For the month of August, Team USA is competing in the 2026 USAV Women’s Cup. The cup includes two volleyball matchups between USA and Canada’s women’s national teams. Both games will be played in Southern California. The first matchup took place last night in the Jenny Craig Pavilion in San Diego, and the second takes place this evening at the Bren Events Center in Irvine.
Team Canada was the first team to put points on the board with an ace. The United States quickly responded with a kill that carried them throughout the first set. Team USA’s offense helped drive them to a dominant 25-16 first-set victory.
US national team outside hitter Logan Eggleston goes up for a swing. (Photo Credit: Miguel Mejia/Miguel Mejia Photography)
The United States started the second set strong, scoring the first two points. Canada immediately fought back by scoring two points of their own. The teams went back and forth throughout the set. Team USA relied heavily on their defense. Pin hitters* Logan Eggleston and Jordan Thompson were able to get block touches on almost every ball, which turned back Canada’s hitters. The United States even had set point at 24-23, but Canada was able to score the final three points to secure a 26-24 second-set win.
Team Canada maintained their second-set momentum coming out of the break. They went on a 6-1 run to start the third set and took off from there. The Canada national team led by as many as eight points and won the third set 25-17.
The fourth set followed the same trajectory as the third, with Canada finding their rhythm on multiple occasions. Team Canada secured the match victory with a 25-17 fourth-set win.
History of US Women's National Team
Team USA’s men’s and women’s volleyball teams competed in their first Olympics in 1964 when volleyball made its official Olympic debut in Tokyo. During its first few decades, the US national team struggled to find success on the international stage. However, the 2000s brought an era of dominance to the United States. Team USA has grown into one of the strongest women’s volleyball programs in the world. They have medaled at the last five Summer Olympic Games and won gold at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Beijing. In the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, the national team earned a silver medal after falling to Italy in the gold medal match.
Team USA rises for the block against the Canada national team. (Photo Credit: Miguel Mejia/Miguel Mejia Photography)
After leading the women's national team to multiple podium finishes, head coach Karch Kiraly was named the new head coach of the US Men’s National Volleyball Team. In January 2025, USA Volleyball hired Erik Sullivan to replace Kiraly. Sullivan is a former Olympian and served as the associate head coach of the Texas Longhorns women’s volleyball team.
Looking ahead for Team USA
After closing out the USAV Women’s Cup, the women's national team will look ahead to the FIVB Women’s Volleyball World Cup. The World Cup, formerly known as the World Championship, will be played next August and September 2027. The tournament will be held in North America for the first time, with Canada and the United States serving as co-hosts. The international competition serves as a way for countries to earn points toward their global ranking, which will help set the stage for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
*Pin hitters refer to the hitters who attack from the antenna positions (sometimes referred to as a pin), known as outside hitters (those who attack from the left) or opposite hitters (those who attack from the right).
Top photo via Miguel Mejia/Miguel Mejia Photography
