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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 4, 2025) — The U.S. Women’s Sitting National Team began play at the 2025 Dutch Tournament with two wins on Friday in Assen, Netherlands. The U.S. defeated Italy, 3-1 (23-25, 25-22, 25-23, 25-22) and then swept France, 3-0 (25-17, 25-5, 25-14).
“Against Italy in our first match of the day, we started out a little slow but gained momentum as we went. We did play a little up and down throughout the match,” head coach Bill Hamiter said. “We would have some runs and get a lead. Then we would allow Italy to get back in the sets with just a few servers serving well against us, so that is something we need to work on. Part of our goal for the weekend is developing players. I think the offensive pieces went really well with a lot of players getting to play in the big matches.”
“Our second match of the day was against France, a team that is developing themselves and are up and coming. We again played a lot of different lineups and different players. Annie Flood had her return to the team, getting to do some setting, which was good to see,” Hamiter continued. “We also got a lot of quality time out of Kendra Hall and Courtney Baker. We had a high error count in the first set but did settle down and played really well the rest of the match. To be 2-0 on the first day, we are pretty excited and glad to have gotten some good play.”
MATCH STATISTICS VS. ITALY
MATCH STATISTICS VS. FRANCE
vs. ITALY
The U.S. began the tournament with a thrilling four-set win over Italy in which no set was decided by more than three points. The U.S. finished with advantages in kills (47-40) and blocks (17-14), while Italy led in aces (20-15).
Nicky Nieves led three U.S. players in double figures with 17 points on 12 kills, two blocks and three aces. Whitney Dosty totaled 15 points on eight kills, four blocks and three aces. Raelene Elam totaled 13 points on five kills, four blocks and a team-best four aces.
Tia Edwards had five kills, adding three blocks and an ace for nine points, while MaKenzie Franklin also scored nine points with seven kills, a block and an ace. Setter Kaleo Kanahele Maclay contributed eight points on five kills, a block and a pair of aces. Outside hitter Emma Schieck added five kills.
vs. FRANCE
Seven U.S. players scored at least six points in the match with outside hitter Jessie West reaching double digits with 10 points thanks to her match-high nine aces, adding a kill.
The U.S. doubled up France in kills (20-10) but won the match at the service line with 34 aces while giving up just three. France recorded seven blocks to six for the U.S.
The U.S. controlled the first half of the opening set, taking a 16-9 lead. Back-to-back aces completed a 7-3 France run that cut the lead to three points, but the U.S. scored six of the final seven points, culminating with a Dosty ace.
Setter Gia Cruz, making her 2025 debut with the team, served the U.S. to a 7-0 lead in the second set. Outside hitter Courtney Baker recorded a kill and consecutive aces to put the U.S. ahead 11-2. From there, France only scored three points the rest of the set.
Two aces in a row by setter Annie Flood gave the U.S. a 5-1 lead in the third set, but France used a 9-4 run to take a 10-9 lead. After a service error evened the score, Franklin served for 11 consecutive points, including a stretch of five serves in a row that France did not return over the net. Not even a moment of levity when the French coach gave the line judge a hug or a timeout stopped the run.
Roster
No Name (Position, Height, Hometown)
2 Bethany Zummo (L, 5-3, Dublin, Calif.)
8 Whitney Dosty (OH/OPP, 6-3, Tucson, Ariz.)
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)
14 Kaleo Kanahele Maclay (S, 5-6, Oklahoma City, Okla.)
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 (OH, 5-9, Crofton, Ky.)
21 Annie Flood (S, 5-7, Salem, Ore.)
22 MaKenzie Franklin (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
Performance Analyst: Jeff Hicks
Athletic Trainer: Samantha Carter
Mental Performance Coach: Brooke Lamphere
Strength and Conditioning/Physical Therapist: Bobby Moore
Dietitian: Jacque Scaramella
Schedule
July 4
USA def. Italy, 3-1 (23-25, 25-22, 25-23, 25-22)
USA def. France, 3-0 (25-17, 25-5, 25-14)
July 5
USA vs Netherlands, 1:45 a.m.
USA vs Canada, 5:15 a.m.
July 6
Playoff matches