U.S. Women's U19 Finishes 2026 Continental Champs Pool Play Undefeated

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 21, 2026) — The U.S. Women’s U19 National Team defeated the Dominican Republic, 3-0 (25-18, 25-18, 25-14) on Tuesday at the 2026 NORCECA Women’s U19 Continental Championship in San José, Costa Rica. The U.S. won all six of its sets in preliminary round play without yielding more than 18 points in any set.

The U.S. (2-0) earned a bye in the quarterfinal round and will play in Thursday’s semifinals against an opponent to be determined.

The U.S. finished with advantages in kills (33-21), blocks (7-4) and service aces (7-2), while committing five fewer errors (28-23).

The balanced U.S. attack finished with six players scoring between five and eight points. Middle blocker Willtrace Ngoh shared match-high honors with eight points on a match-best three blocks to go with five kills. Middle Shayla Rautenberg totaled seven points on four kills, two blocks and an ace.

Libero Pulelehua Laikona led the team with 12 digs with setter Taimane Ainu’u adding seven. Outside hitter Ava Burgess was the only player in the match with more than one successful reception, recording three.

Outsider hitter Brynn Stephens served four aces in the third set, just one short of all the other players combined in the match, and her two kills gave her six points. Opposite Sarah Floyd scored six points on five kills and an ace with Burgess also totaling six points with five kills and a block.

Opposite Nejari Crooks finished with five points on four kills and an ace with Megan Hodges adding three points on two kills and a block. Ireland Real and Kyla Williams produced two kills each, while Olivia Henry and Josalyn Samuels both scored once.

The Dominican Republic led 7-5 in the first set before the U.S. scored four consecutive points, starting with a block by Ngoh and ending with a Rautenberg kill. Dominican Republic ran off three points in a row, retaking the lead on a block, 10-9. Another Rautenberg kill put the U.S. back in front, 13-12. Haffner served an ace off the net and Burgess recorded a block for a 17-14 lead that prompted a second Dominican Republic timeout. Laikona moved out the way just in time on an errant serve for an 18-15 lead. A Stephens kill off the block capped a 5-0 U.S. run for set point at 24-17. Ngoh ended the set with her fourth point and third kill. Floyd led all scorers with five points on four kills and an ace.

A strong Henry serve led to an overpass that Hodges put down for a 7-5 U.S. lead in the second set. Back-to-back Ngoh blocks gave the U.S. a three-point advantage, 12-9. The U.S. upped its lead to five, 15-10, on a Crooks kill. After Dominican Republic scored the next two points, Hodges registered a kill and a block for a 17-12. A Crooks ace finished a 4-0 run that put the U.S. up by seven. Samuels was able to score on a tight pass to the net and a Dominican Republic hitting error extended the lead to eight, 22-14. The lead never narrowed to fewer than six points the rest of the way and ended on a service error. Ngoh led the U.S. with four points on two kills and two blocks.

Consecutive blocks put the Dominican Republic ahead, 6-5, early in the third set. Floyd scored to give the U.S. an 8-7 lead and Burgess scored on back-to-back plays, the second when she put down an overpass off a Haffner serve, for a three-point advantage. Two great digs by Haffner and Laikona each led to a Burgess kill off the block for an 11-8 U.S. lead. Stephens served three aces in a row, the second dribbling off the net, to extend the lead to 21-14. Crooks delivered two kills around another Stephens ace to set up match point. Rautenberg ended the match with a kill as the U.S. finished on an 8-0 run. Stephens’ four aces made her the team’s high scorer in the final set.

U19 Continental Championship Roster
1 Taimane Ainu’u (S, 6-0, 2009, Kapolei, Hawaii, Iolani HS, Aloha)
2 Nejari Crooks (OPP, 6-1, 2009, High Point, N.C., Wesleyan Christian Academy, Carolina)
3 Cala Haffner (L, 5-8, 2009, Fort Wayne, Ind., Carroll HS, Hoosier)
5 Olivia Henry (OH, 6-5, 2009, Bayside, N.Y., IMG Academy, Florida)
6 Megan Hodges (MB/OPP, 6-5, 2009, Ladera Ranch, Calif., San Juan Hills HS, Southern California Southern Nevada)
9 Pulelehua Laikona (L, 5-8, 2009, Gilbert, Ariz., Mesa HS, Arizona)
12 Brynn Stephens (OH, 6-3, 2009, Frisco, TX, Walnut Grove HS, North Texas)
13 Shayla Rautenberg (MB, 6-4, 2009, Pleasant Dale, Neb., Milford HS, Great Plains)
14 Ireland Real (OH, 6-4, 2009, San Clemente, Calif., Santa Margarita Catholic HS, Southern California Southern Nevada)
15 Josalyn Samuels (S, 6-1, 2009, Harrisburg, S.D., Harrisburg HS, North Country)
17 Sarah Floyd (OPP, 6-3, 2009, Dallas, TX, Highland Park HS, North Texas)
18 Kyla Williams (MB, 6-4, 2009, Cleveland, Ohio, Gilmour Academy, Ohio Valley)
19 Ava Burgess (OH, 6-2, 2009, Lehi, Utah, Lone Peak HS, Intermountain)
20 Willtrace Ngoh (MB, 6-1, 2009, Richmond, Texas, Katy Seven Lakes HS, Lone Star)

Alternates
4 Taylor Harrington (MB, 6-3, 2009, Arlington, Va., Wakefield HS, Chesapeake)
7 Averi Bridges (L, 5-7,2009, Ashland, Neb., Ashland HS, Great Plains)
8 Alex Knox (S, 5-11, 2009, McMurray, Pa., Peters Township High School, Keystone)
10 Leilani Lamar (OH, 6-2, 2009, Alpharetta, Ga., Alpharetta HS, Southern)
11 Westley Matavao (OH, 6-0, 2009, Ontario, Calif., Mater Dei HS, Southern California Southern Nevada)
16 Taylor Freeland (OPP, 6-3, 2009, Riverton, Utah, Riverton HS, Intermountain)

Coaches 
Head Coach: Alex Dunphy (MLV)
Assistant Coach: Haley Brightwell (MLV)
Assistant Coach: Tori Dixon (LOVB)
Performance Analyst: Mackenna Basore (LOVB)
ATC: Hazel Peterson (USOPTC)
Team Lead: Courtney Smith (NTDP)

U19 Continental Championship Schedule
All times PT
July 19: USA def. Cuba, 3-0 (25-16, 25-16, 25-10)
July 21: USA def. Dominican Republic, 3-0 (25-18, 25-18, 25-14)
July 22: Quarterfinals (USA received a bye)
July 23: Semifinals: USA vs. TBA
July 24 Medal match