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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Sept. 21, 2026) – The U.S. Women’s National Team opened play at the 2026 NORCECA Final Six in Zinacantepec, Mexico, the way it left off at last week’s Pan Am Cup – with a win. Using 13 points from Eva Hudson, the American squad swept its Canadian counterpart, 25-21, 25-16, 25-16.
The U.S. led Canada in kills (48-28) and aces (4-2). Both teams had two blocks. Setters Ella Powell and Rachel Fairbanks led the team to a .451 hitting efficiency.
Besides Hudson’s 13 points, Temi Thomas-Ailara had 11 kills, and Claire Hoffman had 10 points on nine kills and one block. Natalie Foster had six kills, one block and two aces, and Onye Onabanjo had six kills. Sami Francis had three kills, and Powell had two aces.
Thomas-Ailara notched seven kills in the first set as the U.S. broke open a 17-17 tie with three staight points. The set had remained close throughout the first half with 11 ties. But a kill from Foster, and a block and a kill from Hoffman gave the U.S. the edge it needed, 20-17. Canada moved within one at 21-20, but the U.S. closed it out with kills from Onabanjo, Hudson, Hoffman and Thomas-Ailara.
The U.S. led through almost all of set two after jumping out to a 4-0 lead. Canada tied the match at 11, but four straight points from the U.S., including three Hoffman kills, gave the U.S. back its lead. Canada never got closer than four points, and the U.S. ended it with six straight, finishing on a Powell ace. Hudson had four points for the U.S.
Canada had a short-lived lead at 8-7 in the third set, but the U.S. scored eight of the next nine for a 15-9 lead. A Hoffman kill later increased the lead to eight, 20-12. The U.S. had multiple match points at 24-13, but Canada saved one on a U.S. service error, and then served into the net to end the match.
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 vs. Cuba, 3 p.m.
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