Golden! U.S. Women Sweep Dominican Republic to Win 2026 Pan Am Cup

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Sept. 18, 2026) – The U.S. Women’s National Team returned to the top of the podium at the Pan American Cup for the first time since 2019 with a 3-0 (28-26, 25-19, 25-18) win over the Domincan Republic Friday night in León, Guanajuato, Mexico.

The U.S. (6-1) has now won the Pan Am Cup for a record eight times. The team last medaled in 2024 when it finished second.

Despite a tough first set, the U.S. used a strong offensive game for the win, notching 56 kills to 35 for the Dominican Republic. The U.S. also led in aces (3-1), but the Dominican Republic had the edge in blocks, 8-5.

A balanced attack paced the U.S. offense, with four players reaching double figures. Callie Schwarzenbach led with 15 points (12 kills, three blocks), and Jess Mruzik and Temi Thomas-Ailara each had 12 kills. Caitie Baird had 10 kills.

Onye Ofoegbu (two kills, one block, one ace) and Sami Francis (four kills, one block) each scored five, and Claire Hoffman had four kills. Setter Rachel Fairbanks had an ace. Libero Elena Oglivie was strong once again with 19 digs.

The Dominican Republic was the early leader in set one, jumping out to an 8-4 lead before two Thomas-Ailara kills cut the lead in half. Down 11-8, the U.S. used a kill and a block from Schwarzenbach, plus a Baird kill to tie it. Tied at 12, the U.S. begin pulling ahead, leading 18-13 after a Francis kill. A Fairbanks ace made it 20-14, and then a Baird kill a few points later made it 22-16. But four straight Dominican Republic points put the U.S. victory in jeopardy until a Baird kill gave them set point. The Dominican Republic saved all three to force the set into extra points, and the U.S. broke through at 28-26. Schwarzenbach led the U.S. with si poits.

Mruzik led the way in set two with seven points as the U.S. had an easier time en route to a 25-19 win. The U.S. never trailed and broke the game open at 15-12 with five straight points. Again, however, the U.S. had trouble finishing the set as a 23-16 lead dwindled to 23-19 before a Thomas-Ailara attack and Dominican error closed it out.

The teams were tied at 10 in the third set when the U.S. used kills from Schwarzenbach and Hoffman, plus an Ofoegbu service ace, to take a 13-10 lead. The U.S. continued to pull away, stretching the lead to five with another Hoffman kill at 20-15. A few points later, Schwarzenbach notched 12th kill of the night on match point.

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 def. Puerto Rico, 3-1 (25-18, 23-25, 28-26, 26-24)
Sept. 18: Finals: USA def. Domincan Republic, 3-0 (28-26, 25-19, 25-18)