Two Prestonwood Christian Academy volleyball standouts spent the summer representing the United States on the international stage, and both returned home with championship gold medals.

Taylor Johnson and Nyla Livings each made an impact with USA Volleyball in 2026, helping Team USA capture international titles and continuing to establish themselves among the nation's top young volleyball players.

Johnson helped the U.S. Girls U17 National Team win the 2026 FIVB Girls U17 World Championship in Santiago, Chile, while Livings helped Team USA capture the 2026 NORCECA Women's U23 Pan American Cup in Managua, Nicaragua.

Together, the two PCA student-athletes represented the school at the highest levels of youth international volleyball.

JOHNSON HELPS TEAM USA MAKE HISTORY

For Johnson, the summer culminated in a historic championship.
The 6-foot outside hitter was part of the first U.S. Girls U17 team to compete in the FIVB Girls U17 World Championship. Team USA made the most of the opportunity, finishing 9-0 and winning all 27 sets on its way to the gold medal.

The Americans defeated Türkiye, 3-0, in the championship match to complete the undefeated run and claim the world title.

Johnson's biggest performance of the tournament came against host Chile on Aug. 8.

With Team USA facing the home crowd, Johnson led all players with 14 points, recording 11 kills and three service aces in a 3-0 victory.

Johnson made her presence felt immediately, delivering two consecutive aces early in the opening set before adding back-to-back kills. She later added another ace as the Americans pulled away.
She continued to contribute throughout the match, finishing with 11 kills on 32 attacks and three aces.

It was a statement performance on one of the tournament's biggest stages.

Johnson finished the World Championship with 18 total points, including 15 kills and three aces.
Her 2026 world championship was the latest accomplishment in an impressive USA Volleyball career.

In 2025, Johnson was selected to the inaugural USA Volleyball Girls U17 National Team and helped the Americans capture the NORCECA Girls U17 Continental Championship in Costa Rica.

She also delivered a standout performance against Mexico during that championship, recording 12 points on seven kills, three blocks and two aces.

Johnson's success has extended beyond the national team as well. Playing for Dallas Skyline 15 Royal-Yun, she was named MVP of the 15 Open division at the 2025 USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championships.

Now, she has added a world championship to her résumé.

LIVINGS MAKES HER MARK WITH TEAM USA

While Johnson was competing for a world championship in Chile, Livings was making her own mark with the U.S. Women's U23 National Team.

The 6-foot-2 middle blocker helped Team USA win the 2026 NORCECA Women's U23 Pan American Cup in Managua, Nicaragua, as the Americans completed an undefeated 6-0 tournament and successfully defended their title.

Livings, wearing No. 23 for Team USA, delivered one of her strongest performances of the tournament in a 3-0 victory over Costa Rica on Sept. 2.

She tied for the team lead with 16 points, recording 10 kills, four blocks and two aces.

Her performance drew praise from Team USA head coach Alex Dunphy, who said following the match, “What a great night for Nyla Livings!”

Livings continued her strong tournament against host Nicaragua two days later, contributing eight points on four kills, two blocks and two aces in another 3-0 sweep.

Across those two documented performances, Livings produced 24 points, 14 kills, six blocks and four aces, demonstrating her ability to contribute in every phase of the game.

Team USA went on to defeat Mexico in a five-set semifinal before defeating the Dominican Republic, 3-1, in the gold-medal match.

The Americans finished the tournament 6-0 and captured the U23 Pan American Cup championship for the second consecutive year.

A SUMMER OF GOLD FOR PCA VOLLEYBALL

While Johnson and Livings competed in different age divisions and different countries, their journeys shared a common thread: both represented the United States while representing Prestonwood Christian Academy on the international stage.

Johnson's path included back-to-back selections to the USA Volleyball Girls U17 National Team, a NORCECA championship and a historic FIVB U17 World Championship.

Livings' path included a USA Volleyball U21 selection earlier in 2026, followed by her selection to the U23 National Team and an international championship in Nicaragua.

For both athletes, the experience provided an opportunity to compete against elite players from around the world and gain valuable experience at the highest levels of their age groups.

Their accomplishments also add to the growing list of achievements for PCA volleyball and showcase the talent, dedication and competitive spirit of the Lions' student-athletes.

From Chile to Nicaragua, Johnson and Livings proudly represented their country — and Prestonwood Christian Academy — while bringing home international gold.

Congratulations to Taylor Johnson and Nyla Livings on their outstanding accomplishments with Team USA!