U.S. Girls' Youth Starts NORCECA Strong

Bill Kauffman
Manager, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: 719-228-6800
E-Mail: bill.kauffman@usav.org

Unofficial DataVolley Match Stats

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (April 27, 2010) – The U.S. Girls’ Youth National Team opened the 2010 NORCECA Girls’ Youth (U-18) Continental Championship on Tuesday evening with a commanding 25-12, 25-18, 25-15 victory over Dominican Republic at the Guatemala Dome in Guatemala City, Guatemala.

The U.S., ranked second in the girls’ youth age division of NORCECA and the four-time defending champion of the biennial event, is grouped into Pool C along with Canada, Dominican Republic and Jamaica. The USA faces Jamaica on April 28 at 4 p.m. MT, and wraps up pool play against Canada at 8 p.m. MT.

Molly McCage (Spring, Texas) led three American players in double-figure scoring with 13 points, including a match-high four blocks. Jordan Burgess (Tampa, Fla.) and Brittany Howard (Los Altos, Calif.) added identical 10 points, all on kills from 22 attempts. Andie Malloy (Allen, Texas) contributed eight points, while Shelby Sullivan (Richardson, Texas) charted four points. Madison Bugg (Apex, N.C.) tacked on three points, while Angela Lowak (New Braunfels, Texas) and Lauren Sieckmann (Omaha, Neb.) rounded out the scoring with a point each.

“For a first match, I am pleased with our effort,” U.S. Girls’ Youth National Team Head Coach Jim Stone said. “We didn’t make many mistakes, so I am pleased with our consistent play. It is a good way to start.”

After the match, Stone praised the consistent setting of Bugg, who impressed him with her composure and distribution running the offense.

“I thought our team played very well, especially facing a tough Dominican Republic team after a short amount of training time together,” Bugg said. “I'm very excited how our team played and I'm looking forward to us getting better throughout the tournament.”

Haley Pouliezos (Imperial, Mo.) tallied had 12 successful service receptions on her 16 attempts. Howard led the team in digs with eight, while Burgess added six digs.

The U.S. converted 49 percent of its 91 attack attempts into points with only 11 errors on the night. Team USA held Dominican Republic to a 28 percent conversion rate on offense. Both teams tallied seven blocks, while Dominican Republic held a 3-1 advantage in aces.

To view the official match statistics, click here.

"We knew the Dominican Republic team had a lot of heavy hitters and we needed to execute our game plan," Burgess said. "Our team stayed mentally tough to pull out the win."

Stone started Bugg at setter, Burgess and Howard at outside hitter, McCage an Sullivan at middle blocker and Malloy at opposite. Pouliezos started at libero. Sieckmann subbed into the match in the second set, while Lowak came off the bench in the third set.

"It was great to see our team enter the gym with confidence!" U.S. Assistant Coach Charlene Johnson Tagaloa said. "They believed in themselves and each other and found success as Team USA. They showed their passion for the game and found success at the end."

Dominicans Elizabeth Martinez and Pamela Soriano finished with 10 and 9 points, respectively.

“They were a very tough opponent,” Dominican Republic Head Coach Giovanni Sibilia said. “They are the defending champions and the best team here. My girls were a little nervous but I expected that. We will be better in our next match.”

The top two first place teams of the three pools advance directly to the semifinals on May 1, while the lowest ranked pool winner joins the three pool second-place finishers in the quarterfinals on April 30. The championship match is set for May 2.

The U.S. has won five of the first six NORCECA Girls’ Youth Continental Championships, including the past four events. The top three finishing teams in this year’s NORCECA Girls’ Youth Continental Championship receive berths into the 2011 FIVB Girls’ Youth World Championship, while the winner earns a spot into the first-ever IOC Youth Olympics to be held in August of 2010 in Singapore.

Earlier today, Canada defeated Jamaica 25-10, 25-9, 25-15 in Pool C, Puerto Rico dominated El Salvador 25-8, 25-11, 25-12 in Pool B and Mexico handled Trinidad & Tobago 25-16, 25-7, 25-11. Host Guatemala (Pool B) and Costa Rica (Pool A) were idle on the first day of competition.

After the opening set was tied at 3-all, Team USA used a 6-0 run that included a Bugg block and Burgess kill to take a 9-3 advantage. The U.S. extended its margin to 16-7 following consecutive kills by Howard, McCage and Malloy. With an 18-10 lead, the Americans rattled off six unanswered points with two kills apiece from McCage and Sullivan. The set ended at 25-12 as Sullivan put down a quick attack.

Dominican Republic jumped out to an 8-6 advantage at the first technical timeout of the second set, only to have the U.S. answer the bell. The Americans tied the set at 9-all on consecutive Dominican Republic errors. Down again by two points at 12-10, the U.S. chimed in with a 6-1 scoring run that included a Sieckmann ace and two kills from Howard to give the U.S. a 16-13 lead at the second technical timeout. recover to gain a three-point cushion (16-13) at the second technical timeout. The Americans closed out the set with a 9-5 run and 25-18 victory after a Malloy kill.

The third set was close early with the U.S. clinging to a 9-7 advantage. Howard and Sullivan scored kills in a mini three-point run to lift the U.S. in front 12-7. With the score at 14-10, Burgess hammered consecutive kills as part of a 5-0 run pushing the Americans in front 19-10. Team USA earned its first match point at 24-14 as Lowak and Malloy charted kills. Howard ended the set at 25-15 with a kill to conclude a 16-8 scoring run to end the match.

