U.S. Women's U21 Team Heads to Semis at 2025 Pan Am Cup After Going Unbeaten in Pool Play

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 24, 2025) — The U.S. Women’s U21 National Team finished undefeated in pool play at the 2025 NORCECA Women’s U21 Pan American Cup with a 3-0 (25-18, 25-19, 25-11) win over Chile on Thursday in San Jose, Costa Rica.

With the win in the matchup of undefeated teams, the U.S. earned a bye in Friday’s quarterfinals and moves directly into the semifinal round on Saturday, July 26, at 6 p.m. PT.

The U.S dominated at the net with 11 blocks to only three for Chile, while also holding advantages in kills (33-24) and aces (7-3). Chile committed six more errors (24-18), with the mistakes compounding in the final set.

Five players scored at least seven points in the balanced U.S. attack. Opposite Jadyn Livings was the only U.S. player in double figures with 10 points on a match-high nine kills to go with a block. She added seven digs.

Middle blockers Ayden Ames and Favor Anyanwu shared match-high honors with three blocks apiece. Ames also registered five kills and an ace, while Anyanwu added four kills.

“I thought Chile played really well that match. I thought we fought back harder. We kept the service pressure up the entire match, and we were able to stay calm on defense with blocks and passing,” Ames said.

Outside hitter Brooklyn DeLeye scored nine points on seven kills and two aces, while outside Kamryn Gibadlo led the team with seven successful receptions to go with seven digs and seven points (five kills, one block, one ace).

Setter Stella Swenson led the U.S. offense to a .301 hitting percentage while contributing two blocks, two aces and six digs. Libero Ramsey Gary finished with a team-high 10 digs.

Trailing 11-7 in the opening set, the U.S. scored seven consecutive points. A Gibadlo ace evened the score at 11. The run ended on a Livings kill set up by a great up from Ames and then an Ames block for a 14-11 lead.

Following the second timeout, Chile put together three points in a row to tie the score at 16-16. With the set all square at 17, the U.S. scored three consecutive points. After a service error, the U.S. got a block from Swenson and a kill by Gibadlo after a strong dig by Parks. After a Chile timeout, Ames recorded a kill and a block around a Parks ace to complete a 6-0 U.S. run. Ames and Livings each scored five points in the set.

Chile went on a 5-0 run leading up to the first technical timeout of the second set to take an 8-4 lead. After giving up another point, the U.S. rallied with a 8-0 run that began with a smart push to the back court by Livings, who followed that by putting a ball straight down. A DeLeye ace forced a Chile timeout at 9-9. A Gibadlo block and two errors gave the U.S. a 12–9 lead.

Another Ames block extended the margin to five points, 15-10. The advantage grew to six (18-12) on a Swenson ace. Chile came no closer than four points the rest of the way. After trailing 9-4, the U.S. finished the set with a 21-10 advantage. Anyanwu and DeLeye each scored four points in the set with Livings adding three kills.

The U.S. took advantage of five early Chile errors to race out to a 8-1 lead in set three with Gibadlo scoring twice in the run. With the U.S. up 10-3, Ames served an ace, and the lead grew to double digits with two more Chile errors. The margin continued to balloon after a Chile timeout with a pair of blocks by Anyanwu and an error making it 16-3. Outside Blaire Bayless entered the match in the third set and led the U.S. with four points on three kills and an ace.

2025 NORCECA Women’s U21 Pan American Cup

Name (Pos., Height, Birth Year, Hometown, School, USAV Region)
1 Lizzy Andrew (MB, 6-5, 2005, Ridgefield, Wash., Stanford University, Columbia Empire)
4 Blaire Bayless (OH, 6-2, 2005, Plano, Texas, University of Pittsburgh, North Texas)
5 Favor Anyanwu (MB, 6-3, 2006, Rowlett, Texas, Southern Methodist University, North Texas)
6 Ayden Ames (MB, 6-4, 2006, Prosper, Texas, University of Texas, North Texas)
7C Brooklyn DeLeye (OH, 6-2, 2005, Auburn, Kan., University of Kentucky, Heart of America)
8 Stella Swenson (S, 6-2, 2005, Wayzata, Minn., University of Minnesota, North Country)
11 Ramsey Gary (L, 5-7, 2005, Pendelton, Ind., University of Texas, Hoosier)
12 Noemie Glover (OPP, 6-2, 2005, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., Arizona State University, Southern California)
13 Kamryn Gibadlo (OH, 6-1, 2005, Cave Creek, Ariz., University of Utah, Arizona)
14 Jadyn Livings (OPP/OH, 6-1, 2006, Dallas, Texas, Southern Methodist University, North Texas)
16 Taylor Parks (S, 5-11, 2006, Clearwater, Fla., University of Florida, Florida)
19 Abby Vander Wal (OH, 6-3, 2006, Elmhurst, Ill., University of Texas, Great Lakes)

Alternates
Jaela Auguste (MB, 6-2, 2006, Spring, Texas, University of Florida, Lone Star)
Carlie Cisneros (OH, 6-0, 2006, Paola, KS, University of Arizona, Heart of America)
Cristin Cline (S, 5-11, Stanfield, N.C., University of Kansas, Carolina)
Taylor Harvey (MB, 6-3, 2006, Bountiful, Utah, Bountiful HS, Intermountain)
Abigail Mullen (OPP, 6-3, 2006, Kansas City, Mo., University of Southern California, Heart of America)
Molly Tuozzo (L, 5-8, 2005, The Woodlands, Texas, University of Kentucky, Lone Star)

Coaches
Head Coach: Heather Olmstead (BYU)
Assistant Coach: Keith Smith (TCU)
Assistant Coach: Megan Hodge Easy (Penn State)
Performance Analyst: Jimmy Kim (NTDP)
Athletic Trainer: Britta Pestak (Hawken School/University Hospital)
Team Lead: Kyle Thompson (Maryland)

Schedule
All times Pacific

July 22: USA def. Canada, 3-0 (25-18, 25-15, 25-13)
July 23: USA def. Puerto Rico, 3-0 (25-13, 25-7, 25-15)
July 24: USA def. Chile, 3-0 (25-18, 25-19, 25-11)
July 25: Quarterfinals: USA receives bye
July 26: Semifinals: USA vs. TBA, 6 p.m.
July 27: Medal Matches