U.S. Girls U19 Stays Unbeaten at 2025 Pan American Cup

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 25, 2025) — The U.S. Girls U19 National Team continued its winning ways at the 2025 NORCECA U19 Pan American Cup with a 3-0 (25-21, 25-21, 25-23) win over Mexico on Wednesday in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

The U.S. (2-0) completes pool play tomorrow, Thursday, June 26, at 1:30 p.m. PT against Puerto Rico (0-2), who dropped a tight five-setter to Venezuela earlier on Wednesday.

For the second match in as many days, the U.S. held a large lead in kills, registering 52 to only 38 for Mexico. The margins were smaller in blocks (5-3) and aces (6-4) but still favored the U.S.

MATCH STATISTICS (PDF)

Outside hitter Ireland Real led all players in both points (19) and kills (17), adding a block and an ace. She was one of four U.S. players in double digits.

“I’m super proud of how we played as a team. It was so much fun just to be out there with those girls,” Real said. “I’m glad we had time to watch film and understand what type of team we were up against. I feel like it really helped. I’m super excited about the rest of the tournament and tomorrow.”

Middle blocker Shayla Rautenberg contributed 13 points for the second match in a row, this time on 11 kills and two blocks.

Opposite Nejari Crooks totaled 12 points on seven kills, one block and a match-high four aces. Outside Olivia Henry recorded 12 kills while sharing the team-high with libero Cala Haffner with eight digs.

Neither team led by more than three points in the first set until the U.S. used a 6-2 run to win the set by four points. A smart play by Real, pushing a ball to the open back court to give the U.S. an 18-17 lead, gave the U.S. its first lead since 6-5.

Real scored off the block for a 20-19 lead and then served an ace for the U.S. Girls U19 team’s first two-point lead. Henry scored the final two points of the set on kills. Real led all players with nine points on eight kills and her one ace.

A Rautenberg block ended a long rally and put the U.S. ahead by five points,14-9, in the second set. The lead was still five at 17-12 when Mexico used an 8-3 streak to even the set at 20 apiece. A kill by Real put the U.S. back ahead and back-to-back aces by Crooks stretched the lead to three points.

Just as she did in the opening set, Henry ended the set on a kill with the U.S. leading 24-21. Rautenberg led the way in the second set with seven points on six kills and a block. Crooks and Real each contributed five points.

A Henry kill put the U.S. up 21-18 in the third set and a tough Rautenberg serve led to a Kyla Williams kill that extended the lead to four points. Mexico, which struggled at the end of each of the first two sets, scored four of the next five points to cut the lead to one, 23-22, on an ace.

Another Williams kill put the U.S. on the brink of winning the set, 24-22. Mexico held off one match point before Crooks emphatically put a ball down to seal the set and match. Crooks led the team with six points on four kills and two aces, while Real added five kills.

2025 U.S. Girls U19 National Team for the NORCECA Pan American Cup
(Name, Position, Height, Birth Year, Hometown, High School, Region)

1 Taimane Ainu’u (S, 5-11, 2009, Kapolei, Hawaii, Iolani HS, Aloha)
2 Nejari Crooks (OPP, 6-1, 2009, High Point, N.C., Wesleyan Christian Academy, Carolina)
3 Cala Haffner (L, 5-8, 2009, Fort Wayne, Ind., Carroll HS, Hoosier)
4 Taylor Harrington (MB, 6-3, 2009, Arlington, Va., Wakefield HS, Chesapeake)
5 Olivia Henry (OH, 6-5, 2009, Bayside, N.Y., IMG Academy, Florida)
6 Megan Hodges (MB/OPP, 6-5, 2009, Ladera Ranch, Calif., San Juan Hills HS, Southern California)
7 Marissa Jones (S, 6-2, 2009, Atlanta, Ga., Woodward Academy, Southern)
8 Kari Knotts (OH, 6-3, 2010, Marietta, Ga., Hightower Trail MS, Southern)
11 Westley Matavao (OH, 6-0, 2009, Ontario, Calif., Mater Dei HS, Southern California)
13 Shayla Rautenberg (MB, 6-3, 2009, Pleasant Dale, Neb., Milford HS, Great Plains)
14 Ireland Real (OH, 6-4, 2009, San Clemente, Calif., Santa Margarita Catholic HS, Southern California)
18 Kyla Williams (MB, 6-4, 2009, Cleveland, Ohio, Gilmour Academy, Ohio Valley)

Alternates
9 Pulelehua Laikona (L, 5-8, 2009, Gilbert, Ariz., Mesa HS, Arizona)
10 Leilani Lamar (OH, 6-2, 2009, Tampa, Fla., Tampa Preparatory School, Florida)
12 McKenna McIntosh (OH, 6-1, 2009, Stockton, Calif., St. Mary’s HS, Northern California)
15 Josalyn Samuels (S, 6-1, 2009, Harrisburg, S.D., Harrisburg HS, North Country)
16 Marlee Steiner (MB, 6-4, 2009, St. Louis, Mo., Lindbergh HS, Gateway)
17 Caroline Ward (OPP, 6-0, 2009, Lizton, Ind., Tri-West Hendricks HS, Hoosier)
19 Shaye Witherspoon (OH, 6-3, 2009, Wildwood, Mo., Lafayette HS, Gateway)

Coaches
Head Coach: Jamie Morrison (Texas A&M)
Assistant Coach: Michelle Chatman Smith (LOVB)
Assistant Coach: Maggie Eppright (LOVB)
Performance Analyst: Michael Bouril (Mississippi State)
Athletic Trainer: Rebecca Himes (PVF)
Team Lead: Alex Purvey (NTDP)

2025 Girls U19 Pan American Cup Schedule
All times Pacific
All matches will be livestreamed on Volleyball Canada YouTube

June 24:  USA def. Venezuela, 3-0 (25-9, 25-23, 25-21)
June 25: USA def. Mexico, 3-0 (25-21, 25-21, 25-23)
June 26: 1:30 p.m.: USA vs. Puerto Rico
June 27: TBA
June 28: Classification/Medal Matches, TBA