Mexico Downs the U.S. Women in Four Sets at 2026 Pan Am Cup
The U.S. Women's National Team dropped to 1-1 at the 2026 NORCECA Pan American Cup in León, Guanajuato, Mexico, with a 3-1 (25-21, 25-21, 20-25, 25-20) loss to Mexico on Saturday night.
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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Sept. 13, 2026) – The U.S. Women’s National Team returned to its winning ways Sunday at the 2026 NORCECA Pan American Cup in León, Guanajuato, Mexico, with a sweep of Costa Rica (25-9, 25-8, 25-16).
The U.S. (2-1) closes pool play action on Tuesday, Sept. 15, with a matchup against Guatemala at 1 p.m. PT.
The U.S. led Costa Rica in kills (36-14), blocks (8-0) and aces (7-0). Setter Rachel Fairbanks led the team to a .402 hitting efficiency with only nine errors.
Sami Francis had a match-high 15 points (12 kills, two blocks, one ace), and Claire Hoffman scored 11 on eight kills and three aces. Eva Hudson also reached double figures with 11 points (nine kills, two blocks). Toyosi Onabanjo had four kills and two blocks, and Natalie Foster added two kills, two blocks and two aces. Fairbanks added a kill and an ace.
Up by just one in the first set at 6-5, the U.S. began pulling away with a nine-point run that included two Hoffman aces and kills from Onabanjo, Hudson, Fairbanks and Francis. After a Costa Rica kill for 15-6, the U.S. scored another five straight for 20-6. Fairbanks notched an ace for set point, and Hudson followed up a point later with a kill for the win. Hoffman and Hudson both had five points in the set.
The U.S. continued its domination in sets two and three. Francis came alive in set two for seven points, and Foster, Hoffman, Hudson and Francis all scored four in the final set.
2026 Women’s Pan American Cup Roster
No., Name (Pos., Height, Hometown, College)
3 Toyosi Onabanjo (MB, 6-1, Houston, Texas, Kansas)
5 Lauren Briseño (L, 5-7, San Antonio, Texas, Baylor)
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)
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. 11: USA def. Cuba, 3-0 (25-16, 25-15 , 25-20)
Sept. 12: Mexico def. USA, 3-1 (25-21, 25-21, 20-25, 25-20)
Sept. 13: USA def. Costa Rica, 3-0 (25-9, 25-8, 25-16)
Sept. 15: USA vs. Guatemala, 1 p.m.
Sept.16: Quarterfinals and Classification
Sept. 17: Semifinals
Sept. 18: Finals
Stories
U.S. Women Sweep Cuba to Open Pan Am Cup
The U.S. Women's National Team earned its first win in a 3-0 (25-16, 25-15 , 25-20) sweep of Cuba on Friday at the 2026 NORCECA Pan American Cup in León, Guanajuato, Mexico.
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