Women’s National Team Takes Thriller Over Host Mexico at 2026 Final Six

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Sept. 24, 2026) – The U.S. Women’s National Team remained unbeaten at the 2026 NORCECA Final Six with a heart-pounding 3-1 victory over host Mexico, 3-1 (25-27, 25-19, 25-23, 28-26) in Zinacantepec.

The U.S. (4-0) will close out preliminary round play tomorrow at 5 p.m. PT against Puerto Rico (2-2).

Each team recorded 58 kills with the U.S. holding an 11-7 advantage in blocks and a narrow 3-2 lead in service aces. The U.S. made three fewer errors in the match in which three of the four sets were decided by two points.

Libero Elena Scott played an outstanding match, recording 28 digs, which was 12 more than the next best total. Outside hitter Callie Schwarzenbach led the U.S. with 15 kills and a match-high four blocks for 19 points. Opposite Temi Thomas-Ailara finished with 14 points on 12 kills, a block and an ace. Outside hitter Eva Hudson also reached double digits with 11 points on 10 kills and a block. She also led the team with 11 excellent receptions.

Middle blocker Toyosi Onabanjo totaled nine points with six kills, two blocks and an ace, while outside hitter Jess Mruzik contributed 10 digs, eight kills and seven excellent receptions. Outside Caitie Baird recorded six kills in the final set in which the U.S. rallied from a six-point deficit. Opposite Sami Francis added three points on a kill, block and an ace. Setters Ella Powell and Rachel Fairbanks each recorded a block.

A Schwarzenbach kill and Mexico hitting error put the U.S. ahead 6-4, the first two-point advantage for either team. Mexico scored the next three points to retake the lead. A Thomas-Ailara kill put the U.S. ahead 14-12 as neither team could get on a big run. A Mruzik tip off the block gave the U.S. a 16-14 lead. An Onajanbo block extended the lead to three points for the first time, 18-15, forcing Mexico to take a timeout. A block from Thomas-Ailara put the U.S. up 20-17. A Schwarzenbach kill made the score 22-19 before Mexico used a 4-1 run to even the set at 23 apiece and prompt a U.S. timeout. Schwarzenbach found the back of the court on her next swing to give the U.S. set point, but Mexico responded with consecutive points to earn its first set point. A Mruzik kill saved one set point before Mexico scored the final two points to take the set despite an incredible dig by Scott to keep the final point alive. Mruzik and Schwarzenbach each finished with four kills.

A Schwarzenbach block gave the U.S. an early 4-1 lead in the second set, prompting a quick Mexico timeout. The U.S. kept rolling out of the timeout with a Mruzik kill, Hudson block and Thomas-Ailara ace pushing the margin to six points, 7-1. Mexico used strong defense to fuel a 6-2 stretch that cut the deficit to two points, 9-7. An Onabanjo kill put the U.S. ahead by four points, 12-8. A Francis block upped the lead to five, 16-11. After a Mexico timeout, Schwarzenbach recorded a block for a six-point advantage. Mexico scored five of the next seven points to pull within three points, 19-16, and force the U.S. to take a timeout. Onabanjo put a ball straight down out of the timeout and a Mexico hitting error stretched the lead back to five. Schwarzenbach scored on a slide for set point at 24-19 and she ended the set with a block, her third of the set.

Neither team was able to establish a lead of more than a point until a Thomas-Ailara kill gave the U.S. a 7-5 lead. A Hudson kill made it 10-8 and the U.S. extended the lead to three, outlasting Mexico on the next point before a hitting error ended the point and sent Mexico to a timeout. Schwarzenbach scored off the block for a 13-9 lead. Mexico cut the margin to two points, 15-13, on an ace off the tape. Scrambling defense kept a rally alive for the U.S. before a Fairbanks kill pushed the lead back to four points, 17-13. A Thomas-Ailara kill and an Onabanjo block put the U.S. ahead 19-15. A Thomas-Ailara kill made it 21-18 but Mexico scored three of the next four points to pull within a point, 22-21, and prompt a U.S. timeout. Schwarzenbach kills gave the U.S. 23-21 and 24-22 leads. After a Mexico point and a second U.S. timeout, Mruzik delivered the set-wining kill for a 2-1 U.S. match lead. Thomas-Ailara (eight) and Schwarzenbach (seven) combined for 15 kills in the set.

Mexico used a block to jump out to a 5-2 lead, its first three-point lead of the match. The lead grew to six, 11-5. A Baird kill and Francis ace followed to cut the deficit to four. A Hudson kill brought the U.S. within 14-10 and after a Mexico point, Schwarzenbach scored on a kill and a block to cut the lead to three, 15-12, and lead to a Mexico timeout. Two Mexico errors cut the lead to one for the first time since 3-2. A Baird kill tied the set at 17 before Mexico regained the lead in one of the longest rallies of the match and followed with a block for a 19-17 advantage. Down 22-20, the U.S. squared the set again on kills from Hudson and Baird. Hudson scored off the block to tie the score 23-23 and Baird scored to make it 24-24. Thomas-Ailara tied the set at 25-25 and a Mexico hitting error made it 26-26 after two Scott block covers kept the rally alive. The U.S. took its first lead of the set on another Thomas-Ailara kill and won the match on a hitting error after a great block cover from Fairbanks kept the play alive. Baird led the U.S. with six kills.

2026 USA Volleyball Women’s Final Six Cup Roster

No., Name (Pos., Height, Hometown, College)
3 Toyosi Onabanjo (MB, 6-1, Houston, Texas, Kansas)
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)
22 Elena Scott (L, 5-10, Louisville, Ky., Louisville, Pioneer)
25 Callie Schwarzenbach (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. 21: USA def. Canada, 3-0 (25-21, 25-16, 25-16)
Sept. 22: USA def. Cuba, 3-0, (25-17, 25-22, 25-13)
Sept. 23: USA def. Dominican Republic, 3-1 (25-19, 25-20, 23-25, 27-25)
Sept. 24: USA def. Mexico, 3-1 (25-27, 25-19, 25-23, 27-25)
Sept. 25: USA vs. Puerto Rico, 5 p.m.
Sept. 26 Semifinals
Sept. 27: Finals