COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (August 20, 2024) – The United States women’s national team remained undefeated in group play of the 2024 NORCECA Pan American Cup, winning 3-1 (21-25, 25-12, 25-21, 25-10) against Cuba on Tuesday in Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico.

The U.S. women (3-0) look to continue their winning streak against winless Costa Rica on Wednesday (August 21) at 1 p.m. PT.

Four U.S. players scored in double figures and the team achieved a hitting efficiency of .351 throughout the game and led in kills (53-39), blocks (7-5) and service aces (11-4).

“As always, Cuba brought the firepower and really came out in the first set, took full advantage of that firepower and put us under pressure from the inline,” said U.S. head coach Brad Rostratter. “Fortunately, we were able to turn things around, get back on track and really fight through sets two, three and four to get the win.”

Outside hitter Roni Jones-Perry had a triple-double with 15 points and a team-high 15 catches and 12 digs. Libero Zoe Fleck was the best player with 19 digs and added 12 catches. Outside hitter Logan Eggleston nearly had a triple-double with nine kills, 13 catches and 11 digs.

“I think the game was a good challenge for us and we did a good job of staying stable and getting better as the game went on against a good Cuban team,” Jones-Perry said.

Middle blocker Serena Gray scored 13 points with eight kills and three blocks, a match-high, and was one of four U.S. players with two aces. Opposite Kendall Kipp, she totaled 11 points with 10 kills and a block, and middle blocker Tia Jimmerson finished with 10 points with seven kills, two blocks and an ace.

Setters Ella Powell and Jenna Gray combined to lead the efficient offense, each contributing three points with a kill and two aces. Powell finished with six digs and Gray added three. Opposite, Stephanie Samedy scored four points with three kills and an ace, outside Claire Hoffman scored two points with a kill and an ace, and outside Jaali Winters scored a kill.

After the USA had tied its largest lead of the first set (10-7), Cuba caught up with an 11-5 run to take the lead for good. Jones-Perry’s second ace of the set cut the deficit to 18-17, but the USA could not tie the set and lost its first set of the tournament. Serena Gray scored four points with three kills and a block.

A block and two kills from Kipp helped the USA take a 4-0 lead early in the second set, forcing Cuba to take an early timeout. Cuba never got closer than three points, and a 9-0 run gave the USA a 22-9 lead. The USA hit .522 in the set, scoring the only two blocks and all three aces. Kipp scored four points with three kills and an ace, while Eggleston and Jones-Perry each scored three kills.

Cuba started the third set strong, taking a 5-2 lead and leading for most of the set until a kill by Jones-Perry tied the set at 17. An ace by Hoffman put the USA ahead for the first time since scoring the first point of the set. The USA held on to a 21-20 lead and extended the lead by three points on two consecutive kills by Jimerson, the second on a rally started by a spectacular dig by Fleck. A kill by Eggleston closed the set and gave the USA a 2-1 lead. Jones-Perry led with five kills, followed by Serena Gray with four.

The USA kept its momentum going by scoring seven of the first 10 points of the fourth set. An ace from Serena Gray extended the lead to six points, 13-7. After a point for Cuba, the USA scored six straight points to make it 19-8. Jones-Perry led the team with four kills in a set in which the USA hit .480 and finished with a 4-1 lead in blocks and 4-0 in aces.

US Women’s Squad for 2024 NORCECA Pan American Cup
4 Logan Eggleston (OH, 6-2, Brentwood, Tenn., University of Texas, Southern)
5 Kendall Kipp (Opponent, 6-6, Newport Beach, Calif., Stanford, Southern California)
6 Serena Gray (MB, 6-3, Temple City, Calif., Pitt, Southern California)
7 Claire Hoffman (OH, 6-2, Pleasant Hill, Oregon, University of Washington, Columbia Empire)
8 Amber Igiede (MB, 6-3, Baton Rouge, La., University of Hawaii, Delta)
9 Tia Jimerson (MB, 6-3, Sugar Hill, Ga., Ohio University, Southern)
12 Breland Morrisette (MB, 6-1, Birmingham, Alabama, Georgia Tech, South)
13 Ella Powell (S, 6-0, Fayetteville, Arkansas, University of Washington, Delta)
14 Sarah Sponcil (N, 5-10, Phoenix, Arizona, UCLA, Arizona)
15 Jaali Winters (OH, 6-3, Ankeny, Iowa, Creighton, Iowa)
17 Zoe Fleck (L, 5-6, Grenada Hills, California, Univ. of Texas, Southern California)
19 Jenna Gray (S, 6-1, Shawnee, Kansas, Stanford Univ., Heart of America)
31C Roni Jones Perry (OH, 6-0, West Jordan, Utah, BYU, Intermountain)
34 Stephanie Samedy (Opponent, 6-2, Clermont, Florida, University of Minnesota, Florida)

Head Coach: Brad Rostratter
Assistant Coach: Jonathan Charette
2. Assistant coach: Tayyiba Haneef-Park
Team Manager: James Lundgren
Physiotherapist: Cherryl-Marie Bueno
Statistician: Peter Wong

US Women’s Pan American Cup Schedule
(All times are PT)
The games will be streamed live on Federación Mexicana de Volleibol Facebook page.

August 18: USA defeats Chile 3-0 (25:13, 25:16, 25:18)
August 19: USA defeats Puerto Rico 3-0 (25:14, 25:20, 25:15)
August 20: USA def. Cuba, 3-1 (21-25, 25-12, 25-21, 25-10)
August 21: USA – Costa Rica, 1 p.m.
August 22: USA – Argentina, 4 p.m.
23 August: Quarterfinals and placement
24 August: Semifinals and placement
25 August: Medal Games