USA Tops the Preliminary Round

Undefeated at Women’s Final Six

GUADALAJARA, Jalisco, September 19, 2025. – The United States completed the preliminary round of the 2025 NORCECA Women’s Final Six undefeated after sweeping Puerto Rico 3-0 (25-22, 25-21, 25-13) on Friday night at Unidad Deportiva López Mateos in Guadalajara.

USA finished pool play with a perfect 5-0 record, while Puerto Rico closed with a 2-3 mark. Both teams secured spots in Saturday’s semifinals, awaiting their opponents based on final standings.

Puerto Rico started strong, building a 17-14 lead in the opening set with Decelise Champion driving the offense. The Americans responded with a Kendall Kipp kill and an Emily Thater block on Champion to tie the score at 17. From there, USA pulled away with key points from Skylar Fields and a crucial block by Samantha Francis to close the set.

Puerto Rico again took an early 9-4 lead in the second set, paced by Paola Santiago, but the United States quickly recovered. Claire Chaussee and Thater powered the offense, while both teams stayed close in blocking and serving. USA’s consistency at the net allowed them to take control late and earn the two-set advantage.

In the third set, the United States dominated from start to finish, jumping ahead 21-9 behind a strong blocking performance from four different players, and sealing the sweep with a convincing finish.

USA led in attacks (40-36), blocks (12-5), and aces (4-3), while committing fewer errors (12 to Puerto Rico’s 19).

Samantha Francis and Claire Chaussee led the American scoring with 12 points each, followed by Skylar Fields with 10. For Puerto Rico, Paola Santiago scored 13 points and Decelise Champion added 11.

Claire Chaussee said about their execution: “We had the game plan of serving at their outsides and we stuck to it. In the past we were serving just anywhere on the court, and today we were really focused on directing our serves and getting them out of system. Our block did a lot better job of getting in front of them or head on or on their left shoulder, wherever it needed to be. Our passing was consistent the entire match and that helped us, it got our middles going”.

Juan Carlos Nuñez, head coach of Puerto Rico, reflected on the preliminary round: “We had very good matches, but we were inconsistent. Today against the United States, we were able to play offensively in the first two sets. We need to go toe-to-toe offensively with every opponent. We must get ready for tomorrow, as we are already in the semifinals.”