TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras, May 30, 2026. – The United States advanced to the gold medal match of the Girls’ U17 Pan American Cup after defeating Canada in straight sets, 3-0 (25-21, 25-11, 25-17), on Saturday night.
The championship match will feature two undefeated teams, as the United States and Venezuela battle for the title. The tournament marks the first-ever appearance of the U.S. in the Girls’ U17 Pan American Cup. Venezuela, meanwhile, captured the bronze medal at the inaugural edition in 2024 after defeating the Dominican Republic.
The bronze medal match will be a rematch between Canada and Peru. Peru defeated Canada in four sets during pool play and returns seeking another podium finish after winning silver at the 2024 tournament. Canada is also making its debut appearance in the event.
The opening set was closely contested. The United States built an 18-12 advantage behind strong blocking from Madlen Gloessner and effective attacking by Mary-Christine Crutcher. Canada battled back to keep the set competitive. Mikayla Matuszko earned the first set point with a kill, but Canada responded through Naya Grimm. The Americans finally secured the set on a kill by Gloessner.
The United States dominated the second set, quickly creating a comfortable lead and capitalizing on 11 Canadian errors. Gloessner and Crutcher continued to lead the offense, while Matuszko also made a significant impact.
The third set followed a similar pattern as the Americans raced to a 13-6 advantage. Effective blocking from Gloessner, Matuszko, and Sophia Gregg limited Canada’s offense throughout the frame. Although the United States struggled briefly to close out the match after leading 24-15, the victory was sealed when Shiloh Braddick blocked Canadian outside hitter Ana Glavacic for match point.
The United States held advantages in attacks (39-15) and blocks (10-5), while both teams recorded seven service aces. Canada committed fewer errors (22-25).
Madlen Gloessner led the United States with 11 points, followed by Mary-Christine Crutcher with 10. Naya Grimm paced Canada with nine points.
Madlen Gloessner reflected on her team’s advancement to the gold medal match: “I think we were a little nervous at the start, and Canada is a really strong team. Even though we had an excellent scouting session this morning and felt well prepared, those early nerves played a role. Canada has a solid blocking unit and challenged us throughout the match. One of our strengths is our depth. Every player who stepped onto the court was ready to contribute and showcase her abilities to help us reach the final, which we’re really excited about. I thought we did a great job playing together as a team and staying connected, even with the different lineups we used during the match.”
English 
Spanish