U.S. To Play for Gold at 2026 Women's U21 Pan American Cup

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 11, 2026) – The U.S. Women’s U21 National Team will play for gold at the 2026 NORCECA U21 Pan American Cup after a 3-0 (25-17, 25-11, 25-12) win over Mexico at the Covelli Center in Columbus, Ohio, Saturday night.

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The U.S. (4-0) will face Canada (4-1) on Sunday at 4 p.m. PT for the gold medal. Canada defeated the Dominican Rebublic 3-0 in Saturday’s first semifinal.

The U.S. doubled Mexico in kills (42-20) and had just about five times as many blocks (14-3). The U.S. had four aces to zero for Mexico.

“One thing we focus on always is our serve and pass game, so obviously we want to side out as much as we can and use our serve as an advantage,” outside hitter Payton Petersen said. “When we get a team off the net, we want to make sure we’re taking advantage of knowing where the ball is going. So, our blocks are going to be well formed. We’re going to have a position that we know we’re going to be good in.”

All 14 players competed in the three-set victory. Suli Davis led all scorers with 10 points on seven kills, two blocks and an ace. Ayden Ames had nine points, including a team-leading five blocks. Henley Anderson had nine points on seven kills and two blocks. Devyn Wiest scored all seven of her points off of kills in the third set.

Taylor Harvey had six points (four kills, one ace, one block), and Petersen scored six with five kills and a block. Manaia Ogbechie had two aces and a kill; Keoni Williams had two kills and a block. Abby Vander Wal had two points, as did Carly Gilk. Setter Genevieve Harris scored on a kill.

Libero Lily Hayes led the team with eight digs.

Mexico jumped out to an early 4-1 lead, but U.S. tied it 6-6 on a Petersen kill. A block from Ogbechie and Petersen gave the U.S. its first lead at 7-6. A Mexico kill kept the match close at 10-9, but the U.S. reeled off three points to force a Mexico timeout. The U.S. stretched the lead to 18-10 on the strength of its block, particulary from Ames and Anderson. Mexico moved within five at 22-17 but got no closer. Vander Wal and Ames closed out the set with another block, the ninth for the U.S. in the set.

The U.S. took control of the second set early, with four kills from Anderson leading the way. At 22-11, three consecutive kills from Petersen, Davis and Petersen again gave the U.S. a 2-0 lead. Davis and Ames each had six points in the set.

The third set was close until an 8-1 run gave the U.S. a 14-7 advantage. That seven-point margin was as close as Mexico could get, with Wiest, Harris, Davis and Harvey recording kills in the second half of the set for the win.

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

All times PT
Streamed live on USA Volleyball YouTube

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 vs. Canada, 4 p.m. PT