Kiraly Leading Young U.S. Women's Team at Pan Am Cup

Live stream at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6ZS0TLfErMqfPsBr65bldQ 

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Sept. 12, 2021) – Fresh off leading the U.S. Women’s National Team to the gold medal at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Head Coach Karch Kiraly and assistants Erin Virtue and Tama Miyashiro will lead a younger group at the Pan American Cup this week in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

The U.S. Women will play Canada, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico and Puerto Rico in a five-day round robin that begins Monday. The top four teams will advance to the semifinals on Saturday (Sept. 18) and the finals will be Sunday (Sept. 19).

Due to a player injury, the U.S. will bring only 11 players to the tournament.

Five players return from the team that finished fourth at the 2021 NORCECA Continental Championship, led by team captain and 2020 U.S. Olympic alternate Danielle Cuttino at opposite.

Also returning from the NORCECA team are middle blocker Rachael Kramer, who was named NORCECA Best Blocker, middle Ali Bastianelli, opposite Roni Jones-Perry and outside hitter Lindsay Stalzer.

Joining those five will be setters Taylor Bruns and Elle Glock, outside hitters Alex Holston and Symone Williams-Abbott, middle blocker Shelly Stafford and libero Hana Lishman.

“We are excited to see what this young group of Americans can do at the 2021 Pan American Cup,” Kiraly said. “Some of them are very young without much experience. It will be a learning and developing opportunity for them.”

The U.S. Women have won the last three Pan American Cups (2017-19) and have the most wins overall with seven.

U.S. Women’s Pan American Cup Roster

No. Name (Pos., Height, Hometown, College)

2 Taylor Bruns (S, 5-11, Normal, Ill., Univ. of South Carolina)
3 Alex Holston (OH, 6-2, Olney, Md., Univ. of Florida)
5 Hana Lishman (L, 5-8, Kailua, Hawaii, Pepperdine Univ.)
6 Shelly Stafford (MB, 6-2, Cypress, Texas, Baylor Univ.)
7 Symone Williams-Abbott (OH, 6-1, Northville, Mich., Northwestern Univ.)
8 Elle Glock (S, 6-1, Wahoo, Neb., Univ. of Southern California)
9 Rachael Kramer (MB, 6-10, Phoenix, Ariz., Florida)
12 Lindsay Stalzer  (OH, 6-1, Kewanee, Ill., Bradley Univ.)
14 Ali Bastianelli (MB, 6-3, Marysville, Mich., Univ. of Illinois)
15 Roni Jones-Perry  (OPP, 5-11, West Jordan, Utah, BYU)
16C Danielle Cuttino (OPP, 6-4, Indianapolis, Ind., Purdue Univ.)

Head Coach Karch Kiraly
Assistant Coach Erin Virtue
Assistant Coach Tama Miyashiro
Team Manager John Xie
Athletic Trainer Misao Tanioka
Statistician Peter Wong

Pan American Cup Schedule
(All times PT)
Live stream at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6ZS0TLfErMqfPsBr65bldQ 

Monday September 13
Noon Puerto Rico v Canada
2 p.m. United States v Mexico
4 p.m. Dominican Republic v Cuba

Tuesday September 14
Noon Cuba v Canada
2 p.m. United States v Puerto Rico
4 p.m. Dominican Republic v Mexico

Wednesday September 15
Noon Cuba v Mexico
2 p.m. United States v Canada
4 p.m. Dominican Republic v Puerto Rico

Thursday September 16
Noon Mexico v Puerto Rico
2 p.m. United States v Cuba
4 p.m. Dominican Republic v Canada

Friday September 17
Noon Puerto Rico v Cuba
2 p.m. Canada v Mexico
4 p.m. Dominican Republic v United States

Saturday September 18
Noon Positions 5-6
2 p.m. 2nd vs 3rd
4 p.m. 1st v 4th

Sunday September 19
2 p.m. Bronze Medal Game
4 p.m. Gold Medal Game