U.S. Wins 2026 FIVB Girls U17 World Championship Debut
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Aug. 6, 2026) – The U.S. Girls U17 National Team made its world championship debut with a 3-0 (25-13, 25-23, 25-17) win over Egypt at the 2026 FIVB Girls U17 World Championship on Thursday in Santiago, Chile. This is the second-ever U17 World Championship and the first time the U.S. has competed.
The U.S. (1-0) returns to play tomorrow against Türkiye at 11 a.m. PT.
The U.S. dominated with a 48-22 advantage in kills, while finishing with a 10-4 edge in blocks and serving all five aces. Egypt made 15 fewer errors (27-12), while the U.S. led 54-43 in digs.
Outside hitter Julia Masselink led all players with 13 kills and 17 points, sharing team- and match-high honors with three blocks and serving an ace. Outside Maya Ogbogu finished with 15 points on 12 kills and a match-best three aces. Opposite Kari Knotts rounded out the U.S. double-digit scorers with 11 kills and two blocks for 13 points. Ogbogu totaled nine digs, Knotts finished with seven and Masselink contributed six.
Libero Brynli Burgess led all players with 10 digs and nine successful receptions. Middle blocker Maija Mortensen matched Masselink with three blocks and registered four kills for seven points. Middle Madison Middleton added five kills. Setter Ellie Enger recorded two blocks and an ace.
An Ogbogu block and ace helped the U.S. open the match on a 5-1 run. A tip and ace by Masselink put the U.S. up 11-6 and force an Egypt timeout. Ogbogu put a ball down and then served two deep balls that led to free balls for the U.S. with Knotts scoring off the block to stretch the lead to 17-9. An Egypt timeout could not stop Ogbogu’s service run, which included an ace, that put the U.S. ahead by double digits, 19-9. Masselink tooled the block as the U.S. doubled up the score, 22-11. A Mortenson solo block ended the set. Masselink scored five points on four kills and an ace with Ogbogu totaling four points on two kills and two blocks.
Knotts scored on a back row attack that went off the net for an 8-5 U.S. advantage in the second set. An Egypt block cut the deficit to two points, 10-8. Masselink used the block to give the U.S. a 13-9 lead, its largest to that point in the set and prompt a timeout. A Smith kill extended the margin to five points, 16-11, and her kill off the top of the block made it 18-13. Despite some phenomenal hustle and defense by the U.S., Egypt cut the lead to one by scoring the next four points. Egypt kept the run going with three more points out of a U.S. timeout to take a 20-18 lead. Ogbogu stopped the streak with a kill. A Mortensen block and Masselink kill put the U.S. ahead 22-21. Knotts kills gave the U.S. 23-22 and 24-23 leads and an Enger block as part of a double block with Middleton sealed the set win. Knotts, Masselink and Ogbogu each scored five points.
A strong Masselink dig led to an Ogbogu kill that put the U.S. up 3-0 in the third set. A Masselink kill and Knotts block pushed the margin to five points, 7-2. Egypt closed the gap to two points, 11-9, before an Ogbogu kill and Mortensen block put the U.S. back up by four. Another Masselink kill put the U.S. ahead 16-11 and forced an Egypt timeout. Scrambling defense led to the second U.S. block in three points for a 19-11 lead. A Taylor Johnson gave the U.S. a 21-14 advantage and another Mortensen block upped the score to 22-15. After the teams split the next four points, Knotts ended the match. Masselink totaled six points on four kills and two blocks, while Ogbogu delivered five kills.
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 vs. Türkiye, 11 a.m.
August 8: USA vs. Chile, 5 p.m.
August 10: USA vs. Thailand, 11 a.m.
August 11: USA vs. Czechia, 11 a.m.
August 12: Round of 24 and Round of 16
August 14: Quarterfinals and Playoffs
August 15: Semifinals and Playoffs
August 16: Medal matches and Playoffs