U.S. Women Still Undefeated at 2023 Pan Am Cup Final Six

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Aug. 24, 2023) – The U.S. Women’s National Team kicked off a day that will include two matches by defeating Cuba 3-0 (25-20, 25-15, 25-19) at the NORCECA Pan Am Cup Final Six in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Late matches on Tuesday and all Wednesday matches were suspended due to Tropical Storm Franklin, so all teams are playing two matches on Thursday.

The U.S. (4-0) faces the Dominican Republic (3-0) tonight at 6 p.m. PT.

MATCH STATISTICS (PDF)

Against Cuba, the U.S. Women led in kills (38-27), blocks (6-4) and aces (10-5). They had 20 points off Cuba’s errors while Cuba scored 13 off the U.S.

“I think that in general our team did a good job,” U.S. captain Sarah Wilhite Parsons said. “We prepared very well. They put pressure on us at times but we knew how to stay calm and fight back.”

Cuba indeed put pressure on the U.S. especially in the first set. Cuba kept the set close through most of it and took a late 20-18 lead. But the U.S. scored seven straight points, ending on a kill from middle blocker Madeleine Gates, for the win.

Set two was close early, but steady play from the U.S. allowed them to pull away quickly for the 25-15 win. In set three, Cuba didn’t let the U.S. pull away by more than four points and tied it at 17-17. Four straight U.S. points, including an ace by middle blocker Serena Gray and kills by outside hitter Brooke Nuneviller and Gates, gave the Americans the edge they needed to close it out.

Outside hitter Logan Eggleston led all scorers with 14 points on 11 kills, one block and two aces. Gates finished with 10 points (six kills, two blocks, two aces), and Nuneviller finished with nine (seven kills, two aces).

Opposite Stephanie Samedy had eight kills and one ace, and Gray finished with nine points (five kills, two blocks, two aces).

Setter Jenna Gray scored three points (one kills, one block and one ace), and set the team to a .330 hitting percentage. Libero Zoe Fleck had a match-high 10 digs and 14 excellent receptions.

Teams from Canada, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico and Puerto Rico are 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 USA def. Puerto Rico, 3-0 (25-12, 25-15, 25-7)
Aug. 22 USA def. Mexico, 3-0 (25-21, 25-9, 25-13)
Aug. 24 USA def. Cuba, 3-0 (25-20, 25-15, 25-19)
Aug. 24 at 6 p.m. USA vs Dominican Republic
Aug. 25: Semifinals
Aug. 26 Finals