8/7 1 2 3 4 5 USA 25 25 25 DOM 14 21 22 U.S. Women Blank Dominican Republic to Reach Semifinals LONDON (Aug. 7, 2012) – The top-ranked U.S. Olympic Women’s Volleyball Team advanced to the 2012 Olympic Games semifinal round for the fourth straight time with a 25-14, 25-21, 25-22 victory over NORCECA rival Dominican Republic in the knockout quarterfinal round on Aug. 7 at Earls Court in London. The U.S. Women, which is 6-0 at the 2012 London Games and 29-1 overall this year, will now face Korea on Thursday at 3 p.m. local time (7 a.m. PT). Team USA bolted an 11-2 lead in the opening set and used seven blocks to win 25-14. The U.S. rattled off a 6-0 run to overcome a 10-8 deficit in the second set and proceeded to a 25-21 victory. The Americans put together an 8-1 spurt in the third set to take a 13-7 advantage and held on for a 25-22 victory after a late Dominican Republic charge.
(Left) Destinee Hooker (19) and Foluke Akinradewo stuff a Dominican Republic attack. (Right) Jordan Larson (10) attacks with Nicole Davis ready for the cover. (FIVB photos)
“I am very happy with the win tonight against the Dominican Republic,” U.S. Olympic Women’s Volleyball Team Head Coach Hugh McCutcheon said. “Dominican Republic is a tough team because they have a lot of athleticism and experience. Now our focus will turn to our next opponent.” Destinee Hooker ignited the U.S. offense with 19 points via 15 kills on 38 attacks and four blocks. Foluke Akinradewo added 10 kills on 13 errorless attacks and a block. Jordan Larson charted nine kills and two blocks for 11 points. Christa Harmotto contributed five kills on 10 swings and two blocks for seven points. Logan Tom tallied four kills and an ace for five points. Courtney Thompson, who received her first Olympic Games start, rounded out the scoring with a block and ace for two points. Nicole Davis recorded 16 excellent receptions on 18 errorless attempts to go with 12 digs. Tom added 14 digs to lead the back-row defense and added 11 excellent receptions. Larson provided 11 digs in the victory. Thompson ran the offense to a 43.0 kill percent and .360 hitting efficiency (43-7-100) with 34 running sets. The U.S. used a starting lineup void of its captain and starting setter in Lindsey Berg, but she and McCutcheon are hoping for a return later in the tournament. However, both expressed confidence in Thompson’s ability to run the offense. “It’s day-to-day,” McCutcheon said on Berg’s status. “I thought Courtney did a great job. I don’t think we missed too many beats tonight.” “I am still optimistic,” McCutcheon said in regards to Lindsey Berg’s return to the lineup as its setter. “I am very happy for Courtney (Thompson) and her play tonight.”
Destinee Hooker muscles down an attack for a point. (FIVB photo)
McCutcheon started Akinradewo and Harmotto at middle blocker, Tom and Larson at outside hitter, Hooker at opposite and Thompson at setter. Davis is the U.S. designated libero for the 2012 Olympic Games. Tayyiba Haneef-Park and Tamari Miyashiro were subs in all three sets. Team USA controlled the net with an 11-2 advantage in blocks and held its errors to just nine for the match. Meanwhile, Dominican Republic held slim margins of 44-43 advantage in kills and 50-49 in digs, but committed 19 errors in the match. For the match, Dominican Republic converted 40.0 percent of its attacks into points, but 18 attack errors produced a .236 hitting efficiency. Both teams served two aces. Prisiclla Rivera led the Dominican Republic with 15 points and Bethania de la Cruz totaled 12 points in the loss.
Courtney Thompson (foreground) receives a congratulatory hug from assistant coach Paula Weishoff. (FIVB photos)
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