Women's U21 Aces Suriname at 2024 NORCECA Champs

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 26, 2024) – The U.S. Women’s U21 National Team dominated Suriname, 3-0 (25-10, 25-5, 25-9) to move to 2-0 at the 2024 NORCECA Women’s U21 Continental Championship on Wednesday in Toronto, Canada.

The U.S. completes preliminary round play tomorrow, June 27, at 10:30 a.m. PT against Puerto Rico. With a win, the U.S. would advance directly to Saturday’s semifinals.

The U.S. finished with a 19-0 advantage in service aces, 36-7 in kills, and 6-2 in blocks. The U.S. Women hit .696 (36 kills with only four errors in 46 attacks) for the match.

Middle blocker Favor Anyanwu led the way with 19 points with nine kills on as many attacks and team-highs of three blocks and six aces. Outside hitter Julia Blyashov paced the team with 10 kills, adding a block and an ace.

Outside hitter Blaire Bayless scored eight points on four kills, one block and three aces. In addition to setting the team to a nearly flawless attack, Campbell Flynn registered five aces and a kill.

Middle Taylor Harvey scored five points while only playing the third set, getting two kills and three aces to complement fellow middle Andi Jackson’s five kills on six attacks in the first two sets.

Libero Ramsey Gary led all players with 10 digs and six successful receptions with outside hitter Abby Vander Wal contributing four digs. Outside Teraya Sigler scored four points on three kills and an ace, and Vander Wal added two kills and a block.

Anyanwu led all players with seven points in the first set on five kills and two aces. She recorded two kills and her aces in the team’s first five points as the U.S. took a 5-1 lead. Bayless registered three of the team’s eight aces in the set and totaled five points.

Anyanwu served three aces in a 6-0 run that gave the U.S. a commanding 11-2 lead in the second set. She finished the set with six points, adding two kills and a block. Blyashov totaled four points on three kills and a block, while Bayless, Jackson and Vander Wal each scored three points.

Harvey served for eight consecutive points, including back-to-back aces, in the third set as the U.S. turned a 6-5 deficit into a 13-6 lead. Harvey, Blyashov and Anyanwu each scored five points in the set with all of Blyashov’s points coming on kills. Flynn served three aces in the set.

2024 U.S. Women’s U21 National Team
for the NORCECA Women’s U21 Continental Championship

Name (Pos., Ht., Birth year, Hometown, School, USAV Region)
3 Julia Blyashov (OH, 6-3, 2005, San Diego, Calif., Stanford University, Southern California)
4 Blaire Bayless (OH, 6-2, 2005, Plano, Texas, University of Pittsburgh, North Texas)
5 Favor Anyanwu (MB, 6-2, 2006, Rowlett, Texas, Sachse HS, North Texas)
6 Campbell Flynn (S, 6-3, 2006, Rochester Hills, Mich., Mercy HS, Lakeshore)
7 Brooklyn DeLeye (OH, 6-2, 2005, Auburn, Kan., University of Kentucky, Heart of America)
8C Bergen Reilly (S, 6-1, 2005, Sioux Falls, S.D., University of Nebraska, North Country)
10 Taylor Harvey (MB, 6-3, 2006, Bountiful, Utah, Bountiful HS, Intermountain)
11 Ramsey Gary (L, 5-7, 2005, Pendelton, Ind., Indiana University, Hoosier)
14 Andi Jackson (MB, 6-3, 2005, Brighton, Colo., University of Nebraska, Rocky Mountain)
17 Teraya Sigler (OH, 6-2, 2006,  Scottsdale, Ariz., Horizon HS, Arizona)
18 Kennedy Martin (OPP, 6-6, 2005, Fort Mill, S.C., University of Florida, Badger)
19 Abby Vander Wal (OH, 6-3, 2006, Elmhurst, Ill., Timothy Christian HS, Great Lakes)

Head Coach: Heather Olmstead (BYU)
Assistant Coach: Jaylen Reyes (Nebraska)
Assistant Coach: Alex Dunphy (Stanford)
Performance Analyst: Virginia Pham (USC)
Athletic Trainer: Rachel Menze (CSUN)
Team Lead: Courtney Smith (USAV NTDP)

Alternates
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)
9 Taylor Anderson (S, 6-1, 2005, San Antonio Texas, Purdue University, Lone Star)
12 Olivia Mauch (L, 5-6, 2005, Bennington, Neb., University of Nebraska, Great Plains)
13 Kamryn Gibadlo (OH, 6-1, 2005, Cave Creek, Ariz., University of Utah, Arizona)
15 Abigail Mullen (OPP, 6-3, 2006, Kansas City, Mo., Liberty HS, Heart of America)
16 Logan Parks (OPP,5-11,2006, Overland Park, Kan., Blue Valley North HS, Heart of America)
20 Laney Choboy (L, 5-3, 2005, Raleigh, N.C., University of Nebraska, Carolina)

U.S. Schedule
for the NORCECA Women’s U21 Continental Championship
(all times PDT)

All matches will be livestreamed on Volleyball Canada’s YouTube.

June 25 USA def. Dominican Republic, 3-0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-11)
June 26 USA def. Suriname, 3-0 (25-10, 25-5, 25-9)
June 27 at 10:30 a.m. USA vs Puerto Rico
June 28 Quarterfinals (if necessary)
June 29 Semifinals
June 30 Medal matches