COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 18, 2024) –The U.S. Girls U19 Team advanced to the gold medal match at the 2024 NORCECA Continental Championship with a tough 3-0 (25-21, 25-22, 25-16) win over Puerto Rico in the semifinals on Thursday at the Jorge Galeano Gymnasium in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. The teams met for the second time in three days after facing off in the final match of the preliminary round.

The undefeated U.S. (4-0) squad will face Canada (4-1) in the final tomorrow (July 19) at 5 p.m. PT. Canada rallied from a 2-1 set deficit to edge Mexico in Thursday’s other semifinal. The U.S. swept Canada when the teams met in pool play.

The U.S. finished with a 36-26 edge in kills, 12-9 in blocks and 4-1 in service aces. The U.S. hit at a .235 efficiency percentage as a team, while limiting Puerto Rico to an .062 percentage. Both teams scored 23 points on opponent errors.

U.S. vs. Puerto Rico Match Statistics (PDF)

Three players totaled match-highs of 10 kills and 12 points with outside hitters Audrey Flanagan and Henley Anderson joining Pamela Agosto of Puerto Rico as the top scorers. Flanagan was the only player with two aces and registered a match-best six successful receptions. Anderson added two blocks.

Middle blocker Manaia Ogbechie scored nine points on five kills and a match-high four blocks, three of which came at key junctures in the first two sets. Outside Devyn Wiest totaled eight points on six kills, a block and an ace. Middle blocker Elena Hoecke finished with seven points on four kills, two blocks and an ace.

Libero Aniya Warren led all players with five digs and contributed three successful receptions. Setter Isabelle Hoppe ran the offense and recorded two blocks, one of four U.S. players with at least two blocks.

The U.S. built a 20-16 lead in the opening set before three consecutive Puerto Rico points cut the lead to one point. After a timeout, a service error made it 21-19 and Ogbechie recorded back-to-back blocks to raise the lead back to four points. Flanagan and Anderson each recorded five kills and six points in the set.

Puerto Rico used a five-point run to turn a 14-10 deficit into a one-point lead in the second set. The U.S. eventually retook the lead and led 21-20 before an Anderson kill and consecutive blocks by Ogbechie and Wiest extended the lead to three points. Ogbechie finished the set with her third kill and sixth point of the night.

A pair of blocks by Hoppe gave the U.S. its first five-point leads of the match, 11-6 and 12-7, in the third set. The final score of the third set, 25-16, marked the biggest lead of the match. Anderson led the team with four points, and Ogbechie and Wiest each scored three.

2024 Girls U19 National Team

Name (Pos., Ht., Hometown, School, USAV Region)
3 Jayden “JJ” Robinson (OPP, 6-3, 2008, Missouri City, Texas, Ridge Point HS, Lone Star)
5 Manaia Ogbechie (MB, 6-3, 2007, Santa Rosa Valley, Calif., Oaks Christian Academy, Southern California)
7 Hazel Alevok (MB, 6-7, 2007, Bradenton, Fla., IMG Academy, Florida)
10 Isabelle Hoppe (S, 5-8, 2008, Gibsonia, Pa., Pine Richland HS, Ohio Valley)
11 Kelly Kinney (OH, 6-2, 2007, West Palm Beach, Fla., The King’s Academy, Florida)
12 Genevieve Harris (S, 5-10, 2007, Raleigh, N.C., Cardinal Gibbons HS, Carolina)
13 Halle Thompson (OH, 6-1, 2008, Spring, Texas, Grand Oaks HS, Lone Star)
16 Elena Hoecke (MB, 6-3, 2007, Lino Lakes, Minn., Centennial HS, North Country)
17 Audrey Flanagan (OH, 6-3, 2007, Redondo Beach, Calif., Mira Costa HS, Southern California)
18 Aniya Warren (L, 5-8, 2007, Lockport, Ill., Benet Academy, Great Lakes)
19 Henley Anderson (OH, 6-3, 2007, Dripping Springs, Texas, Dripping Springs HS, Lone Star)
20 Devyn Wiest (OH, 6-2, 2007, Phoenix, Ariz., O’Connor HS, Arizona)

Alternates
1 Sarah Hickman (OPP, 6-5, 2007, Houston, Texas, Stratford HS, Lone Star)
2 Nadiya Johnson (OPP, 6-2, 2008, Waldorf, Md., North Point HS, Chesapeake)
6 Suli Davis (OH, 6-2, 2007, Euless, Texas, Colleyville Heritage HS, North Texas)
8 Kaci Demaria (OH, 6-3, 2007, San Pedro, Calif., Palos Verdes HS, Southern California)
9 Natalie Wardlow (MB, 6-5, 2007, Lincoln, Neb., Lincoln Southeast HS, Great Plains)
14 Kirra Musgrove (S, 6-2, 2007, Kemah, Texas, Lutheran South Academy, Lone Star)
15 Logan Bell (L, 5-10, 2007, Beech Grove, Ind., Roncalli HS, Hoosier)

Head Coach: Jamie Morrison (Texas A&M)
Assistant Coach: Keegan Cook (Minnesota)
Assistant Coach: Michelle Chatman Smith (LOVB)
Performance Analyst: Maggie Eppright (LOVB)
ATC: Cherryl Bueno
Team Lead: Kyle Thompson (Maryland)

U.S. Girls U19 Schedule for the Continental Championship
All Times Pacific Daylight
All matches will be livestreamed on Facebook

July 14 USA def. Cuba, 3-0 (25-8, 25-11, 25-21)
July 15 USA def. Canada, 3-0 (25-19, 25-13, 25-15)
July 16 USA def. Puerto Rico, 3-0 (25-20, 25-16, 25-22)
July 17 Quarterfinals (USA earned a bye)
July 18 Semifinals, USA def. Puerto Rico, 3-0 (25-21, 25-22, 25-16)
July 19 5 p.m. Gold Medal Match, USA v. Canada