U.S. Bests Host Chile at 2026 Girls U17 World Championship

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Aug. 8, 2026) – The U.S. Girls U17 National Team won its third consecutive match at the 2026 FIVB Girls U17 World Championship in Santiago with a 3-0 (25-14, 25-20, 25-19) victory over host Chile on Saturday night.

The tournament takes a day off tomorrow. The U.S. (3-0) will play Thailand (1-2) on Monday at 11 a.m. PT.

The U.S. dominated statistically with a 47-23 advantage in kills and 7-4 in blocks, while serving seven of eight aces.

Outside Taylor Johnson led all players with 14 points on 11 kills and a match-high three aces. Outside Lexi Coleman posted a match-high 12 kills and added a block for 13 points. Outside Peyton Smith rounded out the double-digit scorers with 12 points on 11 kills and a block. Smith shared team-high accolades with libero Brynli Burgess with 12 digs.

Middle blocker Maija Mortensen totaled seven points on four kills, a block and a pair of aces. Setter Ellie Enger (two kills, one block and one ace) and middle Madlen Gloessner (three kills, one block) scored four points apiece. Middle Kaya Young scored three points on two kills and a block, while middle Madison Middleton finished with two points on a kill and a block.

After dropping the opening point of the match, the U.S. took the lead for good in the set with four points in a row, two on back-to-back aces from Johnson. A Middleton block gave the U.S. a 6-3 lead. Consecutive kills by Johnson, one on a swing and another on a tip, put the U.S. up 10-7. The advantage grew to seven, 15-8, with Enger and Middleton connecting on a quick set and kill and Johnson serving another ace. Hengler served an ace for a 17-9 lead. A strong Burgess dig led to a Coleman kill and a 19-10 advantage. An Engler setter dump stretched the margin to double digits, 22-12. A Coleman block ended the set.

Smith began the second set with her fifth kill of the match. Middleton served for three points in a row for a 6-3 U.S. lead. She served an ace, forced an overpass that Coleman hit off the block, and Chile was unable to return her next serve. A great dig by Smith started a play that ended with a Coleman kill and a 9-4 U.S. lead. After Chile was unable to get past the U.S. double block and put over a free ball, Gloessner scored on a slide for a six-point lead, 11-5. Gloessner batted back an attempted tip on the next play, and she also gave the U.S. a double-digit advantage, 15-5, with a block. Another Coleman kill made the score 19-10. A great dig by Hengler led to a Gloessner kill and a Chile lift extended the margin back to double digits, 22-12. Chile went on an 8-1 run to pull within three points, 23-20. Kaelyn Easton scored on a second ball for the only U.S. point during that stretch. Johnson put a ball down for a 24-20 lead and two points later, Smith scored off the block. Coleman led the way with six kills in the set.

A pair of kills by Young staked the U.S. to a 3-0 lead in the third set. A Smith kill upped the lead to 6-1, forcing a Chile timeout. Smith scored two more times for an 9-2 lead. Middleton scored to push the U.S. lead to 12-3 before Chile ran off three points in a row. The U.S. doubled up the score, 14-7, on a Johnson kill. Chile scored the next four points to cut the deficit to three. A Mortensen block and a Coleman put down on an overpass put the U.S. up 20-14. Chile pulled within four points, 22-18, but the U.S. scored three of the final four points to take the match. Johnson and Smith each scored five points in the set.

2026 U.S. Girls U17 National Team Roster for World Championship

No., Name (Position, Height, Hometown, School, USAV Region)
3 Lexi Coleman  (PIN, 6-0, Northville, Mich., South Lyon East HS, Lakeshore)
5 Kaelyn Easton (S, 5-11, Saline, Mich., Mercy HS, Lakeshore)
6 Ellie Enger (S, 6-1, Forest City, Fla., Orangewood Christian HS, Florida)
7 Madlen Gloessner (MB, 6-5, Denver, Colo., Lakewood HS, Rocky Mountain)
8 Kari Knotts (PIN, 6-3, Marietta, Ga., The Lovett School, Southern)
9 Grace Hengler (L, 5-6, Frisco, Texas, Coram Deo Academy, North Texas)
11 Taylor Johnson (PIN, 6-0, Plano, Texas, Hebron HS, North Texas)
13 Julia Masselink (PIN, 6-2, Sioux Falls, S.D., Harrisburg HS, North Country)
15 Madison Middleton (MB, 6-1, Roswell, Ga., St. Francis HS, Southern)
16 Maya Ogbogu (PIN, 6-0, Parker, Texas, Allen HS, North Texas)
19 Brynli Burgess (L, 5-9, Van Alstyne, Texas, McKinney North HS, North Texas)
24 Maija Mortensen (MB, 6-3, Draper, Utah, Corner Canyon HS, Intermountain)
26 Peyton Smith (PIN, 6-0, Arlington, Texas, Duncanville HS, North Texas)
28 Kaya Young (MB, 6-3, Rockville, Md., Kaiserslautern HS)

Coaches

Head Coach: Heather Olmstead (NTDP)
Assistant Coach: Amir Lugo-Rodriguez (SC Rockstar/Long Beach State men’s volleyball)
Assistant Coach: Laura “Bird” Kuhn (MLV)
Performance Analysts: Joe Skinner (Texas A&M – domestic leg), Peter Wong (Halton Region Volleyball Club – international leg)
Athletic Trainer/Team Doctor: Madison Hauge (domestic leg), Chris Cornell (Coduhi Clinic – international leg)
Team Lead: Alex Purvey (NTDP)

Schedule
All times PT
Matches are on Volleyball World YouTube

August 6: USA def. Egypt, 3-0 (25-13, 25-23, 25-17)
August 7: USA def. Türkiye, 3-0 (25-12, 25-18, 25-16)
August 8: USA def. Chile, 3-0 (25-14, 25-20, 25-19)
August 10: USA vs. Thailand, 11 a.m.
August 11: USA vs. Czechia, 11 a.m.
August 12: Round of 24 and Round of 16
August 14: Quarterfinals and Playoffs
August 15: Semifinals and Playoffs
August 16: Medal matches and Playoffs