U.S. Sweeps Costa Rica; Wins Pool at 2025 Pan Am Cup

León, Mexico  –  The U.S. Women’s U23 National Team completed pool play with out dropping a set after a 3-0 (25-18, 25-10, 25-10) win over Costa Rica on Tuesday on the 2025 NORCECA Women’s U23 Pan American Cup in León, Mexico.

The U.S. (3-0) earned a bye in tomorrow’s quarterfinal spherical and superior on to the semifinal spherical on Thursday, July 31 for a 7 p.m. CT match in opposition to an opponent to be decided on Wednesday.

The U.S. recorded 50 kills within the match, 30 greater than Costa Rica, and 6 of the eight blocks within the match. The U.S. hit .460 as a staff with its 50 kills and solely 10 errors in 87 whole assaults, whereas limiting Costa Rica to a .037 hitting proportion.

Opposite Jurnee Robinson led all gamers with 14 factors on 13 kills and a block. She hit .579 for the match. Middle blocker Ifenna Cos-Okpalla scored 9 factors on eight kills, and out of doors hitter Chloe Chicoine additionally completed with eight kills. Cos-Okpalla and Chicoine every hit .727 with eight kills with out an error in 11 assaults. Chicoine added 10 digs and 5 profitable receptions. Middle blocker Raven Colvin totaled eight factors on seven kills and a block. Libero Emmy Klika paced all gamers with 15 kills and 9 profitable receptions. In addition to operating the efficient offense, setters Averi Carlson (4 factors on three kills and a block) and Caroline Kerr (two factors on a kill and a block) mixed for six factors.

After enjoying a starring function in Monday’s romp over Suriname, Creighton’s Ava Martin and Norah Sis excelled in restricted enjoying time on Tuesday. Martin began the match and got here off the bench within the third set. The rising senior had three kills in 10 swings, including two digs and serving 4 occasions. Sis’ solely motion got here within the second set, when the 2024 graduate had 4 digs to go together with one kill in three swings whereas serving eight occasions.

The U.S. by no means trailed within the first set, grabbing an early 8-4 lead when Martin transformed an overpass for a kill. A Colvin kill prolonged the result in six, 15-9. A block by Carlson gave the U.S. its largest lead of the set, 20-12. After Costa Rica scored the subsequent two factors, Robinson scored on a tip. Robinson completed the set together with her seventh kill.  

With a 6-5 lead within the second set, the U.S. went on a 8-1 run to take an eight-point lead. Colvin served three aces in that stretch, and Cos-Okpalla delivered a kill to finish the longest rally of the match and put the U.S. up 13-6. A Colvin block prolonged the result in 12 factors, 20-8. Colvin added three kills within the set for 4 factors and Hudson recorded 4 kills.

A Robinson block put the U.S. up 5-1 early within the third set. A Colvin kill raised the result in eight, 12-4. The U.S. continued to increase the lead, and a Chicoine kill ended the match for back-to-back 25-10 victories. Robinson paced the U.S. with seven factors on six kills and a block.

Last season at Creighton, Sis and Martin have been probably the most formidable exterior hitting tandems within the nation to assist the Bluejays end 32-3 and attain its first Elite Eight since 2016. Both ladies have been unanimous All-BIG EAST picks and named AVCA All-Americans in 2024. Martin will return for her senior yr in August trying to assist Creighton win a twelfth consecutive BIG EAST Conference title, whereas Sis received the Pro Volleyball Federation title with the Orlando Valkyries in May and appears to hold that momentum into her second skilled season subsequent spring.

Creighton has had a number of ladies play internationally with USA Volleyball in latest seasons, as Brittany Witt (Thailand), Jaali Winters (Croatia), Taryn Kloth (China; France) and Sis (Mexico) have all represented Team USA at one time or one other prior to now decade. Sis was a part of back-to-back gold medal-winning groups on the U21 Women’s NORCECA Pan American Cup, whereas Kloth grew to become Creighton’s first feminine student-athlete to compete within the Olympics final summer season when she tied for ninth in Beach Volleyball together with accomplice Kristen Nuss.

The United States is looking for its report eighth gold medal all-time within the occasion, however first since 2019. The Americans have been runner-up in 2024 to Argentina and positioned third in 2023, 2022 and 2021.

USA Volleyball Women’s U23 Roster

Name, (Pos., Height, Hometown, College/Pro, Region) 

1 Emmy Klika (L, 5-7, 2003, Novelty, Ohio, Pro Volleyball Federation, Ohio Valley)

3 Chloe Chicoine (OH, 5-10, 2004, Lafayette, Ind., Univ. of Louisville, Hoosier)

4 Cara Cresse (MB, 6-6, 2003, Ft. Wayne, Ind., Univ. of Louisville, Hoosier)

6 Raven Colvin (MB, 6-1, 2003, Indianapolis, Ind., Pro Volleyball Federation, Hoosier)

8 Eva Hudson (OH, 6-1, 2004, Ft. Wayne, Ind., Univ. of Kentucky, Hoosier)

9 Norah Sis (OH, 6-2, 2003, Papillion, Neb., Pro Volleyball Federation, Great Plains)

10 Averi Carlson (S, 5-11, 2003, Lucas, Texas, SMU, North Texas)

11 Ifenna Cos-Okpalla (MB, 6-2, 2004, Flower Mound, Texas, Texas A&M, North Texas)

13 Caroline Kerr (S, 5-11, 2004, Champaign, Ill., Univ. of Tennessee, Great Lakes)

15 Ava Martin (OH, 6-1, 2004, Overland Park, Kan., Creighton Univ., Heart of America)

16 Jurnee Robinson (OPP/OH, 6-1, 2004, Simpsonville, S.C., LSU, Palmetto)

18 Lauren Rumel (OPP, 6-2, 2003, Tucson, Ariz., Oregon State Univ., Arizona)

Coaches

Head Coach: Marie Zidek (DePaul)

Assistant Coach: Kayla Banwarth (PVF, Olympian)

Assistant Coach: Danielle Scott (LOVB, Olympian)

Performance Analyst: Matthew Adams (Michigan)

ATC: Cherryl Bueno (Coast to Coast AthletiCare)

Team Lead: Taylor Marten (Ozark Juniors)

Schedule

All occasions Central

July 27: USA def. Dominican Republic, 3-0 (27-25, 25-19, 25-21)

July 28: USA vs. Suriname, 3-0 (25-10, 25-13, 25-7)

July 29: USA vs. Costa Rica, 5 p.m., 3-0 (25-18, 25-10, 25-10)

July 31: Semifinals, 7 p.m. CT

Aug. 1: Medal Matches and Classification matches