COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Sept. 6, 2026) — The U.S. Girls’s U23 Group gained gold on the NORCECA U23 Pan Am Cup for the second straight 12 months with a 3-1 (25-15, 25-10, 23-25, 25-18) victory over the Dominican Republic Sunday in Managua, Nicaragua. The U.S. squad completed the event undefeated at 6-0.
Exterior hitter Tessa Larkin, who had 20 factors within the ultimate match, was named event MVP and Greatest Receiver. Megan Hodges was Second Greatest Blocker. One other stellar blocking night time helped tempo the U.S. as they’d 12 to simply seven from the Dominican Republic. The U.S. additionally led in kills (55-27), however the Dominican Republic had a slight edge in aces, 4-3.
Hodges scored 12 factors on eight kills and 4 blocks, and Eire Actual collected 9 kills and three aces. Shayla Rautenberg led the group with 5 blocks and added 4 kills. Kendall Omoruyi had 9 kills, Ava Burgess had 4, and setter Sophee Peterson had two kills and an ace. Isabel Incinelli rounded out the scorers with a kill and two blocks. Libero Cala Haffner had 14 digs.
The U.S. dominated the primary two units. with Larkin scoring seven within the first and 6 within the second. The Dominican Republic discovered its footing in set three by main all through the match, together with by as many as 4 at 19-15 and 21-17. Nonetheless trailing by 4 at 23-19, the U.S. benefited by two opponent errors to shut the hole to 2. The Dominican Republic had three set factors at 24-21, however Actual had two straight kills to get inside one earlier than a service error from Peterson gave the Domincan Republic the set.
After falling behind 3-0 in set 4, the U.S. scored six straight for the lead and by no means relinquished it. Actual collected six factors within the set.
U23 Pan American Cup Roster
1 Taimane Ainu’u (S, 6-0, 2009, Kapolei, Hawaii, Iolani HS, Aloha)
3 Cala Haffner (L, 5-8, 2009, Fort Wayne, Ind., Carroll HS, Hoosier)
6 Megan Hodges (MB/OPP, 6-5, 2009, Ladera Ranch, Calif., San Juan Hills HS, Southern California Southern Nevada)
13 Shayla Rautenberg (MB, 6-4, 2009, Nice Dale, Neb., Milford HS, Nice Plains)
14 Eire Actual (OH, 6-4, 2009, San Clemente, Calif., Santa Margarita Catholic HS, Southern California Southern Nevada)
19 Ava Burgess (OH, 6-2, 2009, Lehi, Utah, Lone Peak HS, Intermountain)
20 Willtrace Ngoh (MB, 6-1, 2009, Richmond, Texas, Katy Seven Lakes HS, Lone Star)
21 Sophee Peterson (S, 5-11, Fort Price, Texas, Byron Nelson HS, North Texas)
22 Isabel Incinelli (OPP/OH, 6-5, Winter Park, Fla., Winter Park HS, Florida)
23 Nyla Livings (MB, 6-2, The Colony, Texas, Prestonwood Christian Academy, North Texas)
24 Kendall Omoruyi (OPP/MB, 6-4, Los Angeles, Calif., Sierra Canyon HS, Southern California Southern Nevada)
25 Peyton Kubik (OH, 6-2, Overland Park, Kan., Blue Valley West HS, Coronary heart of America)
26 Tessa Larkin (OH, 6-1, Phoenix, Ariz., Xavier School Preparatory, Arizona)
27 Mallory Johnson (L, 5-9, Bryon Heart, Mich., Bryon Heart HS, Lakeshore)
Coaches
Head Coach: Alex Dunphy (MLV)
Assistant Coach: Haley Brightwell (MLV)
Assistant Coach: Tori Dixon (LOVB)
Efficiency Analyst: Thomas Shaffer (Loyola Chicago)
ATC: Anthony Tam, MD, CAQSM (Henry Ford Well being)
Group Lead (coaching block): Mallory Burbage (NTDP)
Group Lead (competitors): Courtney Smith (NTDP)
U23 Pan American Cup Schedule
All occasions PT
Tuesday, Sept. 1: USA def. Canada, 3-0 (25-21, 25-23, 25-17)
Wednesday, Sept. 2: USA def. Costa Rica, 3-0 (25-17, 25-13, 25-19)
Thursday, Sept. 3: USA def. Dominican Republic, 3-1 (21-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-22)
Friday, Sept. 4: USA def. Nicaragua, 3-0 (25-10, 25-14, 25-15)
Saturday, Sept. 5: USA def. Mexico, 3-2 (27-25, 18-25, 25-23, 23-25, 15-13)
Sunday, Sept. 6: Gold medal match: USA def. Dominican Republic, 3-1 (25-15, 25-10, 23-25, 25-18)
