Win Over Mexico Puts U19 Girls in Pan Am Cup Semifinals

Jaela Auguste hits in the Pan Am Cup match vs. Mexico

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (May 11, 2023) – The U.S. Girls U19 National Team is now 3-0 after completing the pool phase of the 2023 NORCECA Pan American Cup. The U.S defeated Mexico 3-0 (25-14, 25-11, 25-17) on Thursday in Puerto Rico. The win gives the team an automatic place in the semifinal on Saturday night.

MATCH STATISTICS

The U.S. got out to an early lead for the third straight match and kept up defensive pressure with a 15-2 blocking advantage over Mexico. Middle blocker Calissa Minatee led the team in blocks with five. Middle blocker Elizabeth Andrew also contributed three blocks in the victory.

Libero Ava Falduto earned a team-high 13 digs while averaging 4.33 per set.

Minatee was the runner-up in team scoring, adding six of her nine total points in the second set. Outside hitter Julia Blyashov led the way with 12 total points on nine kills and two aces. Blyashov was complimentary of the team chemistry at this stage of the tournament.

“We were super supportive of each other and we were just getting in a better groove of the game,” Blyashov said. “We are super excited to bring this energy into the semifinals.”

The U.S. held the scoring margin at 32-19 on kills for the match. Opposite Olivia Babcock and outside hitter Teraya Sigler each tallied four kills on the stat sheet. Babcock added four of her five total points in the first set. Sigler saved her four points for the third and final set, helping to strand a late comeback bid by Mexico that ended with a 25-17 final score.

Middle blocker Jaela Auguste tied Blyashov and Minatee with two service aces for the match. The team ended the day with nine aces total, averaging three per set.

As a team, the U.S. had a 29.4 percent hitting efficiency and a 41.03 kill percentage throughout the three sets with Mexico.

The U.S. Girls U19 National Team will play in the semifinals on Saturday, May 13. Match time is currently set for 5 p.m. PT.

No. Name (Position, Height, Birth Year, Hometown, School, Region)
1 Lizzy Andrew (MB, 6-5, 2005, Ridgefield, Wash., Ridgefield HS, Columbia Empire)
2 Jaela Auguste (MB, 6-2, 2006, Spring, Texas, Grand Oaks HS, Lonestar)
3 Olivia Babcock (OPP, 6-4, 2005, Los Angeles, Calif., Sierra Canyon HS, Southern California)
4 Blaire Bayless (OH, 6-2, 2005, Plano, Texas, Plano West Senior HS, North Texas)
5 Julia Blyashov (OH, 6-3, 2005, San Diego, Calif., Cathedral Catholic HS, Southern California)
8 Kaci Demaria (OH, 6-4, 2007, San Pedro, Calif., Palos Verdes HS, Southern California)
9 Ava Falduto (L, 5-7, 2006, Elmhurst, Ill., IC Catholic Prep, Great Lakes)
14 Calissa Minatee (MB, 6-0, 2005, Kansas City, Mo., University of Minnesota, Heart of America)
15 Logan Parks (OPP/S, 5-11, 2006, Overland Park, Kan., Blue Valley North HS, Heart of America)
17 Teraya Sigler (OH, 6-2, 2006, Horizon HS, Scottsdale, Ariz., Arizona)
18 Izzy Starck (S, 6-1, 2006, Colorado Springs, Colo., Rampart HS, Rocky Mountain)
19 Abby Vander Wal (OH, 6-3, 2006, Elmhurst, Ill., Timothy Christian HS, Great Lakes)

Head Coach: Keegan Cook
Assistant Coach: Krista Hendrickson
Assistant Coach: Cursty Le Roux
Performance Analyst: Virginia Pham
Athletic Trainer: Cherryl Bueno
Team Lead: Courtney Smith

Alternates
Suli Davis (OH, 6-2, 2007, Euless, Texas, Colleyville Heritage HS, North Texas)
Brooklyn DeLeye (OH, 6-2, 2005, Auburn, Kan., Washburn Rural HS, Heart of America)
Taylor Harvey (MB, 6-3, 2006, Bountiful, Utah, Bountiful HS, Intermountain)
Kelly Kinney (OH, 6-2, 2007, West Palm Beach, Fla., The King’s Academy, Florida)
Ryan McAleer (L, 5-5, 2005, Leawood, Kan., Blue Valley HS, Heart of America)
Reese Messer (S, 5-11, 2006, Olathe, Kan., Saint James Academy, Heart of America)
Alec Rothe (MB, 6-3, 2006, Dublin, Ohio, Dublin Scioto HS, Ohio Valley)
Taylor Yu (S, 6-0, 2006, Temple City, Calif., Temple City HS, Southern California)