Volleyball Newcomer Ayden Ames Named to 2026 Women's U21 National Team
4/13/2026 6:45:00 PM | Volleyball
OMAHA, Neb. -- Creighton Volleyball newcomer Ayden Ames is one of 20 women who have been selected to train for the 2026 NORCECA Women's U21 Pan American Cup, USA Volleyball announced on Monday, April 13th.
In 2026, the U.S. Women's U21 National Team athletes will have the opportunity to represent the United States at the U21 NORCECA Pan American Cup (July 5–13) in Columbus, Ohio. Of the 20 athletes that made the cut, 14 will be selected to compete at the 2026 NORCECA Women's U21 Pan American Cup. Tama Miyashiro (LOVB Salt Lake) will serve as head coach for the U21 team competing at the U21 Pan Am Cup in Columbus, assisted by Alfee Reft (LOVB San Francisco) and Alisha Childress (MLV San Diego Mojo).
Ames made the cut after initially being one of 62 athletes representing 29 Division I universities who tried out at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., back in February. That training camp serves as a high-level development opportunity, allowing athletes to train and compete in a national team environment while being assessed by Women's National Team staff. In addition to on-court training, athletes will participate in professional volleyball presentations from Athletes Unlimited, Major League Volleyball, and League One Volleyball, providing insight into professional pathways available following their collegiate careers.Â
The U.S. U21 National Team includes numerous athletes with previous success in USA Volleyball's age-group national teams, including 13 who have competed at either a U19 or U21 world championship:Â Ayden Ames, Henley Anderson, Favor Anyanwu, Suli Davis, Campbell Flynn, Genevieve Harris, Taylor Harvey, Lily Hayes, Jordan Taylor, Abby Vander Wal, Ayanna Watson, Devyn Wiest and Keoni Williams.
Ames is the latest in a long line of Bluejays to train with USA Volleyball. Last summer both Ava Martin and Norah Sis played for the 2025 Women's U23 National Team at the NORCECA U23 Pan American Cup, helping the American side win the Gold medal. Other Creighton women to play internationally with USA Volleyball in recent seasons, include Brittany Witt (Thailand), Jaali Winters (Croatia) and Taryn Kloth (China, France). Kloth went on to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics in beach volleyball.
Ames is a 6-foot-4 middle hitter from Prosper, Texas, who has spent the previous two seasons at the University of Texas before transferring to Creighton and enrolling in January. She led the Longhorns' Elite Eight team with 109 blocks in 2025, when she averaged 1.52 kills and 1.11 blocks per set on .368 hitting in 98 sets. That came after she averaged 1.56 kills and 0.92 blocks per set on .359 hitting in 96 sets as a true freshman for the two-time defending national champions in 2024 to earn AVCA Southwest Region Freshman of the Year recognition. Ames was a member of 2023 USA U19 team that won the FIVB U19 World Championship.
Creighton is midway through its spring season and will host Nebraska on Friday in a 7 p.m. exhibition inside D.J. Sokol Arena.
In 2026, the U.S. Women's U21 National Team athletes will have the opportunity to represent the United States at the U21 NORCECA Pan American Cup (July 5–13) in Columbus, Ohio. Of the 20 athletes that made the cut, 14 will be selected to compete at the 2026 NORCECA Women's U21 Pan American Cup. Tama Miyashiro (LOVB Salt Lake) will serve as head coach for the U21 team competing at the U21 Pan Am Cup in Columbus, assisted by Alfee Reft (LOVB San Francisco) and Alisha Childress (MLV San Diego Mojo).
Ames made the cut after initially being one of 62 athletes representing 29 Division I universities who tried out at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., back in February. That training camp serves as a high-level development opportunity, allowing athletes to train and compete in a national team environment while being assessed by Women's National Team staff. In addition to on-court training, athletes will participate in professional volleyball presentations from Athletes Unlimited, Major League Volleyball, and League One Volleyball, providing insight into professional pathways available following their collegiate careers.Â
The U.S. U21 National Team includes numerous athletes with previous success in USA Volleyball's age-group national teams, including 13 who have competed at either a U19 or U21 world championship:Â Ayden Ames, Henley Anderson, Favor Anyanwu, Suli Davis, Campbell Flynn, Genevieve Harris, Taylor Harvey, Lily Hayes, Jordan Taylor, Abby Vander Wal, Ayanna Watson, Devyn Wiest and Keoni Williams.
