1 2 3 4 5 USA 25 25 25 CUB 20 17 13 U.S. Women Ace Cuba in NORCECA Semifinals (Le ) Nicole Davis receives serve against Cuba. (Right) Jordan Larson a acks without a Cuba defender in front of her with head coach Hugh McCutcheon watching from behind. (Photos copyrighted by USA Volleyball)
CAGUAS, Puerto Rico (Sept. 16, 2011) - The U.S. Women’s Na onal Volleyball Team scored seven aces leading to a 25-20, 25-17, 25-13 victory over Cuba on Sept. 16 in the NORCECA Women’s Con nental Championship semifinal round being held in Caguas, Puerto Rico. The U.S. broke a 16-all e in the opening set with a 6-1 scoring run to claim a 25-20 victory. The Americans stormed to a 5-1 lead with two aces to start the second set, then use a key 4-0 run to snag a 16-10 advantage en route to a 25-17 victory. Team USA reached the first technical meout of the third set with an 8-1 lead and scored the final six points for a 25-13 victory. “Obviously we are very happy with the victory,” U.S. Women’s Na onal Team Head Coach Hugh McCutcheon (Christchurch, New Zealand) said. “Cuba is a strong team, but tonight I think our team played par cularly hard. I think we have improved in each match of this tournament. More importantly, we qualified for the FIVB World Cup and that was our main goal.” Des nee Hooker (San Antonio, Texas) scored a match-high 15 points with 13 kills on 27 errorless a acks and two aces. Jordan Larson (Hooper, Neb.) contributed 11 kills on 17 a acks, two blocks and an ace. Foluke Akinradewo (Planta on, Fla.) added four kills on seven a acks, three blocks and an ace for eight points. Logan Tom (Salt Lake City, Utah) contributed three kills, three aces and a block for seven points. Heather Bown (Yorba Linda, Calif.) rounded out the scoring with four points on two kills and two blocks.
(Le ) Des nee Hooker avoids the Cuba block. (Right) Lindsey Berg blocks a Mexico a ack. (Photos copyrighted by USA volleyball)
Lindsey Berg (Honolulu) was credited with 22 assists in leading Team USA to a 44.0 kill percent and .360 hi ng efficiency (33-6-75). The Americans recorded only six a ack errors and 11 total errors (a ack errors, service errors, recep on errors). Cuba was held to a 39.1 kill percent, but 14 a ack errors reduced its hi ng efficiency to .239. Tom tallied a team-high seven digs, while Nicole Davis (Stockton, Calif.) contributed a team-high eight excellent recep ons on 12 a empts and four digs. Larson added four digs and eight excellent recep ons on 14 a empts. “Tonight was a nice three games,” said Jennifer Tamas (Milpitas, Calif.), the U.S. captain. “I think both teams played really hard. Several of our players had excep onal matches tonight and we had a great game at the service line.” Team USA held a 7-1 ace advantage and a slim 8-6 margin in blocks. Cuba totaled a 36-33 advantage in kills, but 32 errors (hi ng, serving and receiving) hurt in the end.
(Le ) Foluke Akinradewo hits over the Mexico block. (Right) Logan Tom connects with the Molten. (Photos copyrighted by USA Volleyball)
McCutcheon started Tom and Larson at outside hi er, Akinradewo and Bown at middle blocker, Hooker at opposite and Berg at se er. Davis was the designated libero for the match. Alisha Glass (Leland, Mich.) was a sub in the first two sets, while Kim Glass (Lancaster, Pa.) was a reserve in the second set. Yanelis Santos paced Cuba with 10 points, while Kenia Carcaces and Yusidey Silie added eight points. “USA is always a very tough opponent,” Cuba coach Juan Carlos Gala said. “Tonight their serves were very tough. They were be er than us from the start to finish.” Team USA celebrates match point against Cuba, ensuring a spot into the FIVB World Cup in November. (Photo copyrighted by USA Volleyball)
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