Aug. 02: Canada takes its first U23 Women’s Pan American Cup medal, a silver, after the United States won the title and stayed undefeated in the tournament winning the final match 3-0 (25-16, 25-15, 25-19) in León, Guanajuato, on Friday.  

• Match report here.

USA finished the tournament with a 5-0 record, capturing the country’s first gold medal in this category. Canada, playing in its first final, also earned its historic medal with a 3-3 record.

"Winning silver at the U23 Pan Am Cup is no small accomplishment and speaks volumes about the growth of our athletes and program,” said Next Gen head coach Matt Krueger. "With a majority of this team (10 players) coming through the National Excellence Program (NEP) pathway, this moment has been years in the making.

"I’m incredibly proud of our team. We battled hard, showed heart in every game, and proved we belong at this level. This tournament reflects our growth, resilience and commitment to holding ourselves to high-performance standards.

"We set out to compete at the highest level, embrace every challenge, and use each moment as an opportunity to grow."

Canadian players were also recognized in the individual awards: Raya Surinx (Winnipeg, MB) was honoured as one of the best spikers and Bella Noble (Chester, NS) as best setter.

Krueger was also impressed with the tournament’s organization and fan support: "A big thank you to Léon, Mexico for hosting such a great event, and to all of the fans for supporting us along the way."

Mexico will host the next women's Pan Am event - the 22nd edition of the NORCECA Senior Women’s Volleyball Pan American Cup from August 3 to 10 in Colima. The 2025 Pan American Cup is part of the qualification process for multiple major events: the 2026 Women’s Pan American Cup & the 2026 NORCECA Women’s Continental Championship.

Info: www.norceca.net

Volleyball Canada Media Contact:
Jackie Skender
jskender@volleyball.ca
Mobile: 613-794-7676