2011 U.S. Women's National Team Match Capsules U.S. WOMEN EDGED BY BRAZIL IN PAN AMERICAN CUP POOL FINALE
U.S. WOMEN SHUT OUT ARGENTINA, QUALIFY FOR 2012 WORLD GRAND PRIX
USA..................................30 18 19 25 11 Brazil................................28 25 25 17 15
JUAREZ, Mexico (July 5, 2011) - In a battle of the world’s top two ranked volleyball teams, the U.S. Women’s National Team lost to top-ranked Brazil 28-30, 25-18, 25-19, 17-25, 15-11 in a marathon battle on July 5, the final day of Pool B at the X Women’s Pan American Cup at Juarez, Mexico. Both teams entered the match with 4-0 records through the first four days of roundrobin pool play. As the winner of Pool B, Brazil advances directly the semifinal round that takes place on July 8, as will Pool A winner Dominican Republic. After an off-day on Wednesday, the Americans will have a quarterfinal match on Thursday against Argentina, which finished third in Pool A. The tournament concludes on July 9 with the medal rounds and final classification matches. The U.S. battled back from an early 6-2 lead in the opening set, taking its first lead at 24-23. After saving a set point at 26-25, the Americans finished the set on its fifth opportunity at 30-28. After five lead changes and seven ties in the second set, Brazil broke a 14-all tie with an 11-4 run to end the set with a 25-18 victory. Despite four lead changes and 11 ties in the third set, Brazil’s 8-1 run after trailing 15-14 defined its 25-19 victory. Team USA used a 7-1 scoring run in the fourth set to take a 10-6 advantage and controlled the rest of the period for a 25-17 victory. In the tiebreaking set, Brazil jumped to a 5-1 lead and pushed to a 12-7 advantage only needing to score the final three points to hold a 15-11 victory. “I know that both teams will learn from today’s match,” U.S. Women’s National Team Head Coach Hugh McCutcheon (Christchurch, New Zealand) said. “We had a great effort. USA is improving and there´s still much ahead in the tournament.” All five U.S. starting hitters scored at least 11 points in the match, led by Megan Hodge’s (Durham, N.C.) 18 points all on kills. Foluke Akinradewo (Plantation, Fla.) chipped in 11 kills, a team-high five blocks and an ace for 17 points. Nicole Fawcett (Zanesfield, Ohio) contributed 10 kills and five blocks for 15 points, while Jordan Larson (Hooper, Neb.) charted 12 kills and a block for 13 points. Jennifer Tamas (Milpitas, Calif.) recorded nine kills and two blocks for 11 points. Nancy Metcalf (Hull, Iowa) added three kills, while Nellie Spicer (Barrington, Ill.) was credited with a block and ace for two points.
USA..................................25 25 25 Argentina..........................13 14 19
JUAREZ, Mexico (July 7, 2011) - The U.S. Women’s National Team defeated Argentina 25-13, 25-14, 25-19 with a 12-3 block advantage during the quarterfinal round of the X Women’s Pan American Cup on July 7 at Juarez, Mexico. The Americans, which finished second in Pool B with a 4-1 record, will meet with Pool A winner Dominican Republic in the second semifinal on Friday at 8 p.m. Mountain Time. Last year the U.S. and Dominican Republic met each in the Pan American Cup semifinals as well with the Dominican Republic winning in four sets. Team USA went on to win the bronze medal at the 2010 Pan American Cup. Pool B winner Brazil will face Cuba, which topped Puerto Rico 26-24, 25-19, 25-14 earlier Thursday in the other quarterfinal match, in the first semifinal contest at 6 p.m. MT on Friday. The tournament concludes on Saturday with the medal rounds and final classification matches. By reaching the semifinals, the U.S. assured itself of qualification into the 2012 FIVB World Grand Prix. The top four NORCECA teams, Brazil and the top South American team other than Brazil in the final Pan American Cup standings earn berths into next year’s World Grand Prix. The U.S. raced out to a 10-2 lead in the opening set and allowed Argentina to score on its serve just twice for a 25-13 victory as the Americans put up seven blocks. After falling behind 7-4 in the second set, Team USA put together a 12-1 scoring run to take a 16-8 advantage en route to a 25-14 victory. The U.S. used an 8-2 scoring run in the third set to overcome an early 4-0 deficit in finishing off the match with a 25-19 victory. “I am very happy with the qualification to the Grand Prix because that was our main goal,” U.S. Women’s National Team Head Coach Hugh McCutcheon (Christchurch, New Zealand) said. “We made some changes after the match against Brazil and things were better for us. I agree with our captain that blocking and defense were the keys for us tonight.”
