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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (April 9, 2026) – USA Volleyball has announced the 28 athletes selected to the 2026 U.S. Girls U17 National Team which will represent the United States in its second year of international competition at both the 2026 NORCECA Girls U17 Pan American Cup and the 2026 FIVB Girls U17 World Championship. It’s the first time a U.S. U17 girls team has competed in either event.
The athletes will participate in a training block May 17-23 at Rice University in Houston, Texas. Following training, 14 players will be selected to compete at the Pan American Cup, and another 14 will represent the U.S. at the World Championship.
The Pan Am Cup is scheduled for May 24-June 1 in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, and the U.S. will be in a pool with Canada, Mexico and Venezuela. Athletes competing in the World Championship will attend a second training block July 25-30 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, followed by a preparation phase in Santiago, Chile (July 31-Aug. 3). The World Championship will take place Aug. 6-16 in Santiago, where the United States will compete in Pool A alongside host Chile, Türkiye, Egypt, Thailand and Czechia.
“This summer, USAV is making history as we head into our first GU17 Pan American Cup and our inaugural participation in the U17 World Championship, representing only our second-ever GU17 competition as a federation at this age group,” said Pan American Cup head coach Marie Zidek. “For many of these athletes, it will be the first time they wear the USA jersey in competition, a milestone my staff and I do not take lightly. I’m proud to say this is a well-balanced group, deep with skill and talent in every position, and capable of producing points in a variety of ways. We will work diligently this summer to transform that potential into an organized team. My staff and I are excited for this unique program responsibility, and we will strive to develop a strong team game that continues to represent USA Volleyball with competitive pride.”
In its international debut last year, the U.S. Girls U17 Team captured gold at the 2025 NORCECA Women’s U17 Continental Championship. Seventeen members of the 2026 squad bring previous national team experience, providing a strong foundation of continuity and leadership. Returning athletes include McKenzie Andrews, Chloe Burbage, Lexi Coleman, MC Crutcher, Kaelyn Easton, Ellie Enger, Madlen Gloessner, Kari Knotts, Grace Hengler, Mesa Jameson, Taylor Johnson, Julia Masselink, Mikayla Matuszko, Madison Middleton, Maya Ogbogu, Bella Osborn and Shaun Waller.
“Representing your country is a special moment in any athlete’s career,” said World Championship head coach Heather Olmstead. “Our focus will be on growth, learning how to compete on the international stage, embracing challenges and building the habits required to succeed. I’m excited to work with this group and see how they develop throughout the process.”
2026 U.S. Girls U17 National Team Roster
Name, Position, Height, Hometown, School, Region
McKenzie Andrews – MB, 6-5, Grosse Pointe, Mich. Mercy HS, Lakeshore
Shiloh Braddick – PIN, 6-1, Acworth, Ga., Etowah HS, Southern
Chloe Burbage – S, 6-1, Cary, N.C., Green Hope HS, Carolina
Brynli Burgess – L, 5-9, Van Alstyne, Texas, McKinney North HS, North Texas
Piper Coady – PIN, 6-2, Newport Beach, Calif., Newport Harbor HS, Southern California
Lexi Coleman – PIN, 6-0, Northville, Mich., South Lyon East HS, Lakeshore
MC Crutcher – PIN, 5-11, Mansfield, Texas, Mansfield HS, North Texas
Kaelyn Easton – S, 5-11, Saline, Mich., Mercy HS, Lakeshore
Ellie Enger – S, 6-1, Forest City, Fla., Orangewood Christian HS, Florida
Amari Frazier – MB, 6-3, Phoenix, Ariz., Xavier College Prep, Arizona
Madlen Gloessner – MB, 6-5, Wheat Ridge, Colo., Lakewood HS, Rocky Mountain
Sophia Gregg – S, 6-2, Chandler, Ariz., Perry HS, Arizona
Grace Hengler – L, 5-6, Frisco, Texas, Coram Deo Academy, North Texas
Hope Hengler – L, 5-2, Frisco, Texas, Coram Deo Academy, North Texas
Mesa Jameson – PIN, 6-2, Cottage Grove, Minn., Eagan HS, North Country
Taylor Johnson – PIN, 6-0, Plano, Texas, Hebron HS, North Texas
Kari Knotts – PIN, 6-3, Marietta, Ga., The Lovett School, Southern
Julia Masselink – PIN, 6-2, Sioux Falls, S.D., Harrisburg HS, North Country
Mikayla Matuszko – PIN, 6-3, Wellington, Fla., The King’s Academy, Florida
Madison Middleton – MB, 6-1, Roswell, Ga., St. Francis HS, Southern
Maija Mortensen – MB, 6-3, Draper, Utah, Corner Canyon HS, Intermountain
Maya Ogbogu – PIN, 6-0, Parker, Texas, Allen HS, North Texas
Bella Osborn – L, 5-4, Plano, Texas, Plano Senior HS, North Texas
Peyton Smith – PIN, 6-0, Arlington, Texas, Duncanville HS, North Texas
Jael Smith – MB, 6-2, Carson, Calif., Mater Dei HS, Southern California Southern Nevada
Naomi Stevenson – PIN, 6-1, Chapel Hill, N.C., Seaforth HS, Carolina
Shaun Waller – MB, 6-3, Franklin, Tenn., Centennial HS, Southern
Kaya Young – MB, 6-3, Rockville, Md., Kaiserslautern HS
Coaching Staffs
Pan American Cup
Head Coach: Marie Zidek (DePaul University)
Assistant Coaches: Heather Olmstead (NTDP), Joshua Walker (Baylor)
Performance Analyst: Joe Skinner (Texas A&M)
Athletic Trainer: Cherryl Bueno (Coast to Coast AthletiCare)
Team Lead: Alex Purvey (NTDP)
World Championship
Head Coach: Heather Olmstead (NTDP)
Assistant Coaches: Amir Lugo-Rodriguez (SC Rockstar/Long Beach State Men’s Volleyball), Laura “Bird” Kuhn (MLV, Atlanta Vibe)
Performance Analyst: Joe Skinner (Texas A&M), Peter Wong (Halton Region Volleyball Club)
Athletic Trainer/Team Doctor: Chris Cornell (Coduhi Clinic)
Team Lead: Alex Purvey (NTDP)
The NTDP identifies, recruits, and accelerates the development of high-potential junior volleyball players, strengthening USA Volleyball’s pipeline for sustained international success.