Ames is the latest in a long line of Bluejays to train with USA Volleyball. Last summer both Ava Martin and Norah Sis played for the 2025 Women's U23 National Team at the NORCECA U23 Pan American Cup, helping the American side win the Gold medal. Other Creighton women to play internationally with USA Volleyball in recent seasons, include Brittany Witt (Thailand), Jaali Winters (Croatia) and Taryn Kloth (China, France). Kloth went on to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics in beach volleyball.
Ames is a 6-foot-4 middle hitter from Prosper, Texas, who has spent the previous two seasons at the University of Texas before transferring to Creighton and enrolling in January. She led the Longhorns' Elite Eight team with 109 blocks in 2025, when she averaged 1.52 kills and 1.11 blocks per set on .368 hitting in 98 sets. That came after she averaged 1.56 kills and 0.92 blocks per set on .359 hitting in 96 sets as a true freshman for the two-time defending national champions in 2024 to earn AVCA Southwest Region Freshman of the Year recognition. Ames was a member of 2023 USA U19 team that won the FIVB U19 World Championship.
Creighton is midway through its spring season and will host Nebraska on Friday in a 7 p.m. exhibition inside D.J. Sokol Arena.
2026 Women's U21 National Team
Name, Position, Height, Hometown, Current School, USAV Region
Ayden Ames, MB, 6-4, Prosper, Texas, Creighton University, North Texas
Henley Anderson, OPP/OH, 6-3, Dripping Springs, Texas, University of Texas, Lone Star
Favor Anyanwu, MB, 6-2, Rowlett, Texas, SMU, North Texas
Kalyssa Blackshear, OPP, 6-5, Lomita, Calif., University of Louisville, Southern California Southern Nevada
Suli Davis, OH, 6-2, Euless, Texas, SMU, North Texas
Spencer Etzler, L, 5-7, Coldwater, Ohio, Stanford University, Ohio Valley
Campbell Flynn, S, 6-3, Rochester Hills, Mich., University of Nebraska, Lakeshore
Carly Gilk, OPP, 6-2, Minneapolis, Minn., University of Minnesota, North Country
Genevieve Harris, S, 5-11, Raleigh, N.C., University of Texas, Carolina
Taylor Harvey, MB, 6-3, Salt Lake City, Utah, University of Texas, Lone Star
Lily Hayes, L, 5-9, Tampa, Fla., University of Florida, Florida
Isabel Incinelli, OPP/OH, 6-5, Winter Park, Fla., Winter Park HS, Florida
Mallory Johnson, L, 5-9, Byron Center, Mich., Byron Center HS, Lakeshore
Peyton Kubik, OH, 6-2, Overland Park, Kan., Blue Valley West HS, Heart of America
Tessa Larkin, OH, 6-1, Phoenix, Ariz., Xavier College Preparatory, Arizona
Nyla Livings, MB, 6-2, The Colony, Texas, Prestonwood Christian Academy, North Texas
Reese Messer, S, 5-11, Olathe, Kan., USC, Gateway
Manaia Ogbechie, MB, 6-3, Santa Rosa Valley, Calif., University of Nebraska, Southern California Southern Nevada
Kendall Omoruyi, MB, 6-4, Los Angeles, Calif., Sierra Canyon HS, Southern California Southern Nevada
Payton Petersen, OH, 6-0, Dike, Iowa, University of Louisville, Iowa
Sophee Peterson, S, 5-11, Fort Worth, Texas, Byron Nelson HS, North Texas
Jordan Taylor, MB, 6-5, Houston, Texas, University of Minnesota, Lone Star
