Undefeated Women's Junior Team Qualifies for Worlds

Candice Kasischke
Intern, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: (719) 228-6800
E-Mail: candice.kasischke@usav.org

Unoffical DataVolley Stats - Official Stats

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 9, 2010) – The U.S. Women’s Junior National Team defeated Mexico 25-19, 25-14, 25-14 on Friday evening in the semifinal match at the NORCECA Women’s Junior (U-20) Continental Championship held in Tijuana, Mexico.

The U.S. team, with members from the 2008 NORCECA Girls’ Youth National defending champions, remains undefeated heading into the gold-medal match on Saturday evening and has therefore qualified for the 2011 FIVB Women’s Junior World Championship (U-20) in Peru.

Team USA took the first point of the first set with a side-out from Mexico’s serve; however, the team did not lead again until 12-11. At 12-14, the U.S. had a six point run to gain momentum and separate the score ending in a 25-19 victory. In the second set, the Americans opened the match with a nine point running streak to jumpstart the match. Mexico battled back but was unable to catch up and therefore another U.S. set-win, 25-14. In the third set, the U.S. and Mexico teams switched off leading in the beginning of the set. U.S. was able to gain control at 21-11 and had a six point streak distance itself from Mexico, ending in a match-ending win of 25-14.

“I'm very proud of the way we took care of business,” U.S. Head Coach Rob Browning said. “The most important thing is that USA has qualified for the World Championships. It was a great performance by our team. We must now prepare for a very talented Dominican Republic team. We've obtained one of our goals - the other is to defend the Championship.”

Jane Croson (Lakewood, Calif.) led Team USA with 19 points on 17 kills and two aces. Haleigh Hampton (Huntington Beach, Calif.) contributed 11 tallies on six kills and five blocks. Kelly Reeves (San Diego) scored nine points on five kills, one block and three aces. Carly Wopat (Goleta, Calif.) and Stephanie Holthus (Elgin, Ill.) each charted eight points, both contributing six kills and two blocks apiece. Liz McMahon (Liberty Township, Ohio) scored three points off of kills and Molly Kreklow (Delano, Minn.) added one point for Team USA off of an ace.

“We came out again and had to prove ourselves against a fired up host team,” Holthus said. “After a slow start, we were able to stay composed and battle back to win the set and ultimately, the match.”

Jennifer Bonilla (Reseda, Calif.) led the team with 12 digs and eight receptions. Reeves contributed six digs and seven receptions. Holthus added four digs and five receptions. Kreklow contributed five running sets.

Team USA had an advantage over Mexico with a 43-29 kill ratio, which led to a .357 American hitting efficiency and 43.8 kill percent. The U.S. team also out-blocked Mexico 10-1 and led in serving aces 6-2. The Americans also led in digs, 25-17.

Browning started captain Carly Wopat and Hampton at middle blocker, Kreklow at setter, Reeves and Holthus at outside hitter, and Croson at opposite. Jennifer Bonilla (Reseda, Calif.) was the designated libero. McMahon, Samantha Wopat and Carly Thomas (Swansea, Ill.) all subbed in all of the three sets. Samantha Cash (San Diego, Calif.) subbed in the third set.

Mexico has been Team USA’s toughest competition in the tournament. The two rival teams were placed in the same pool this year and the U.S. won the match on Wednesday 25-19, 25-16, 25-23. Team USA won Pool C and advanced directly to the semifinals, while Mexico needed to win a quarterfinal match against Puerto Rico on Thursday to reach the semifinal round. Even through the tougher competition, the U.S. team continues to show consistency in its fast and terminating offense and scrappy defense and will put it to the test against the Dominican Republic on Saturday in the gold medal match for the fourth consecutive time.

Andrea Rangel from Mexico added 15 points to the defeated side.

Mexico will face Cuba in the bronze-medal match on Saturday with the winner gaining the remaining berth into the 2011 FIVB Women’s Junior World Championship. On Friday, Dominican Republic defeated Cuba 25-17, 25-21, 14-25, 25-16, Trinidad & Tobago defeated Guadalupe, 25-21, 25-18, 25-23 and Costa Rica defeated El Salvador 25-13, 25-21, 14-25, 25-16.

The first set opened with a U.S. side-out from Mexico’s serve with a kill from Reeves. From there, Mexico took the lead for the first half of the set. Kreklow’s serve game the U.S. team a momentary lead at 12-11. Mexico’s team turned up its play and fought back to regain an advantage. However, the U.S. took a six point run to put them ahead at 17-14 resulting in a 25-19 win.

In the second set, the U.S. opened with an eight point streak which prevented Mexico from leading for the rest of the set.

