U.S. Women Start NORCECA Final 6 Strong, Sweep Canada

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Aug. 20, 2023) – The U.S. Women’s Team started the NORCECA Final Six in dominant fashion, sweeping Canada, 3-0 (25-16, 25-11, 25-15) in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

The U.S. will face Puerto Rico (0-1) at 2 p.m. PT on Monday.

With 44 kills and only 10 errors in 85 total attacks, the U.S. hit at a .400 efficiency percentage and registered 19 more kills than Canada. Opposite Taylor Mims posted match-highs of 16 points, 13 kills, and three blocks. She hit .370 for the match.

Middle blocker Danielle Hart totaled 11 points on nine kills (.750 hitting efficiency percentage with no kills in 12 attacks) and two blocks. Outside hitter Sarah Wilhite Parsons finished with 10 points on nine kills (with a .400 hitting percentage) and a block.

Middle blocker Serena Gray tallied nine points on seven kills and two blocks and outside hitter Brooke Nuneviller scored six points on five kills and the only U.S. ace. She also led the team with eight successful receptions and recorded seven digs. Libero Kendall White finished with a match-high 12 digs.

Mims led the U.S. charge in the first set with six points on three kills and three of the team’s four blocks. Parsons added five points on four kills and one block.

After leading Canada in kills (14-10) and blocks (4-1) in the first set, the U.S. put up nearly identical numbers in the second set with a 14-8 advantage in kills and 3-0 in blocks. Hart paced the team in the set with six points on four kills and two of the squad’s three blocks. Mims contributed five kills.

Canada led 14-12 in the third set before the U.S. finished the match on a 13-1 run, including scoring the final nine points. Mims again led the way, this time with five kills. Hart added four kills and Serena Gray posted three kills and the only U.S. block of the set.

Teams from Canada, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico and Puerto Rico are also competing.

U.S. Women’s Roster for the 2023 NORCECA Final 6

No. Name (Pos., Ht., Hometown, College, USAV Region)
3 Kendall White (L, 5-5, Zionsville, Ind., Penn State, Hoosier)
13C Sarah Wilhite Parsons (OH, 6-2, Eden Prairie, Minn., Univ. of Minnesota, North Country)
19 Jenna Gray (S, 6-1, Shawnee, Kan., Stanford Univ., Heart of America)
21 Simone Lee (OH, 6-1, Menomonee Falls, Wis., Penn State, Badger)
25 Brooke Nuneviller (OH, 5-11, Chandler, Ariz., Univ. of Oregon, Arizona)
30 Danielle Hart (MB, 6-4, Virginia Beach, Va., Univ. of Wisconsin, Old Dominion)
34 Stephanie Samedy (Opp, 6-2, Clermont, Fla., Univ. of Minnesota, Florida)
36 Madeleine Gates (MB, 6-3, San Diego, Calif., Stanford, Southern California)
37 Kayla Haneline (MB, 6-2, Plattsmouth, Neb., Northern Iowa, Great Plains)
38 Zoe Fleck (L, 5-6, Grenada Hills, Calif., Univ. of Texas, Southern California)
39 Taylor Mims (Opp, 6-3, Billings, Mont., Washington State, Evergreen)
41 Logan Eggleston (OH, 6-2, Brentwood, Tenn., Univ. of Texas, Southern)
43 Serena Gray (MB, 6-3, Temple City, Calif., Pitt, Southern California)
44 Sydney Hilley (S, 6-0, Brooklyn Park, Minn., Univ. of Wisconsin, North Country)

Head Coach: Brad Rostratter
Assistant Coach: Jonathan Charette
Assistant Coach: Cursty Jackson
Team Manager/Performance Analyst: Peter Wong
Athletic Trainer: Mandolyn Peterson

U.S. Schedule for the NORCECA Final Six
All times PDT

Aug. 20 USA def. Canada, 3-0 (25-16, 25-11, 25-15)
Aug. 21 at 2 p.m. USA vs Puerto Rico
Aug. 22 at noon USA vs Mexico
Aug. 23 at 2 p.m. USA vs Cuba
Aug. 24 at 4 p.m. USA vs Dominican Republic
Aug. 26 Finals