Women's U21 to Play for 2024 NORCECA Championship Gold

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 29, 2024) – The U.S. Women’s U21 National Team will play for the gold medal at the 2024 NORCECA Women’s U21 Continental Championship after defeating the Dominican Republic, 3-0 (25-20, 25-13, 25-12) in the first semifinal on Saturday in Toronto, Canada.

The U.S., who defeated the Dominican Republic in straight sets for the second time in the championship, will play in the final at 1:30 p.m. PT on Sunday (June 30) against Puerto Rico, which defeated host Canada in the second semifinal in straight sets. The U.S. defeated Puerto Rico in the final match of preliminary round play on Thursday.

“I liked the way our offense got going early in the match. Once we started putting some service pressure on, our defense was pretty solid,” said U.S. Women’s U21 head coach Heather Olmstead. “It was a great team win and we’re looking forward to playing in the finals tomorrow.”

The U.S. doubled up the Dominican Republic in kills (42-21), while registering a .410 hitting efficiency (42 kills, 8 errors, 83 attacks). An 11-3 advantage in service aces raised the U.S.’s aces totals to 43 in four matches in the championship, while giving up only four.

Five players scored between nine and 12 points for the balanced U.S. attack. Outside hitter Brooklyn DeLeye totaled a team-highs of 10 kills (.529 hitting efficiency) and 12 points. Fellow outside Teraya Sigler finished with 11 points on six kills, two blocks, and shared match-high honors with setter Bergen Reilly with three aces.

Libero Ramsey Gary played an outstanding match on defense and in passing to Reilly, finishing with match-highs of nine successful receptions and 12 digs. Sigler finished with eight digs with DeLeye and Reilly contributing seven and six, respectively.

Middle blocker Andi Jackson hit at a .700 hitting efficiency with eight kills and one error in 10 total attacks, adding a block and an ace to reach double-digits with 10 points. Middle Taylor Harvey led all players with three blocks and added six kills to score nine points, while opposite Kennedy Martin scored nine points on eight kills and a block.

Arian Rodriguez Fung of the Dominican Republic led all scorers with 13 points on 10 kills, a block, and two aces. Katielle Altagracia Alonzo Vargas also reached double-digits for the Dominican Republic, who will play in the bronze medal match.

After splitting the first 16 points of the match, the U.S. scored the next three points to take the lead for good in the first set, 11-8. DeLeye led the team with seven points on six kills and a service ace. Sigler (four kills and one block) and Martin (five kills) each contributed five points.

Six U.S. players scored multiple points in a dominant second set. The U.S. used a 10-1 run to take a 13-5 lead and cruised to victory in the set. DeLeye scored five points on four kills and an ace, and Sigler scored five points on two kills, a block, and two aces. Harvey recorded four kills.

The U.S. continued to roll in the third set, led by Jackson’s six points on four kills, a block, and an ace. Harvey scored four points on two kills and two blocks, and outside hitter Blaire Bayless, who came in with her team leading 15-9, contributed three points on a pair of kills and an ace.

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 USA def. Puerto Rico, 3-0 (25-10, 25-17, 25-15)
June 28 Quarterfinals (USA received a bye)
June 29 Semifinals, USA def. Dominican Republic, 3-0 (25-20, 25-13, 25-12)
June 30 Gold Medal match, 1:30 p.m. USA vs. Puerto Rico