Mexico Downs the U.S. Women in Four Sets at 2026 Pan Am Cup

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Sept. 12, 2026) – The U.S. Women’s National Team dropped to 1-1 at the 2026 NORCECA Pan American Cup in León, Guanajuato, Mexico, with a 3-1 (25-21, 25-21, 20-25, 25-20) loss to Mexico on Saturday night.

The U.S. plays Costa Rica (0-1) at 3 p.m. PT on Sunday, Sept. 13.

Mexico led in kills (60-46), but the U.S. had more blocks (5-3) and aces (6-1). Errors were split, with Mexico scoring 31 points of U.S. errors and the U.S. grabbing 30.

Eleven players scored for the U.S., led by Temi Thomas-Ailara with 11 on nine kills and two aces. Claire Hoffman had 10 kills, and Callie Scwarzenbach scored seven (four kills, two blocks, one ace). Caitie Baird had six points (five kills, one ace), and Sami Francis also had five, all on kills. Onye Ofoegbu and Eva Hudson each had four points, while Toyosi Onabanjo had three kills. Ella Powell and Natalie Foster each scored a point.

The U.S. had an early 6-3 lead in set one after a Baird kill, but Mexico scored three straight to tie it. After the U.S. went up by two again on kills from Baird and Thomas-Ailara (2), Mexico had a four-point run to take an 11-9 lead. The two teams exchanged points for a 12-12 tie but Mexico took off again for a commanding five-point lead. The U.S. chipped away, moving within one at 19-18 and 20-19, but could not keep the momentum going. Mexico had four set points at 24-20 and capitalized on the second one for the win. Baird led the U.S. with six points.

Neither team managed to gain an upper hand in set two until Mexico broke a 16-16 tie for a two-point advantage. An Ofoegbu block cut the lead to one at 18-17, but Mexico notched two kills to increase the lead to 20-17. The U.S. pulled within two again at 22-20 on a Foster service ace, but Mexico scored the final three points to go up 2-0. Ofoegbu, Hoffman and Francis all scored four points.

The U.S. came out hot in set three by taking an early lead on two kills from Hoffman. A Schwarzenbach ace and Mexico error put the U.S. up by seven, 11-4, before Mexico scored  six of the next eight to cut the lead back to three, 13-10. Kills from Onabanjo and Schwarzenbach, along with a Mexico error, extended the lead to six. Mexico got within three again at 23-20, but the U.S. closed out the set with a Hoffman kill (her sixth of the set) and ace from Thomas-Ailara.

Set four was all Mexico, as the team scored the first seven points and was quickly up 11-1. After a kill from Hudson, Mexico scored three straight for a 14-2 lead. A Mexico service error was followed by a tremendous rally that ended with a Thomas-Ailara kill for 14-4. The U.S. fought back, cutting the lead to five at 16-11 after two consecutive Mexican hitting errors. The U.S. kept up the fight, closing the gap to 23-20 on a Mruzik kill, but Mexico scored the final two for a 25-20 win.

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 vs. Costa Rico, 3 p.m.
Sept. 15: USA vs. Guatemala, 1 p.m.
Sept.16: Quarterfinals and Classification
Sept. 17: Semifinals
Sept. 18: Finals