6/16 1 2 3 4 5 USA 25 25 25 DOM 12 20 18 U.S. Women Defeat Dominican Republic to Win Pan Am Cup
Nicole Fawcett hits past the Domincan Republic block. (NORCECA photo)
LIMA, PERU (June 16, 2013) – Nicole Fawcett (Zanesfield, Ohio) scored 15 points in sparking the U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team to a 25-12, 25-20, 25-18 victory over Dominican Republic on June 16 in Lima, Peru, to capture the Pan American Cup gold medal for the second consecutive year. In addition, she captured the tournament’s most valuable player award. After Dominican Republic opened the first set with a 4-2 lead, it was all U.S. in the frame as the Americans went on a 9-1 scoring run and later used a 6-0 run en route to a 25-12 victory. The second set was tight until the last six points with 11 lead changes. However, the U.S. changed leads for the final time after trailing 20-19 and scored the final six points for a 25-20 victory. Team USA charged out to a 7-2 lead in the third set, only to have Dominican Republic climb back to within one at 12-11. However, the U.S. regrouped with a 9-3 scoring run to win 25-18. “I am really pleased with the team’s performance tonight, and overall with the tournament, especially how we were able to get better with every match,” Kiraly said. “Dominican is a good team with Olympic experience and for the most part we were able to control the match from beginning to end.”
Team USA celebrates versus Dominican Republic. (NORCECA photo)
Fawcett collected her match-high 15 points with six kills on 15 errorless attacks, six blocks and three aces. Lauren Gibbemeyer (St. Paul, Minn.) charted 11 points with eight kills on 16 attacks and three blocks. Kristin Richards Hildebrand (Orem, Utah) picked up nine kills on 16 swings in the match. Megan Hodge (Durham, N.C.), the only 2012 U.S. Olympian in the match, pocketed eight points with seven kills on 16 attacks and an ace. Rachael Adams (Cincinnati, Ohio) recorded five kills on 10 attacks and two blocks for seven points. Alisha Glass (Leland, Mich.) was credited with two blocks, while Kelly Murphy (Wilmington, Ill.) rounded out the scoring with a kill as a reserve. Glass provided 28 running sets and Jenna Hagglund (West Chester, Ohio) added seven running sets in leading the U.S. offense to a 45.6 kill percent and .367 hitting efficiency (36-7-79). Fawcett led the American defense with eight digs, while Kayla Banwarth (Dubuque, Iowa) added eight digs and seven excellent receptions on 14 errorless attempts. Hodge added a team-high 12 excellent receptions on 22 chances. In addition to the MVP award, Fawcett earned the best server honor. Hodge was chosen as best spiker, while Banwarth was selected as best receiver. “This group is a blend of experienced and young players,” said Richards Hildebrand, the U.S. captain. “I’m really pleased with how we were able to come together to defend our gold medal in this event and show what USA Volleyball is all about: supporting each other, being tough, and playing great--especially when it matters most.”
Nicole Fawcett was presented with the most valuable player and best server award at the Pan American Cup. (NORCECA photos)
The U.S. started Hodge and Richards 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. Hagglund and Murphy were double subs in all three sets, while Cassidy Lichtman (Poway, Calif.) was a sub in the final two sets. Team USA used a stifling 13-4 block advantage to thwart the Dominican Republic offense. Further, the U.S. benefited from 22 other Dominican Republic errors in the match. The U.S. limited Dominican Republic to a 33.3 kill percent and .107 hitting efficiency (28-19-84) for the match. The Americans also held a slim 4-3 margin in aces to go with a 36-28 advantage in kills and a 37-34 lead in digs. Priscilla Rivera, Yonkaira Pena and Annerys Vargas all scored eight points to lead Dominican Republic.
Team USA presented with the Pan American Cup trophy. (NORCECA photo)
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