1 2 3 4 5 USA 25 25 25 TPE 10 22 12 U.S. Women Dominate Chinese Taipei SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (June 9, 2012) - The U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team dominated Chinese Taipei 25-10, 25-22, 25-12 on June 9 in a FIVB World Grand Prix Pool B match at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team Head Coach Hugh McCutcheon discusses strategy with assistant Paula Weishoff (FIVB photo)
The U.S. used a 22-6 run to end the opening set with a 25-10 victory that included advantages of 5-0 in blocks and 4-0 in aces. Team USA scored the first four points of the second set and led 8-4 before Chinese Taipei powered to a 10-8 lead and the Americans battled back late with a 5-1 scoring run to win 25-22. The U.S. used a 6-0 run to break away to a 16-8 advantage in the third set and finished the match with a 7-2 run for a 25-12 final set. “Chinese Taipei was a strong opponent and I am glad they gave us a good fight because it was a test for us,” U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team Head Coach Hugh McCutcheon (Christchurch, New Zealand) said. “They are improving with time and are progressing. We are preparing for the Olympics and the match against Dominican Republic is another important test. They are a strong team and always play hard.” Team USA had 10 of its 12 players score points in the match highlighted by Destinee Hooker (San Antonio, Texas), who paced the U.S. with a match-high 15 points with 14 kills on 23 attacks and a block. Foluke Akinradewo (Plantation, Fla.) added six kills on 11 attacks, two blocks and two aces for 10 points. Megan Hodge (Durham, N.C.) came off the bench in the second set to contribute seven kills and a block for eight points, while Jordan Larson (Hooper, Neb.) had eight points on six kills and two blocks in the first two sets. Nicole Davis (Stockton, Calif.) charted a U.S.-high eight digs and nine excellent service receptions on 17 attempts. Berg ran the U.S. offense with 13 running sets on 64 set attempts. Tom added five digs, while both Hodge and Larson chipped in four excellent service receptions. “We try to improve with every match we play and this one should help in our preparation for the match against Dominican Republic,” said Berg, who is the U.S. captain. “They will be playing in front of their fans so it will be an exciting and tough match.”
Logan Tom (15) blocks Chinese Taipei with Foluke Akinradewo (16) providing blocking help to her side. (FIVB photo)
McCutcheon started Tom and Larson at outside hitter, Akinradewo and Harmotto at middle blocker, Hooker at opposite and Berg at setter. Davis was the libero for the match. Hodge started the second and third sets, alternating replacing Tom and Larson. Miyashiro was a sub in the first two sets, while Haneef-Park was a sub in the second and third sets. Scott-Arruda came off the bench late in the third set. Team USA converted 49.4 percent of its attacks into points with a .404 hitting efficiency (44-8-89). Meanwhile, Chinese Taipei managed just a 26.0 kill percent and a .106 hitting efficiency. The U.S. held a 9-3 margin in blocks and a 7-3 advantage in aces. The Americans scored 44 kills to Chinese Taipei’s 27. Team USA held its errors to 11 in the match, while Chinese Taipei committed 15 errors. Chinese Taipei held a slim 21-19 advantage in digs and had a 43.9 excellent service reception percent to the Americans’ 39.0. Ting Chen Wan paced Chinese Taipei with eight points, while Feng Tsai Yin added seven points.
Lindsey Berg sets with Foluke Akinradewo running a slide. (FIVB photo)
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