Rachel Van Gorp, L, 5-9, Olathe, Kan., Iowa State University, Heart of America
Abby Vander Wal, OH, 6-3, Elmhurst, Ill., University of Texas, Great Lakes
Ayanna Watson, OH, 6-2, Las Vegas, Nev., University of Pittsburgh, Southern California Southern Nevada
Devyn Wiest, OH, 6-3, Peoria, Ariz., University of Utah, Arizona
Keoni Williams, MB, 6-4, Fort Worth, Texas, University of Nebraska, Lone Star
Coaches
U21 Pan American Cup
Head Coach: Tama Miyashiro (LOVB)Â
Assistant Coach: Alfee Reft (LOVB)Â
Assistant Coach:Â Alisha Childress (MLV)Â
Performance Analyst:Â Will McDonald (LOVB)Â
ATC: Misao Tanioka (LOVB)Â
Team Lead:Â Kyle Thompson (NTDP)Â
Henley Anderson, OPP/OH, 6-3, Dripping Springs, Texas, University of Texas, Lone Star
Favor Anyanwu, MB, 6-2, Rowlett, Texas, SMU, North Texas
Kalyssa Blackshear, OPP, 6-5, Lomita, Calif., University of Louisville, Southern California Southern Nevada
Suli Davis, OH, 6-2, Euless, Texas, SMU, North Texas
Spencer Etzler, L, 5-7, Coldwater, Ohio, Stanford University, Ohio Valley
Campbell Flynn, S, 6-3, Rochester Hills, Mich., University of Nebraska, Lakeshore
Carly Gilk, OPP, 6-2, Minneapolis, Minn., University of Minnesota, North Country
Genevieve Harris, S, 5-11, Raleigh, N.C., University of Texas, Carolina
Taylor Harvey, MB, 6-3, Salt Lake City, Utah, University of Texas, Lone Star
Lily Hayes, L, 5-9, Tampa, Fla., University of Florida, Florida
Isabel Incinelli, OPP/OH, 6-5, Winter Park, Fla., Winter Park HS, Florida
Mallory Johnson, L, 5-9, Byron Center, Mich., Byron Center HS, Lakeshore
Peyton Kubik, OH, 6-2, Overland Park, Kan., Blue Valley West HS, Heart of America
Tessa Larkin, OH, 6-1, Phoenix, Ariz., Xavier College Preparatory, Arizona
Nyla Livings, MB, 6-2, The Colony, Texas, Prestonwood Christian Academy, North Texas
Reese Messer, S, 5-11, Olathe, Kan., USC, Gateway
Manaia Ogbechie, MB, 6-3, Santa Rosa Valley, Calif., University of Nebraska, Southern California Southern Nevada
Kendall Omoruyi, MB, 6-4, Los Angeles, Calif., Sierra Canyon HS, Southern California Southern Nevada
Payton Petersen, OH, 6-0, Dike, Iowa, University of Louisville, Iowa
Sophee Peterson, S, 5-11, Fort Worth, Texas, Byron Nelson HS, North Texas
Jordan Taylor, MB, 6-5, Houston, Texas, University of Minnesota, Lone Star
Rachel Van Gorp, L, 5-9, Olathe, Kan., Iowa State University, Heart of America
Abby Vander Wal, OH, 6-3, Elmhurst, Ill., University of Texas, Great Lakes
Ayanna Watson, OH, 6-2, Las Vegas, Nev., University of Pittsburgh, Southern California Southern Nevada
Devyn Wiest, OH, 6-3, Peoria, Ariz., University of Utah, Arizona
Keoni Williams, MB, 6-4, Fort Worth, Texas, University of Nebraska, Lone Star
Coaches
U21 Pan American Cup
Head Coach: Tama Miyashiro (LOVB)Â
Assistant Coach: Alfee Reft (LOVB)Â
Assistant Coach:Â Alisha Childress (MLV)Â
Performance Analyst:Â Will McDonald (LOVB)Â
ATC: Misao Tanioka (LOVB)Â
Team Lead:Â Kyle Thompson (NTDP)Â
Players Mentioned
MB
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OH
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