The U.S. has now won all five of its FIVB World Grand Prix titles in China. Two years ago Team USA won the World Grand Prix title also in Ningbo, while bringing back the 2011 title from Macau, China. The Americans claimed their first FIVB World Grand Prix title in 1995 at Shanghai followed by the 2001 title at Macau. With Hodge leading the way in a full team effort, the U.S. Women captured its third consecutive and fifth overall World Grand Prix title. She was credited with a Final Round-leading 103 points (89 kills, 13 blocks, 1 ace). She finished second in the Best Spiker category with a 43.8 kill percent (89-of-203). Further, Hodge ranked seventh in Best Blocker with 0.68 blocks per set and third in Best Digger with 1.84 digs per set.
U.S. Womne’s National Volleyball Team Wins Third Straight World Grand Prix Hodge Named Most Valuable Player U.S. Women Sweep China to Complete World Grand Prix Undefeated NINGBO, China (July 1, 2012) - Megan Hodge (Durham, N.C.), an outside hitter with the No. 1 ranked U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team, was selected most valuable player and Best Scorer of the 2012 FIVB World Grand Prix that concluded July 1 at Ningbo, China. The U.S., ranked No. 1 in the world by the FIVB, concluded the FIVB World Grand Prix undefeated in 14 matches, including a 5-0 record in the Final Round. The Americans needed to win the final match of the six-team round-robin Final Round to claim the gold medal as Brazil (4-1, 13 points) topped Turkey (3-2, 9 points) 25-21, 23-25, 25-20, 25-20 to force the issue. Brazil ended up with the silver medal and Turkey with the bronze medal. With the victory, Team USA became just the second country to win the FIVB World Grand Prix for three consecutive years. Aside from the U.S., only Brazil has successfully defended its title having won the tournament three consecutive years from 2004 to 2006 and back-to-back years in 2008 and 2009.
“I am so proud of this group,” Hodge said. “We battled hard and came out on top. It was a long four weeks, but we found a way to keep it together and push to get the gold. I wouldn’t have been able to get the MVP award without the rest of the team. We all contributed to it. We were a cohesive unit and had each other’s backs through and through. It was a great tournament.” The FIVB World Grand Prix awards were based on statistics from the sixteam, round robin Final Round held June 27 to July 1 in Ningbo. Hodge becomes the third different American player to earn the FIVB World Grand Prix most valuable player award. Foluke Akinradewo (Plantation, Fla.) won the award in 2010, while Destinee Hooker (San Antonio, Texas) earned the award in 2011. According to unofficial DataVolley statistics, Hodge averaged 5.26 points over the course of the 14-match World Grand Prix in which the U.S. did not lose a match. She converted 49.5 percent of her attacks for points with a .376 hitting efficiency. Hodge added averages of 4.58 kills, 2.55 digs and 0.52 blocks per set. Team USA became just the second country to win the FIVB World Grand Prix for three consecutive years. Aside from the U.S., only Brazil has successfully defended its title having won the tournament three consecutive years from 2004 to 2006 and back-to-back years in 2008 and 2009. Overall, the U.S. had 17 players compete at some point during 2012 FIVB World Grand Prix and all 17 had at least two starts. The balanced squad featured 11 players with at least five starts each and contributing to the gold-medal cause. The U.S. has now won all five of its FIVB World Grand Prix titles in China. Two years ago Team USA won the World Grand Prix title also in Ningbo, while bringing back the 2011 title from Macau, China. The Americans claimed their first FIVB World Grand Prix title in 1995 at Shanghai followed by the 2001 title at Macau.
The U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team celebrates its third consecutive FIVB World Grand Prix championship. (FIVB photos)
Danielle Scott-Arruda shows off the FIVB World Grand Prix trophy. (FIVB photo)
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