U.S. Girls U17 Team Debuts in Pan Am Cup With Sweep of Puerto Rico

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (May 26, 2026) – The U.S. Girls U17 National Team made its first appearance in a Pan American Cup a successful one with a 3-0 (25-17, 25-20, 28-26) victory over Puerto Rico on Tuesday Tegucigalpa, Honduras. The team made its international debut last year, taking gold at the 2025 NORCECA Women’s U17 Continental Championship.

The U.S. will conclude pool play in the 2026 NORCECA Girls U17 Pan American Cup on Thursday at 2 p.m. PT against the Dominican Republic.

MATCH STATISTICS

The U.S. held statistical advantages in kills (40-19), blocks (11-4) and aces (9-6).

“A huge shoutout to Puerto Rico for applying pressure the entire match and keeping us on our toes. The first set is always so intimidating and I’m proud of my team for pushing through until the very end and coming out with the win ” said setter Chloe Burbage, who ran the U.S. offense to a 21-point margin in kills.

Eight U.S. players scored at least four points with outside hitter MC Crutcher (six kills, one block, three aces) leading the way with 10 points. Opposite Mesa Jameson (eight kills) and middle blocker Jael Smith (five kills, two blocks, one ace) each scored eight points. Jameson led all players with eight successful receptions.

Middle blocker Shaun Waller (six kills) and outside Piper Coady (five kills, one block) contributed six points apiece. Outside Shiloh Braddick (three kills, one block and one ace) and Mikayla Matuszko (four kills and one block) each added five points. Opposite Naomi Stevenson scored four points on three kills and a block.

Puerto Rico raced out to a 6-2 lead to start the match. The U.S. still trailed by four points, 12-8, before tying the set for the first time at 13 after a 5-1 run. After giving up the next point, the U.S. took the lead for good, completing a 10-2 streak that turned a four-point deficit into a four-point lead and led to a Puerto Rico timeout. Three aces by Crutcher and blocks from Andrews and Matuszko keyed the comeback.

Puerto Rico cut the margin to three points as late as 19-16, but a Madlen Gloessner block and Coady ace helped pushed the U.S. lead back to six points. The U.S. scored three of the final four points to take the set, finishing on a 17-5 run. Crutcher added two kills to her three aces to lead all players with five points in the set.

Using a 7-1 run, Puerto Rico took a 9-4 lead in the second set. An ace put Puerto Rico up 13-8. A Smith kill and a Stevenson block helped cut the deficit to one point and forced a Puerto Rico timeout. The U.S. evened the set at 14 apiece with kills by Stevenson and Matuszko but Puerto Rico scored three consecutive points for a 17-14 advantage.

The U.S. rallied to take the lead with a four-point run for an 18-17 lead. Puerto Rico called its final timeout of the set down 20-18 after kills by Waller and Braddick. A Crutcher block and kill moved the score to 22-19, capping an 8-2 U.S. stretch. Smith and Stevenson registered back-to-back blocks to finish the set and give the U.S. a two-set lead. Waller (four kills) and Smith (two kills, one block, one ace) paced the U.S. with four points each. Through two sets, the U.S. had out-blocked Puerto Rico 8-1.

A Waller kill ended a 5-1 run to give the U.S. an 8-6 lead in the third set. Waller served an ace to stretch the lead to four points, 11-7. Puerto Rico pulled within a point, 12-11, on an ace. A Braddick kill gave the U.S. a 14-11 advantage before Puerto Rico scored four of the next five points to square the set at 15. Back-to-back Waller kills and a Coady kill gave the U.S. an 18-15 advantage.

After Puerto Rico pulled back within a point, 20-19, a Smith kill and Burbage ace restored the three-point margin. Puerto Rico scored the next two points to cut the deficit back to a point. Jameson kills gave the U.S. 23-21 and 24-22 leads, but Puerto Rico fought off two match points before taking a late lead, 26-25. After using its second timeout, the U.S. scored the final three points to secure the win with Coady and Jameson providing kills before a hitting error ended the match. Waller led all players with five points on four kills and an ace with Jameson recording four kills.

2026 U.S. Girls U17 Pan Am Cup Roster

Name, Position, Height, Hometown, School, Region
1 McKenzie Andrews – MB, 6-5, Grosse Pointe, Mich. Mercy HS, Lakeshore
2 Chloe Burbage – S, 6-1, Cary, N.C., Green Hope HS, Carolina
4 MC Crutcher – OH, 5-11, Mansfield, Texas, Mansfield HS, North Texas
7 Madlen Gloessner – MB, 6-5, Wheat Ridge, Colo., Lakewood HS, Rocky Mountain
10 Mesa Jameson – OPP, 6-2, Cottage Grove, Minn., Eagan HS, North Country
12 Shiloh Braddick – OH, 6-1, Acworth, Ga., Etowah HS, Southern
14 Mikayla Matuszko – OH, 6-3, Wellington, Fla., The King’s Academy, Florida
17 Bella Osborn – L, 5-4, Plano, Texas, Plano Senior HS, North Texas
18 Shaun Waller – MB, 6-3, Franklin, Tenn., Centennial HS, Southern
20 Piper Coady – OH, 6-2, Newport Beach, Calif., Newport Harbor HS, Southern California
22 Sophia Gregg – S, 6-2, Chandler, Ariz., Perry HS, Arizona
23 Hope Hengler – L, 5-2, Frisco, Texas, Coram Deo Academy, North Texas
25 Jael Smith – MB, 6-2, Carson, Calif., Mater Dei HS, Southern California Southern Nevada
27 Naomi Stevenson – OPP, 6-1, Chapel Hill, N.C., Seaforth HS, Carolina

Coaches
Head Coach: Marie Zidek (DePaul University)
Assistant Coaches: Heather Olmstead (NTDP), Joshua Walker (Baylor)
Performance Analyst: Joe Skinner (Texas A&M)
Athletic Trainer: Cherryl Bueno (Coast to Coast AthletiCare)
Team Lead: Alex Purvey (NTDP)

Schedule
All times Pacific
May 26: USA def. Puerto Rico, 3-0 (25-17, 25-20, 28-26)
May 28: USA vs. Dominican Republic, 2 p.m.
May 29: Quarterfinals
May 30: Semifinals
May 31: Medal Matches