U.S. Girls U19 Team Strikes Gold at 2025 Pan American Cup

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 28, 2025) —The U.S. Girls U19 National Team captured the gold medal at the 2025 NORCECA Girls U19 Pan American Cup with a 3-0 (25-21, 25-22, 25-21) victory over Mexico on Saturday on the campus of Queens College in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

The U.S. Girls U19 National Team also won gold at the Pan Am Cup in both 2022 and 2023 and won gold last year at the NORCECA Continental Championship.

The U.S. dominated the attack as they did all tournament, doubling up Mexico with 48 kills to just 24. The U.S. held an 11-8 lead in blocks while Mexico’s strong serve gave them a 9-5 advantage in aces.

Tournament Most Valuable Player Kari Knotts carried the U.S. offense with 24 points with 19 kills and three aces to go with two blocks. Also named the tournament’s best spiker, the outside hitter totaled 18 points in the final two sets. Knotts added seven digs.

Setter Taimane Ainu’u was named the tournament’s best setter leading the high-powered U.S. offense. She contributed eight digs in the gold medal match. Libero Cala Haffner hit double digits in digs again, leading all players with 13.

Middle blocker Shayla Rautenberg scored nine points on seven kills and two blocks, and opposite Nejari Crooks finished with eight points on five kills and three blocks.

Outside hitters Olivia Henry (seven kills) and Ireland Real (five kills, one block, one ace) each scored seven points. Henry earned all her points on kills and Real, who was named the tournament’s second-best spiker, recorded five kills, a block and an ace.

With the score tied at 12 in the opening set, the U.S. scored four consecutive points to take the lead for good. After a Mexico hitting error, Knotts served an ace and Real notched back-to-back points, first on a block and then with a kill.

Mexico cut the lead to one point on two occasions but could not hold off the U.S. Rautenberg scored to make it 23-10 and after the U.S. gave up one point, Real ended the set with back-to-back kills. Real finished the set with seven points on five kills, a block and an ace, and Knotts also recorded five kills and added an ace for six points.

With the U.S. leading 16-15 coming out of a technical timeout, Kotts scored four of the set’s next five points. She started with a block, scored on an out of system swing, put a ball off the block that hit the antenna and then served an ace for a 20-16 advantage.

A late 4-0 run pulled Mexico within a point, 23-22 and forced a U.S. timeout. On the ensuing play, Henry made a mid-air adjustment before pushing a ball through the block. Her tough serve then led to Knotts’ set-ending kill. Knotts scored eight points, double the next-best total from either team, with six kills, a block and an ace.

The U.S. looked like it might run away with the third set, jumping out to a 7-2 lead. A spirited Mexico comeback, keyed by its strong serving, put the silver medalists one point ahead, 17-16. Westley Matavao, who entered the match in the third set, tied the set with a block before a block and kill by Crooks extended the lead to three points, 20-17.

Knotts scored four of the final U.S. points in the match. A Rautenberg kill on an overpass made it 24-18. After Mexico fought off three match points, Knotts sealed the gold medal with her eighth kill and 10th point of the set.

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: USA def. Puerto Rico, 3-1 (20-25, 25-20, 25-14, 27-25)
June 27: USA def. Dominican Republic, 3-0 (25-22, 25-14, 25-20)
June 28: Gold Medal Match, USA def. Mexico, 3-0 (25-21, 25-22, 25-21)