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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (May 22, 2026) –The U.S. Women’s Sitting National Team began play at the USAV Sitting Cup with an impressive 3-0 (25-17, 25-12, 25-12) victory on Friday afternoon in Orlando, Florida. The U.S. is the top-ranked team in the world, while Japan is ranked 11th.
The U.S. will play two matches tomorrow, beginning with an 8 a.m. ET contest against the world’s second-ranked team, Canada. At 4 p.m. ET, the U.S. will clash with Brazil, ranked third in the world. Canada defeated Brazil in four sets today.
Middle blocker Monique Matthews paced the team with nine kills, three blocks and four service aces. “We started out a little slow. I haven’t played since Zonals (2025 ParaVolley Pan America Zonal Championship) and Katie (Holloway Bridge)’s been out for a minute, so getting back on the court and just getting our rhythm for this first match was very important. I think, as we went on, we got it together and clicked at the end,” Matthews said.
Thirteen U.S. players scored at least one point. Setter Kaleo Kanahele Maclay registered eight points on five kills, two aces and a block. Nicky Nieves finished with seven points on six kills and an ace. Katie Bridge (three kills and an ace) and Emma Shieck (two aces, one kill, one block) scored four points apiece, while four players totaled three points.
An ace by Matthews capped a 5-1 run that put the U.S. up 9-6 in the opening set before Japan went on a four-point run to regain the lead. Two kills and a block by outside hitter Katie Holloway Bridge keyed a 6-0 run that put the U.S. ahead by five points. The lead grew to seven points, 20-13, on a Matthews kill. Japan got no closer than five points the rest of the set. A successful video challenge gave the U.S. the set and its largest margin in the set, 25-17.
Matthews’ fourth kill and Kanahele Maclay’s third kill sparked a 6-1 run early in the second set that put the U.S. up 10-6. Middle blocker Nieves’ fifth kill of the match extended the lead to six points, 14-8. Alexis Patterson recorded a block for a 16-9 lead and served an ace to key a seven-point run that gave the U.S. set point, 24-11. Matthews ended the set with her seventh kill.
Strong serving from Schieck, including her second ace, led the U.S. to a 6-0 run for an 9-4 lead in the third set. A MaKenzie Franklin Wittman kill and Jillian Williams Coffee ace extended the margin to seven points, 13-6. Courtney Baker’s second block gave the U.S. its first double-digit lead, 17-7. Matthews registered her third block for a 19-10 advantage, and her 10th kill made it 20-11. A Coffee kill set up match point and Matthews sealed the win with her fourth ace.
U.S. Women’s Sitting Team Roster
No. Name (Position, Ht., Hometown, Region)
2 Bethany Zummo (L, 5-3, Dublin, Calif., Northern California)
3 Alexis Patterson (S/L, 5-4, Waseca, Minn., North Country)
5 Katie Holloway Bridge (OH, 6-3, Lake Stevens, Wash., Puget Sound)
7 Monique Matthews (MB, 6-0, Ardomore, Okla., Oklahoma)
8 Whitney Dosty (OH/OPP, 6-3, Tucson, Ariz., Arizona)
9 Tia Edwards (OH/MB, 5-7, Skiatook, Okla., Oklahoma)
11 Jillian Williams Coffee (M/OPP/OH, 5-10, Odem, Texas, Oklahoma)
12 Emma Schieck (OH, 5-7, Statesville, N.C., Carolina)
13 Gia Cruz (S, 5-5, San Antonio, Texas, Lone Star)
14 Kaleo Kanahele Maclay (S, 5-6, Honolulu, Hawaii, Oklahoma)
16 Nicky Nieves (MB/OH, 5-10, Kissimmee, Fla., Florida)
18 Courtney Baker (OH, 5-9, Crofton, Ky., Pioneer)
22 MaKenzie Franklin Wittman (OH, 6-0, Red Wing, Minn., North Country)
24 Raelene Elam (OH, 6-1, St. George, Utah, Northern California)
Head Coach: Bill Hamiter
Assistant Coach: Grace Campbell
Assistant Coach: Steve Florio
Team Leader: Layne Smith
Performance Analyst: Jeffery Hicks
Athletic Trainer: Samantha Carter
Sports Psychologist: Brooke Lamphere
Nutritionist: Tatum Vedder
NTDP Coach: Tina Reading
Schedule
All times Eastern
Friday, May 22
USA def. Japan, 3-0 (25-17, 25-12, 25-12)
Saturday, May 23
8 a.m.: USA vs. Canada
4 p.m.: USA vs. Brazil
Sunday, May 24
8 a.m.: No. 3 vs. No. 4
12 p.m.: Championship (No. 1 vs. No. 2)