U.S. Women Sweep Czechia to Close Pool Play Undefeated at 2025 Worlds

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (August 26, 2025) – The U.S. Women’s National Team finished 2025 FIVB World Championship pool play undefeated with a 3-0 (26-24, 25-20, 25-15) win over Czechia on Tuesday in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.

The U.S. (3-0) advances to the Round of 16, which begins in Bangkok on Aug. 29, with times and matchups to be determined.

“I thought Czech came out and played really well for the first half of that first set and (we) just stayed the course,” said U.S. head coach Erik Sullivan. “In those situations, it is easy to get outside of yourselves a little bit and press. I told the players I thought they were playing really well and that you have to weather the storm sometimes. We did that. I thought we played a nice, steady even match throughout the night and put a lot of pressure on them to be good for a long period of time. One of our strengths is depth, but it is nice to have a similar lineup from night to night. We haven’t had that all summer by design and I think we are seeing the fruits of that getting a little more comfortable next to each other. You can tell some stuff is kind of smoothing out a little bit. In saying that, I think we still left a lot out there and we have a lot we can clean up and get better at. We’ll work on that the next few days.”

The U.S. recorded 14 more kills (50-36) and three more blocks (7-4). The teams were nearly even in aces (4-3 Czechia) and errors (U.S. making one fewer error, 16-15).

Outside hitter Avery Skinner totaled a match-high 15 points on 13 kills, a block and an ace.

“It’s really tough to (make the Round of 16),” Skinner said. “The pool is difficult, and we knew each match was going to be tough. I am proud of us for finishing 3-0. We weathered the storm. We knew Czech has a lot of energy and is a very emotional team. They came out really hot and it was about us staying calm and keeping within what we planned. Every team is going to give us their best, so we come in ready to play USA volleyball.”

Outside Sarah Franklin totaled 12 kills and middle blockers Chiaka Ogbogu and Dana Rettke each recorded seven kills and two blocks. Ogbogu added an ace to reach double figures with 10 points.

Libero Morgan Hentz continued her sterling defense in the championship, leading the team with 10 digs and six successful receptions. Setter Jordyn Poulter finished with 27 assists and led the team to a .398 hitting efficiency.

Opposite Madisen Skinner scored eight points on six kills and two blocks, and fellow opposite Stephanie Samedy added five kills. Madisen Skinner finished second on the team with eight digs.

Czechia ran out to a 7-2 lead in the match, forcing the U.S. to take an early timeout. Back-to-back Ogbogu blocks and an Avery Skinner ace sparked a 4-0 run that cut the lead to one. An ace by Ogbogu and an Avery Skinner back row attack gave the U.S. its first lead, 9-8. Czechia went on a 9-4 run to take a four-point lead, 17-13.

Trailing 21-19, the U.S. scored five of the next six points to take a 24-22 lead. A block by Avery Skinner tied the set at 21 and a Logan Eggleston ace put the U.S. back ahead. Kills by Samedy and Ogbogu gave the U.S. two set points. Czechia recorded a kill and an ace to save both set points, but the U.S. took the opener on kills by Madisen Skinner and Avery Skinner. Avery Skinner scored seven points on five kills, a block and an ace, and Ogbogu totaled six points on three kills, two blocks and an ace.

Consecutive kills by Avery Skinner gave the U.S. a 12-10 lead in the second set. Madi Skinner scored off hands to make it 13-11 and start a 5-0 run with her block giving the U.S. a 17-11 advantage. Another Madi Skinner kill put the U.S. out in front 19-13 but Czechia ran off three points in a row to cut the lead back to three points. A Franklin kill gave the U.S. set point at 24-20 and Avery Skinner ended the set on her seventh kill of the set. Franklin recorded five kills.

A block and kill by Madisen Skinner staked the U.S. to a 5-0 lead in the third set. Czechia cut the deficit to two points, 8-6, but the U.S. scored the next three points, including one on a Rettke kill on a slide and led by at least four points the rest of the way. Franklin scored off the block after a great dig by Hentz for a 15-10 lead. Franklin scored cross court and a hitting error extending the lead to seven points, 18-11.

Samedy placed a ball in the back corner and followed with a kill off the block for a 22-14 lead. Avery Skinner scored her 15th points for a 23-14 lead. Franklin registered six kills in the set.

U.S. Women’s VNL Finals Roster

No. Name (Pos., Ht., Hometown, College, USAV Region)
2 Jordyn Poulter (S, 6-2, Aurora, Colo., Illinois, Rocky Mountain)
3 Avery Skinner (OH, 6-1, Katy, Texas, Kentucky, Lone Star)
5 Ali Frantti (OH, 6-1, Spring Grove, Ill., Penn State, Great Lakes)
6 Morgan Hentz (L, 5-9, Lakeside Park, Ky., Stanford Univ., Pioneer)
7 Lexi Rodriguez (L, 5-5, Sterling, Ill., Univ. of Nebraska Great Lakes)
9 Madisen Skinner (OPP, 6-2, Katy, Texas, Univ. of Kentucky and Univ. of Texas, Lone Star)
13 Amber Igiede (MB, 6-3, Baton Rouge, La., Univ. of Hawaii, Delta)
16 Dana Rettke (MB, 6-8, Riverside, Ill., Univ. of Wisconsin, Great Lakes)
22 Sarah Franklin (OH, 6-4, Lake Worth, Fla., Univ. of Wisconsin, Florida)
24 Chiaka Ogbogu (MB, 6-2, Coppell, Texas, Univ. of Texas, North Texas)
25 Tia Jimerson (MB, 6-3, Sugar Hill, Ga., Univ. of Ohio, Southern)
32 Saige Ka’aha’aina-Torres (S, Honolulu, Hawaii, Univ. of Texas, Aloha)
33 Logan Eggleston (OH, 6-2, Brentwood, Tenn., Univ. of Texas, Southern)
34 Stephanie Samedy (OPP, 6-2, Clermont, Fla., Minnesota, Florida)

Coaches
Head Coach: Erik Sullivan
Assistant Coach: Mike Wall
Second Assistant Coach: Brandon Taliaferro
Second Assistant Coach: Tayyiba Haneef-Park
Second Assistant Coach: Joe Trinsey
Team Manager: Rob Browning
Team Doctors: William Briner, James Suchy, Chris Lee, Andrew Gregory
Physiotherapist: Kara Kessans
Dietitian: Shawn Hueglin
Physical Trainer: Shannon Boone
Mental Performance Coach: Katy Stanfill
Performance Analyst: Virginia Pham
Technical Coordinator: Blake Omaritan
Team Leader: Shannon Slatter

U.S. Schedule

Pool Play-All times Pacific
Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
Aug. 22: USA def. Slovenia, 3-1 (25-23, 17-25, 25-22, 25-14)
Aug. 24: USA def. Argentina, 3-1 (25-14, 23-25, 25-12, 25-17)
Aug. 26: USA def. Czechia, 3-0 (26-24, 25-20, 25-15)

Playoffs
Bangkok, Thailand
Round of 16, Aug. 29-Sept. 1, TBA