1 2 3 4 5 USA 25 25 25 GER 23 23 17 U.S. Women Down Germany a Second Time in Eight Days SAO BERNARDO, Brazil (June 16, 2012) - The U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team remains undefeated in the FIVB World Grand Prix following a 25-23, 25-23, 25-17 victory over Germany on June 16 during the Pool E second preliminary round weekend in Sao Bernardo, Brazil.
Jordan Larson passes against Germany. (FIVB photo)
In a set featuring 12 ties and five lead changes, the U.S. recovered from a 19-15 deficit in the opening set by scoring 10 of the 14 six points for a 2523 victory. The Americans tallied seven blocks in the set with five different players picking up at least one block. Team USA used a 6-0 scoring run to overcome a 20-18 deficit in the second set and held on for a 25-23 victory. In the third set, the U.S. used another 6-0 run to forge to a 19-14 advantage en route to closing out the set 25-17. “It was an important win for us,” U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team Head Coach Hugh McCutcheon (Christchurch, New Zealand) said. “We have to find solutions for the situations the German put us in. Going through these experiences is very important as we are on the way to London.” The U.S. benefited from balanced scoring as Destinee Hooker (San Antonio, Texas) scored a match-high 15 points with 10 kills and matchhigh five blocks. Both starting middle blockers reached 13 points as Foluke Akinradewo (Plantation, Fla.) tallied nine kills on 13 swings, three blocks and an ace. Christa Harmotto (Hopewell Township, Pa.) contributed 10 kills on 16 attacks and three blocks for 13 points. Jordan Larson (Hooper, Neb.) totaled six kills and a block for seven points, while Logan Tom (Salt Lake City, Utah) tacked on three kills and two blocks for five points. Tayyiba Haneef-Park (Laguna Hills, Calif.) rounded out the scoring with two kills on four attacks.
Hugh McCutcheon (middle) talks with setters Lindsey Berg (right) and Courtney Thompson (left) during a timeout against Germany. (FIVB photo)
Lindsey Berg (Honolulu) handed out 13 running sets on 82 set attempts. Larson collected team-highs 15 digs and 12 excellent service receptions on 27 attempts. Tom added 12 digs and nine excellent receptions on 17 attempts. Nicole Davis (Stockton, Calif.) charted eight excellent receptions on 17 errorless chances and 11 digs. “It was a battle, as always is against Germany,” said Berg, the U.S. captain. “We were not as precise as we can be, especially myself. We are 5-0 so far and we want to keep playing in the same way until the Finals.” McCutcheon started Berg at setter, Tom and Larson at outside hitter, Akinradewo and Harmotto at middle blocker and Hooker at opposite. Davis was the designated libero for the match. Haneef-Park was a sub in all three sets, while Tamari Miyashiro (Kaneohe, Hawaii) proved valuable as a serving sub in the first two sets. Courtney Thompson (Kent, Wash.) was a late sub in the third set as the U.S. closed out the match. Team USA held a 14-9 advantage in blocks as both teams scored one point on aces. The Americans held their errors to 18 in the match while benefiting from 20 Germany errors. Germany managed a 75-64 advantage in digs and produced a 55.2 excellent reception percent to the Americans’ 45.9 percent. The U.S. converted 32.5 percent of its attacks into points with a .171 hitting efficiency (40-19-123), while Germany was limited to a 25.2 kill percent and .050 hitting efficiency. Maren Brinker led Germany with 11 points, while Anne Matthes came off the bench to contribute nine points.
Foluke Akinradewo rejects a German attack. (FIVB photo)
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