1 2 3 4 5 USA 25 17 27 25 BRA 22 25 25 19 U.S. Women Win Key World Cup Opener over Brazil NAGANO, Japan (Nov. 4, 2011) - Using a balanced offense of five doublefigure scorers, the U.S. Women’s Na onal Team defeated Brazil 25-22, 17-25, 27-25, 25-19 in scoring a key victory between the top two teams in the world on Nov. 4 to open the 2011 FIVB World Cup at Nagano, Japan. The match pi ed second-ranked Team USA against top-ranked Brazil for the fourth me in 2011, but this match held added significance since the FIVB World Cup is the first 2012 Olympic Games qualifica on event. The three teams reaching the World Cup medal podium on Nov. 18 will earn berths into the 2012 Olympic Games.
Team USA during the na onal anthem prior to its match with Brazil. (Photo courtesy FIVB)
The U.S. used a 10-5 scoring run in the opening set to take a 13-9 advantage and went on to win 25-22. Brazil gained a 20-14 advantage in the second set with a 6-1 scoring run before scoring five of the final six points for a 25-17 victory. The Americans rallied from a 17-14 deficit in the third set to knot the score at 22-all, then saved two set points before capturing the victory 27-25. Team USA used a 4-0 run to propel to an 8-5 lead in the fourth set and never looked back in winning 25-19. “First of all, I’m happy to have won tonight,” U.S. Women’s Na onal Team Head Coach Hugh McCutcheon (Christchurch, New Zealand) said. “I agree with Ze Roberto (Brazil head coach) that the level wasn’t the best, but I’m proud of our leadership, especially their ability to compete with composure at the end of the sets when the plays needed to be made to try and help turn the match. Both teams applied a lot of service pressure and recep on was good.” Des nee Hooker (San Antonio, Texas) collected a team-high 17 points with 14 kills and three of the Americans’ six aces in the match. Foluke Akinradewo (Planta on, Fla.) added 11 kills on 19 a acks and four blocks for 15 points. Logan Tom (Salt Lake City, Utah) chipped in 12 kills, one block and one ace for 14 points. Jordan Larson (Hooper, Neb.) contributed 11 kills and an ace for 12 points. Danielle Sco -Arruda (Baton Rouge, La.), playing in her first match for the U.S. since 2009, came off the bench to start in the third set and tallied eight kills on 15 swings and two blocks for 10 points. Sco -Arruda was named the match’s most valuable player honor by the local organizers. Heather Bown (Yorba Linda, Calif.) tallied two kills and a two blocks for four points, while Lindsey Berg (Honolulu) added three points with two kills and an ace.
Danielle Sco -Arruda (right), who came off the bench to score 10 points, a acks against Brazil’s Fabiana. (Photo courtesy FIVB)
“First, this tournament is the most difficult tournament of all over the four years, other than the Olympics, and to play one of the other best teams in the world in the first match is a struggle,” Berg said. “Both teams probably didn’t play their best tonight, but we’re ecsta c to have go en this win and will try to build on this.”
(Above) Jordan Larson passes while Logan Tom eyes the play. (Right) Des nee Hooker’s taped fingers with messages to mom and dad. (Photos courtesy FIVB)
Berg totaled 53 assists to set the U.S. to a 38.5 kill percent and .295 hi ng efficiency (60-14-156). Meanwhile, Brazil converted at a higher 41.2 kill percent but its .294 hi ng efficiency (63-18-153) essen ally matched the Americans due to 18 errors. Nicole Davis (Stockton, Calif.) contributed a team-high 16 digs and 25 excellent recep ons on 38 a empts. Larson provided 14 excellent recep ons on 22 errorless a empts, in addi on to 11 digs. McCutcheon started Berg at se er, Tom and Larson at outside hi er, Akinradewo and Bown at middle blocker and Hooker at opposite. Davis was the designated libero for the match. Sco -Arruda started the third and fourth sets in place of Bown. Alisha Glass (Leland, Mich.) and Cynthia Barboza (Long Beach, Calif.) were subs in the first and third sets. The U.S. out-blocked Brazil 9-5 and held a 6-0 advantage in aces. Brazil held a slim 63-60 margin in kills and limited its errors to 19 to the Americans’ 23. The Americans produced a 60.5 excellent recep on percent to the Brazilians’ 58.2 percent. Brazil edged the Americans in digs 54-51. Sheilla Castro and Fernanda Rodrigues each scored 18 points for Brazil in the loss, while Paula Pequeno added 11 points.
Team USA celebrates championship point in its upset over top-ranked Brazil. (Photo courtesy FIVB)
66 66