Creighton’s Ayden Ames Selected for 2026 USA Women’s U21 National Team
- USA Volleyball announced on Monday, April 13, 2026, that Creighton Volleyball newcomer Ayden Ames has been selected for the 2026 Women's U21 National Team.
- The selection follows a rigorous evaluation process that began in February 2026.
- This training camp is designed as a high-level development opportunity, allowing athletes to compete in a national team environment under the assessment of Women's National Team staff.
USA Volleyball announced on Monday, April 13, 2026, that Creighton Volleyball newcomer Ayden Ames has been selected for the 2026 Women’s U21 National Team. Ames is one of 20 women chosen to train for the 2026 NORCECA Women’s U21 Pan American Cup.
The selection follows a rigorous evaluation process that began in February 2026. Ames was among 62 athletes representing 29 Division I universities who participated in a training camp at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
This training camp is designed as a high-level development opportunity, allowing athletes to compete in a national team environment under the assessment of Women’s National Team staff. Beyond on-court training, the participants received professional volleyball presentations from League One Volleyball, Major League Volleyball, and Athletes Unlimited to provide insight into professional pathways following their collegiate careers.
Tournament Details and Roster Selection
The U.S. Women’s U21 National Team athletes will represent the United States at the U21 NORCECA Pan American Cup. The competition is scheduled to take place from July 5 to July 13, 2026, in Columbus, Ohio.
While 20 athletes have been selected to train, only 14 will be chosen to actually compete at the event. Training for the team is scheduled to occur from June 26 to July 5 in Columbus, Ohio, prior to the competition which will be held at the Covelli Center on the Ohio State University campus.
The team will be led by head coach Tama Miyashiro of LOVB Salt Lake. Miyashiro will be assisted by Alisha Childress of MLV San Diego Mojo and Alfee Reft of LOVB San Francisco.
Athlete Profile and Experience
Ayden Ames, a 6-4 middle blocker from Prosper, Texas, is the latest Creighton athlete to train with USA Volleyball. She is among a group of experienced players on the U21 National Team; 13 athletes on the roster have previously competed at either a U19 or U21 world championship.
Other athletes on the U21 roster with previous world championship experience include:
- Henley Anderson
- Favor Anyanwu
- Suli Davis
- Campbell Flynn
- Genevieve Harris
- Taylor Harvey
- Lily Hayes
- Jordan Taylor
- Abby Vander Wal
- Ayanna Watson
- Devyn Wiest
- Keoni Williams
Among these athletes is Lily Hayes, a rising sophomore from the University of Florida. Hayes previously earned silver with the 2025 U19 USA Team at the FIVB Girls U19 World Championships in Osijek, Croatia, where she totaled 108 digs across nine matches.
The roster also includes other notable Texas natives, such as Henley Anderson from the University of Texas and Favor Anyanwu from SMU.