U.S. Women Move to 2-0 at 2023 Pan Am Cup Final Six

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Aug. 21, 2023) – The U.S. Women’s National Team continued its dominant run at the NORCECA Pan Am Cup Final Six, cruising to a 3-0 (25-12 25-15, 25-7) victory over Puerto Rico on Monday in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

The U.S. will face Mexico (1-1) at 12 p.m. PT on Tuesday.

In the first set, the U.S. Women and Puerto Rico battled early to a 6-6 tie, but the U.S. reeled off 14 of the next 15 points to put it out of reach. Middle blocker Kayla Haneline paced all scorers in the set with five points on three kills and two blocks.

In sets two and three, the U.S. Women jumped ahead early and never took their foot off the gas for the win. Haneline, middle blocker Madeleine Gates and outside hitter Logan Eggleston all scored three points in the balanced second-set attack. Haneline took charge in the third set with seven points on five kills and two blocks.

The U.S. led Puerto Rico in kills (45-16), blocks (6-2) and aces (9-0), and setter Jenna Gray helped the team to a .493 hitting percentage.

Haneline finished with 16 points on 11 kills and five blocks. Opposite Stephanie Samedy had nine kills and two aces for 11 points. Gates finished with 11 points on seven kills, one block and three aces; and Eggleston also scored 11 (10 kills, one ace). Outside hitter Simone Lee had seven points on seven kills. Gray had three points on a kill and two aces. Setter Sydney Hilley had one ace.

Libero Zoe Fleck led the team with 14 digs, and Eggleston was credited with 12 excellent receptions.

“Our team did a good job on the court,” U.S. team captain Sarah Wilhite Parsons said. “We did not know the Puerto Rican players since it’s a new team, which represented a challenge for us, but we handled it well and we knew how to defend our side of the court.”

Teams from Canada, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico and Puerto Rico are competing.

U.S. Women’s Roster for the 2023 NORCECA Final 6

No. Name (Pos., Ht., Hometown, College, USAV Region)
3 Kendall White (L, 5-5, Zionsville, Ind., Penn State, Hoosier)
13C Sarah Wilhite Parsons (OH, 6-2, Eden Prairie, Minn., Univ. of Minnesota, North Country)
19 Jenna Gray (S, 6-1, Shawnee, Kan., Stanford Univ., Heart of America)
21 Simone Lee (OH, 6-1, Menomonee Falls, Wis., Penn State, Badger)
25 Brooke Nuneviller (OH, 5-11, Chandler, Ariz., Univ. of Oregon, Arizona)
30 Danielle Hart (MB, 6-4, Virginia Beach, Va., Univ. of Wisconsin, Old Dominion)
34 Stephanie Samedy (Opp, 6-2, Clermont, Fla., Univ. of Minnesota, Florida)
36 Madeleine Gates (MB, 6-3, San Diego, Calif., Stanford, Southern California)
37 Kayla Haneline (MB, 6-2, Plattsmouth, Neb., Northern Iowa, Great Plains)
38 Zoe Fleck (L, 5-6, Grenada Hills, Calif., Univ. of Texas, Southern California)
39 Taylor Mims (Opp, 6-3, Billings, Mont., Washington State, Evergreen)
41 Logan Eggleston (OH, 6-2, Brentwood, Tenn., Univ. of Texas, Southern)
43 Serena Gray (MB, 6-3, Temple City, Calif., Pitt, Southern California)
44 Sydney Hilley (S, 6-0, Brooklyn Park, Minn., Univ. of Wisconsin, North Country)

Head Coach: Brad Rostratter
Assistant Coach: Jonathan Charette
Assistant Coach: Cursty Jackson
Team Manager/Performance Analyst: Peter Wong
Athletic Trainer: Mandolyn Peterson

U.S. Schedule for the NORCECA Final Six
All times PDT

Aug. 20 USA def. Canada, 3-0 (25-16, 25-11, 25-15)
Aug. 21 at 2 p.m. USA def. Puerto Rico, 3-0 (25-12, 25-15, 25-7)
Aug. 22 at noon USA vs Mexico
Aug. 23 at 2 p.m. USA vs Cuba
Aug. 24 at 4 p.m. USA vs Dominican Republic
Aug. 26 Finals