U.S. Women Move to 3-0 at 2026 Final Six

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Sept. 23, 2026) – The U.S. Women’s National Team battled back after losing the third set to defeat the Dominican Republic 3-1 (25-19, 25-20, 23-25, 27-25) at the 2026 NORCECA Final Six in Zinacantepec, Mexico.

The U.S. (3-0) plays Mexico (2-0) on Sept. 24 at 7 p.m. PT. Mexico defeated the U.S. last week at the Pan Am Cup.

The United States led in kills (60-54), blocks (10-7) and aces (3-1).

Four players scored in double figures, led by Caitie Baird with 19 (17 kills, two blocks). Onye Ofoegbu had 16 (13 kills, three blocks); Sami Francis had 14 (12 kills, one block, one ace); and Claire Hoffman scored 13 (11 kills, two blocks). Natalie Foster added three kills, and Rachel Fairbanks had a kill and two aces. Toyosi Onabanoy had two kills, and Ella Powell had a block. Elena Oglivie had 20 digs.

The U.S. led for all of set one, taking a 10-5 edge midway through the set on a Dominican error. The lead was cut to two, but five straight U.S. points, including kills from Ofoegbu and Francis, made it 15-8. This time, the Dominican Republic had a harder time closing the gap but still got withn four at 22-18. A Baird attack and Francis ace gave the U.S. set point, and Foster ended it on a kill.

The U.S. had the upper hand in set two as well, leading by two or three points most of the way. The lead was still just two at 22-20, but the U.S. used an Ofoegbu kill, Fairbanks ace and Francis kill for the win.

Set three was a tighter battle with the U.S. finally taking a two-point lead at 15-13 on a Francis kill. But the Dominican Republic kept pace, tying the match at 19 and then grabbing a block for 19-18. The two teams exchanged points and were tied at 23, but two straight Dominican kills forced a fourth set.

The U.S. let a 22-17 lead in set four disappear as the Dominican Republic scored three straight to pull within two. An Ofoegbu block gave the U.S. a lead at 23-20, but the team lost the next three points for another tie. The U.S. had its first set point at 24-23, but a Dominican kill tied it. At 25-25, two consecutive blocks – one from Onabanjo and one from Powell – ended the match for the U.S.

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 Scharzenbach (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 vs. Dominican Republic, 3 p.m.
Sept. 24: USA vs. Mexico, 7 p.m.
Sept. 25: USA vs. Puerto Rico, 5 p.m.
Sept. 26 Semifinals
Sept. 27: Finals