1 2 3 4 5 USA 25 25 25 ITA 23 19 18 U.S. Women Take Convincing Win Over Italy HONG KONG (Aug. 20, 2011) - The U.S. Women’s Na onal Volleyball defeated Italy 25-23, 25-19, 25-18 with an 8-0 ace and 12-4 block advantages on Aug. 20 in Pool J of the FIVB World Grand Prix in Hong Kong.. The U.S., now 7-1 overall in the preliminary round, rallied from a 22-18 deficit in the opening set to win 25-23 with four blocks and an ace in a 7-1 scoring run. Team USA broke a 13-all e in the second set by scoring eight of the next 10 points establishing a 21-15 advantage en route to a 25-19 victory. The Americans jumped to an 11-6 lead in the third set with five unanswered points and rolled to the 25-18 victory.
(Le ) Logan Tom a acks from the back-row against Italy. (Right) Jordan Larson launches a monster jump serve. (FIVB photos)
“I am happy with our team performance today,” U.S. Women’s Na onal Team Head Coach Hugh McCutcheon (Christchurch, New Zealand) said. “First reason is that Italy is a very strong team, but we can s ll play at a high level. It is good for us to improve. Secondly, our team was very connected and we worked together well during the game.” Des nee Hooker (San Antonio, Texas) notched her match-high 18 points all on kills via 34 a acks with only one error for a .500 hi ng efficiency. Foluke Akinradewo (Planta on, Fla.) chipped in 14 points with 11 kills on 17 errorless a acks for a .647 hi ng efficiency, two blocks and an ace. Logan Tom (Salt Lake City, Utah) contributed eight kills, three aces and two blocks for 13 points. Jordan Larson (Hooper, Neb.) charted four kills, four aces and two blocks for 10 points. Heather Bown (Yorba Linda, Calif.) tallied four kills and two blocks for six points. Lindsey Berg (Honolulu) collected three blocks in the match, while Kim Glass (Lancaster, Pa.) rounded out the scoring with a kill off the bench. Berg provided the Americans with 41 assists, which led to a 42.1 kill percent and .346 hi ng efficiency with only eight a ack errors. Meanwhile, Italy converted 38.3 percent of its kills, but managed just a .226 hi ng efficiency with 18 a ack errors. Nicole Davis (Stockton, Calif.) provided 10 digs and 10 excellent recep ons on 12 a empts. Larson chipped in 19 excellent recep ons on 29 a empts to go with seven digs. Tom handled 19 total service recep ons with 12 excellent passes.
Des nee Hooker (le behind a acker) and Heather Bown (right) form a blocking wall against Italy. (FIVB photo)
The U.S. held a 27-25 advantage in digs and produced a 71.7 percent on service recep ons (43 excellent on 60 a empts). Italy was 49 of 68 on excellent service recep ons for a 60.3 percent. “It was a compe ve match and both teams worked really hard,” U.S. Women’s Na onal captain Jennifer Tamas said. “We did well in spiking and transi on. We also did well at the service line in the second set.” McCutcheon started Tom and Larson at outside hi er, Akinradewo and Bown at middle blocker, Hooker at opposite and Berg at se er. Davis was the libero for the match. Kim Glass came off the bench to serve in the first and third sets. Simona Gioli led Italy with 14 points, while Antonella Del Core and Lucia Bose added 10 points each. “Congratula ons to the USA team,” Italy coach Barbolini Massimo said. “It is always difficult to play against USA. Our problems were the second line, spiking and blocking. We played be er than yesterday and hope we can enter the final in Macau, as it is important to play other matches in high level.”
(Le ) Lindsey Berg sets Heather Bown. (Right) Des nee Hooker hits over the Italy block (FIVB photo)
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