U.S. Starts 2026 Women's U19 NORCECA Continental Championship with Win over Cuba

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 19, 2026) — The U.S. Women’s U19 National Team opened play at the 2026 NORCECA Women’s U19 Continental Championship with a 3-0 (25-16, 25-16, 25-10) victory over Cuba on Sunday in San José, Costa Rica. The U.S. broke open a close first two sets with late runs before dominating the third set.

The U.S. will have a day off before concluding pool play against the Dominican Republic on Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. PT.

The U.S. nearly doubled Cuba in kills (41-21) while serving all 10 aces in the match and recording four of the five blocks. The U.S. hit nearly .500 for the match with a team efficiency percentage of .492.

“The first match was a great challenge,” said head coach Alex Dunphy. “Cuba had two strong attackers and forced our defense to work at the net and tin the back row. We responded and got better every set. I’m happy that we were able to have multiple athletes contribute in match one.”

Ten U.S. players scored at least three points with outside hitter Ireland Real leading the way with nine points on seven kills, one block and an ace. Outside Olivia Henry produced eight kills, while opposite Nejari Crooks scored six points on five kills and a block. Libero Cala Haffner led all players with 11 digs and eight successful receptions. Real contributed six digs.

Outside Ava Burgess (five kills) and middle blocker Willtrace Ngoh (three kills, one block, one ace) each scored five points. Four U.S. players each scored four points: setter Taimane Ainu’u (four aces), Megan Hodges (four kills), setter Josalyn Samuels (one kill, three aces) and middle Kyla Williams (three kills, one block). Brynn Stephens registered three kills, Shayla Rautenberg added a pair of kills, and libero Pulelehua Laikona  served an ace.

Cuba jumped out to a 6-2 lead to start the match before the U.S. went on a 6-1 run to take the lead. Crooks recorded back-to-back kills that evened the score 7-7. Hodges put a ball down to end a long rally and put the U.S. up 11-10. Another Crooks kill gave the U.S. a two-point lead, 13-11. A Real ace stretched the lead to three, 15-12. Leading 16-14, the U.S. scored three points in a row for a five-point cushion on a Burgess kill, Crooks block and Samuels ace. Following a Cuba timeout, back-to-back Burgess kills ran the advantage to seven points. The U.S. run continued with another Crooks kill and Samuels ace, finishing a 7-0 run. Rautenberg ended the set with a kill. Crooks scored six points on five kills and a block and Burgess also recorded five kills.

The U.S. took a two-point lead for the first time in the second set when Henry scored back-to-back points to make it 11-9. A kill by Real extended the margin to three points, 15-12, but Cuba scored the next four points to retake the lead. A kill and block by Real restored the U.S. lead, 17-16. Back-to-back aces by Ainu’u pushed the lead back to three points. Cuba tried to stop the momentum with a timeout, but the U.S. scored twice to force another Cuba timeout. Two more Ainu’u aces capped a 10-0 run to end the set. Real led all scorers with seven points on six kills and a block with Ainu’u serving four aces in the final run.

A Williams block and Stephens kill scored on consecutive plays for a 6-2 U.S. lead in the third set. Another Williams kill and a kill by Henry put the U.S. ahead 8-5. After Cuba scored the next point, the U.S. went on a 7-1 run to raise the lead to eight points. Henry delivered two kills and Ngoh recorded a kill and a block in that stretch. A Laikona ace doubled up the lead, 18-9, and forced a Cuba timeout. Three consecutive errors increased the U.S. advantage to 21-9. Williams gave the U.S. match point at 24-10, and Ngoh scored on the following play. Ngoh finished with five points on three kills, a block and an ace.

U19 Continental Championship Roster
1 Taimane Ainu’u (S, 6-0, 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)
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 Southern Nevada)
9 Pulelehua Laikona (L, 5-8, 2009, Gilbert, Ariz., Mesa HS, Arizona)
12 Brynn Stephens (OH, 6-3, 2009, Frisco, TX, Walnut Grove HS, North Texas)
13 Shayla Rautenberg (MB, 6-4, 2009, Pleasant Dale, Neb., Milford HS, Great Plains)
14 Ireland Real (OH, 6-4, 2009, San Clemente, Calif., Santa Margarita Catholic HS, Southern California Southern Nevada)
15 Josalyn Samuels (S, 6-1, 2009, Harrisburg, S.D., Harrisburg HS, North Country)
17 Sarah Floyd (OPP, 6-3, 2009, Dallas, TX, Highland Park HS, North Texas)
18 Kyla Williams (MB, 6-4, 2009, Cleveland, Ohio, Gilmour Academy, Ohio Valley)
19 Ava Burgess (OH, 6-2, 2009, Lehi, Utah, Lone Peak HS, Intermountain)
20 Willtrace Ngoh (MB, 6-1, 2009, Richmond, Texas, Katy Seven Lakes HS, Lone Star)

Alternates
4 Taylor Harrington (MB, 6-3, 2009, Arlington, Va., Wakefield HS, Chesapeake)
7 Averi Bridges (L, 5-7,2009, Ashland, Neb., Ashland HS, Great Plains)
8 Alex Knox (S, 5-11, 2009, McMurray, Pa., Peters Township High School, Keystone)
10 Leilani Lamar (OH, 6-2, 2009, Alpharetta, Ga., Alpharetta HS, Southern)
11 Westley Matavao (OH, 6-0, 2009, Ontario, Calif., Mater Dei HS, Southern California Southern Nevada)
16 Taylor Freeland (OPP, 6-3, 2009, Riverton, Utah, Riverton HS, Intermountain)

Coaches 
Head Coach: Alex Dunphy (MLV)
Assistant Coach: Haley Brightwell (MLV)
Assistant Coach: Tori Dixon (LOVB)
Performance Analyst: Mackenna Basore (LOVB)
ATC: Hazel Peterson (USOPTC)
Team Lead: Courtney Smith (NTDP)

U19 Continental Championship Schedule
All times PT
July 19: USA def. Cuba, 3-0 (25-16, 25-16, 25-10)
July 21: USA vs. Dominican Republic, 2:30 p.m.
July 22: Classification matches and quarterfinals
July 23: Classification and semifinals
July 24 Medal matches and final classification