U.S. Takes Gold at 2026 Women's U21 Pan American Cup

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 12, 2026) – The U.S. Women’s U21 National Team won the gold medal on home soil on Sunday evening with a 3-0 (25-18, 25-19, 25-21) victory over Canada in the final of the 2026 NORCECA U21 Pan American Cup at the Covelli Center in Columbus, Ohio. The U.S. dropped just one set in six matches in the tournament.

The U.S. finished with a huge advantage in kills (42-27), while also leading in blocks (9-5) and aces (7-4).

The top four scorers in the match were from the U.S., with outside hitter Suli Davis leading all players with 21 points and 16 kills, hitting .522. She shared match-high honors with three blocks and seven excellent receptions, while adding four digs. Setter Campbell Flynn ran the offense that hit .326 as a team.

“I just play with amazing people on and off the court. It was super easy setting them. I set in their space and they are so athletic. Suli jumps really high, so I had to make sure the set was higher. The passing was great so that made it easier,” said Flynn, who was named the 2026 NORCECA U21 Pan American Cup Most Valuable Player.

Outside Payton Petersen scored 12 points on 11 kills and a block with middle blocker Manaia Ogbechie (five kills, three blocks, one ace) and opposite Henley Anderson (four kills, three aces, two blocks) each scoring nine points. Petersen was named the tournament’s second-best spiker.

Libero Lily Hayes shared match-high accolades with seven successful receptions with Petersen adding six. Hayes led the team with six digs and Flynn finished with five.

A Petersen kill gave the U.S. a 6-4 lead in the first set, but the set remained close and the U.S. didn’t lead by two again until a Davis ace made it 10-8. Ames and Peterson recorded kills to help extend the margin to five points, 14-9. An Ogbechie block pushed the lead to seven, 17-10. A Canada block cut the deficit to four, 18-14, before an Ogbechie kill ended a three-point run. Canada got as close as three points, 19-16, before Davis scored twice as part of three consecutive U.S. points that raised the lead back to six. An Anderson kill clinched the set. Davis led all players with five points on four kills and an ace.

Ames and Andersen started the second set with kills and two hitting errors forced Canada to take an early timeout down 4-0. A Davis block made it 5-0 before Canada got on the scoreboard. Canada pulled within three, 7-4, before Ogbechie delivered another kill. An ace helped Canada cut the lead to 10-9, but Davis registered a kill and block for a three-point U.S. advantage. An Andersen block raised the margin to five points, 15-10, and led to the second Canada timeout. Back-to-back Petersen kills gave the U.S. an 18-12 lead. Canada responded by scoring the next four points to cut the deficit to two and prompt a U.S. timeout. An Anderson block and Petersen kill doubled the margin back to four points, 20-16. After surrending the next point, the U.S. ran off three points in a row on a setter dump by Flynn, a Davis kill and an Ogbechie block. Davis ended the set with her third block and sixth point of the set.

Canada took its biggest lead of the match, 6-3, to begin the third set. A Davis kill and ace cut the deficit to a point. The U.S. tied the set 8-8 on an Andersen ace off the tape and took a two-point lead on a Petersen kill and another Andersen ace. A Canada timeout could not stop the U.S. momentum as Ogbechie registered a block and Andersen completed a 6-0 run with another ace. Canada ran off three consecutive points and five of six to even the set at 13 apiece.

Peterson drilled a ball from the back row to put the U.S. up 16-14. A Petersen block stretched the margin to three, 18-15. Petersen ended a long rally with a kill off a set from Davis from the back row for a 20-17 lead. Out of a Canada timeout, Davis scored on a back row attack and Petersen delivered a kill to make the score 22-17. Ogbechie scored off an overpass and Davis scored to give the U.S. match point. Canada saved two match points before Davis sealed the gold medal with her ninth kill and 10th point of the set. Petersen added six points on five kills and a block.

2026 Women’s U21 National Team for the Pan Am Cup

Name, Position, Height, Hometown, Current School, USAV Region
2 Ayden Ames, MB, 6-4, Prosper, Texas, Creighton University, North Texas
5 Lily Hayes, L, 5-9, Tampa, Fla., University of Florida, Florida
6 Suli Davis, OH, 6-2, Euless, Texas, SMU, North Texas
7 Manaia Ogbechie, MB, 6-3, Santa Rosa Valley, Calif., University of Nebraska, Southern California Southern Nevada
9 Keoni Williams, MB, 6-4, Fort Worth, Texas, University of Nebraska, Lone Star
10 Taylor Harvey, MB, 6-3, Salt Lake City, Utah, University of Texas, Lone Star
11 Campbell Flynn, S, 6-3, Rochester Hills, Mich., University of Nebraska, Lakeshore
12 Genevieve Harris, S, 5-11, Raleigh, N.C., University of Texas, Carolina
13 Rachel Van Gorp, L, 5-9, Olathe, Kan., Iowa State University, Heart of America
15 Payton Petersen, OH, 6-0, Dike, Iowa, University of Louisville, Iowa
16C Abby Vander Wal, OH, 6-3, Elmhurst, Ill., University of Texas, Great Lakes
17 Carly Gilk, OPP, 6-2, Minneapolis, Minn., University of Minnesota, North Country
19 Henley Anderson, OPP/OH, 6-3, Dripping Springs, Texas, University of Texas, Lone Star
20 Devyn Wiest, OH, 6-3, Peoria, Ariz., University of Utah, Arizona

Alternates
1 Reese Messer, S, 5-11, Olathe, Kan., University of Kansas, Gateway
3 Jordan Taylor, MB, 6-5, Houston, Texas, University of Minnesota, Lone Star
4 Kalyssa Blackshear, OPP, 6-5, Lomita, Calif., University of Louisville, Southern California Southern Nevada
8 Ayanna Watson, OH, 6-2, Las Vegas, Nev., University of Pittsburgh, Southern California Southern Nevada
14 Abbey Emch, MB, 6-4, New Waterford, Ohio, University of Pittsburgh, Ohio Valley
18 Spencer Etzler, L, 5-7, Coldwater, Ohio, Stanford University, Ohio Valley

Coaches
Head Coach: Tama Miyashiro (LOVB)
Assistant Coach: Alfee Reft (LOVB)
Assistant Coach: Alisha Childress (MLV)
Performance Analyst: Will McDonald (LOVB)
ATC: Misao Tanioka (LOVB)
Team Lead: Kyle Thompson (NTDP)

Schedule

July 7: USA def. Venezuela, 3-0 (25-13, 25-21, 25-15)
July 8: USA def. Mexico, 3-0 (25-21, 25-18, 25-18)
July 9: USA def. Canada, 3-1 (25-18, 25-14, 21-25, 25-18)
July 10: Quarterfinals (USA received a bye)
July 11: USA def. Mexico, 3-0 (25-17, 25-11, 25-12)
July 12: Gold medal match, USA def. Canada, 3-0 (25-18, 25-19, 25-21)