U.S. Concludes 2026 Girls U17 Worlds Pool Play Undefeated

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Aug. 11, 2026) – The U.S. Girls U17 National Team completed pool play with a 5-0 record, completing its preliminary round sweep with a 3-0 (25-10, 25-13, 25-17) victory over Czechia in Santiago, Chile on Tuesday. The U.S. has not dropped a set in the tournament.

The U.S. will meet an opponent to be determined in tomorrow’s Round of 16 at 2 p.m. PT.

The U.S. dominated in every aspect, registering 22 more kills (38-16), six more blocks (8-2) and five more service aces (9-4). The U.S. also finished with 10 more digs (35-25).

Opposite Kari Knotts was the only player to score in double digits with 16 points on a match-best 10 kills and four blocks, while being one of two players to serve two aces. Outside hitter Maya Ogbogu finished with nine points on six kills, one block and two aces, while recording a match-high five digs. Setter Ellie Enger contributed a kill and an ace while running the offense that hot at a .538 clip.

Outside hitter Lexi Coleman scored seven points on five kills, a block and an ace. Middle blocker Madlen Gloessner (four kills, one block, one ace) and outside Julia Masselink (five kills, one ace) each totaled six points. Maija Mortensen scored four points on two kills, one block and an ace.

Madison Middleton scored on a tip and teamed with Knotts for a double block that put the U.S. ahead 5-2 in the first set. Ogbogu followed with an ace that sent Croatia to take an early timeout. Masselink scored on an off-speed shot out of system and then served for three points, one on an ace, to up the lead to 11-4. Tips by Ogbogu and Knotts put the U.S. up 16-7. Mortensen scored to give the U.S. a double-digit advantage, 19-9. Knotts scored on a tip and Gloessner posted a block for a 23-10 lead. Two Czechia mistakes ended the set. Knotts scored six points five kills and a block with Masselink totaled five points on four kills and an ace.

Czechia took the first two-point lead of the second set, 5-3, on an ace. Gloessner scored to bring the U.S. within a point before a great Burgess dig led to a Ogbogu crosscourt kill that evened the set at 7-7. A great up by Enger on a serve that dribbled off the net kept a rally alive and led to an Ogbogu kill for a 9-9 tie. Another Ogbogu kill and a Czechia hitting error gave the U.S. its first two-point lead of the set, 11-9. Knotts scored down the line for a 14-11 advantage. A one-handed up by Gloessner led to Masselink putting a ball down and on the following rally, Gloessner put away an overpass for a 17-12 lead. Knotts served for five consecutive points to stretch the margin to double digits. A Gloessner block and a Coleman ace off the tape gave the U.S. up two sets. Knotts paced the U.S. with six points on three kills, a block and two aces.

A Knotts kill off the block put the U.S. ahead 5-1 in the third set. An Enger setting dump made it 8-4 with an Ogbogu kill and Gloessner ace pushing the lead to five, 10-5. A Coleman block raised the margin to seven points, 14-7. Enger used a one-hand set on a ball at the net to feed Coleman, who scored for a 16-9 U.S. lead. Taylor Johnson scored on back-to-back plays for a 20-13 U.S. lead after Czechia had cut the deficit to five. A Czechia ace cut the margin back to five points, 21-16, before a Peyton Smith kill. Coleman scored off a set from Kaya Young to put the U.S. ahead 23-17. After a Czechia hitting error, Coleman ended the match with her third kill and fourth point of the set. Knotts also scored four points with two kills and two blocks.

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 def. Thailand, 3-0 (25-11, 25-21, 25-16)
August 11: USA def. Czechia, 3-0 (25-10, 25-13, 25-17)
August 12: Round of 16: USA vs. TBD, 2 p.m.
August 14: Quarterfinals and Playoffs
August 15: Semifinals and Playoffs
August 16: Medal matches and Playoffs