USA Beats Cuba in Five Sets to Move 2-0

at NORCECA Women’s Final Six

GUADALAJARA, Jalisco, September 16, 2025. – The United States overcame a tough challenge from Cuba, earning a five-set victory 3-2 (25-20, 16-25, 25-18, 22-25, 15-10) to move to 2-0 at the 2025 NORCECA Women’s Final Six, taking place at Unidad Deportiva López Mateos in Guadalajara, Jalisco.

The match was a roller-coaster battle, featuring powerful swings and strong blocking from both squads, with momentum shifting throughout the contest.

In the opening set, two monster blocks from Laura Suárez and a strong start by Dayana Martínez gave Cuba early momentum. The score stayed tight until key blocks from Emily Thater and late Cuban errors allowed the U.S. to close out the set.

Cuba responded in the second set, overcoming a three-point deficit (10-13) thanks to Whitney James’ efforts, taking a 17-14 lead and eventually leveling the match 1-1 behind Suárez’s offensive production.

The U.S. regained control in the third set, building a four-point advantage (13-9) with attacks by Samantha Francis and dominating from the service line (3-0 in aces for the set). Despite strong kills from Lisania Grafort, Team USA stayed ahead to go up 2-1.

Cuba fought back in the fourth, surging to a 20-14 lead behind Grafort’s blocking and strong serving from Lysbeysis Hernández. The U.S. cut the deficit to one point (22-23) with Madison Kubik and Claire Chaussee scoring, but two decisive plays from Suárez – a kill and a block on Fields – forced a fifth set.

Cuba started strong in the tie-break, leading 5-1 with Yalian De La Peña playing a key role. The U.S. fought back to tie the score at 8-all behind Francis and Kubik’s net defense. Ella Powell’s serving pushed the U.S. to an 11-9 lead, and with a kill from Fields and a Cuban error, USA sealed the victory.

USA held the advantage in blocking (13-7) and service points (8-6), while Cuba led in kills (59-56). Both teams committed 26 unforced errors.

Madison Kubik and Skylar Fields led the U.S. scoring with 20 points each. Samantha Francis and Emily Thater added 10 apiece, with Thater registering a match-high five blocks. For Cuba, Yalain De La Peña scored 15 points, all on kills, followed by Suárez with 11 and Grafort with 10.

Next up, the United States faces the Dominican Republic, while Cuba takes on host Mexico.

Madison Kubik, Top scorer of USA: “I’m so proud of our fight, it was a great team win and maybe we didn’t play our best volleyball, but to win was really good for us. Cuba played a great match, they got very emotional, very passionate and they took a lot of great swings, so we definitely got a great battle”.

Aidachi Agüero, Cuba’s Libero: “Today there was more fighting spirit, more aggressiveness. There were moments when we lacked organization, but the most important thing is that we fought and gave our best until the very last minute.”