Ava Falduto Wins Gold At U19 World Championship

Posted on by Ethan Kasales

Penn State women’s volleyball commit Ava Falduto helped the United States win the gold medal at the 2023 FIVB U19 World Championship Friday in Osijek, Croatia.

Falduto and the U.S. reverse swept Turkey after falling behind early in the championship match. The U.S. finished the 24-team tournament in Croatia and Hungary 9-0.

The U.S. won four five-set matches during its run to the gold medal, its second in the event after also winning in 2019. While Nebraska commit Olivia Mauch primarily handled the libero duties, Falduto was a key part of the U.S. defense and continued to showcase her skills on the international stage.

Falduto and fellow Penn State commit Izzy Starck, two of the top 2024 prospects at libero and setter, respectively, won the gold medal at the 2023 NORCECA U19 Pan American Cup this May in Puerto Rico.

They will soon reunite at the 2023 FIVB U21 World Championship August 17-26 in Mexico, where they will represent a young U.S. squad that will rely on high school players rather than college athletes due to the start of the NCAA season conflicting with the tournament.

Falduto and Starck are among 12 players selected for the tournament. Falduto, who was named Best Receiver at the U19 Pan American Cup, is the only libero on the roster. Starck and Nebraska commit Campbell Flynn, a member of the U19 World Championship team, are the two setters.

Falduto played her final club season for 1st Alliance VBC this spring after transferring from New WAVE. After finishing as the Illinois 2A state runners-up last fall, Falduto and IC Catholic Prep hope to bring home the state title during her senior season.

Falduto and Starck, both of whom are heading to the Under Armour All-America Volleyball Match later this year, will enroll a semester early at Penn State in January 2024 after wrapping up their senior seasons.

Falduto has seen her stock continue to rise in the recruiting rankings, as the Elmhurst, Illinois, native has stood out among the top performers in various camp and competitive settings the last few years. She verbally committed to the Nittany Lions on June 19, 2021.