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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 16, 2026) – The U.S. Women’s Sitting National Team is headed to the gold medal match at the 2026 World ParaVolley World Championship after an impressive 3-0 (25-15, 25-22, 25-7) victory over Canada in the semifinals on Thursday in Hangzhou, China.
The U.S. (6-0) will play Brazil in the gold medal match at 2:30 a.m. PT. The U.S. is the top-ranked team in the world with Brazil ranked third.
“Brazil is playing some really good ball, so I expect we will have to play a lot better defense and good transition ball. Part of it is just us keeping our head in the match, making sure we are focused throughout and playing with a lot of good confidence,” said U.S. head coach Bill Hamiter on the keys to the matchup with Brazil. “I think at times we’ve lost confidence and then there have been times when we really had our confidence, and it shows on the court.”
The U.S. dominated from the service line with 13 aces to just three for Canada, while also recording more kills (31-24) and blocks (9-3).
“I don’t know that we played great, but the good thing is we executed well enough to not let Canada in the match. They were struggling and a lot of times when that happens, you have a tendency to let down. I think we kept our heads here, not looking past them, plugging away and doing what we had to do,” Hamiter commented.
Outside hitter Katie Bridge led all players with 15 points, combining team-highs of 10 kills and five blocks. Setter Kaleo Kanahele Maclay served a match-best six aces and added six kills and a block to total 13 points. Outside Emma Schieck also reached double digits with 12 points on nine kills and three aces.
Tia Edwards scored five points on four kills and an ace with Monique Matthews (two blocks, one kill, one ace) and Nicky Nieves (two aces, one kill, one block) each finishing with four points.
The U.S. began the match by scoring seven of the first eight points and raised the lead to seven, 10-3. Canada cut the deficit to three points, 13-10, before the U.S. used an 8-2 run to put the set out of reach. Schieck led all players with six points on four kills and two aces, and Kanahele Maclay registered two kills and a pair of aces for four points.
Neither team led by more than two points for the majority of the second set. Canada matched its biggest lead of the match with a 15-13 lead, but the U.S. ran off the next five points to take a three-point lead. Canada saved two set points after trailing 24-20 before the U.S. took the set and a 2-0 lead in the match. Bridge paced the U.S. with six points on four kills and two blocks, and Kanahele Maclay added three kills and an ace for four points.
Leading 4-2 in the third set, the U.S. took control by scoring the next 10 points. The U.S. finished the match on a 7-0 run to seal its spot in the gold medal match. Bridge again scored six points, this time with five kills and a block. Kanahele Maclay served three aces with a kill and a block for five points.
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.)
5 Katie Bridge (OH, 6-3, Lake Stevens, Wash.)
7 Monique Matthews (MB, 6-0, Ardmore, Okla.)
8 Whitney Dosty (OH/OPP, 6-3, Tucson, Ariz.)
9 Tia Edwards (OH/MB, 5-7, Skiatook, Okla.)
11 Jillian Williams-Coffee (MB/OH/OPP, 5-10, Odem, Texas)
12 Emma Schieck (OH, 5-7, Statesville, N.C.)
14 Kaleo Kanahele Maclay (S, 5-6, Oklahoma City, Okla.)
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.)
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: Layne Smith
All times Pacific
July 10: USA def. Netherlands, 3-1 (25-12, 25-15, 23-25, 25-21)
July 11: USA def. Germany, 3-0 (25-13, 25-13, 25-18)
July 13: USA def. Ukraine, 3-0 (25-6, 25-8, 25-10)
July 14: Round of 16: USA def. Kenya, 3-0 (25-20, 25-16, 25-15)
July 15: Quarterfinals: USA def. Italy, 3-1 (25-14, 15-25, 25-14, 25-19)
July 16: Semifinals: USA def. Canada, 3-0 (25-15, 25-22, 25-7)
July 17: Gold medal match: USA vs. Brazil, 2:30 a.m.
The U.S. Women’s Sitting National Team defeated Italy, 3-1 (25-14, 15-25, 25-14, 25-19) on Wednesday in the quarterfinals of the 2026 World ParaVolley World Championship in Hangzhou, China.
The U.S. Women’s Sitting National Team reached the quarterfinal round of the 2026 World ParaVolley World Championship in Hangzhou, China with a 3-0 (25-20, 25-16, 25-15) victory over Kenya on Tuesday. With the victory, the U.S. clinched a spot in the 2028 Paralympics in Los Angeles.
The U.S. Women’s Sitting National Team finished unbeaten in pool play at the 2026 World ParaVolley World Championship with a 3-0 (25-6, 25-8, 25-10) win over Germany on Monday in Hangzhou, China. The U.S. (3-0) advances to the round of 16.
After a day's delay due to safety concerns over a potential typhoon, the U.S. Women’s Sitting National Team continued play at the 2026 World ParaVolley World Championship with a 3-0 (25-13, 25-13, 25-18) victory over Germany in Hangzhou, China, on Sunday.
The U.S. Women’s Sitting National Team opened play at the 2026 World ParaVolley World Championship with a 3-1 (25-12, 25-15, 23-25, 25-21) win over the Netherlands in Hangzhou, China on Friday.
USA Volleyball announces the 14 athletes who will compete for the U.S. Women’s Sitting National Team at the 2026 World ParaVolley World Championship, July 10-17, in Hangzhou, China.
