U.S. Sweeps Italy to Reach 2026 Girls U17 World Championship Semifinals
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Aug. 13, 2026) – The U.S. Girls U17 National Team swept Italy, 3-0 (25-10, 25-15, 26-24) on Friday in the quarterfinal round of the 2026 FIVB Girls U17 World Championship in Czechia in Santiago, Chile. The win guarantees that the U.S., which extended its set winning streak to 21, will play for a medal in its first appearance in the U17 World Championship.
The U.S. advances to the semifinals tomorrow against the winner of the quarterfinal match between China and Croatia.
The U.S. served 13 aces while yielding just one, while holding advantages in kills (39-29) and blocks (7-3).
Opposite Kari Knotts served six aces and also finished with match-best totals of 11 kills and 18 points, adding a block and five digs. She did not commit an error on 20 swings, hitting at a .550 efficiency percentage. Setter Ellie Enger scored five points on three kills, a block and an ace, while running the offense to a .410 hitting percentage.
Outside hitter Maya Ogbogu registered a match-high three blocks to go with nine kills and an ace for 13 points. Outside Julia Masselink rounded out the double-digit scorers with 11 points on eight kills, two blocks and an ace. Middle blocker Maija Mortensen totaled seven points on five kills and two aces with Madlen Gloessner finishing with three kills and an ace for four points.
The U.S. took a 10-5 lead in the first set with Italy committing five errors before taking a timeout. An Ogbogu kill and a crosscourt score from Knotts made it 12-6. Masselink delivered a kill that doubled up the score, 16-8. A hitting error pushed the lead to double digits, 19-9. A kill and ace by Knotts sandwiched a Gloessner block for a 23-9 lead. A setter dump by Enger and a Masselink ace ended the set. Knotts scored eight points on three kills, a block and four aces. Masselink added six points on four kills, a block and an ace.
Two Knotts kills and another ace helped put the U.S. in front 11-7. Ogbogu produced a kill to stretch the lead to five points. Three consecutive blocks, including one by Masselink when Italy had a swing to cut the lead to two points, to take a 16-10 lead. Masselink put away an overpass for an eight-point advantage, 19-11. A Gloessner scored on an overpass and another Knotts ace advanced the lead to 22-13. Italy continued to struggle with Knotts’ strong serving as Masselink scored on an overpass off the serve for set point at 24-13. After Italy saved two points, Enger scored to give the U.S. a two-set lead.
Another Knotts kill followed by a Masselink off-speed shot to the middle back of the court gave the U.S. a 6-1 lead in the third set. A Knotts kill and an Ogbogu ace put the U.S. up 13-7 and force and Italy timeout. Gloessner scored on a slide for a 15-8 lead before Italy ran off four points in a row to pull within three points. After a timeout, Knotts scored down the line for a 16-12 advantage. Italy pulled within a point, 16-15, but Enger scored the next two points on a setter dump and a block to put the U.S. back up by three. Italy cut the deficit to one point at 18-17 and 19-18, but Ogbogu delivered a kill each time, the second after a great save by Enger kept a rally going. A Masselink block put the U.S. ahead 21-18. The U.S. moved ahead 23-20 on a Coleman ace and earned match point, 24-21, on a Knotts kill.
Another Knotts kill followed by a Masselink off-speed shot to the middle back of the court gave the U.S. a 6-1 lead in the third set. A Knotts kill and an Ogbogu ace put the U.S. up 13-7 and force and Italy timeout. Gloessner scored on a slide for a 15-8 lead before Italy ran off four points in a row to pull within three points. After a timeout, Knotts scored down the line for a 16-12 advantage. Italy pulled within a point, 16-15, but Enger scored the next two points on a setter dump and a block to put the U.S. back up by three. Italy cut the deficit to one point at 18-17 and 19-18, but Ogbogu delivered a kill each time, the second after a great save by Enger kept a rally going. A Masselink block put the U.S. ahead 21-18. The U.S. moved ahead 23-20 on a Lexi Coleman ace and earned match point, 24-21, on a Knotts kill. Italy staved off three match points before a Knotts kill and a Masselink ace off the tape secured the semifinal spot for the U.S.
2026 U.S. Girls U17 National Team Roster for World Championship
No., Name (Position, Height, Hometown, School, USAV Region)
3 Lexi Coleman (PIN, 6-0, Northville, Mich., South Lyon East HS, Lakeshore)
5 Kaelyn Easton (S, 5-11, Saline, Mich., Mercy HS, Lakeshore)
6 Ellie Enger (S, 6-1, Forest City, Fla., Orangewood Christian HS, Florida)
7 Madlen Gloessner (MB, 6-5, Denver, Colo., Lakewood HS, Rocky Mountain)
8 Kari Knotts (PIN, 6-3, Marietta, Ga., The Lovett School, Southern)
9 Grace Hengler (L, 5-6, Frisco, Texas, Coram Deo Academy, North Texas)
11 Taylor Johnson (PIN, 6-0, Plano, Texas, Hebron HS, North Texas)
13 Julia Masselink (PIN, 6-2, Sioux Falls, S.D., Harrisburg HS, North Country)
15 Madison Middleton (MB, 6-1, Roswell, Ga., St. Francis HS, Southern)
16 Maya Ogbogu (PIN, 6-0, Parker, Texas, Allen HS, North Texas)
19 Brynli Burgess (L, 5-9, Van Alstyne, Texas, McKinney North HS, North Texas)
24 Maija Mortensen (MB, 6-3, Draper, Utah, Corner Canyon HS, Intermountain)
26 Peyton Smith (PIN, 6-0, Arlington, Texas, Duncanville HS, North Texas)
28 Kaya Young (MB, 6-3, Rockville, Md., Kaiserslautern HS)
Coaches
Head Coach: Heather Olmstead (NTDP)
Assistant Coach: Amir Lugo-Rodriguez (SC Rockstar/Long Beach State men’s volleyball)
Assistant Coach: Laura “Bird” Kuhn (MLV)
Performance Analysts: Joe Skinner (Texas A&M – domestic leg), Peter Wong (Halton Region Volleyball Club – international leg)
Athletic Trainer/Team Doctor: Madison Hauge (domestic leg), Chris Cornell (Coduhi Clinic – international leg)
Team Lead: Alex Purvey (NTDP)
Schedule
All times PT
Matches are on Volleyball World YouTube
August 6: USA def. Egypt, 3-0 (25-13, 25-23, 25-17)
August 7: USA def. Türkiye, 3-0 (25-12, 25-18, 25-16)
August 8: USA def. Chile, 3-0 (25-14, 25-20, 25-19)
August 10: USA def. Thailand, 3-0 (25-11, 25-21, 25-16)
August 11: USA def. Czechia, 3-0 (25-10, 25-13, 25-17)
August 12: Round of 16: USA def. Argentina, 3-0 (25-15, 25-23, 25-15)
August 14: Quarterfinals: USA def. Italy, 3-0 (25-10, 25-15, 26-24)
August 15: Semifinals: USA vs. China/Croatia, TBD
August 16: Medal Match