kills, 1 block and 3 aces. Libero Elena Oglivie added 4 digs while captain and setter Rachel Fairbanks led the offense while contributing 7 digs and 2 aces.

In the opening set, the U.S. displayed a dominant offense. A Callie Schwarzenbach slide off a Fairbanks set made it 4-3 in favor of the U.S. The same play two points later helped the U.S. maintain a 5-4 lead. A 3-point run for the U.S. put them up 9-6 and forced a Cuba timeout. A kill out of the middle from Ofoegbu later in the set would bring it to 14-6 and force the second Cuba timeout. Baird served up back to back aces and stretched the lead for the U.S. to ten points at 19-9. Cuba would win seven of the next twelve points before a hitting error handed the U.S. the first set.

The U.S. began the second set on a 4-0 run to start, causing an early timeout by Cuba. After battling back, consecutive Cuban errors would make it 9-5. The U.S. would extend its lead in the second frame with three Mruzik kills in four points to bring the score from 11-6 to 14-7 and forcing a second Cuba timeout. A thunderous Ofoegbu kill at 16-8 doubled the U.S. lead and a service error from Cuba would double it again at 18-9. Schwarzenbach and Baird combined for a block to put stretch the lead to 20-10, but a 4-1 Cuba run made it 21-14 and forced the U.S. to take its first timeout. Out of the timeout, a Schwarzenbach kill, Baird ace and Mruzik kill put the U.S. on its own 3-1 run to close out the set, ending on Francis kill.

The third set was the most competitive of the match, starting with another Ofoegbu kill to make it 1-0. After trading the next 8 points, the U.S. would pull away to make it 7-4. A back row swing from outside hitter Claire Hoffman at 9-5 would cause Cuba to take a timeout. However, a Cuba kill after a series of U.S. errors brought them level at 10-10. Ofogebu controlled the net with a block and a kill to put the U.S. up 12-10. Cuba would earn the next two points before another Ofoegbu kill inched the U.S. back in the lead. A 16-14 Cuba lead triggered a U.S. timeout before the teams traded errors to level at 17-17. A Mruzik cross-court kill gave the U.S. a slim lead at 18-17 and forced the last timeout for Cuba. A Fairbanks ace, Cuba error and U.S. block made it 23-18. The U.S. returned to Ofoegbu in the middle who notched her tenth kill to end the match.

2026 Women’s Pan American Cup Roster

No., Name (Pos., Height, Hometown, College)
3 Toyosi Onabanjo (MB, 6-1, Houston, Texas, Kansas)
5 Lauren Briseño (L, 5-7, San Antonio, Texas, Baylor)
7 Ella Powell (S, 6-0, Fayetteville, Ark., Washington)
9 Jess Mruzik (OH, 6-1, Livonia, Mich., Michigan/Penn State)
11 Natalie Foster (MB, 6-4, Mattawan, Mich., Wichita State/SMU)
12 Temi Thomas-Ailara (OPP, 6-2, Glenwood, Ill., Northwestern/Wisconsin)
13 Onye Ofoegbu (MB, 6-3, Cerritos, Calif., UC Irvine/Oregon)
19 Elena Oglivie (L, 5-10, Honolulu, Hawaii, Stanford)
20 Rachel Fairbanks (S, 6-0, Tustin, Calif., Pitt)
21 Claire Hoffman (OH, 6-2, Pleasant Hill, Oreg., Washington)
25 Callie Scharzenbach (OH, 6-5, Kearney, Mo., Nebraska/Long Beach State)
30 Eva Hudson (OH, 6-1, Ft. Wayne, Ind., Purdue/Kentucky)
77 Sami Francis (OPP, 6-6, San Diego, Calif., Stanford)
99 Caitie Baird (OH, 6-3, Indianapolis, Ind., Stanford)

Schedule

All times PT

Sept. 11: USA def. Cuba, 3-0 (25-16, 25-15 , 25-20)
Sept. 12: USA vs. Mexico, 7 p.m.
Sept. 13: USA vs. Costa Rico, 3 p.m.
Sept. 15: USA vs. Guatemala, 1 p.m.
Sept.16: Quarterfinals and Classification
Sept. 17: Semifinals
Sept. 18: Finals