8/9 1 2 3 4 5 USA 25 25 25 ALG 12 15 11 U.S. Women Sweep Algeria at World Grand Prix BELGRADE, Serbia (Aug. 9, 2013) – The top-ranked U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team dominated Algeria 25-12, 25-15, 25-11 with 11 different players scoring on Aug. 9 during Pool F of the FIVB World Grand Prix being held at Belgrade, Serbia.
Lauren Gibbemeyer attacks without a block in front of her. (FIVB photo)
The U.S. improves to 3-1 overall with nine points, while No. 14 Algeria is still in search of its first win and point after four matches. The U.S. broke away from a slim 4-3 lead over Algeria in the opening set with a 13-2 run that included nine unanswered points to reach a 17-5 advantage en route to a 25-10 victory. Team USA scored the first four points of the second set and built a 14-8 advantage before Algeria climbed to within three at 14-11. The Americans finished out strong scoring 11 of the next 15 points to win 25-15. In the final set, the U.S. rolled to a 5-0 start and cruised for a 25-11 victory. The two teams had met only once previously, which the U.S. won in straight sets during the 2011 FIVB World Cup in Okayama, Japan. Rachael Adams (Cincinnati, Ohio), who started in her first-ever FIVB World Grand Prix match, tallied nine kills, one block and one ace for a match-high 11 points. Cassidy Lichtman (Poway, Calif.) came off the bench to score nine points on six kills, two aces and a block. Regan Hood (Dallas) and Juliann Faucette (San Diego) subbed into the match and provided seven points apiece.
Left: Kayla Banwarth passes versus Algeria. Right: Cassidy Lichtman takes a swing. (USAV/Bill Kauffman photos)
Kristin Hildebrand (Orem, Utah) added five points in just the opening set, while Lauren Gibbemeyer (St. Paul, Minn.) added five kills. Alisha Glass (Leland, Mich.), Courtney Thompson (Kent, Wash.) and Kelly Murphy (Wilmington, Ill.) all chipped in two points each. Kim Hill (Portland, Ore.) and Lauren Paolini (Ann Arbor, Mich.) rounded out the scoring with a point apiece. Kayla Banwarth (Dubuque, Iowa) recorded a U.S.-high nine digs in the victory in addition to three excellent receptions on 12 attempts. Thompson dished out a team-high 16 running sets on 53 set attempts, while Glass was credited with seven running sets on 14 attempts. Lichtman chipped in three excellent receptions on six attempts to go with four digs. Team USA produced a 50.0 kill percent with a .385 hitting efficiency. The U.S. produced advantage in aces (6-0) and blocks (7-4) against Algeria, while also tallying a 39-15 margin in kills. Algeria committed 23 errors in the match to the Americans’ 19. U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team Head Coach Karch Kiraly started Hildebrand and Hill at outside hitter, Gibbemeyer and Adams at middle blocker, Murphy at opposite and Glass at setter. Banwarth was the libero for the match. Thompson and Faucette subbed into the match the first set and started the last two sets. Hood and Lichtman started the final two sets, while Paolini was a sub in the second set and started the third set. Algeria was led by Safia Boukhima and Aicha Mezemate with five points each.
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Top: Rachael Adams (22) and Regan Hood (18) block a Brazil shot. (USAV/Bill Kauffman photo) Left: Alisha Glass (1) and Rachael Adams (22) go for a block against Algeria (FIVB photo)