U.S. Women’s U19 to Play for Gold at 2026 Continental Champs

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 23, 2026) — The U.S. Women’s U19 National Team will play for the gold medal at the 2026 NORCECA Women’s U19 Continental Championship after a 3-0 (25-16, 25-12, 25-10) victory over Puerto Rico in a semifinal match on Thursday in San José, Costa Rica.

The U.S. (3-0) will compete for gold tomorrow at 3 p.m. PT against the winner of the second semifinal between Canada and Mexico. The U.S. has won all nine of its sets and yet to allow an opponent to reach the 20-point mark in any set.

The U.S. dominated in every statistical category, including 43-17 in kills, 13-3 in blocks, and 7-0 in service aces. The U.S. hit at a .452 efficiency percentage as a team with setters Taimane Ainu’u and Josalyn Samuels running the offense.

Playing the final two sets, outside hitter Ireland Real led all players with nine kills and 13 points, adding two blocks and a pair of aces. She also posted a match-high seven successful receptions, four more than any other player from either team.

Despite only playing the first set, Megan Hodges scored eight points on five kills and three blocks. Opposite Sarah Floyd (six kills), middle blocker Kyla Williams (three kills, three blocks) and middle Willtrace Ngoh (four kills, two blocks) all scored six points. Opposite Nejari Crooks scored five points in the first set on three kills and two aces, while Shayla Rautenberg added four points on three kills and a block.

Libero Pulelehua Laikona led all players with 11 digs and fellow libero Cala Haffner added seven. Outside hitter Olivia Henry registered three kills, and outside Ava Burgess totaled three points on two kills and a block.

A Hodges block gave the U.S. its first lead of the match, 4-3, and she followed with her second kill. A great dig by Crooks kept a rally going that ended with a Burgess block for a 9-4 lead. Kills by Burgess and Hodges pushed the lead to seven. Hodges scored her fifth point for a 12-6 U.S. advantage. Puerto Rico cut the deficit back to four points, 13-9, with a block. A Hodges block put the U.S. ahead 16-10 and after dropping the next point, the U.S. ran off five points in a row, two on aces by Crooks, for a commanding 10-point lead. Crooks ended the set with her third kill and fifth point. Hodges led all scorers with eight points.

Puerto Rico led 5-4 in the second set before Stephens scored three times and Rautenberg twice as part of a six-point run that gave the U.S. a 10-4 advantage. The U.S. doubled up the score, 12-6, with a block by Ngoh, and moved ahead by eight on a block from Real. The U.S. recycled a block into a Real kill, one of her four consecutive points and the lead reached 11 points, 18-7. Floyd scored for a 22-8 U.S. lead. Rautenberg kills gave the U.S. set point and the set. Real led all scorers with eight points on five kills, two blocks and an ace.

A Williams block gave the U.S. an early 4-1 lead in the third set. Another Williams block and a Stephens ace pushed the margin to seven points, 11-4. The lead grew to double digits, 16-6, on a Real kill off the block. Another Real kill and an ace by Ainu’u put the U.S. up 18-6. Floyd and Ngoh recorded back-to-back kills and Real followed with an ace to make the score 21-7. The teams split the next six points before Williams ended the match with a kill that sent the U.S. to the gold medal match. Williams (two kills, three blocks) and Real (four kills, one ace) each totaled five points in the 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 def. Puerto Rico, 3-0 (25-16, 25-12, 25-10)
July 24 Gold Medal Match: USA vs. Canada/Mexico, 3 p.m.