For the final set, Mexico started off leading up to 4-3, but the U.S. quickly responded tying it up at 4-4 and not allowing Mexico to take another lead for the rest of the match. Team USA dominated the final set, 25-14.

2010 U.S. Women's Junior National Team

NAME (Position, Height, Hometown, HS Grad Year, Club/School, Region)
2 - Stephanie Holthus (Lib/OH, 6-0, Elgin, Ill., 2010, Fusion, Great Lakes)
3- Samantha Cash (MB, 6-3, San Diego, Calif., 2011, Coast, Southern California)
5 - Molly Kreklow (S, 6-0, Delano, Minn., 2010, University of Missouri)
6 - Haleigh Hampton (OPP/MB, 6-6, Huntington Beach, Calif., 2010, Cal Juniors, Southern California)
8 - Liz McMahon (OPP/MB, 6-6, Liberty Township, Ohio, 2011, Team Z, Ohio Valley)
9 - Kelly Reeves (OH, 6-0, San Diego, Calif., 2010, Encinitas WAVE, Southern California)
10 - Carly Thomas (S, 5-11, Swansea, Ill., 2010, Southwest Illinois Juniors, Gateway)
12 - Jennifer Bonilla (Lib, 5-9, Reseda, Calif., 2010, Sport Shack, Southern California)
14 - Jane Croson (OH, 6-0, Lakewood, Calif., 2011, Sport Shack, Southern California)
16 - Rachel Williams (OH, 6-0, Los Gatos, Calif., 2010, Vision, Northern California)
17 - Carly Wopat (MB, 6-2, Goleta, Calif,. 2010, Santa Barbara VBC, Southern California)
18 - Samantha Wopat (OH, 6-1, Goleta, Calif., 2010, Santa Barbara VBC, Southern California)

Head Coach: Rob Browning
Asst. Coach: Matt McShane
Asst. Coach/Tech. Coordinator: Jennifer Carey
Team Leader/Asst. Coach: Tom Pingel

NORCECA Women’s Junior Continental Championship
July 5-10, 2010 * Tijuana, Mexico
(All Times Listed as Pacific Time)

Pool A
July 5: Canada def. Costa Rica, 26-24, 25-18, 25-21
July 6: Dominican Republic def. Costa Rica, 25-12, 25-8, 25-6
July 7: Dominican Republic def. Canada, 17-25, 25-12, 25-18, 25-23

Pool B
July 5: Puerto Rico def. Trinidad & Tobago, 25-10, 25-9, 25-20
July 6: Cuba def. Trinidad & Tobago, 25-8, 25-10, 25-13
July 7: Cuba def. Puerto Rico, 25-17, 25-19, 25-22

Pool C
July 5: Mexico def. Guadalupe, 25-6, 25-11, 25-8
July 6: United States def. El Salvador, 25-8, 25-4, 25-7
July 6: United States def. Guadalupe, 25-8, 25-7, 25-6
July 6: Mexico def. El Salvador, 25-13, 25-7, 25-8
July 7: El Salvador def. Guadalupe 28-26, 22-25, 25-22, 25-20
July 7: United States def. Mexico, 25-19, 25-16, 25-23

Classification Matches

Quarterfinals
July 8: Dominican Republic def. Canada, 25-22, 25-18, 25-15
July 8: Mexico def. Puerto Rico, 25-21, 28-26, 23-25, 25-8

Classification 7-10
July 8: El Salvador def. Guadalupe, 25-14, 25-21, 25-17
July 8: Costa Rica def. Trinidad & Tobago, 25-19, 25-17, 25-19

Classification 7-8 and 9-10
July 9: Trinidad & Tobago def. Guadalupe, 25-21, 25-18, 25-23
July 9: Costa Rica def. El Salvador, 25-13, 25-21, 14-25, 25-16

Semifinals
July 9: Dominican Republic def. Cuba, 25-17, 25-21, 14-25, 25-16
July 9: United States def. Mexico, 25-19, 25-14, 25-14

Classification 5-6
July 10: Loser Match 15 vs. Loser Match 16, 3 p.m. (Match 21)

Bronze-Medal Match (Classification 3-4)
July 10: Loser Match 19 vs. Loser Match 20, 5 p.m. (Match 22)

Gold-Medal Match (Classification 1-2)
June 26: Winner Match 19 vs. Winner Match 20, 7 p.m. (Match 23)

Tags: 2010 U.S. Women's Junior National Team, Carly Thomas, Carly Wopat, Haleigh Hampton, Jane Croson, Jennifer Bonilla, Kelly Reeves, Liz McMahon, Molly Kreklow, NORCECA, NORCECA Continental Championship, NORCECA Women's Junior Continental Championship, Rachel Williams, Rob Browning, Sam Wopat, Samantha Cash, Stephanie Holthus