USA Stays Perfect, Then Slams the Door on the Dominican Republic

The United States finally dropped a set at the NORCECA Women’s Final Six, but it still has not dropped a match. After controlling the first two sets against the Dominican Republic, 25-19 and 25-20, the Americans watched a potential sweep disappear when the Dominicans took the third 25-23. The fourth nearly got away too. A 22-17 U.S. lead vanished into a 23-23 tie, and the teams were still level at 25 before Toyosi Onabanjo and Ella Powell delivered consecutive blocks to take it 27-25 and close out a 3-1 victory.

Caitie Baird led the United States with 19 points, including 17 kills, while Onye Ofoegbu added 16 and Sami Francis 14. The U.S. finished with advantages in kills (60-54), blocks (10-7) and aces (3-1), but the larger story is the run this group has put together in Mexico. It swept Canada and Cuba to open the Final Six and is now 3-0, just five days after beating this same Dominican Republic team in straight sets to win the Pan American Cup. That title was the Americans’ record eighth at the event and their first since 2019.