U.S. Women Win a Battle Against Cuba at 2025 NORCECA Final Six

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Sept. 16, 2025) – Madi Kubik Banks and Skylar Fields each scored 20 points as the U.S. Women’s National Team outlasted Cuba in a five-set battle, 25-20, 16-25, 25-18, 22-25, 15-10, Tuesday night at the NORCECA Final Six in Guadalajara, Mexico.

The U.S. Women (2-0) will play the Dominican Republic (1-0) on Wednesday, Sept. 17 at 3 p.m. PT. The Dominican Republic defeated Cuba 3-0 in its opening match and plays Puerto Rico later tonight.

For the second straight match, the U.S. dominated at the net, notching 13 blocks to seven for Cuba. The U.S. also had the edge in aces (8-6), including two crucial ones from Ella Powell late in the fifth set, and Cuba held the advantage in kills, 59-56.

Banks and Fields led the U.S. offense, with Banks collecting 17 kills, two blocks and one ace, and Fields notching 15 kills, three blocks and two aces.

Sami Francis and Emily Thater also scored in double figures, with each scoring 10. Francis had seven kills and three blocks, and Thater had five kills and a match-high five blocks. Claire Chaussee had six kills and one ace; Kendall Kipp had two kills, and Kami Miner had an ace.

Miner and Powell split the setting duties, with Miner in for the first two sets and Powell in for the final three. Powell had three of the teams ace’s and also had a kill. Mary Shroll led the U.S. with 16 digs and seven excellent receptions.

Set one was locked at 16-16 when kills by Francis, Banks and Kipp plus a Thater block increased the lead to 20-16. Cuba cut the lead to two twice, but at 21-19, the U.S. scored four of the last five to win.

Set two had the opposite result. Leading 15-14, Cuba scored 10 of the last 12 for the win. The U.S. led throughout set three, but Cuba rallied in the middle of set four to force a fifth set.

Cuba jumped out to leads of 5-1, 6-2 and 7-3 before the U.S. found its rhythm in the fifth. Blocks by Francis and Banks cut the lead to 7-5, then kills from Kipp, Chaussee and Banks, and a Cuba error, tied it at 8.

At 9-9, Powell served consecutive aces to give the U.S. breathing room at 11-9. After a Cuba kill, the U.S. used kills from Thater, Chaussee and Fields to reach match point, where Banks served an ace for the win.

U.S. Women’s Roster for Final Six

Name (Height, Position, Hometown, College, USAV Region)
1 Kami Miner (S, 6-0, Redondo Beach, Calif., Stanford Univ., Southern California Southern Nevada)
2 Elena Oglivie (L, 5-10, Honolulu, Hawaii, Stanford Univ., Aloha)
3 Mary Shroll (L, 5-8, Tempe, Arizona, Arizona State Univ., Arizona)
4 Khori Louis (MB, 6-3, Tallahassee, Fla., Florida State Univ., Florida)
5 Kendall Kipp (OPP, 6-6, Newport Beach, Calif., Stanford Univ., Southern California Southern Nevada)
7 Sami Francis (MB, 6-6, San Diego, Calif., Stanford Univ., Southern California Southern Nevada)
8 Emily Thater (MB, 6-3, Springfield, Mo., Univ. of Missouri, Heart of America)
9 Claire Chaussee (OH, 6-0, Sun Prairie, Wisc., Univ. of Louisville, Badger)
10 Norah Sis (OH, 6-2, 2003, Papillion, Neb., Creighton, Great Plains)
11 Jaali Winters (OH, 6-3, Ankeny, Iowa, Creighton, Iowa)
12 Madi Kubik Banks (OH, 6-3, West Des Moines, Iowa, Univ. of Nebraska, Iowa)
13 Reagan Cooper (OH, 6-2, Rowlett, Texas, Texas Tech/Univ. of Kansas/Washington State, North Texas)
27 Ella Powell (S, 6-0, Fayetteville, Ark., Univ. of Washington, Delta)
55 Skylar Fields (OPP, 6-2, Missouri City, Texas, USC/Texas, Lone Star)

Coaches
Head Coach: Erik Sullivan
Assistant Coach: Paula Weishoff (LOVB Houston)
Assistant Coach: Brad Rostratter (UC San Diego)
Team Leader: Blake Omartian (Orlando Valkyries)
Performance Analyst: Virginia Pham
Athletic Trainer: Sam Schaff (San Diego Mojo)

U.S. Schedule

All times Pacific and contingent on completion of previous match. Watch on YouTube.

Sept. 15: USA def. Canada, 3-0 (25-13, 25-11, 25-19)
Sept. 16: USA def. Cuba, 3-2, (25-20, 16-25, 25-18, 22-25, 15-10)
Sept. 17: USA vs. Dominican Republic, 3 p.m.
Sept. 18: USA vs. Mexico, 7 p.m.
Sept. 19: USA vs. Puerto Rico, 5 p.m.
Sept. 20: Semifinals
Sept. 21: Medal matches