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Colorado Springs, Colo. (July 2, 2025) –The U.S. Girls U19 National Team, the reigning world champion, opened the 2025 FIVB Girls U19 World Championship title with a 3-1 (22-25, 25-16, 25-12, 25-23) win over Spain on Wednesday in Osijek, Croatia.
The U.S. (1-0) will face Peru on Thursday, July 3 at 12:15 p.m. PT.
With lopsided wins in the second and third sets, the U.S. dominated statistically in a competitive match with margins of eight in kills (42-34) and aces (11-3) and seven in blocks (15-8).
Four U.S. players reached double digits in points with middle blocker Gabrielle Nichols scoring 14 points on nine kills, four blocks and an ace, and outside hitter Cari Spears leading the squad with 13 kills and adding an ace for 14 points as well. Setter Genevieve Harris ran the offense while contributing a block and two aces.
“The feeling of wearing the flag across our chest is unmatched. We had a battle in the first match, but we are now onto processing our mistakes, celebrating the coups and improving our overall game to be prepared for the next challenge,” Harris said.
Opposite Henley Anderson recorded a match-high five blocks, including three key blocks in the fourth set, to go with seven kills for 12 points. Middle Jordan Taylor totaled 10 points on five kills, three blocks and two aces.
The U.S. took a quick 10-5 lead in the first set before Spain returned from a timeout to score eight of the next nine points. From there, there were multiple lead changes and the only three-point difference the rest of the way came when Spain won the set. Nichols recorded three blocks in the set and added a kill, and Kelly Kinney scored three points on kills.
With an 8-7 lead in the second set, the U.S. went on a 10-2 run to take a nine-point lead. Devyn Wiest served for six consecutive points with two of the team’s five aces in the set. Taylor scored four points on two kills, a block and ace, while Spears led all players with four kills.
An emphatic Nichols kill out of the middle put the U.S. up 6-1 to begin the third set. Spain as close as five points,10-5, but a Taylor ace culminated a 4-1 run that pushed the lead to eight points, 14-6. Spain was only able to put back-to-back points together once the rest of the set. Outside hitter Lameen Mambu led the way with five points on two kills, two blocks and an ace. Nichols and Spears each delivered four kills.
Spain seemed poised to send the match to a fifth set when it took a 19-14 lead in the fourth set, but the U.S. went on a 9-2 run keyed by strong blocking to take a 23-21 lead. Four of the U.S.’s final nine points came on blocks. Anderson recorded three blocks and three kills for six points. Nichols scored four points on three kills and a block. Spears served for four points, one on an ace, to bring the U.S. within one point (19-18) and scored on three kills in the set.
2025 U19 National Team Roster for World Championship
(Name, Pos., Birth Year, Height, Hometown, School, Region)
3 Jordan Taylor (MB, 6-5, 2007, Houston, Texas, University of Minnesota, Lone Star)
5 Lily Hayes (L, 5-9, 2007, Tampa, Fla., Berkeley Prep HS, Florida)
6 Suli Davis (OH, 6-1, 2007, Euless, Texas, Brigham Young University, North Texas)
8 Abbey Emch (MB, 6-3, 2007, New Waterford, Ohio, University of Pittsburgh, Ohio Valley)
10 Isabelle Hoppe (S, 5-8, 2008, Gibsonia, Pa., Pine Richland HS, Ohio Valley)
11 Kelly Kinney (OH/OPP, 6-2, 2007, West Palm Beach, Fla., The Kings Academy, Florida)
12 Genevieve Harris (S, 5-11, 2007, Raleigh, N.C, Cardinal Gibbons HS, Carolina)
13 Gabrielle Nichols (MB, 6-3, 2007, Winston Salem, N.C., Penn State University, Carolina)
16 Cari Spears (OH, 6-3, 2007, Dallas, Texas, University of Texas, North Texas)
17 Lameen Mambu (OH, 6-0, 2007, Chantilly, Va., Georgia Tech, Chesapeake)
19 Henley Anderson (OPP/OH, 6-3, 2007, Dripping Springs, Texas, Dripping Springs HS, Lone Star)
20 Devyn Wiest (OH, 6-3, 2007, Peoria, Ariz., University of Utah, Arizona)
Alternates
1 Izzy Mogridge (S, 5-11, 2007, Lutz, Fla., Berkeley Prep HS, Florida)
2 Charlotte Vinson (OPP, 6-2, 2007, Muncie, Ind., Yorktown HS, Hoosier)
4 Kalyssa Blackshear (MB/OPP, 6-4, 2007, Torrance, Calif., University of Louisville, Southern California)
7 Ayanna Watson (OH/OPP, 6-3, 2007, Henderson, Nev., Bishop Gorman HS, Southern California)
9 Natalie Wardlow (MB/OPP, 6-5, 2007, Lincoln, Neb., Lincoln Southeast HS, Great Plains)
15 Logan Bell (L, 5-11, 2007, Beech Grove, Ind., Roncalli HS, Hoosier)
18 Aniya Warren (L, 5-8, 2007, Lockport, Ill., Benet Academy, Great Lakes)
Coaches
Head Coach: Keegan Cook (Minnesota)
Assistant Coach: Alyssa D’Errico (Utah)
Assistant Coach: April Sanchez (New Mexico)
Performance Analyst: Jon Wong (Florida State)
ATC: Cherryl Bueno (Coast to Coast AthletiCare)
Team Lead: Courtney Smith (NTDP)
2025 FIVB Girls U19 World Championship Schedule
All times Pacific/Osijek, Croatia
Matches live on VBTV and Volleyball World YouTube
July 2: USA def. Spain, 3-1 (22-25, 25-16, 25-12, 25-23)
July 3: 12:15 p.m. USA vs. Peru
July 4: 12:15 p.m. USA vs. Poland
July 6: 12:15 p.m. USA vs. Bulgaria
July 7: 12:15 p.m. USA vs. Türkiye
July 8: TBA Round of 16
July 11: TBA Playoffs/Quarterfinals
July 12: TBA Playoffs/Semifinals
July 13: Finals