Women's Sitting Team in Final; Men to Play Algeria

B.J. Hoeptner Evans
Manager, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: (719) 228-6800
E-Mail: bj.evans@usav.org     

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (March 24, 2010) – The U.S. Women’s Sitting Volleyball Team (5-0) has advanced to the final of the WOVD (World Organization for Volleyball Disabled) World Cup in Port Said, Egypt, after sweeping Russia in the semifinal on Wednesday.

The U.S. Women’s Sitting Team will face Netherlands in the final on Thursday at 10 a.m. CT after defeating Russia, 25-14, 25-18, 25-8 on Wednesday.

Katie Holloway (Lake Stevens, Wash.) led the U.S. Women’s Sitting Team with 18 points. Heather Erickson (Fayetteville, N.C.) added 17.

“It was good to see the whole team execute at a high level, gain a convincing win over Russia and progress to the championship match tomorrow,” said U.S. Women’s Team Captain Brenda Maymon (Sellersburg, Ind.).

On the men’s side, the U.S. Men’s Sitting Team (1-5) will play Algeria on Thursday after losing two matches on Wednesday.

The U.S. Men opened Wednesday's first match against Germany a bit sluggish following its five-set loss to Iraq on Tuesday.

Brent Rasmussen (Omaha, Neb.) and Eric Duda (Gainesville, Fla.) led the team in attacks with percentages of 0.313 and 0.333 respectively; however the United States lost in three sets, 21-25, 22-25, 18-25.

The U.S. Men came back to play a second match against Ukraine, which swept the United States in the first match of the tournament.

This match was a different story. Team USA came out playing well and led the entire first set, capturing it 25-19. The momentum carried the United States into the second set, however Ukraine capitalized on a couple of unforced errors at the end of the set to tie the match.

Backed by the reliable offense provided by Eric Duda, Team USA led throughout the third set. Set point came from U.S. Men’s Team Captain Brent Rasmussen and the United States won, 25-23.

The forth set went to Ukraine, setting the stage for the tiebreaker, which the United States lost 11-15.

”It was a close (fifth) set with a lot of hustle and both teams performing at a high level,” U.S. Head Coach Edgar Miraku (Elbasan, Albania) said. “While we fell short in the fifth set, it was a good performance from the whole team.”

Roderick Green (West Monroe, La.) led the U.S. Men with 19 points, while Duda and James Stuck (New Kensington, Pa.) hit 0.265 and 0.263 respectively.

The U.S. Men’s Sitting Team will play its final match on Thursday against Algeria.

U.S. Tournament Results/Schedule (All times CT)
Men
Pool Play
March 21
Ukraine def. USA, 25-22, 25-23, 25-21
USA def. Great Britain, 25-19, 25-21, 25-20
March 22
Iran def. USA, 25-9, 25-19, 25-11
March 23
Iraq def. USA, 21-25, 25-18, 22-25, 25-20, 13-15
Crossover
March 24
Germany def. USA, 25-21, 25-22, 25-18
Ukraine def. USA, 3-2
March 25
USA vs. Algeria

Women
Pool Play
March 21
USA def. Netherlands, 22-25, 22-25, 25-15, 25-23, 15-11
March 22
USA def. Slovenia, 25-19, 25-12, 25-13 
USA def. Russia, 25-12, 25-17, 25-17
March 23
USA def. Egypt, 25-9, 25-8, 25-5
Semifinals
March 24
USA def. Russia, 25-14, 25-18, 25-8
Championship
March 25
USA vs. Netherlands

U.S. Women’s Sitting Volleyball Team
Number Name (Hometown/Resident athletes at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, Okla. are noted)
1 Lora Webster (Cave Creek, Ariz.)
3 Brenda Maymon (Sellersburg, Ind./Edmond, Okla.)
4 Michelle Gerlosky (Griffin, Ga./Edmond, Okla.)
5 Katie Holloway (Lake Stevens, Wash./Edmond, Okla.)
6 Heather Erickson (Fayetteville, N.C.)
9 Gina McWilliams (The Colony, Texas)
10 Kari Miller (Washington, D.C./Edmond, Okla.)
13 Nichole Millage (Champaign, Ill./Edmond, Okla.)
15 Kendra Lancaster (Westfield, Ind.)
18 Alex Gouldie (St. Paul, Neb.)

Head Coach: Bill Hamiter (Bethany, Okla.)
Assistant Coach: Edgar Miraku (Elbasan, Albania)
Team Leader: Dixie Collins (Marshall, Va.)
Athletic Trainer: Brian Choate

U.S. Men’s Sitting Volleyball Team
Number Name (Hometown/Resident athletes at the University of Central Oklahoma are noted)
2 Dan Regan (St. Louis, Mo./Edmond, Okla.)
3 Charles Swearingon (Gulfport, Miss./Edmond, Okla.)
4 Edward O'Neil (Amherst, Mass./Edmond, Okla.)
5 Eric Duda (Gainesville, Fla./Edmond, Okla.)
7 Brad Johnson (Pompano Beach, Fla.)
8 James Stuck (New Kensington, Pa./Edmond, Okla.)
9 Hugo Storer (Houston, Texas)
10 Edgardo LaForest (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
11 Roderick Green (West Monroe, La./Edmond, Okla.)
12 Brent Rasmussen (Omaha, Neb.)
13 Josh Franklin (Houston, Texas)

Head Coach: Edgar Miraku (Elbasan, Albania)
Assistant Coach: Bill Hamiter (Bethany, Okla.)
Team Leader: Dixie Collins (Marshall, Va.)
Athletic Trainer: Brian Choate

 

Tags: Brad Johnson, Brent Rasmussen, Dan Regan, Eric Duda, Gina McWilliams, Heather Erickson, Hugo Storer, James Stuck, Josh Franklin, Kari Miller, Katie Holloway, Lora Webster, Nichole Millage, Roderick Green, sitting, Sitting Volleyball, U.S. Men's Sitting Volleyball Team, U.S. Women's Sitting Volleyball Team