U.S. Women Finish 5-0 in 2026 Final Six Pool Play, Advance to Semifinals

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Sept. 25, 2026) – The U.S. Women’s National Team finished preliminary round play undefeated after a 3-1 (25-22, 18-25, 25-21, 25-13) win over Puerto Rico on Friday in Zinacantepec, Mexico.

The U.S. (5-0) advances to the semifinal round tomorrow at 5 p.m. PT

The U.S. finished the match with 10 more kills (56-46) with both teams recording six blocks and two service aces.

Outside hitter Claire Hoffman led all players with 15 points on 13 kills and two blocks. Opposite Sami Francis recorded 11 kills and outside Caitie Baird finished with 10. Middle blocker Natalie Foster scored nine points on seven kills, a block and an ace, while fellow middle Toyosi Onabanjo shared match-high honors with three blocks and added four kills for seven points.

Libero Elena Oglivie led the team with 19 digs with Francis (12) and Hoffman (11) also reaching double digits. Hoffman paced the team with five excellent receptions and Oglivie contributed four. Middle Onye Ofoegbu registered five kills and outside Jess Mruzik totaled five points on four kills and an ace. Setter Ella Powell ran the U.S. offense and ended the match with a kill.

Kills by Foster and Ofoegbu started the match, but neither team led by two again until Ofoegbu put a ball down for an 11-9 advantage. Francis followed with an off-speed shot that found the middle of the court and sent Puerto Rico to a timeout. Puerto Rico charged out of the break with a 5-2 run to regain the lead. A block gave Puerto Rico its first two-point lead, 16-14. A great Oglivie block cover led to a Hoffman kill that evened the set at 17 apiece. A strong dig from Hoffman led to a Mruzik kill off a Temi Thomas-Ailara set to tie the score 20-20 and the U.S. retook the lead on a Puerto Rico hitting error. After a timeout, Puerto Rico scored the next two points, taking a 22-21 lead on a kill off an overpass. The U.S. roared back out of its timeout to score the final four points and take the set. A Hoffman block gave the U.S. a 23-22 lead. Mruzik followed with an ace for set point and Hoffman registered another block for the final point. Mruzik scored five points on four kills and an ace, and Ofoegbu added four kills.

Puerto Rico raced out to a 7-2 lead in the second set, forcing the U.S. to take an early timeout. The lead grew to seven points, 13-6, before a second U.S. timeout. Following a Puerto Rico service error, a Foster ace and Baird kill cut the margin to four points. An Onabanjo tip brought the U.S. with four points again at 22-18, but Puerto Rico scored the final three points to even the match. Foster scored six points on four kills, one block and one ace.

A Hoffman kill put the U.S. up 6-3 in the third set. An Onabanjo kill and a Puerto Rico hitting error extend the margin to four points, 12-8. A Hoffman kill gave the U.S. a 15-10 lead and the lead remained four or five points with a Baird kill putting the U.S. up 21-16. Puerto Rico scored the next two points to close the gap to three but could get no closer. Hoffman registered five kills with Onabanjo contributing four points on two kills and two blocks.

Two Francis kills gave the U.S. a quick 4-1 lead in the fourth set. A Hoffman kill and Puerto Rico hitting error put the U.S. ahead 7-4 and prompted a timeout. The U.S. doubled up the score, 10-5, on a Baird kill and another Puerto Rico hitting mistake. The lead grew to double digits, 17-7, on kills from Baird and Francis. The U.S. continued to roll as an Onabanjo kill pushed the lead to 20-8. A kill from Hoffman and an eighth Puerto Rico hitting error of the set made the score 23-10. A Baird kill set up match point and after two match points were saved, Powell put a second ball down to clinch the victory. Hoffman (six), Francis (five) and Baird (four) combined for 15 kills in the set.

2026 USA Volleyball Women’s Final Six Cup Roster

No., Name (Pos., Height, Hometown, College)
3 Toyosi Onabanjo (MB, 6-1, Houston, Texas, Kansas)
7 Ella Powell (S, 6-0, Fayetteville, Ark., Washington)
9 Jess Mruzik (OH, 6-1, Livonia, Mich., Michigan/Penn State)
11 Natalie Foster (MB, 6-4, Mattawan, Mich., Wichita State/SMU)
12 Temi Thomas-Ailara (OPP, 6-2, Glenwood, Ill., Northwestern/Wisconsin)
13 Onye Ofoegbu (MB, 6-3, Cerritos, Calif., UC Irvine/Oregon)
19 Elena Oglivie (L, 5-10, Honolulu, Hawaii, Stanford)
20 Rachel Fairbanks (S, 6-0, Tustin, Calif., Pitt)
21 Claire Hoffman (OH, 6-2, Pleasant Hill, Oreg., Washington)
22 Elena Scott (L, 5-10, Louisville, Ky., Louisville, Pioneer)
25 Callie Schwarzenbach (OH, 6-5, Kearney, Mo., Nebraska/Long Beach State)
30 Eva Hudson (OH, 6-1, Ft. Wayne, Ind., Purdue/Kentucky)
77 Sami Francis (OPP, 6-6, San Diego, Calif., Stanford)
99 Caitie Baird (OH, 6-3, Indianapolis, Ind., Stanford)

Schedule

All times PT

Sept. 21: USA def. Canada, 3-0 (25-21, 25-16, 25-16)
Sept. 22: USA def. Cuba, 3-0, (25-17, 25-22, 25-13)
Sept. 23: USA def. Dominican Republic, 3-1 (25-19, 25-20, 23-25, 27-25)
Sept. 24: USA def. Mexico, 3-1 (25-27, 25-19, 25-23, 27-25)
Sept. 25: USA def. Puerto Rico, 3-1 (25-22, 18-25, 25-21, 25-13)
Sept. 26 Semifinals, 5 p.m.
Sept. 27: Finals