For additional information on the tournament, visit the U.S. Girls’ Youth National Team page at usavolleyball.org/events/3748.

2010 U.S. Girls’ Youth National Team Roster
Player (Pos., Ht, Hometown, Club, Region)
2 - Madison Bugg (S, 6-0, Apex, N.C., 2012, Triangle, Carolina)
3 - Jordan Burgess (OH, 6-0, Tampa, Fla., 2012, Tampa Bay Juniors, Florida)
5 - Mylan “Mimi” Eugene (OH, 5-11, Houston, Texas, 2014, Texas Tornados, Lone Star)
6 - Brittany Howard (OH, 6-3, Los Altos, Calif., 2012, Vision, Northern California)
8 - Angela Lowak (OH, 6-0, New Braunfels, Texas, 2012, Austin Juniors, Lone Star)
9 - Andie Malloy (S/OH, 6-2, Allen, Texas, 2012, Skyline Juniors, North Texas)
11 - Molly McCage (MB, 6-3, Spring, Texas, 2012, Texas Team, Lone Star)
12 - Allison Palmer (S, 5-9, Laguna Beach, Calif., 2012, Laguna Beach Volleyball Club, Southern California)
13 – Regan Peltier (MB, 6-2, Nixa, Mo., 2012, Midwest Xplosion, Heart of America)
14 - Haley Pouliezos (L, 5-7, Imperial, Mo., 2012, High Performance, Gateway)
15 - ^ Chloe Reinig (MB, 6-4, Detroit, Mich., 2013, Michigan Elite, Lakeshore)
17 - Lauren Sieckmann (S, 5-11, Omaha, Neb., 2012, Nebraska Elite, Great Plains)
18 - Shelby Sullivan (MB, 6-2, Richardson, Texas, 2012, TAV, North Texas)
^ Chloe Reinig originally selected to team, but withdrew due to illness

Head Coach: Jim Stone (USA Volleyball High Performance Coach)
Assistant Coach: Melissa Wolter (University of West Florida)
Assistant Coach: Charlene Johnson-Tagaloa (USA Volleyball High Performance Coach)
Team Leader: Diane French (USA Volleyball High Performance)

2010 NORCECA Girls’ Youth Continental Championship
Pool A: Costa Rica, Mexico, Trinidad & Tobago
Pool B: El Salvador, Guatemala, Puerto Rico
Pool C: Canada, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, United States

2010 NORCECA Girls’ Youth Continental Championship Schedule

April 27
Pool C: Canada def. Jamaica 25-10, 25-9, 25-15
Pool B: Puerto Rico def. El Salvador 25-8, 25-11, 25-12
Pool A: Mexico def. Trinidad & Tobago 25-16, 25-7, 25-11
Pool C: USA def. Dominican Republic 25-12, 25-18, 25-15

April 28
Pool A: Trinidad & Tobago vs. Costa Rica, 2 p.m.
Pool C: USA vs. Jamaica, 4 p.m.
Pool B: El Salvador vs. Guatemala, 6 p.m.
Pool C: Canada vs. Dominican Republic, 8 p.m.

April 29
Pool C: Dominican Republic vs. Jamaica, 2 p.m.
Pool A: Costa Rica vs. Mexico, 4 p.m.
Pool B: Guatemala vs. Puerto Rico, 6 p.m.
Pool C: USA vs. Canada, 8 p.m.

April 30
Match 13: Classification 7/10: 4C versus lowest rated third-place team, 2 p.m.
Match 14: Classification 7/10: two highest rated third-place pool teams, 4 p.m.
Match 15: Quarterfinal 1: 6 p.m. (three second-place teams, lowest rated first-place teams)
Match 16: Quarterfinal 2: 8 p.m. (three second-place teams, lowest rated first-place teams)

May 1
Match 17: Classification 9-10 (Loser Match 13 vs. Loser Match 14), 2 p.m.
Match 18: Classification 7-8 (Winner Match 13 vs. Winner Match 14), 4 p.m.
Match 19: Semifinal (Top two first-place teams vs. quarterfinal winner), 6 p.m.
Match 20: Semifinal (Top two first-place teams vs. quarterfinal winner), 8 p.m.

May 2
Match 21: Classification 5-6 (Loser Match 15 vs. Loser Match 16), 4 p.m.
Match 22: Bronze Medal (Loser Match 19 vs. Loser Match 20), 6 p.m.
Match 23: Gold Medal (Winner Match 19 vs. Winner Match 20), 8 p.m.

Past NORCECA Girls’ Youth Continental Championship Results
Year Gold Silver Bronze
1998 USA PUR CAN
2000 PUR USA DOM
2002 USA DOM PUR
2004 USA PUR MEX
2006 USA DOM PUR
2008 USA MEX DOM

Tags: 2010 U.S. Girls' Youth National Team, Allison Palmer, Andie Malloy, Angela Lowak, Brittany Howard, Chloe Reinig, Haley Pouliezos, Jim Stone, Jordan Burgess, Lauren Sieckmann, Madison Bugg, Molly McCage, Mylan Eugene, NORCECA, NORCECA Continental Championship, NORCECA Continental Girls' Youth Championship, Regan Peltier, Shelby Sullivan, U.S. Girls' Youth National Team