U.S. Women Open U21 World Championship with Win over Korea

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Aug. 7, 2025) – The U.S. Girls U19 National Team, competing at the 2025 FIVB Women’s U21 World Championship, began play with a 3-1 (25-17, 25-19, 19-25, 25-20) victory over Korea on Thursday in Surabaya, Indonesia.

The U.S. will continue play against the Dominican Republic late tonight at 1 a.m. PT.

The U.S. used a powerful block and strong serving to earn the win, finishing with an 11-1 advantage in blocks and serving 13 aces to five for Korea. The U.S. recorded four more kills (50-46) while Korea committed nine fewer errors (29-20).

Opposite Henley Anderson led all players with 16 kills, three blocks and 22 points. She also served three aces and added seven digs. Setter Genevieve Harris led the squad to a .373 hitting efficiency percentage while contributing six points on four kills, a block and an ace.

“It was a great first match against Korea. They challenged us in different areas of the game that we hadn’t seen before. I love how we came together as a team in the ways that mattered, and I am super excited to continue playing this tournament finding our strengths and weaknesses and our identity as a team these next couple of weeks,” Harris said.

Middle blocker Elena Hoecke matched Anderson with three blocks, served a match-best five aces and produced six kills for 14 points. Outside hitter Audrey Flanagan scored 13 points on nine kills, two blocks and two aces, and fellow outside Ayanna Watson also reached double digits with 11 points on 10 kills and a block. Middle Brooke Harwood contributed eight points on five kills, two aces and a block.

Hoecke dominated the first set with four aces, three blocks and an ace for a total of eight points. Harwood and Anderson each scored three points on two kills and an ace.

Anderson took over in the second set with nine points on six kills, two blocks and an ace. Flanagan added three points on two kills and a block.

Korea extended the match with a win in the third set despite another strong set from Anderson, who finished with eight points on six kills, a block and an ace.

Watson (five kills and a block) and Flanagan (four kills and two aces) paced the U.S. in the clinching fourth set with six points each. Hoecke recorded two kills and her fifth ace of the match.

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 vs. Dominican Republic, 1 a.m.
Aug. 9: USA vs. Mexico, 12 a.m.
Aug. 11: USA vs. Croatia, 12 a.m.
Aug. 11: USA vs. China, 9 p.m.