U.S. Women Roll Past Dominican Republic at 2025 U21 World Championship

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Aug. 8, 2025) – The U.S. Girls U19 National Team earned its second win in a row to start the 2025 FIVB Women’s U21 World Championship, sweeping the Dominican Republic, 3-0 (25-15, 25-16, 25-11) on Friday in Surabaya, Indonesia.

Next up for the U.S. is a matchup with Mexico at 12 a.m. PT tonight/tomorrow.

The U.S. finished the match with 45 kills while limiting the Dominican Republic to just 19. The U.S. led in aces (8-2) and blocks (4-3) with each team making 18 errors.

MATCH STATISTICS

Setters Blair Thiebaud and Genevieve Harris combined to lead the U.S. to a team hitting efficiency percentage of .438 with the 45 kills and 10 errors in 80 attacks. Harris scored four points with two aces, a kill and a block, and Thibaud served an ace.

“We came out strong from the start. I give the Dominican Republic credit for staying in those long rallies and challenging our block. Our serve and receive, and defense were keeping us in system most of the match, allowing us to run our offense to our game plan. I think we kept our foot on the gas the whole time and showed who U.S.A. is,” Thiebaud commented.

Middle blocker Keoni Williams led three players in double figures with 15 points on 13 kills, a block and an ace. She hit .767 for the match with her 13 kills coming on 17 attacks without an error. Outside hitter JJ Robinson totaled 14 points on 12 kills, a block and an ace while leading the team with five successful receptions. Outside Halle Thompson finished with 11 points on nine kills and a pair of aces.

Middle blocker Elena Hoecke added seven points on five kills, a block and an ace, and opposite Taylor Stanley delivered five kills and led the team with 11 digs. Libero Gabi Rodriguez finished with 10 digs and three successful receptions.

Williams (six kills) and Robinson (four kills) each hit 1.000 in the opening set to get the U.S. off to a strong start. In the second set, Thompson scored seven points on five kills (no errors in seven attacks) and Williams produced five more kills on six attacks. Robinson added four kills.

Robinson led the way in the third set with five points on four kills, Stanley produced three kills and Williams added three points on two kills and an ace.

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