U.S. Women Move to 4-0 at 2025 U21 World Championship

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Aug. 11, 2025) – The U.S. Girls U19 National Team won its fourth consecutive match at the 2025 FIVB Women’s U21 World Championship with a 3-0 (27-25, 25-17, 25-15) victory over Croatia on Monday in Surabaya, Indonesia.

The win set up a showdown between the U.S. (4-0) and China (4-0) in the final match of pool play tonight at 8 p.m. PT. Both teams have dropped only one set in the championship and have already qualified for the round of 16 that begins on Wednesday. The winner will finish first in Pool B.

The U.S. offense dominated with 44 kills to only 26 for Croatia. The U.S. also held leads in blocks (11-8) and aces (7-3). Croatia made five fewer errors (20-15).

MATCH STATISTICS

Three U.S. players reached double-digit scoring, led by opposite Henley Anderson, who scored 14 points on 10 kills, three blocks and an ace. She added seven digs. Middle blocker Elena Hoecke registered a match-best four blocks with nine kills for 13 points. Outside hitter Ayanna Watson led all players with three aces and recorded nine kills for 12 points.

Libero Gabi Rodriguez shared match-high honors with 12 digs.

“We went into this match with a very aggressive mindset,” Rodriguez said. “Croatia is a very big and physical team with strong blocking and great serving. We came prepared for that. I think our team did a great job getting a lot of digs to kills and working together through every point. Even if we lost two points in a row, we bounced back super quick with a lot of first-ball sideouts. I’m proud of us for working together and getting the team win. I’m excited to keep competing with this team.”

Outside Audrey Flanagan totaled nine points on six kills, two blocks and an ace. Middle Brooke Harwood scored eight points on six kills and two blocks. Setter Genevieve Harris contributed 33 assists, four kills and an ace for five points. Fellow setter Blair Thiebaud added two assists and a kill.

Hoecke (four kills and a block) and Flanagan (three kills, one block, one kill) each scored five points in the opening set. Flanagan and Rodriguez each recorded four successful receptions.

The U.S. hit .423 in the second set with 14 kills and only three errors in 26 total attacks. Harris (four kills) and Harwood (three kills) each hit 1.000 in the set. Harwood added two blocks for five points, and Anderson scored five points on four kills and a block.

Anderson scored seven points on five kills and two blocks in the third set. Hoecke added six points on four kills and two blocks, and Watson produced five kills.

2025 Girls U19 National Team for U21 World Championship

Name (Pos., Height, Birth Year, Hometown, School, USAV Region)

3 Jayden “JJ” Robinson (OPP, 6-3, 2008, Missouri City, Texas, Ridge Point HS, Lone Star)
6 Keoni Williams (MB, 6-4, 2007, Fort Worth, Texas, Eagle Mountain HS, North Texas)
7 Brooke Harwood (MB, 6-4, 2008, Mesa, Ariz., Casteel HS, Arizona)
8 Ayanna Watson (OH/OPP, 6-3, 2007, Henderson, Nev., Bishop Gorman HS, Southern California Southern Nevada)
11 Gabi Rodriguez (L, 5-6, 2008, Celeste, Texas, McKinney North HS, North Texas)
12 Genevieve Harris (S, 5-11, 2007, Raleigh, N.C., Cardinal Gibbons HS, Carolina)
13 Halle Thompson (OH, 6-0, 2008, Spring, Texas, Grand Oaks HS, Lone Star)
14 Taylor Stanley (OPP, 6-3, 2007, Overland Park, Kan., Blue Valley Southwest HS, Heart of America)
16 Elena Hoecke (MB, 6-3, 2007, Lino Lakes, Minn., Centennial HS, North Country)
17 Audrey Flanagan (OH, 6-3, 2008, Redondo Beach, Calif., Mira Costa HS, Southern California Southern Nevada)
19 Henley Anderson (OH/OPP, 6-3, 2007, Dripping Springs, Texas, Dripping Springs HS, Lone Star)
22 Blair Thiebaud (S, 6-0, 2007, College Station, Texas, College Station HS, Lone Star)

Alternates
1 Emma Cugino (L, 5-9, 2008, Galena, Ohio, Olentangy Orange HS, Ohio Valley)
2 Nadiya Johnson (OPP, 6-2, 2008, Ashburn, Va., Riverside HS, Chesapeake)
4 Kendall Omoruyi (MB, 6-4, 2008, Gilbert, Ariz., Casteel HS, Arizona)
5 Danielle Whitmire (S, 6-1, 2007, Celina, Texas, Walnut Grove HS, North Texas)
9 Isabel Incinelli (OPP/OH, 6-5, 2008, Winter Park, Fla., Winter Park HS, Florida)
15 Lynney Tarnow (MB, 6-5, 2007, Downers Grove, Ill., Benet Academy, Great Lakes)
18 Tessa Larkin (OH, 6-1, 2008, Anthem, Ariz., Xavier College Preparatory HS, Arizona)

Coaches
Head Coach: Tama Miyashiro (LOVB)
Assistant Coach: Stacy Sykora (LOVB)
Assistant Coach: Steven Duhoux (Ohio State men’s volleyball)
Performance Analyst Training: Elgin Liu (UCSD men’s volleyball)
Performance Analyst Competition: Peter Wong (Halton Region Volleyball Club)
ATC: Misao Tanioka (LOVB)
Team Lead: Alex Purvey (NTDP)

Schedule
All times PT

Pool Play
Aug. 7: USA def. Korea, 3-1 (25-17, 25-19, 19-25, 25-20)
Aug. 8: USA def. Dominican Republic, 3-0 (25-15, 25-16, 25-11)
Aug. 9: USA def. Mexico, 3-0 (25-19, 25-11, 25-18)
Aug. 10: USA def. Croatia, 3-0 (27-25, 25-17, 25-15)
Aug. 11: USA vs. China, 8 p.m.