Girls U19 Team Survives Brazil to Reach World Semis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Aug. 9, 2023) – The U.S. Girls U19 National Team defeated a resilient Brazil team, 3-2 (21-25, 25-19, 25-19, 23-25, 15-11) in the FIVB World Championship quarterfinals on Wednesday in Osijek, Croatia.

The U.S. Girls Team (7-0) will play Italy in the semifinals on Thursday at 12 p.m. PDT.

The U.S. dominated in kills, 74-40, but Brazil rallied in a pair of sets and sent the match to a deciding fifth set. The top three scorers in the match were all from the U.S., highlighted by a huge performance from outside hitter Teraya Sigler, who totaled 29 points with match-bests of 23 kills and four aces to go along with two blocks and contributed 11 digs. She led all players with four points on three kills and an ace in the fifth set.

Outside hitter Abby Vander Wal finished with 23 points, on 18 kills, one block, and equaled Sigler with four aces as the U.S. served for 12 aces compared to nine for Brazil. Opposite Abigail Mullen added 18 points on 15 kills, two blocks, and an ace. Vander Wal and Mullen, who each tallied three points in the final set, totaled 14 and 13 digs, respectively. Libero Olivia Mauch recorded eight digs and six successful receptions.

Three middle blockers combined for 24 points for the U.S., half of them by Favor Anyanwu (12 points on eight points, two blocks, two aces) and six each by Jaela Auguste (five points, one ace) and Ayden Ames (four kills, two blocks), who recorded two of her kills in the fifth set.

The U.S. built an early 10-6 lead in the first set, but Brazil tied it up at 12 and took the lead for good at 19-18. Sigler led all scorers with six points on five kills and an ace, while Favor and Vander Wal each recorded four kills.

The U.S. scored the first seven points of the second set and Brazil never got closer than three points the remainder of the set. Vander Wal scored seven points on four kills and three aces, and Favor contributed five points on three kills, one block, and one ace.

The third set started in a similar fashion to the second set with the U.S. Girls U19 squad jumping out to a 10-4 lead. They eventually extended the lead to 11 points, 17-6. Brazil used a 7-2 run to cut the lead to five points, 22-17, but the U.S. took the set to go up 2-1. Mullen and Sigler combined for 15 points in the set, each with five kills and one ace. Mullen added two blocks and Sigler one.

In the fourth set, just as they did in the first set, the U.S. took a 10-6 lead only to see Brazil come back to win. Brazil used a 6-0 run to turn a four-point deficit (15-11) into a two-point lead. The U.S. regained the lead at 22-21, but Brazil evened the match by finishing the set on a 4-1 run.

For the fifth consecutive set, the U.S. jumped out in front, but this time, they never led Brazil get closer than three points after taking a 7-2 lead. Brazil used a 4-1 run to narrow the gap to three points, 13-10, but kills by Sigler and Ames sealed the victory.

There are 24 teams from around the world competing at the World Championship.

U.S. Girls U19 Roster for the 2023 FIVB World Championship

Name (Position, Height, Birth Year, Hometown, School, USAV Region)
2 Jaela Auguste (MB, 6-2, 2006, Spring, Texas, Grand Oaks HS, Lone Star)
3 Charlie Fuerbringer (S, 5-11, 2006, Hermosa Beach, Calif., Mira Costa HS, Southern California)
4 Ayden Ames (MB, 6-4, 2006, Prosper, Texas, Prosper HS, 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)
9 Ava Falduto (L, 5-7, 2006, Elmhurst, Ill., IC Catholic Prep, Great Lakes)
11 Becca Kelley (OH, 6-3, 2005, Rockwall, Texas, University of Oregon, North Texas)
12 Olivia Mauch (L, 5-6, 2005, Bennington, Neb., Bennington HS, Great Plains)
13C Emerson Sellman (OH, 6-4, 2005, Burtonsville, Md., The Academy of the Holy Cross, Chesapeake)
15 Abigail Mullen (Opp, 6-3, 2006, Kansas City, Mo., Liberty HS, Heart of America)
17 Teraya Sigler (OH, 6-2, 2006, Horizon HS, Scottsdale, Ariz., Arizona)
19 Abby Vander Wal (OH, 6-3, 2006, Elmhurst, Ill., Timothy Christian HS, Great Lakes)

Head Coach: Jamie Morrison
Assistant Coach: Michelle Chatman Smith
Assistant Coach: Maggie Eppright
Performance Analyst: Kyle Thompson
ATC: Chris Cornell
Team Lead: Jon Wong

Alternates
1 Lizzy Andrew (MB, 6-5, 2005, Ridgefield, Wash., Ridgefield HS, Columbia Empire)
7 Carly Gilk (OPP, 6-2, 2006, Brooklyn Park, Minn., Champlin Park HS, North Country)
8 Kaci Demaria (OH, 6-4, 2007, San Pedro, Calif., Palos Verdes HS, Southern California)
10 Noemie Glover (Opp, 6-2, 2005, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., University of Oregon, Southern California)
14 Skyler Pierce (OH, 6-2, 2005, Lenexa, Kan., Olathe Northwest HS, Heart of America)
16 Cari Spears (OH, 6-3, 2007, Dallas, Texas, Prestonwood Christian Academy, North Texas)
18 Izzy Starck (S, 6-1, 2006, Melbourne, Fla., Viera HS, Rocky Mountain)

U.S. Schedule for the 2023 FIVB Girls U19 World Championship
Matches will be shown on the Volleyball World YouTube channel

All times PDT
Aug. 1: USA def. Korea, 3-2 (25-21, 19-25, 25-21, 23-25, 15-10)
Aug. 2: USA def. Japan, 3-0 (25-22, 25-20, 26-24)
Aug. 3: USA def. Mexico, 3-0 (25-19, 25-22, 25-20)
Aug. 5: USA def. Poland, 3-1 (23-25, 25-16, 25-22, 25-15)
Aug. 6: USA def. Serbia, 3-2 (25-15, 18-25, 25-19, 19-25, 15-7)
Aug. 7 Round of 16: USA def. Dominican Republic, 3-0 (25-15, 25-15, 2-24)
Aug. 9: Quarterfinals: USA def. Brazil, 3-2 (21-25, 25-19, 25-19, 23-25, 15-11)
Aug. 10: Semifinals: USA vs. Italy, 12 p.m.
Aug. 11: Finals