Women's U21 Team Stops Cuba for Semifinal Win

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (May 27, 2023) – The U.S. Women’s U21 Team swept Cuba on Saturday (25-15, 25-13, 25-20) to advance to the gold medal match at the NORCECA Pan American Cup in Nogales, Mexico.

The U.S. Women (4-0) will play Mexico (4-0) at 8 p.m. PT on Sunday in the gold medal match. The U.S. Women have not lost a set.

The U.S. Women led Cuba in kills (41-30), blocks (7-6) and aces (10-1). The U.S. Women scored on 17 of Cuba’s errors while committing 11.

MATCH STATISTICS

“We knew that Cuba was a great team and we had to stay calm the whole entire time,” U.S. outside hitter Chloe Chicoine said. “I think the match got emotional, especially at the end. They came back and they had a great run, but I think we stayed calm through it and played our game.”

Chicoine led all scorers with 16 points on 14 kills and two aces. She also led the team in excellent receptions with seven.

Opposite Devin Kahahawai and middle blocker Gabrielle Essix each finished with eight points. Kahahawai scored on seven kills and one block. Essix had a match-high five blocks, one kills and one ace.

“It got a little tight at the end, but we did what we needed to, and overall it was a great game,” Kahahawai said, referring to Cuba’s third-set run that cut the U.S. lead from 18-10 to 22-20 before the U.S. pulled away.

“I think our zone 4 attackers have hit for a very, very high percentage this tournament,” U.S. Head Coach Dan Fisher said. “They’ve been carrying a big load, and Chloe’s a big part of that. I thought Cuba made a nice adjustment putting in No. 6, and she affected the game. But we just had to stay patient and fight it off.”

Outside hitter Norah Sis and middle Bre Kelley each finished with seven points. Sis had five kills and two aces. Kelley had six kills and one ace.

Outside hitter Mckenna Wucherer played as a substitute and had six points on six kills. Starting setter Rachel Fairbanks scored three points on two aces and a block.

Middle Marianna Singletary started the third set and scored one point on an ace. Setter Alexis Stucky played as a substitute and scored with an ace. Outside hitter Eva Hudson played as a substitute and scored with a kill.

U.S. libero Lauren Briseño was credited with 13 digs and seven excellent receptions.

Fairbanks and Stucky combined to set the U.S. Women to a .452 hitting efficiency.

2023 Women’s U21 NORCECA Pan American Cup Roster
Name (Position, Height, Birth Year, Hometown, College, USAV Region)

2 Lauren Briseño (L, 5-7, 2003, San Antonio, Texas, Baylor, Lone Star)
3 Chloe Chicoine (OH, 5-10, 2004, Lafayette, Ind., Purdue, Hoosier)
5 Rachel Fairbanks (S, 6-0, 2003, Santa Ana, Calif., Pitt, Southern California)
7 Mckenna Wucherer (OH, 6-1, 2004, Brookfield, Wis., Univ. of Minnesota, Badger)
8 Eva Hudson (OH, 6-1, 2004, Fort Wayne, Ind., Purdue, Hoosier)
9 Norah Sis (OH, 6-2, 2003, Papillion, Neb., Creighton, Great Plains)
10 Alexis Stucky (S, 6-2, 2004, Laramie, Wyo., Univ. of Florida, Rocky Mountain)
13 Gabrielle Essix (MB, 6-3, Hoover, Ala., Univ. of Florida, Southern)
14 Devin Kahahawai (Opp, 6-4, 2004, Kailua, Hawaii, Univ. of Texas, Aloha)
15 Allie Sczech (Opp, 6-4, 2004, Sugar Land, Texas, Baylor, Lone Star)
16 Bre Kelley (MB, 6-4, 2003, Rockwall, Texas, Undecided. North Texas)
17 Marianna Singletary (MB, 6-4, 2004, Charleston, S.C., Texas, Southern)

Head Coach: Dan Fisher
Assistant Coaches: Josh Walker and Jessica Aschenbrenner
Team Leader: Jeffrey Wanderer
Athletic Trainer: Rebecca Duran
Performance Analyst: AJ Ruttenberg

Alternates
1 Emmy Klika (L, 5-7, 2003, Novelty, Ohio, Pitt, Ohio Valley)
4 Caroline Bien (OH, 6-0, 2003, Overland Park, Kan., Univ. of Kansas, Heart of America)
6 Raven Colvin (MB, 6-1, 2003, Indianapolis, Ind., Purdue, Hoosier)
11 Mimi Colyer (OH, 6-3, 2004, Lincoln, Calif., Univ. of Oregon, Northern California)
12 Ella Swindle (S, 6-2, 2004, Columbia, Mo., Univ. of Texas, Heart of America)
18 Kennedy Martin (OPP, 6-6, 2005, Fort Mill, S.C., Univ. of Florida, Badger)

U.S. Women’s U21 Schedule for the Pan American Cup
(All times PT)
May 24 USA def Guatemala, 3-0 (25-8, 25-13, 25-14)
May 25 USA def Dominican Republic, 3-0 (25-16, 25-20, 25-14)
May 26 USA def. Costa Rica, 3-0 (25-11, 25-8, 25-9)
May 27 Semifinal USA def Cuba, 3-0 (25-15, 25-13, 25-20)
May 28 at 8 p.m. Gold medal: USA vs Mexico/Dominican Republic