Nicole Davis (Stockton, Calif.) picked up 11 digs in the match and provided a 74 percent positive service reception on 19 attempts. Larson added 10 digs and 51 of the team’s 98 service receptions as part of a 78 positive service reception. “Another tough match against Brazil, my congratulations to them,” said Tamas, the U.S. captain. “We did well today and I´m proud of my team.” McCutcheon started Tamas and Akinradewo at middle blocker, Hodge and Larson at outside hitter, Fawcett opposite and Alisha Glass at setter. Davis was the libero for the match. Brazil converted 40 percent of its attacks into points as part of a .219 hitting efficiency. The U.S. converted 36 percent of its attacks for a .206 hitting efficiency. The Americans passed at a 76 positive percent on 98 service attempts, while Brazil managed a 69 positive percent on 90 serve receive chances. Brazil held a 17-14 advantage in blocks and 48-44 margin in digs as both teams served two aces. The Americans committed 29 errors in the match to the Brazilians 24. The U.S. led in kills 63-62. Sheila Castro sparked Brazil with a match-high 31 points with 29 kills and two blocks. Thaisa Menezes added 16 points, including five blocks. Fabiana Claudino recorded nine kills and four blocks for 13 points.
Courtesy of NORCECA
Foluke Akinradewo (Plantation, Fla.) tallied nine kills on 11 errorless attacks and a match-high six blocks to lead the Americans with 15 points despite playing just the first two sets. Megan Hodge (Durham, N.C.) charted 10 points with nine kills on 20 swings and a block. Nicole Fawcett (Zanesfield, Ohio) totaled five kills and two blocks for seven points, while captain Jennifer Tamas (Milpitas, Calif.) charted four kills, an ace and a block for six points. Jordan Larson (Hooper, Neb.) scored all six of her points on kills in just the first two sets, while Nancy Metcalf (Hull, Iowa) added five points with four kills and a block. Christa Harmotto (Hopewell, Pa.) contributed three kills and Kim Glass (Lancaster, Pa.) served two aces with an ace for three points. Alisha Glass (Leland, Mich.) rounded out the scoring with a block.
“It was a nice match,” Tamas said. “Argentina has great servers and it made hard for us to receive. Fortunately our block and defense were there and that was the difference.” Hodge accepted 19 of the team’s 37 serve receive chances with a 58 positive percent. Nicole Davis (Stockton, Calif.) held a 100 positive percent on serve receive while add a team-high 11 digs according to unofficial team DataVolley stats. Team USA held a 36-25 margin in digs and limited Argentina to a 25 kill percent and .058 hitting efficiency. McCutcheon started Tamas and Akinradewo at middle blocker, Hodge and Larson at outside hitter, Fawcett opposite and Alisha Glass at setter. Davis was the libero for the match. Harmotto started the third set in place of Akinradewo, while Kim Glass started the third set for Larson. Metcalf and Nellie Spicer (Barrington, Ill.) subbed into the match in all three sets. Angie Forsett (Lake Mary, Fla.) was a sub in the third set. Team USA converted 48 percent of its attacks into points with a .361 hitting efficiency. The Americans held a 41-25 kill advantage and a slim 3-2 margin in aces to go along its blocking difference. The U.S. benefited from 19 Argentina errors while committing just 16 of its own.
Courtesy of NORCECA
Lucia Fresco led Argentina with 10 kills, while Georgina Pinedo added six points in the loss.
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