Meet the Top Prospects Named to the U19 National Team

As summer gets closer and closer, so does a busy calendar of international volleyball competitions across age groups. This week, the first announcement for one such competition’s roster came from USA Volleyball, who shared the 20-athlete training roster for the U19 Pan-American Cup. These athletes will train together for a week, at which point 14 will be selected to represent the US at the 2026 NORCECA Women’s U19 Continental Championship in late July.

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As you might expect, the athletes selected to represent the US at this level are some of the top prospects from the 2027 and 2028 recruiting classes, and many of them have already played for Team USA in some capacity. Here’s a look into each athlete on the training list.

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Taimane Ainu’u - Setter - 2028

A Diamond-level prospect from Hawaii, Ainu’u is the top-ranked setter in the class of 2028. She is one of several athletes on this list who participated in last year’s U19 competition, where she won a gold medal and was named Best Setter. While we won’t know where Ainu’u plans to play in college until June, she’s attended some of the highest profile camps, including those at Texas, Nebraska, Louisville, and Wisconsin. She plays club volleyball with Ka Ulukoa and 'Iolani High School and was named the 2025-2026 Gatorade Player of the Year for leading her high school to a Division 1 state championship.

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Averi Bridges - Libero/DS - 2028

Bridges is an Elite Red-level libero from Nebraska who has participated in several NTDP training sessions. She was honored as one of 18 athletes from the 2028 class as a JVA All-National Team selection in 2025. Her camp resume includes elite programs like Louisville, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Kentucky.

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Nejari Crooks - Opposite Hitter - 2027

One of several Penn State commits on this list, Crooks is a Silver-level lefty opposite who plays for Triad Elite and Wesleyan Christian Academy in North Carolina. She’s earned a host of honors already, having been named an AVCA Girls High School First-Team All-American in 2025 and the 2025-2026 North Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year. This is her second time on the U19 roster. 

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Sarah Floyd - Opposite Hitter - 2028

A Gold-level opposite who plays for Texas Advantage, Floyd is making her USA roster debut, but she is no stranger to USA Volleyball. She has attended multiple NTDP training series and was named to the GJNC 15 Open All-Tournament team in 2025. 

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Taylor Freeland - Opposite Hitter - 2028

Freeland is a Diamond-level prospect who is making her USA team debut after attending the winter NTDP series. She is from Utah, where she plays for South County Volleyball Club.

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Cala Haffner - Libero/DS - 2028

This Diamond-level libero prospect from Indiana won a gold medal at last year’s U19 event, where she was the starting libero and recorded double-digit digs in multiple matches. Other achievements include being a 4A State Champion and a 2025 AVCA All-Region selection.

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Taylor Harrington - Middle Blocker - 2027

Harrington is another Penn State commit who is returning to the U19 team after winning gold last year. She attends Wakefield High School in Arlington, VA, and plays for Paramount Volleyball Club. She earned All-6D North Region First-Team honors in 2024 and has attended multiple NTDP training sessions.

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Olivia Henry - Outside Hitter - 2027

The third Penn State commit on this list, Henry is a Gold-level outside hitter from New York who plays for IMG Academy in Florida. She won a gold medal with last year’s U19 team, and, in 2025, was named an AVCA Girls High School First-Team All-American and the Nike Tournament of Champions MVP.

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Megan Hodges - Middle Blocker/Opposite Hitter - 2028

Another gold medalist from last year’s event, Hodges is a 6’5” Gold-level prospect from California. Like many on this list, she won a gold medal with the U19 last year. With Tstreet 15 Asics, she won the 2024 GJNC 15 Open and was named to the All-Tournament team.

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Alex Knox - Setter - 2028

A Gold-level setter from Pittsburgh, Knox has already amassed an impressive resume, having attended multiple NTDP training sessions and UA camps in addition to being named a 2025 JVA All-National Team selection. This represents her USA team debut. 

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Pulelehua Laikona - Libero/DS - 2027

A Silver-level libero and our second overall libero in the 2027 class, Laikona is a Nebraska commit who was an alternate on last year’s U19 team. She’s attended many NTDP training sessions and plays for Arizona Storm, with whom she was named to the USAV 16 and 15 Open GJNC All-Tournament Teams.

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Leilani Lamar - Outside Hitter - 2028

Lamar is a Gold-level outside hitter who was an alternate on last year’s U19 roster. She plays for A5 16 Gabe and Alpharetta High School in Georgia. She has been named an AAU All American three times. 

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Westley Matavao - Outside Hitter - 2027

Matavao is a Gold-level prospect from California who has committed to play for UCLA. She won gold with the U19 team last year and was named an AVCA Girls High School First-Team All-American in 2025. She won an Open Division state title with Mater Dei High School in 2025 and plays club volleyball with Forza1.

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Willtrace Ngoh - Middle Blocker - 2027

Known by her nickname “Wiggles,” Ngoh is a Silver-level middle blocker who has committed to USC. She is from Texas, where she plays for Houston Juniors and Seven Lakes High School. She has attended NTDP training sessions and is making her USAV roster debut.

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Shayla Rautenberg - Middle Blocker - 2028

A Diamond-level middle blocker, Rautenberg currently sits at the top of our 2028 class rankings. She is one of several on this list who won gold at last year’s U19 event, but her honors extend far beyond that. She has made several All-Conference and All-Tournament teams, and recorded 30 kills to secure her high school team’s first-ever state title. 

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Ireland Real - Outside Hitter - 2027

Real is a Texas commit from California who we have ranked as the second best prospect and top-ranked outside hitter in her class. She won gold at the U19 event last year and, as a junior at Santa Margarita Catholic High School, she recorded 691 kills in her first two seasons, averaging 4.3 kills per set in her sophomore year. She helped her team reach the CIF Southern California Regional Division I final.

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Josalyn Samuels - Setter - 2028

Currently our #2 ranked setter in her class, Samuels is a Diamond-level prospect from South Dakota. She was an alternate on last year’s U19 team and has attended multiple NTDP training sessions. She plays club ball for Kairos Elite and has led Harrisburg High School to three state titles. She was named the 2024 MaxPreps National Freshman and 2025 Sophomore of the Year.

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Brynn Stephens - Outside Hitter - 2027

A Gold-level outside, Stephens has committed to play at SMU in her home state of Texas. With TAV, she won the GJNC 14 Open division in 2023 and was a 2023 USAV All-Star Champion and MVP. She has been to multiple NTDP training sessions and this marks her USAV roster debut.

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Kyla Williams - Middle Blocker - 2027

A gold medalist with last year’s U19 team, Williams is currently our #2 middle in her class and a Diamond-level prospect committed to play for Pitt. Hailing from Cleveland, she plays for AVC and Gilmour Academy, the latter with whom she won the 2024 OHSAA Division III girls volleyball state championship match.

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Shaye Witherspoon - Outside Hitter - 2027

A Gold-level prospect and one of our top outsides in the 2027 class, Witherspoon is a Nebraska commit who was an alternate on last year’s U19 team. Hailing from Missouri, she was named the state’s 2025-2026 Gatorade Player of the Year after leading Lafayette High School to a 40-1 season and a third straight Class 5 state championship.