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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Oct. 12, 2025) – The U.S. Women’s Sitting National Team fell to Italy in a reverse sweep 18-25, 18-25, 25-22, 25-17, 16-14 on Sunday to open pool play at the 2025 World ParaVolley World Cup Fort Wayne, Indiana.
The U.S. (0-1) will play the Netherlands (0-1) on Monday at 10:30 a.m. All matches will be live streamed on the Turnstone YouTube channel.
“With this group, that’s what they needed–to get in the heat of the battle, pressure on them, so they have to buck up and play, and survive,” said U.S. head coach Bill Hamiter. “Sets three and four, we were a little hesitant, and we let the game get away from us. We got a pretty good flow there in the fifth set. Anytime you got a big swing for the win, you’re doing all right. Our goal is to make it into the playoffs, so we would have liked to have won. They stuck together pretty well, played some awesome defense and served well, which are things we need to do.”
Four players scored in double figures for the U.S., led by Raelene Elam with 17 points on 14 kills, one block and two aces. Tia Edwards had 11 kills, two aces and three blocks for 16 points. Nicky Nieves had 10 kills and four blocks. She and Emma Schieck shared the team lead in blocks, and Schieck added five kills and three aces for 12 points.
Gia Cruz had four kills and a team-high four aces for eight points, and Alexis Patterson had an ace, three kills and two blocks.
The first set was highlighted by an Edwards’ serving run that broke open a close 19-18 game. She stayed on the line for the final six points, and the set ended with an ace and a pair of kills from Nieves.
Set two was tied at 11 before setter Gia Cruz served the team to six straight points for a 17-11 lead. Italy never closed the gap to fewer than four points in the 25-18 win.
At 7-7 in the third set, Italy scored four straight to take an 11-7 lead. The U.S. caught up to take a 13-12 lead, but Italy again went on a run for a three-point lead. The U.S. got close at 23-22, but Italy scored the last two points to send the match to a fourth set.
Italy kept the momentum in the fourth, leading the entire match for a 25-17 win. In the fifth, Italy broke a 3-3 tie with four straight and built the lead to 9-5. Down 10-5, the U.S. scored four straight to cut the lead to one. At 13-11, the U.S. scored twice to tie it. The two teams traded points until Italy got the break for the reverse sweep.
U.S. Women’s Sitting Team Roster for World Cup
No Name (Position, Height, Hometown)
2 Bethany Zummo (L, 5-3, Dublin, Calif.)
3 Alexis Patterson (S/L, 5-4, Waseca, Minn.)
4 Maddy Ball (DS, 5-7, Delray Beach, Fla.)
9 Tia Edwards (OH/MB, 5-7, Skiatook, Okla.)
10 Kari Ortiz (L, 5-6, Washington, D.C.)
12 Emma Schieck (OH, 5-7, Statesville, N.C.)
13 Gia Cruz (S, 5-5, San Antonio, Texas)
15 Kendra Hall (5-7, Westfield, Ind.)
16 Nicky Nieves (MB/OH, 5-10, Kissimmee, Fla.)
17 Jessie West (OH, 5-8, Edmond, Okla.)
18 Courtney Baker (MH, 5-9, Crofton, Ky.)
21 Annie Flood (S, 5-7, Salem, Ore.)
24 Raelene Elam (OH, 6-1, St. George, Utah, Northern California)
Head Coach: Bill Hamiter
Assistant Coach: Grace Campbell
Performance Analyst: Jeff Hicks
Athletic Trainer: Samantha Carter
Mental Performance Coach: Brooke Lamphere
Team Manager: Jon Aharoni
Schedule
All times Pacific
Oct. 12: Italy def. USA, 3-2 (18-25, 18-25, 25-22, 25-17, 16-14)
Oct. 13: USA vs. Netherlands, 10:30 a.m.
Oct. 14: USA vs. Canada, 12:30 p.m.
Oct. 15: USA vs. Germany, 10:30 a.m.
Oct. 16: USA vs. Brazil, 12:30 p.m.
Oct. 17: Playoff rounds
Oct. 18: Medal Matches