U.S. Women Earn Top Seed for VNL Finals
The United States Women’s National Team finished the third round of the 2026 Volleyball Nations League with a 3-1 record in Osaka, Japan, claiming the No. 1 seed for the VNL Finals after posting a 10-2 overall record.
Team USA opened the week with a straight-set victory over Thailand, extending its winning streak to seven matches. Jordan Thompson paced the offense with 17 points, including 12 kills, four blocks and an ace, while Avery Skinner added 13 kills. The Americans controlled play at the net and finished with an 8-2 advantage in blocks while hitting .443 as a team.
The U.S. suffered its second loss of the tournament in a five-set battle with Poland. Simone Lee-Wank led six Americans in double figures with 15 points, while Molly McCage contributed a balanced performance with four kills, three aces and a match-high seven blocks. Logan Eggleston and Stephanie Samedy each added 14 points, but Poland outpaced the Americans offensively, handing Team USA its first loss since Week 1.
The Americans responded with another five-set thriller and rallied past third-ranked Türkiye after trailing two sets to one. Madisen Skinner and Eggleston each finished with 19 points, while Thompson added 17, and Dana Rettke chipped in 11 points, including three aces. Morgan Hentz anchored the defense with a team-high 15 digs as the United States closed the match with a dominant run in the fifth and final set.
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Team USA capped preliminary play with one of its strongest performances of the tournament, sweeping the second-ranked Brazil squad to clinch the top seed entering the VNL Finals. Skinner led the offense with 21 points, including 18 kills and three blocks, while Thompson recorded 16 points and 10 digs. Eggleston added 14 points, including a match-high five blocks, as the Americans closed the match with a decisive 15-3 run in the third set.
The U.S. National Team will now travel to Macao, China, for the VNL Finals beginning July 22, where it will face the tournament’s eighth seed in the quarterfinals.
Siera Jones is the digital media reporter at Athletes Unlimited. You can follow her on Instagram and X @sieraajones.
