1 2 3 4 5 USA 25 25 25 GER 10 18 23 U.S. Women Start New Win Streak Versus Germany HONG KONG (Aug. 19, 2011) - The U.S. Women’s Na onal Team used a 13-3 block advantage and 7-3 ace margin to defeat Germany 25-10, 25-18, 25-23 on Aug. 19 to begin Pool J of the FIVB World Grand Prix in Hong Kong. The U.S. improved to 6-1 overall with 17 points and two matches remaining in the preliminary round. The U.S. started the first set with a 7-0 lead on the serve of Logan Tom (Salt Lake City, Utah) and she was on the service line as part of a 6-0 run that stretched the lead to 21-9 as the Americans won 25-10. Team USA totaled five blocks and four aces in the opening set. The U.S. broke a 12-all e in the second set with a 7-1 run to take a 19-14 advantage and cruised to a 25-18 victory. Despite falling behind 6-0 to start the third set, the Americans worked themselves to a e at 9-all and used a key 3-0 scoring run to take a 22-19 advantage to help close out the set 25-23. “We had very strong defense and did very well on the service line,” U.S. Women’s Na onal Team Head Coach Hugh McCutcheon (Christchurch, New Zealand) said. “I am very sa sfied with my players’ performance today. They played be er than before and achieved our goal of keep improving. Germany is a very strong team and we are happy to win! We have to get ready now for tomorrow’s match against Italy.”
Foluke Akinradewo celebrates a point. (FIVB photo)
Des nee Hooker (San Antonio, Texas) led all scorers with 17 points on 15 kills via 32 a acks and one error, one block and one ace. Tom finished the night with eight kills, three blocks and three aces for 14 points. Foluke Akinradewo (Planta on, Fla.) charted a match-high six blocks to go with five kills and an ace for 12 points. Jordan Larson (Hooper, Neb.) contributed nine kills and a block for 10 points. Heather Bown (Yorba Linda, Calif.) notched two kills and a block for three points. Lindsey Berg (Honolulu) rounded out the U.S. scoring with two aces and a block for three points. With Berg providing 27 assists on 87 set a empts, the U.S. converted 35.8 percent of its a acks into points with a .275 hi ng efficiency. Meanwhile, Germany managed just a 26.3 kill percent and a .068 hi ng efficiency with 23 a ack errors. Larson contributed 17 excellent recep ons on 30 service recep on a empts to go with seven digs. Nicole Davis (Stockton, Calif.) tallied a team-high 12 digs, while Tom recorded 12 excellent recep ons on 16 a empts with seven digs. Germany held a 40-33 dig advantage to offset the Americans’ 13-3 block advantage and 7-3 ace margin. Team USA commi ed just 18 errors (a ack errors, service errors, aces allowed), compared to Germany’s 32. “There were good volleyball players on both sides,” U.S. Women’s Na onal Team captain Jennifer Tamas (Milpitas, Calif.) said. “We were good at serving, and I am sure the Hong Kong fans will appreciate the defense and a acks from both teams and enjoy the game we played.” 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 (Lancaster, Pa.) came in off the bench in the second set and served out the final two points. Germany’s Margareta Kozuch led her squad with 12 points on 10 kills and two aces, while Chris ane Furst added six kills and two blocks.
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Logan Tom passes against Germany (FIVB photo)