Twig account director Kendra Hall brought home a gold medal playing at the 2025 World ParaVolley Sitting Volleyball World Cup in Fort Wayne, Indiana, as part of the USA women’s national sitting volleyball team.
The tournament, held from 12-18 October, featured the world’s top women’s teams, including Brazil, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and Canada. After progressing through pool play and a commanding semi-final win over Canada, Team USA faced long-time rivals Brazil in the final.
In front of an energetic home crowd, the Americans pulled off a dramatic reverse sweep to defeat a strong Brazilian squad 3-2 (24-26, 20-25, 25-18, 25-20, 15-12). As the reigning three-time Paralympic gold medallist team, the win reinforced their dominance on the world stage.
Sitting volleyball is a fast-paced variant of the indoor game that has been modified to accommodate athletes with disabilities – it’s played on a smaller court with a lower net. Athletes remain on the floor, using upper-body strength and quick reactions to move and play the ball.
Kendra returned to the sport in January 2025 after more than a decade of retirement. Her previous career includes three Paralympic Medals and induction into the USA Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2019.
“This tournament was really special in a lot of ways to me,” she said. “Not only was it my first proper international competition since returning to the team, but it was also hosted in my home state of Indiana. Standing on top of the podium with this team, in front of my family and friends, is something I won’t soon forget.
“The level of play in this sport has evolved so much, and I’ve loved re-learning it at this level. It’s faster, sharper, more tactical, but the thrill and the fun is exactly the same. It reminded me why I fell in love with the sport in the first place.
Winning gold in Indiana was a milestone, but Kendra’s attention is already on the next horizon.
“This year’s mostly been about finding my rhythm again – training, travelling, getting back into that competitive mindset,” she said. “Now my focus is on earning a spot for the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games. That’s the gold medal I really care about.”
