7/30 1 2 3 4 5 USA 25 25 22 25 BRA 18 17 25 21 U.S. Women Down Brazil in Key Pool B Match LONDON (July 30, 2012) – In the much anticipated Olympic Games Pool B match, the No. 1 U.S. Olympic Women’s Volleyball Team defeated No. 2 Brazil 25-18, 25-17, 22-25, 25-21 on July 30 at Earls Court in London. The U.S., now 2-0 with six points in Pool B, continues Pool B competition on Aug. 1 versus No. 3 China (2-0, 6 points) at 8 p.m. local time (noon PT). Brazil is now 1-1 with two points. Team USA has now won the last six matches against Brazil, including twice in the recent 2012 FIVB World Grand Prix, once in the 2011 FIVB World Cup and in the final of the 2011 FIVB World Grand Prix. The U.S. rallied from a 10-8 deficit in the first set with a 6-1 scoring to take a 14-11 advantage as the Americans finished off the set 25-18 with five of the final six points. After Brazil held an early 2-1 lead in the second set, Team USA erupted for a 16-7 lead by the second technical timeout and cruised to a 25-17 victory. The Americans produced a .460 hitting efficiency in the second set to the Brazilians’ .243. The U.S. battled back from an 8-3 lead in the third set to take a 16-15 lead, but Brazil scored four of the final five points for a 25-22 victory. Team USA built a 9-5 lead in the fourth set and maintained at least a two-point advantage the rest of the way for a 25-21 victory. Team USA first-time Olympian Destinee Hooker scored a match-high 23 points with 22 kills on 45 swings and a block. Jordan Larson, also a first-time Olympian, contributed 18 points with 16 kills on 36 attacks and two blocks. Four-time Olympian Logan Tom (Salt Lake City, Utah) charted 12 points, all on kills from 27 attacks with just one error.
Jordan Larson hits off the Brazil block. (FIVB photo)
“There were some ups and downs, but we played really well,” Larson said. “We had a tough start, but we found our rhythm. Brazil is always a battle, but we came strong for the win.” “As a team we played well and improved from the first match,” Tom said. “Brazil is good technically and is fiery, so when they got ahead it was hard to catch up.” Foluke Akinradewo tacked on nine kills on 19 swings, while Christa Harmotto chipped in five points with four kills on attacks and a block. Lindsey Berg (Honolulu) rounded out the scoring with three kills on six attacks. Nicole Davis paced the defense with 18 digs and a team-high 23 excellent receptions on 33 attempts. Berg, who had 14 digs, set the offense to a 46.2 kill percent and .350 hitting efficiency (66-16-143). Tom added 18 excellent receptions on 23 attempts and 13 digs, while Larson recorded 12 digs.
Foluke Akinradewo (16) towers for a block. (FIVB photo)
U.S. Olympic Women’s Volleyball Team Head Coach Hugh McCutcheon started Tom and Larson at outside hitter, Akinradewo and Harmotto at middle blocker, Hooker at opposite and Berg at setter. Davis is the designated libero for the tournament. Tamari Miyashiro =was a serving sub in all four sets, while Tayyiba Haneef-Park was a sub in all but the second set. Courtney Thompson was a sub in the first and third sets. Brazil held advantages in blocks (7-4) and aces (3-0), but had 12 fewer kills than the Americans (66-54). Further, the Team USA defense held Brazil to a .269 hitting efficiency (54-15-145). The Americans held a 71-55 margin in digs and produced a higher service reception percent (74.6 to 71.6). Brazil’s Sheilla Castro led her team with 15 points, while Thaisa Menezes added 11 points. Both Fabiana Claudino and Paula Pequeno tallied 10 points each.
(L-R) Nicole Davis, Jordan Larson, Logan Tom, Foluke Akinradewo and Destinee Hooker celebrate match point versus Brazil. (FIVB photo)
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