U.S. Women Defeat Canada to Advance to 2026 Pan Am Cup Semis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Sept. 16, 2026) – The U.S. Women’s National Team swept Canada 25-15, 25-19, 25-12 Wednesday at the 2026 NORCECA Pan American Cup to advance to Thursday’s semifinals.

The U.S. (4-1) will play Puerto Rico at 5 p.m. PT on Sept. 17. Puerto Rico won Group A with a 4-0 record and advanced directly to the semifinals.

The U.S. had just 11 hitting errors in the match and led Canada in kills (43-22), blocks (11-4) and aces (4-1). The team hit .390 behind setters Rachel Fairbanks and Ella Powell.

Temi Thomas-Ailara and Callie Schwarzenbach led the team with 13 points apiece. Thomas-Ailara had 11 kills and two blocks, and Schwarzenbach had 10 kills and three blocks. Claire Hoffman and Jess Mruzik also reached double figures, with Hoffman scoring 11 (eight kills, two blocks, one ace) and Mruzik with nine kills and an ace.

Onye Ofoegbu added three kills and three blocks, and Sami Francis had two kills and a block. Lauren Briseño and Rachel Fairbanks each had an ace. Libero Elena Oglivie led the team with 12 digs and Fairbanks had 10.

The U.S. jumped out quickly in set one, leading 10-7 before scoring five straight to take a commanding eight-point lead. During that run off Fairbanks’ serve, Thomas-Ailara collected two kills, Mruzik had one, and Ofoegbu picked up a block. After a Canada kill, a four-point run made it 19-8, and the U.S. cruised from there, with Schwarzenbach closing the set with a kill. Mruzik scored five in the set.

It took longer for the U.S. to break free in set two, as the squad only led by three at 15-12. A Schwarzenbach kill, Francis block and Hoffman ace increased the lead to six. Canada inched within four points at 23-19, but another Schwarzenbach kill, followed by a Hoffman kill, sealed the set. Mruzik scored five points again to lead the U.S.

The U.S. continued its dominance in set three, breaking open a slim 6-4 lead with six straight points. Canada never got within seven points, thanks to strong hitting and five U.S. blocks. Thomas-Ailara led the team with five kills and two blocks.

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: Mexico def. USA, 3-1 (25-21, 25-21, 20-25, 25-20)
Sept. 13: USA def. Costa Rica, 3-0 (25-9, 25-8, 25-16)
Sept. 15: USA def. Guatemala, 3-0 (25-9, 25-8, 25-14)
Sept.16: Quarterfinals: USA def. Canada, 3-0 (25-15, 25-19, 25-12)
Sept. 17: Semifinals: USA vs. Puerto Rico, 5 p.m. PT
Sept. 18: Finals