U.S. Girls' Youth Team Aces Jamaica

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 28, 2010) – The U.S. Girls’ Youth National Team improved to 2-0 at the 2010 NORCECA Girls’ Youth (U-18) Continental Championship with a dominating 25-4, 25-7, 25-4 victory over Jamaica on Wednesday afternoon 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 (1-0), Dominican Republic (0-1) and Jamaica (0-2). The USA concludes pool play on Thursday against Canada at 8 p.m. MT.

Molly McCage (Spring, Texas) led the U.S. with nine points, including six kills on six attacks to go with a block and two aces. Mimi Eugene (Houston) and Angela Lowak (New Braunfels, Texas) each tacked on seven points apiece. Eugene had six kills on nine attempts and an ace, while Lowak provided seven kills on 13 swings. All the U.S. players except libero Haley Pouliezos (Imperial, Mo.) scored at least one point.

“I am glad that we got contribution from everyone as each one of my players participated in the match,” U.S. Girls’ Youth National Team Head Coach Jim Stone said. “We played consistently throughout the three sets. Tomorrow, we have a big match against Canada. That is a match we have to win if we want to move forward.”

Lauren Sieckmann (Omaha) charted five points with four kills and an ace. Regan Peltier (Nixa, Mo.) tacked on two kills, an ace and a block for four points. Madison Bugg (Apex, N.C.), Jordan Burgess (Tampa, Fla.), Brittany Howard (Los Altos, Calif.) and Andie Malloy (Allen, Texas) all notched three points. Shelby Sullivan (Richardson, Texas) chipped in two points and Allison Palmer (Laguna Beach, Calif.) rounded out the scoring with a single point in limited action.

The U.S. held advantages over Jamaica in all three scoring categories, including a 14-0 margin in aces. All but three players on the American side had at least one ace in the match. The Americans had 31 kills on 44 swings as part of a 70.5 kill percent and .614 hitting efficiency with only four attack errors. The U.S. had the only two blocks in the match.

“This was an important match for us to win,” U.S. Girls’ Youth Team Assistant Coach Melissa Wolter said. “Our girls stayed very focused throughout the match, keeping our errors to a minimum. We were able to run a lot of our points off of Madison Bugg and Mimi Mylan's serves. This team is improving with every opportunity they have to get on the floor as a team.”

Pouliezos tallied a match-high five digs, while Sieckmann was credited with three running sets in a reserve role.

Stone started Bugg at setter, Lowak and Howard at outside hitter, McCage and Sullivan at middle blocker and Malloy at opposite. Pouliezos started at libero. Eugene subbed into the match in the first set and started the final two sets. Sieckmann and Peltier started the final two sets. Burgess started the second set. Palmer was a sub in the final two sets.

Tiffany Clarke scored both of Jamaica’s two points on kills.

“We played with some heart and the girls showed character,” Jamaica Head Coach O’Neil Banks said. “I see a lot of improvement and it is a learning experience for us. As I have said before, we only can get better.”

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, Costa Rica (1-0) defeated Trinidad & Tobago (0-2) 25-12, 22-25, 25-13, 22-25, 15-11 in Pool A. Later today, host Guatemala (0-0) plays El Salvador (0-1) at 6 p.m. MT in Pool B action and Dominican Republic (0-1) attempts to even its record in Pool C against Canada (1-0) at 8 p.m. MT.

The U.S. bolted to an 8-0 lead in the opening set, thanks to three service winners by Bugg. The lead stretched to 17-1 as Lowak powered down three kills and Howard netted three aces in the 9-0 run. Team USA cruised the rest of the way for a 25-4 victory. The Americans had eight aces during the opening set and all four of Jamaica’s points were off U.S. errors.

After the second set was tied at 5-all, the Americans rolled to a 14-5 advantage on a 9-0 run. The U.S. scored 11 of the final 13 points of the set, including the two final points on aces by McCage, for a 25-7 victory.

Team USA did not let up in the third set as it grabbed a 9-3 lead. After that point, the U.S. scored 16 of the final 17 points for a 25-4 victory.

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: Costa Rica def. Trinidad & Tobago 25-12, 22-25, 25-13, 22-25, 15-11
Pool C: USA def. Jamaica 25-4, 25-7, 25-4
Pool B: Guatemala def. El Salvador 25-21, 25-18, 25-19
Pool C: Dominican Republic def. Canada 21-25, 25-19, 25-16, 25-19

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, FIVB World Championship, Haley Pouliezos, Jim Stone, Jordan Burgess, Lauren Sieckmann, Madison Bugg, Molly McCage, Mylan Eugene, NORCECA, NORCECA Girls' Youth Continental Championship, Regan Peltier, Shelby Sullivan, U.S. Girls' Youth National Team