U.S. Women's U19 Sweeps Way to Gold Medal at 2026 Continental Championship

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 24, 2026) — The U.S. Women’s U19 National Team captured the gold medal at the 2026 NORCECA Women’s U19 Continental Championship with a 3-0 (25-7, 25-16, 25-20) win over Canada on Friday in San José, Costa Rica. The U.S. swept all four of its matches in the tournament.

The U.S. hit at a .434 efficiency percentage for the match with a 42-23 advantage in kills. The U.S. registered nine of the 11 blocks in the match and 12 of the 14 service aces.

Seven U.S. players scored at least five points with outside hitter Ava Burgess leading the way with 10 points on five kills, two blocks and three aces in the first two sets. Opposite Nejari Crooks totaled nine points on seven kills and a pair of blocks playing in the first and second sets.

Outside hitter Ireland Real entered the match in the third set and delivered eight kills. In addition to running the very effective U.S. offense, setter Josalyn Samuels served six aces and added two kills for eight points. Outside hitter Olivia Henry recorded seven kills in the opening two sets. Middle blocker Shayla Rautenberg finished with six points on three kills, two blocks and an ace. Megan Hodges scored five points on two kills, two blocks and an ace.

Libero Cala Haffner led all players with 10 digs and paced the U.S. with six successful receptions. Brynn Stephens (two kills, one ace) and Kyla Williams (three kills) each contributed three points. Opposite Sarah Floyd posted two kills with setter Taimane Ainu’u scoring a point in the third set and Willtrace Ngoh adding a block.

The U.S. scored the first point of the match on a Crooks kill and then Samuels served eight consecutive points, four on aces, for a 9-0 lead. After Canada scored its first point, the U.S. ran off another 10 points. Burgess recorded a kill and then served for nine points in a row, including three aces. A Rautenberg ace, the eighth of the set, pushed the lead to 21-2. A Henry kill raised the lead to 20 points, 24-4, before Canada scored three consecutive points. Samuels ended the set with a kill. Crooks, Samuels and Burgess each scored five points.

Blocks by Rautenberg and Burgess followed by an ace off the tape from Burgess staked the U.S. to a 4-0 lead in the second set. A Hodges kill put the U.S. ahead 8-3. A Burgess block and another Samuels ace raised the score to 13-6. Canada pulled within five points, 17-12, before a Henry kill and a hitting error raised the margin back to seven. A Hodges block and ace combined with back-to-back Burgess kills put the U.S. ahead 23-14. Burgess ended the set with her third kill and fifth point off a strong set from Samuels on a ball at the net.

Canada took its first lead of the match, 2-1, and still led 5-4 when the U.S. scored four points in a row, highlighted by a Stephens ace. Canada responded out of a timeout with a 6-1 run for an 11-9 lead. A Stephens kill gave the U.S. a 15-14 lead, but Canada scored the next four points for a three-point lead and prompting a U.S. timeout. A Williams kill and two by Real evened the score at 18.

An Ngoh block followed by a Real kill after stellar defensive plays from Crooks and Williams gave the U.S. a 21-19 lead. A hitting error after a Canada timeout extended the lead to three before Canada became the first team in the tournament to score 20 points in a set against the U.S. Two Canada errors gave the U.S. match point when Real delivered her eighth kill of the set to clinch the gold medal.

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 def. Puerto Rico, 3-0 (25-16, 25-12, 25-10)
July 24 Gold Medal Match: USA def. Canada, 3-0 (25-7, 25-16, 25-20)