U.S. Women Capture 2026 NORCECA Women’s Final Six Gold with Sweep of Host Mexico

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Sept. 27, 2026) – The U.S. completed its undefeated run through the 2026 Women’s Final Six by taking the gold medal with a 3-0 (25-20, 25-15, 25-22) victory over host Mexico on Sunday in Zinacantepec. The U.S. won all seven of its matches in the tournament, dropping only four sets in the process.

The U.S. held advantages in kills (43-35), blocks (8-4) and served three of the four aces in the match. The U.S. made four fewer errors.

Five U.S. players scored between eight and 11 points as the balanced attack brought home the gold medal. Middle blocker Onye Ofoegbu recorded five blocks, one more than the entire Mexico team, and six kills to share match-high honors with 11 points. Outside hitter Jess Mruzik paced the team with 10 kills. Setters Rachel Fairbanks (two kills and an ace) and Ella Powell ran the U.S. offense that hit .427 for the match. Mruzik and Hudson each recorded six excellent receptions.

Outside Eva Houston totaled nine kills and nine digs, and opposite Temi Thomas-Ailara also scored nine points, recording eight kills and a block. Outside Callie Schwarzenbach finished with eight points on five kills, a block and a pair of aces. Opposite Sami Francis scored four points on three kills and a block. Libero Elena Oglivie led all players with seven excellent receptions and added six digs.

Mexico took an early two-point lead, 5-3, to begin the match. Trailing 8-5, a Schwarzenbach kill and Ofoegbu block cut the lead to one point. A Mruzik kill tied the set 9-9 and the U.S. took the lead on a Mexico tip that went out of bounds. After 22 consecutive side-outs, the U.S. took its first two-point lead of the set, 22-20, on a Schwarzenbach ace. After a Mexico timeout, a hitting error and back-to-back blocks by Ofoegbu ended the set. Ofoegbu led the U.S. with seven points on four kills and three blocks.

A Fairbanks kill gave the U.S. a 7-5 lead in the second set. After yielding the next point, the U.S. used a five-point run to double up the score, 12-6. A Mruzik kill and Fairbanks ace helped run the lead to five when Ofoegbu recorded another block, this one going down the line of the net and dropping in right front to cap the run. A Hudson kill put the U.S. up by seven points, 16-9. A Francis block and Mexico hitting error gave the U.S. an 18-10 advantage. The lead reached double digits, 22-12, on a Francis kill and a Schwarzenbach ace. Thomas-Ailara scored the final two points of the set on a crosscourt kill and a block and finished as the team’s leading scorer in the set with four kills and the block. Mruzik added four kills.

A Schwarzenbach block gave the U.S. a 7-5 lead in the third set. Mexico scored back-to-back points to square the set at 10 apiece. After four more ties, the U.S. moved back ahead by two, 16-14, on a Schwarzenbach kill and a Mexico hitting error. Ogoegbu scored to give the U.S. a 17-15 lead a hitting error raised the margin to three and sent Mexico to a timeout. Mexico scored the next two points, but the U.S. regained a three-point margin with Ofoegbu scoring off the block. Hudson tooled the block for a 23-18 lead. Thomas-Ailara scored to give the U.S. match point at 24-19. Mexico saved three match points, the third on a block, before Hudson put a ball away to seal the gold medal with her fifth kill of the set.

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 def. Puerto Rico, 3-1 (25-22, 18-25, 25-21, 25-13)
Sept. 26 Semifinals: USA def. Cuba, 3-1 (25-17, 22-25, 25-17, 25-21)
Sept. 27: Finals: USA def. Mexico, 3-0 (25-20, 25-15, 25-22)