U.S. Women Bringing Bronze Back from Pan Am Cup

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Aug. 13, 2023) – The U.S. Women’s National Team competing at the Pan American Cup will bring home the bronze medal after defeating the Dominican Republic 3-1 (25-22, 25-20, 21-25, 27-25) on Sunday in Ponce, Puerto Rico.

The U.S. Women finished the tournament 5-1. Outside hitter Simone Lee was named First Best Spiker.

The U.S. Women led the Dominican Republic in kills (63-55) and scored 19 points on Dominican errors while giving up 17. The Dominican led in blocks (14-12) and aces (6-4).

Lee led the U.S. scoring with 23 points on a team-high 19 kills and a team-high four blocks. She also had 14 excellent receptions and eight digs.

“I’m really excited,” Lee said. “We were down in the fourth set, and we were able to come back really strong. I think that showed just a lot of our team’s grit and fight especially after yesterday losing to Argentina and to have such a big turnaround and play so well together as a team, it just makes this moment even sweeter.”

Outside hitter Logan Eggleston added 19 points on 15 kills, a team-high three aces and one block. She led the team in excellent receptions with 16.

Opposite Stephanie Samedy finished with 16 points on 16 kills.

Middle blocker Madeleine Gates scored 10 points on eight kills and two blocks. Middle Kayle Haneline added nine points on five kills, three blocks and an ace.

Setter Jenna Gray scored two points on two blocks. Gray started at setter while Sydney Hilley helped out as a substitute.

Libero Zoe Fleck was credited with 19 digs and 11 excellent receptions.

After winning the third set, the Dominican Republic took a 15-9 lead in the fourth. The U.S. Women used a 6-2 run to pull to within two at 17-15. The U.S. took its first lead of the set at 20-19 and the teams traded points.

The U.S. Women held match points at 24-23 and 25-24, but Puerto Rico tied it each time. The U.S. Women took their third match point at 26-25 on the Dominican Republic’s service error. Logan Eggleston got a cross-court kill for the final point.

“I think the most important piece is we’ve had different people step up in different moments and the more we stay together, the more we get better as a coaching staff and as a team,” U.S. Head Coach Brad Rostratter said. “The better that is for us moving forward down to the Dominican Republic (for the NORCECA Final Six).”

U.S. Women’s Roster for the 2023 Pan American Cup

No. Name (Pos., Ht., Hometown, College, USAV Region)
3 Kendall White (L, 5-5, Zionsville, Ind., Penn State, Hoosier)
13C Sarah Wilhite Parsons (OH, 6-2, Eden Prairie, Minn., Univ. of Minnesota, North Country)
19 Jenna Gray (S, 6-1, Shawnee, Kan., Stanford Univ., Heart of America)
21 Simone Lee (OH, 6-1, Menomonee Falls, Wis., Penn State, Badger)
25 Brooke Nuneviller (OH, 5-11, Chandler, Ariz., Univ. of Oregon, Arizona)
30 Danielle Hart (MB, 6-4, Virginia Beach, Va., Univ. of Wisconsin, Old Dominion)
34 Stephanie Samedy (Opp, 6-2, Clermont, Fla., Univ. of Minnesota, Florida)
36 Madeleine Gates (MB, 6-3, San Diego, Calif., Stanford, Southern California)
37 Kayla Haneline (MB, 6-2, Plattsmouth, Neb., Northern Iowa, Great Plains)
38 Zoe Fleck (L, 5-6, Grenada Hills, Calif., Univ. of Texas, Southern California)
39 Taylor Mims (Opp, 6-3, Billings, Mont., Washington State, Evergreen)
41 Logan Eggleston (OH, 6-2, Brentwood, Tenn., Univ. of Texas, Southern)
43 Serena Gray (MB, 6-3, Temple City, Calif., Pitt, Southern California)
44 Sydney Hilley (S, 6-0, Brooklyn Park, Minn., Univ. of Wisconsin, North Country)

Head Coach: Brad Rostratter
Assistant Coach: Jonathan Charette
Assistant Coach: Cursty Jackson
Team Manager: John Xie
Performance Analyst: AJ Ruttenberg
Athletic Trainer: Mandolyn Peterson

U.S. Schedule for the 2023 Pan American Cup
(All times PDT)

Sunday, August 6
United States def Costa Rica, 3-0 (25-12, 25-12, 25-17)

Monday, August 7
United States def Peru, 3-0 (25-23, 25-20, 25-12)

Tuesday, August 8
United States def Colombia, 3-0 (25-14, 25-21, 25-19)

Thursday August 10
United States def. Canada, 3-0 (25-17, 25-20, 25-18)

Saturday August 12
Semifinals, Argentina def. United States, 3-1 (24-26, 25-23, 25-20, 27-25)

Sunday August 13
Bronze Medal Match: United States def. Dominican Republic, 3-1 (25-22, 25-20, 21-25, 27-25)