Photo by: NORCECA
USC Beach Volleyball's Zoey Henson Claims Gold at NORCECA U21 Championship
July 08, 2025 | Women's Beach Volleyball
The USC All-American collected gold medals with partner Sarah Wood in Juan Dolio, Dominican Republic
JUAN DOLIO, Dominican Republic – USC beach volleyball All-American Zoey Henson (Cypress, Calif./Cypress HS) partnered with Sarah Wood to win gold at the 2025 NORCECA U21 Qualified on Juan Dolio Beach, Sunday, July 6.
Â
Henson and Wood defeated the Puerto Rican duo of Miabella Musignac and Alanis Nieves in straight sets, 21-13, 21-11, in the championship match to conclude an undefeated run. With the win, Henson-Wood secured one of the five remaining spots in the upcoming U21 World Championship.
Â
Henson-Wood went 3-0 in dominant fashion in pool play. The duo opened the tournament with a 21-5, 21-4 win over Anguilla's Deandra Fleming and Lavesha Richarson. They then defeated Musignac and Nieves for the first time, 21-10, 21-11. Henson and Wood closed pool play with a 21-6, 21-7 win over St. Lucia's Ericka Gaspard and Clio Phillip.
Â
In the quarterfinals, Henson-Wood took down the Nicaraguan pair of Yuliana Chávez and Ella Resau, 21-5, 21-12. In their closest match, Henson and Wood went to the wire with Canada's pair of Ofure Odigie and Ruby Sorra to get a 22-20, 25-23 win in the semifinals.
Â
The tournament win puts Henson and Wood into the FIVB U21 Beach World Championships set for Oct. 14-19 in Puebla, Mexico. Wood previously played in the 2024 U19 World Championship in Shangluo, China, and earned a bronze medal. On the men's side, Malachi Brewington and Titus Lance also won gold for the U.S. and will also move into the world championships in October.
Â
The Trojans (27-11) played their first season as a member of the MPSF in 2025 and finished as the runner-up to league champion Stanford in the inaugural tournament held in Huntington Beach, Calif. USC earned its ninth berth in the NCAA championship and was awarded the fifth seed. The Trojans defeated North Florida in the first round but fell to eventual national runner-up Loyola Marymount in the quarterfinals. USC was ranked sixth in the final AVCA coaches poll and produced the fifth consecutive 20-plus win season under head coach Dain Blanton. The Trojans added had four athletes chosen for AVCA All-American honors: Madison White (Scottsdale, Ariz./ASU Preparatory Academy) and Zoey Henson (Cypress, Calif./Cypress HS) to the first team; Ashley Pater (Bradenton, Fla./Lakewood Ranch HS) and Kennedy Coakley (Lutz, Fla./Steinbrenner HS) to the second team.
Â
For more information on the USC beach volleyball team, a complete schedule, and results, please visit USCTrojans.com/beach. Fans of the Women of Troy can follow the team on Instagram and on X @USCBeach.
Â
Â
Henson and Wood defeated the Puerto Rican duo of Miabella Musignac and Alanis Nieves in straight sets, 21-13, 21-11, in the championship match to conclude an undefeated run. With the win, Henson-Wood secured one of the five remaining spots in the upcoming U21 World Championship.
Â
Henson-Wood went 3-0 in dominant fashion in pool play. The duo opened the tournament with a 21-5, 21-4 win over Anguilla's Deandra Fleming and Lavesha Richarson. They then defeated Musignac and Nieves for the first time, 21-10, 21-11. Henson and Wood closed pool play with a 21-6, 21-7 win over St. Lucia's Ericka Gaspard and Clio Phillip.
Â
In the quarterfinals, Henson-Wood took down the Nicaraguan pair of Yuliana Chávez and Ella Resau, 21-5, 21-12. In their closest match, Henson and Wood went to the wire with Canada's pair of Ofure Odigie and Ruby Sorra to get a 22-20, 25-23 win in the semifinals.
Â
The tournament win puts Henson and Wood into the FIVB U21 Beach World Championships set for Oct. 14-19 in Puebla, Mexico. Wood previously played in the 2024 U19 World Championship in Shangluo, China, and earned a bronze medal. On the men's side, Malachi Brewington and Titus Lance also won gold for the U.S. and will also move into the world championships in October.
Â
The Trojans (27-11) played their first season as a member of the MPSF in 2025 and finished as the runner-up to league champion Stanford in the inaugural tournament held in Huntington Beach, Calif. USC earned its ninth berth in the NCAA championship and was awarded the fifth seed. The Trojans defeated North Florida in the first round but fell to eventual national runner-up Loyola Marymount in the quarterfinals. USC was ranked sixth in the final AVCA coaches poll and produced the fifth consecutive 20-plus win season under head coach Dain Blanton. The Trojans added had four athletes chosen for AVCA All-American honors: Madison White (Scottsdale, Ariz./ASU Preparatory Academy) and Zoey Henson (Cypress, Calif./Cypress HS) to the first team; Ashley Pater (Bradenton, Fla./Lakewood Ranch HS) and Kennedy Coakley (Lutz, Fla./Steinbrenner HS) to the second team.
Â
For more information on the USC beach volleyball team, a complete schedule, and results, please visit USCTrojans.com/beach. Fans of the Women of Troy can follow the team on Instagram and on X @USCBeach.
Â
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
Beach Volleyball - USC 1, LMU 3: Highlights (5/3/25)
Saturday, May 03
Beach Volleyball - USC 3, North Florida 0: Highlights (5/2/25)
Friday, May 02
USC Beach's Madison White | Trojans Live 4.14.25
Monday, April 14
Beach Volleyball - USC 3, Cal Poly 2: Highlights (4/11/25)
Friday, April 11
