6/15 1 2 3 4 5 USA 25 25 25 BRA 11 20 22 U.S. Women Sweep Brazil, Advance to Pan Am Cup Title Match
Cassidy Lichtman reaches to pass versus Brazil. (NORCECA photo)
LIMA, PERU (June 15, 2013) –The U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team used a complete team effort in powering past Brazil 25-11, 25-20, 25-22 on June 15 during the semifinal round of the Pan American Cup in Lima, Peru. The U.S. built an early 7-2 lead in the opening set and cruised to a 25-11 victory as seven different players scored. The Americans held a 4-0 margin in aces in the first set. Team USA started five new players in the second set and led throughout in a closely contested 25-20 victory. Team USA overcame an 18-17 deficit in the third set by using a 7-2 scoring run to establish a 23-19 advantage and went on to win 25-22. “I am glad to arrive to this stage,” U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team Head Coach Karch Kiraly (San Clemente, Calif.) said. “Our team has played well and united. The Dominicans will be a tough opponent as they have won all their matches, but it will be a good match.” Team USA had all 11 of its non-libero players score during the match. Rachael Adams (Cincinnati) led the Americans with 12 points and a match-high six blocks to go with six kills on 12 attacks. Lauren Paolini (Ann Arbor, Mich.) secured 11 points with 10 kills on 14 attacks and an ace, while Kelly Murphy (Wilmington, Ill.) matched the 11 points with 10 kills on 22 swings and a block. Kim Hill (Portland, Ore.) charted seven kills on 16 attacks and two blocks for nine points.
Megan Hodge hits around the Brazil block. (NORCECA photo)
Cassidy Lichtman (Poway, Calif.) chipped in seven points with six kills on 10 errorless attacks and an ace. Megan Hodge (Durham, N.C.) tacked on four kills on nine errorless swings, one block and one ace for six points in just one set of action. Kristin Hildebrand (Orem, Utah) pocketed two kills on three attacks, while Nicole Fawcett (Zanesfield, Ohio) served two aces in the first set. Lauren Gibbemeyer (St. Paul, Minn.) provided a kill and ace for two points. Setters Alisha Glass (Leland, Mich.) and Jenna Hagglund (West Chester, Ohio) both turned in one block. Hagglund provided the U.S. with 30 running sets in relief of Glass, who had five running sets. Hill totaled a team-high nine excellent receptions on 18 errorless attempts, while Banwarth charted a team-high nine digs to go with six excellent receptions on 12 errorless chances. Richards Hildebrand secured seven digs in just one set of action. Lichtman added six excellent receptions on nine errorless chances. The U.S. started Hodge and Hildebrand at outside hitter, Gibbemeyer and Adams at middle blocker, Fawcett at opposite and Glass at setter. Banwarth is the designated Team USA libero for the tournament. After the first set, Hagglund started the rest of the way for Glass, Lichtman and Hill started in place of Richards Hildebrand and Hodge at outside hitter, Paolini stepped in for Gibbemeyer at middle blocker and Murphy spelled Fawcett the rest of the way.
(Left) Alisha Glass serves versus Brazil. (Right) Jenna Hagglund sets versus Brazil. (NORCECA photos)
The U.S. convert 48.4 percent of its attacks into kills as part of a .389 hitting efficiency (46-9-95). The Americans held Brazil to a 39.8 kill percent and .227 hitting efficiency (35-15-88. Team USA dominated the net with a 12-5 block advantage, in addition to serving strong with a 6-2 ace margin. The U.S. also held a 46-35 edge in kills as both teams held errors in check with 11 each. “Today all the players had the chance to participate and it could be seen the team is very united,” said Hildebrand, the U.S. captain. “Dominican Republic will be a tough rival, but we will go out to enjoy the game.” Brazil’s Gabriela Guimaraes tallied a match-high 14 points as no other teammate scored more than eight points in the loss. Team USA celebrates a point versus Trinidad & Tobago. (NORCECA photo)
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