U.S. Women’s Sitting Team Wins Opener at 2025 PVPA Zonal

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (May 24, 2025) — The U.S. Women’s Sitting National Team picked up where it left off in 2024 — with a victory. Kicking off the 2025 ParaVolley Pan America Zonal Championship, the U.S. Women, ranked No. 3 in the world, defeated No. 1 Canada, 3-0, (25-22, 25-21, 25-15).

The U.S. (1-0) will face No. 2 Brazil on Sunday, May 25 at 10 a.m. MT/9 a.m. PT. Matches are live streamed on our event page.

While two of the stars of the 2024 Paralympic Games, Heather Erickson and Katie Bridge, are not competing this year, two other Paralympians made their return to competition against Canada — 2020 Tokyo gold medalist Jillian Williams Coffee and three-time Paralympic medalist Kendra Hall.

“It was really awesome [being back on the court],” Coffee said. “I also have Major (her son) and my husband watching. Last I played, he was in my belly, so it was cool to have him here with me, too. Just to be with the girls again was unbelievable — the feeling, the excitement, and the energy is unmatched.”

Despite the three-set win, there were still a couple rough spots for the U.S. in the match, as expected with a different mix of athletes competing together for the first time.

“I think we did really well, but there’s a lot to work on, including serving and serve receive,” Coffee added. “We are pretty much a whole new lineup when it comes to the people on the court, so it takes some time to adjust to who’s next to us and getting comfortable with getting into that rhythm with each other. We’re getting there.”

Coffee scored five points on five kills in her first match back, but four-time Paralympic medalist Monique Matthews led the U.S. with 11 points on eight kills, one blocks and two aces.

Kaleo Kanahele Maclay scored seven points at setter in the first two sets, with three kills, two blocks and two aces. Lora Webster, Tia Edwards and Whitney Dosty each scored six. Webster had four kills and two blocks; Edwards had three kills and three blocks; and Dosty had six kills.

Nicky Nieves had two kills and two blocks; Emma Schieck had an ace and three kills; Lexi Patterson collected a kill; and MaKenzie Franklin and Raelene Elam each recorded a block.

The U.S. led Canada in kills, 34-24 and blocks, 12-8, but Canada had a 7-6 edge in aces. Canada’s Heidi Peters led all scorers with 15 points.

Full Match Stats (PDF)

Schedule/Results

May 24
USA def. Canada, 3-0 (25-21, 25-22, 25-15)

May 25
USA vs. Brazil, 10 a.m. MT/9 a.m. PT

May 26
USA vs. Brazil, 5 p.m. MT/4 p.m. PT

May 27
Gold medal match, 1 vs 2 at 3 p.m. MT/2 p.m. PT

Roster

No Name (Position, Height, Hometown)
1 Lora Webster (MB, 5-11, Point Lookout, N.Y.)
2 Bethany Zummo (L, 5-3, Dublin, Calif.)
3 Lexi Patterson (S/L, 5-4, Waseca, Minn.)
7 Monique Matthews (MB/OH, 6-0, Ardmore, Okla.)
8 Whitney Dosty (OH/OPP, 6-3, Tucson, Ariz.)
9 Tia Edwards (OH/MB, 5-7, Skiatook, Okla.)
11 Jillian Williams-Coffee (MB/OPP/OH, 5-10, Odem, Texas)
12 Emma Schieck (OH, 5-7, Statesville, N.C.)
14 Kaleo Kanahele Maclay (S, 5-6, Oklahoma City, Okla.)
15 Kendra Hall (5-7, Westfield, Ind.)
16 Nicky Nieves (MB/OH, 5-10, Kissimmee, Fla.)
18 Courtney Baker (OH, 5-9, Crofton, Ky.)
22 MaKenzie Franklin (OH, 6-0, Red Wing, Minn., North Country)
24 Raelene Elam (OH, 6-1, St. George, Utah, Northern California)