COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 8, 2022) – The U.S. Women’s U21 Team got it second straight sweep on Wednesday at the Pan American Cup when it beat Canada 3-0 (25-17, 25-19, 25-22) in La Paz, Mexico.
The U.S. Women (2-0) will play Argentina (2-0) at 7 p.m. PT on Thursday to determine the pool winner. Watch live at facebook.com/babisuritv. The top two finishing teams at the Pan Am Cup will qualify for the 2023 FIVB World Championship.
The team statistics were very close between the two teams. Canada led in kills (34-31), the teams were tied in blocks (9-9) and the U.S. had a slight lead in aces (6-5). However, the U.S. Women scored 29 points on Canada’s errors while giving up only 10.
Each set stayed close until the teams reached double figures, when the U.S. Women would pull away. In the third set, Canada led by two before the U.S. Women could come back and win.
“We started off every set too slow,” U.S. Head Coach Dan Fisher said. “Canada changed No. 4 (Emoni Bush) to opposite and it was good for them.
“We will study Argentina. They have very strong attackers, and it will be a tough match. I am confident that my team will do well.”
Opposite Merritt Beason led the U.S. in scoring with 11 points on seven kills, two blocks and two aces. Outside hitter Norah Sis added 10 points on eight kills and two blocks.
Libero and Team Captain Lexi Rodriguez was credited with 11 digs and five excellent receptions. Outside hitter Chloe Chicoine led in excellent receptions with seven.
Chicoine scored eight points on seven kills and one ace. Middle blocker Bre Kelley had eight points on five kills, two blocks and one ace.
Devin Kahahawai, who subbed for Beason at opposite, scored five points on a team high three blocks and two kills. Middle Bekka Allick scored three points on two kills and an ace. Setter Alexis Stucky, who subbed for starter Rachel Fairbanks and started the third set, scored one point with an ace.
Fairbanks and Stucky combined to set the U.S. Women to a .257 hitting efficiency. Canada hit .151.
U.S. Women’s U21 National Team
No. Name (position, height, hometown, HS grad year, USAV region, college or college commitment)
1 Lexi Rodriguez (L, 5-5, Sterling, Ill., 2020, Great Lakes, Nebraska)
3 Chloe Chicoine (OH, 5-10, Lafayette, Ind., 2023, Hoosier, Purdue)
4 Rachel Fairbanks (S, 6-0, Santa Ana, Calif., 2021, Southern California, Pitt)
6 Elia Rubin (OH, 6-1, Brentwood, Calif., 2022, Southern California, Stanford)
7 Mckenna Wucherer (OH, 6-1, Brookfield, Wis., 2022, Badger, Minnesota)
8 Raven Colvin (MB, 6-1, Indianapolis, Ind., 2021, Hoosier, Purdue)
9 Norah Sis (OH, 6-2, Papillion, Neb., 2021, Great Plains, Creighton)
11 Alexis Stucky (S, 6-2, Laramie, Wyo., 2022, Rocky Mountain, Florida)
15 Merritt Beason (OPP, 6-3, Gardendale, Ala., 2020, Southern, Florida)
16 Bekka Allick (MB, 6-3, Waverly, Neb., 2022, Great Plains, Nebraska)
18 Bre Kelley (MB, 6-4, Rockwall, Texas, 2020, North Texas, Florida)
19 Devin Kahahawai (OH, 6-4, Kailua, Hawaii, 2022, Aloha, Texas)
Head Coach: Dan Fisher (Head Coach, University of Pittsburgh)
Assistant Coach: Jon Newman-Gonchar (Head Coach, University of New Mexico)
Assistant Coach: Heather Olmstead (Head Coach, BYU)
Performance Analyst: Virginia Pham (Technical Coordinator, USC)
Athletic Trainer: Wyatt Blue (Game Time Sports Medicine)
Team Leader: Kyle Thompson (Director of Volleyball Operations, Maryland)
Women’s U21 Pan American Cup Schedule
(All times PDT)
Pool Play
June 7
Puerto Rico def Dominican Republic, 3-2 (25-23, 27-29, 25-22, 24-26, 16-14)
Argentina def Canada, 3-0 (25-17, 25-8, 25-22)
United States def Costa Rica, 3-0 (25-8, 25-4, 25-8)
Mexico def Honduras, 3-0 (25-7, 25-18, 25-8)
June 8
Cuba def Puerto Rico, 3-1 (23-25, 25-16, 29-27, 25-22)
Argentina def Costa Rica, 3-0 (25-12, 25-12, 25-11)
United States def Canada, 3-0 (25-17, 25-19, 25-22)
Mexico def Chile, 3-0 (25-17, 25-12, 25-20)
June 9
1 p.m. Costa Rica v Canada
3 p.m. Dominican Republic v Cuba
5 p.m. Chile v Honduras
7 p.m. Argentina v United States
June 10
Classification and Quarterfinals
June 11
Classification and semifinals
June 12
Classification and medal matches