U.S. Women Take Silver Medal at NORCECA Final 6

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 30, 2024) – The U.S. Women’s National Team competing at the NORCECA Pan American Cup Final Six took the silver medal after falling to the host Dominican Republic 3-2 (25-15, 17-25, 23-25, 25-16, 15-11) on Sunday in Santo Domingo.

The U.S. Women finished the tournament at 3-1. Setter Kami Miner earned the Best Setter award.

MATCH STATISTICS

The U.S. Women’s Team was made up of athletes who still have college eligibility and who hadn’t played together until they started preparing for the tournament.

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Prior to the start of the tournament, U.S. Women’s Head Coach Karch Kiraly said, “We are treating NORCECA Final 6 as the first tournament of the new Olympic cycle that eventually leads to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles,”

Meanwhile, the Dominican Republic used the tournament to prepare for the upcoming Paris Olympic Games and its roster was made up of players on its Olympic long list.

The Dominican Republic led the U.S. in kills (56-54), blocks (13-9) and aces (5-2). The Dominican Republic scored 31 points on U.S. errors and committed 27.

Opposite Merritt Beason led the U.S. scoring with 15 points on 14 kills and one block. Outside hitter Sarah Franklin scored eleven points on nine kills, one block and one ace before she had to leave the match with an injury in the second set.

Middle blocker Khori Louis scored 11 points on seven kills and a match-high four blocks.

Middle Sophie Fischer totaled nine points on seven kills and two blocks.

Outside Eva Hudson scored six points on six kills as did outside Jess Mruzik, who took over for Franklin. Hudson was also credited with a match-high 16 digs and 16 excellent receptions. Libero Lexi Rodriguez was credited with 27 excellent receptions and 10 digs.

Opposite Olivia Babcock, who played as a substitute along with setter Mia Tuaniga, scored four points on three kills and one block. Miner scored three points on two kills and one ace.

U.S. Roster for the NORCECA Women’s Final Six Pan American Cup
No. Name (Position, Height, Hometown, College, USAV Region)
1 Olivia Babcock (Opp, 6-4, Los Angeles, Calif., Pitt, Southern California)
2 Merritt Beason (Opp, 6-3, Gardendale, Ala., Univ. of Nebraska, Southern)
3 Carter Booth (MB, 6-7, Englewood, Colo., Univ. of Wisconsin, Rocky Mountain)
4 Cara Cresse (MB, 6-6 Fort Wayne, Ind., Univ. of Louisville, Hoosier)
6 Sophie Fischer (MB, 6-5, Fort Mill, S.C., Univ. of Georgia, Palmetto)
7 Sarah Franklin (OH, 6-4, Lake Worth, Fla., Univ. of Wisconsin, Florida)
8 Eva Hudson (OH, 6-1, 2004, Fort Wayne, Ind., Purdue, Hoosier)
9 Taylor Landfair (OH, 6-4, Plainfield, Ill., Univ. of Nebraska, Great Lakes)
10 Khori Louis (MB, 6-3, Tallahassee, Fla., Florida State, Florida)
11 Kami Miner (S, 6-0, Redondo Beach, Calif., Stanford, Southern Cal)
12 Jess Mruzik (OH, 6-2, Livonia, Mich., Penn State, Lakeshore)
13 Lexi Rodriguez (L, 5-5, Sterling, Ill., Univ. of Nebraska Great Lakes)
14 Elena Scott (L, 5-9, Louisville, Ky., Univ. of Louisville, Pioneer)
19 Mia Tuaniga (S, 5-9, Long Beach, Calif., University of Southern California, Southern California)

Alternates
5 Rachel Fairbanks (S, Pitt)
15 Anna Dodson (MB, UCLA)
16 Lauren Briseño (L, Baylor University)
17 Chloe Chicoine (OH, Purdue University)
18 Anna DeBeer (OH, University of Louisville)
20 Kate Georgiades (L, University of Houston)
21 Megan Wilson (Opp, University of Kentucky)
22 Sami Francis (MB, Stanford University)
23 Jordan Iliff (Opp, University of Missouri)
24 Kate Lang (S, University of Hawaii)

Team Manager: James Lundgren
Head Coach: Brad Rostratter
Assistant Coach: Jonathan Charette
2nd Assistant Coach: Tayyiba Haneef-Park
Physiotherapist: Mandolyn Peterson
Statistician: T.J. Read

U.S. Schedule for the NORCECA Women’s Final Six Pan American Cup
(All times PT)

June 26 USA def Mexico 3-0 (33-31, 27-25, 25-15)
June 28 USA def Canada 3-0 (25-15, 25-21, 25-13)
June 29 Semifinals: USA def Puerto Rico 3-1 (25-21, 21-25, 25-23, 25-16)
June 30 Gold Medal: Dominican Republic def USA 3-2 (25-15, 17-25, 23-25, 25-16, 15-11)