COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (August 22, 2024) –The United States women’s national team took first place in Group B of the 2024 NORCECA Pan American Cup with a 3-1 victory (25-19, 25-18, 21-25, 25-21) over previously undefeated Argentina on Thursday in Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico.

The USA won all five group matches and advanced directly to the semifinals on Saturday. Argentina (4:1) will play in the quarterfinals on Friday.

“It was an exciting game for us to play against a team as strong as Argentina,” said U.S. head coach Brad Rostratter. “The players really rose to the challenge and represented the U.S. well. Our serving was fantastic, we targeted certain passers well and we spent a lot of time executing blocks and that paid off as we got a better view and understanding of what the Argentine offense was trying to do against us.”

GAME STATISTICS (PDF)

The USA finished the game with narrow advantages in kills (55-50), blocks (15-12) and service aces (4-2). The USA scored 22 points on opponent errors, Argentina scored 19 on errors.

“I think we did a really good job of staying steady. Argentina is a really good team that has some real elite players and made a lot of good adjustments,” said setter Jenna Gray, who led the U.S. offense and added one kill and six digs. “We made our adjustments even quicker. I think we’ve prepared really well throughout the competition and tonight’s game proved our hard work and how we try to get better every day. I’m really excited now that we’re moving on to the semifinals.”

Kendall Kipp led all players with 20 kills and 25 points, as well as four blocks, an ace and six digs. Outside hitter Roni Jones-Perry scored 18 points (17 kills and an ace), 15 digs (game high) and eight successful pass catches. Middle blocker Serena Gray scored six blocks (game high) as well as five kills and an ace and scored 12 points.

Libero Zoe Fleck had the highest score of the game with 24 successful pass catches and 11 digs. Outside Claire Hoffman finished with 15 successful pass catches and eight digs.

Middle Tia Jimerson scored eight points with four kills and four blocks, and Hoffman added six points with four kills, a block and an ace. Outside Logan Eggleston and opposite Stephanie Samedy each scored two kills. Jimerson, Samedy and setter Ella Powell each scored two digs.

Both teams went on a big run to start the match, with Argentina taking a quick 7-2 lead and the USA going on a 7-2 run to tie the set at 9-9. A kill and block by Jimmerson was the key to a 4-0 run that put the USA ahead 13-9 and led to an Argentina timeout.

Kipp’s sixth and seventh kills early on extended the lead to seven points, 17-10. The lead grew to 11 points, 24-13, before Argentina fended off six set points before a service error ended the set. The only U.S. player with more than two points in the set, Kipp scored 11 points with eight kills, two blocks and an ace, handing Argentina its first set loss of the tournament.

Leading 7-6 in the second set, the USA went on a 7-1 run to take a 14-7 lead, with Kipp and Jones-Perry scoring four points each. Argentina tried three times to cut the lead to four points (while trailing 19-15), but could not get a ball past the USA’s front row, and a block by Hoffman secured the point.

Jones-Perry’s eighth kill of the set gave the U.S. a two-set lead. Kipp scored five points with four kills and a block, and Hoffman added four points with two kills, a block and an ace.

Argentina started the third set strong, extending their lead to seven points with a kill after an overpass. The game was tied 14-7, forcing the USA to take their second timeout of the set. A block by Serena Gray capped a 6-2 run that narrowed the gap to three points, but the USA could not get any closer. Gray led the team with two kills and two blocks, and Jones-Perry added four more kills.

An ace from Serena Gray gave the USA the first two-point lead for either team in the fourth set, 6-4. Frantic defense led to a kip kill that made it 10-6 and prompted Argentina to call a timeout. An ace from Argentina cut the lead to two points, 11-9. Tenacious defense allowed another kip kill and the USA regained its four-point lead, 14-10.

A block by Serena Gray gave the USA its largest lead of the set at 17-11 and forced Argentina to take a final timeout. Argentina scored three points in a row to cut the deficit to three points, prompting a USA timeout.

The lead was still three points at 23-20 and 24-21, but Serena Gray and Kipp scored the decisive points with their kills. Kipp led all players with seven points from six kills and a block, Gray added five points from two kills, two blocks and an ace.

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 def. Costa Rica, 3-0 (25-8, 25-12, 25-15)
August 22: USA defeats Argentina 3-1 (25:19, 25:18, 21:25, 25:21)
August 23: Quarterfinals (USA receives a bye)
24 August: Semi-finals, TBA
25 August: Medal game