1 2 3 4 5 USA 26 25 25 BRA 24 20 21 U.S. Women Defeat Brazil, Defend World Grand Prix Title MACAU, China (Aug. 28, 2011) - The U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team defended its 2010 FIVB World Grand Prix title by defeating top-ranked Brazil 26-24, 25-20, 25-21 on Aug. 28 in the 2011 FIVB World Grand Prix goldmedal match held at the Macau East Asian Games Dome in Macau, China.
Lindsey Berg sets with Heather Bown as an attack option. (FIVB photo)
The second-ranked Americans have now won the tournament four times, with all four titles occurring in China (1995 in Shanghai, 2001 in Macau, 2010 in Ningbo and 2011 in Macau). Destinee Hooker (San Antonio, Texas), the most valuable player of the 2011 FIVB World Grand Prix, led the American attack with a match-high 16 points with 15 kills and a block. Logan Tom (Salt Lake City, Utah) chipped in 12 kills, one block and one ace for 14 points. Jordan Larson (Hooper, Neb.) scored 11 points with 10 kills on 30 attacks and a block. Heather Bown (Yorba Linda, Calif.) charted three kills, three blocks and an ace for seven points. Foluke Akinradewo (Plantation, Fla.) totaled six kills and a block for seven points. Lindsey Berg (Honolulu) rounded out the scoring with a block. The U.S. opened the first set with a 9-3 lead, only to have Brazil rally to take the lead at 18-17. The Americans came back from a 21-20 deficit to win 26-24 as the set was tied eight times down the stretch. After 13 ties through 15-all in the second set, the U.S. broke away with a 4-0 run taking a 19-15 advantage and won 25-20 as Larson contributed five kills in the late stages. The U.S. used a 6-0 scoring run to take a 9-4 lead in the third set and stretched the advantage to 17-10, but Brazil closed to two points at 22-20 to make the Americans fight for the 25-21 victory. Tom scored eight of her 14 points in the third set.
Logan Tom (right) puts up a block against Brazil. (FIVB photo)
“It is always a challenge to play Brazil team,” U.S. Women’s National Team Head Coach Hugh McCutcheon (Christchurch, New Zealand) said. “They are the best team in the world. For us, we had to play with a lot of discipline, focus on trying to work together and stick to the game plan. Our team really performed very well today. I am very proud of them, not just for the victory, but in every match played throughout this long tournament our team made improvement. It is very good for us to see that we could perform at our best today when the best was needed.” Berg provided 19 assists as the Americans converted 38.7 percent of their attacks into points with a .311 hitting efficiency and only nine attack errors. Brazil converted 32.5 percent of its attacks with a .211 hitting efficiency. Nicole Davis (Stockton, Calif.) contributed 16 excellent receptions. “Congratulations to both teams, it was a very competitive match,” U.S. Women’s National Team captain Jennifer Tamas (Milpitas, Calif.) said. “The goal we had in this entire tournament was to get better as a team and I think we did. We are very fortunate and very excited to be here. We are just extremely happy for the progress we made.”
(Left) Jordan Larson (11) puts up a block versus Brazil. (Right) Foluke Akinradewo (16) hits around the Brazil block. (FIVB photos)
McCutcheon started Tom and Larson at outside hitter, Akinradewo and Bown at middle blocker, Hooker at opposite and Berg at setter. Davis was the libero for the match. Alisha Glass (Leland, Mich.) was a sub in all three sets, while Kim Glass (Lancaster, Pa.) subbed in the final two sets. Natalie Pereira paced Brazil with 11 points, while Sheilla Castro added 10. “Congratulations to the USA team, they played very, very well,” Brazil head coach Jose Roberto Guimaraes said. “They gave us a lesson of volleyball tonight. I agree with Fabiana that we were weak in our defense and blocking. We managed only two blocks in this entire match, and it is very hard to play as the USA team like this. It is difficult to play against the USA because they play at a very high level and they are very consistent.”
Team USA celebrates the championship point. (FIVB photo)
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