1 2 3 4 5 USA 16 25 20 25 15 BLG 25 23 25 15 8 U.S. Women Rally Past Bulgaria to Qualify for Final Round SENDAI, Japan (Aug. 18, 2013) – The top-ranked U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team concluded the FIVB World Grand Prix preliminary round by rallying past Bulgaria 16-25, 25-23, 20-25, 25-15, 15-8 on Aug. 18 in Sendai, Japan.
Nicole Fawcett attacks versus Bulgaria (USAV/Bill Kauffman photo)
With the victory, Team USA advanced to the FIVB World Grand Prix Final Round. The Americans finished the nine-match preliminary round with an 8-1 overall record with 22 points and on a six-match win streak. Bulgaria, which had wins over No. 2 Brazil and No. 3 Japan earlier in the tournament, ended the preliminary round with a 6-3 record and 19 points. Bulgaria took an early 7-2 lead with seven unanswered points in the opening set and cruised to a 25-16 victory. Team USA, which trailed as much as 12-7 in the second set, rallied from a 23-20 deficit by scoring the final five points to claim a 25-23 victory and even the match at one set apiece. Bulgaria scored five unanswered points to take a 20-17 advantage in the third set and went on to win 25-20. Team USA used a 5-0 run to stake a 12-7 advantage in the fourth set, then produced a second 5-0 run extending the gap to 23-14 en route to winning 25-15 and secure a spot into the Final Round. In the tiebreaking set, the American opened up a 10-3 advantage and finished strong with a 15-8 victory. Kristin Hildebrand (Orem, Utah) paced the U.S. scoring with 15 points on 13 kills on 29 attacks, one block and one ace. Nicole Fawcett (Zanesfield, Ohio), who came off the bench and started the final three sets, picked up 13 points with 11 kills on 29 attacks and two aces. Kim Hill (Portland, Ore.) charted 12 kills on 31 swings and a block for 13 points. Christa Harmotto (Hopewell Township, Pa.) tacked on nine kills on 17 errorless attacks and three blocks for 12 points.
Lauren Paolini hits past the Bulgaria defense. (FIVB photo)
Lauren Paolini (Ann Arbor, Mich.) racked up nine kills off the bench. Alisha Glass (Leland, Mich.) pocketed four blocks and two aces for six points, while Kelly Murphy (Wilmington, Ill.) added three kills and two blocks for five points. Lauren Gibbemeyer (St. Paul, Minn.) totaled three kills and Cassidy Lichtman (Poway, Calif.) rounded out the scoring with an ace. The U.S. converted on 43.8 percent of its attacks with a .270 hitting efficiency (60-23-137) as Glass was credited with 40 running sets on 99 set attempts. Hill contributed a team-high 21 excellent receptions on 47 attempts, while Hildebrand was eight of 19 on service receptions. Tamari Miyashiro (Kaneohe, Hawaii) was credited with six excellent receptions on 17 attempts along with a team-high four digs. U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team Head Coach Karch Kiraly started Hildebrand and Hill at outside hitter, Gibbemeyer and Harmotto at middle blocker, Murphy at opposite and Glass at setter. Miyashiro was the libero for the match. Fawcett was a sub in the first and second sets before starting the final three sets in place of Murphy. Paolini subbed into the match in the second set and started the final three sets in place of Gibbemeyer. Lichtman was a serving sub in all five sets, while Jenna Hagglund (West Chester, Ohio) was a sub in the first and third sets.
Left: Christa Harmotto attacks versus Bulgaria. Right: Kristin Hildebrand hits past the block. (USAV/Bill Kauffman photos)
The U.S. held a 60-55 advantage in kills and both teams served six aces in the match. Bulgaria managed a 14-11 margin in blocks. The Americans held their errors to 21 for the match and took advantage of 24 Bulgarian errors. Bulgaria converted 39.6 percent of its attacks with a .252 hitting efficiency (55-20-139). Bulgaria’s Elitsa Vasileva produced a match-high 20 points and Emiliya Nikolova added 16 points. Hristina Ruseva tallied a match-high six blocks as part of a 14-point match.
Team USA celebrates its win over Bulgaria enabling it to advance to the Final Round (FIVB photo)
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