U.S. Advances to Youth Olympic Games Gold Match

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

Official Stats

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Aug. 24, 2010) – The U.S. Girls’ Youth Olympic Volleyball Team defeated Japan 25-20, 25-23, 25-23 in the inaugural Youth Olympic Games semifinal round Tuesday evening in Singapore to advance to the gold-medal match.

The U.S. will face Belgium in the gold-medal match at 9 a.m. on Aug. 26 (6 p.m. Pacific Time on Aug. 25). The Americans opened the Youth Olympic Games with a five-set victory (25-22, 15-25, 25-20, 18-25, 15-11) over Belgium in Pool B competition. Earlier today, Belgium defeated Peru 25-19, 19-25, 25-21, 25-22 in the first semifinal match. According to the FIVB Junior and Youth World Rankings for females, Belgium is the highest ranked team in the Youth Olympics with a No. 6 ranking, while the U.S. is ranked 14th, the fourth-highest in the tournament. The bronze-medal match features Peru and Japan in a rematch of Pool A participants on Aug. 25 at 3:30 p.m. (12:30 a.m. Pacific Time).

To follow the U.S. squad at the Youth Olympic Games, visit usavolleyball.org/events/4749. In addition, the IOC has created youtholympicgames.org for webcasts - both live and on demand – which the gold-medal match may be viewed on.

Team USA rallied from a 19-17 deficit in the opening set against Japan by scoring eight of the final nine points – including three blocks – for a 25-20 victory. The U.S. built an early 8-4 lead in the second set and inched up to a 24-18 advantage. Japan made it interesting by saving five set points before the Americans finished off the set at 25-23. The Americans gained an early 10-4 lead in the third set, but needed to hold on for a 25-23 victory after Japan tied the set at 21-all.

“This was exactly the type of match that we expected," U.S. Girls' Youth Olympic Team Head Coach Rod Wilde said. "We knew they were very good and that it was not going to be easy. They served well. We hoped that our size would be enough, and it was.”

Elizabeth McMahon (Liberty Township, Ohio) and Crystal Graff (Madison, Wis.) led the Americans with 13 points apiece. McMahon scored her points with 12 kills on 23 attacks and a block, while Graff contributed 10 kills on 25 spikes, two blocks and an ace. Katie Mitchell (The Woodlands, Texas) pocketed 10 points with nine kills on 13 attempts and a block. Lauren Teknipp (McDonough, Ga.) contributed six kills and three blocks. Samantha Cash (San Diego, Calif.) added a match-high five blocks to go with two kills for seven points. Micha Hancock (Edmond, Okla.) scored six points. Taylor Simpson (Colorado Springs, Colo.) rounded out the scoring with a block.

“That was a great match," said Cash, the U.S. team captain. "I enjoyed every second, except the points that we lost, of course. It was exciting and intense. We battled until the last point.”

Using its considerable height advantage (USA average height 6-1 and Japan average height 5-6), the Americans held a 14-1 block advantage. The U.S. also had a 43-31 kill advantage and converted 47.8 percent of its attacks into points. Japan converted 30.4 percent of its 102 attacks into points. Japan did stay in the match with a 9-2 ace advantage and took advantage of 24 American errors.

Wilde started Hancock at setter, McMahon at opposite, Graff and Mitchell at outside hitter, and Cash and Teknipp at middle blocker. Tiffany Morales (Redondo Beach, Calif.) was the designated libero for the match. Simpson was a sub in the second and third sets. Jade Hayes (Ozark, Mo.) was a sub in the first set, while Christina Higgins (Inglewood, Calif.) and Olivia Okoro (Carrollton, Texas) subbed into the match in the second set.

Chizu Ichikawa paced Japan with 13 points, including 11 kills on 21 attacks and two aces. Saaya Karaki added nine kills and two aces for 11 points.

“Our initial plan to compete against the U.S. was to focus on our serve,” Japan Head Coach Norihito Uehara said. “We did that quite well. Next time, we will work on our defense and speed.”

In regards to the U.S. pool rematch with Belgium in the gold-medal match, Wilde and Cash foresee another battle on the court.

“It is going to be a tough match-up again between two good and tall teams,” Wilde said.

“I’m very excited to play against Belgium again," Cash said. "I love a challenge, and they’re an amazing team. They’re going to want vengeance, but we want the title.”

McMahon scored consecutive kills sandwiched between kills from Hancock and Graff to yield a 4-1 advantage for the U.S. to start the opening set. McMahon scored back-to-back kills to increase the margin to 6-2, but Japan answered with two kills around an ace to close to 6-5. Japan scored its fourth straight point to knot the score at 6-all. McMahon and Mitchell connected for back-to-back kills to lift the Americans into a 9-7 lead, but two U.S. errors returned the match into a deadlock at 9-all. Japan went in front 10-9 with an ace. U.S. answered with a Cash block and Graff overpass kill to push the Americans in front 11-10. Graff added a third straight point with a block at 12-10. Teknipp converted a slide attack for a point after a Japan error to increase the American margin to 14-11. Two straight Japanese points cut the margin to 15-14 before a McMahon kill put the U.S. in front 16-14 at the second technical timeout. Japan tied the set at 17-all with a block and went ahead on a U.S. error at 18-17. Out of a U.S. timeout, Japan served an ace to improve the lead to 19-17. Consecutive blocks by Cash and Mitchell allowed the Americans to level the score at 19-all. Mitchell collected a kill and Japan hit long to push the U.S. in front 21-20. Graff added a kill and Cash put up a block to extend the American advantage to 23-20. Team USA reached set point at 24-20 with its fifth straight point. Graff ended the set with a kill of the block at 25-20. McMahon totaled seven points and Graff added five points for the U.S. in the opening set as the Americans tallied five blocks as a team.

The U.S. gained an early 2-0 lead in the second set with a Graff kill and Hancock ace, but Japan tied the set with the next two points. McMahon and Teknipp answered with kills to put the U.S. in front 4-2. Team USA reached the first technical timeout with an 8-4 advantage as Mitchell collected a kill between two Japan errors. Mitchell and Graff placed kills on the floor to send the U.S. to a 10-5 lead and Japan into a timeout. Japan scored three consecutive points to cut the deficit to 11-9. Mitchell and Teknipp scored back-to-back kills to up the American lead to 14-10. Out of the second technical timeout, Japan served an ace after a U.S. service error to cut the gap to 16-14. Cash and Graff slammed kills to increase the American lead to 19-15. Japan served an ace to move back to within two at 19-17. Team USA rolled off four straight points with a kill and block by Teknipp, a block by Simpson and a Japan error to give U.S. set points at 24-18. Japan saved four set points with two U.S. attack errors and an ace prompting the Americans to call timeout with a 24-22 lead. Out of the break, Japan saved a fifth set point with a kill at 24-23 before McMahon finished off the set with a kill at 25-23. Mitchell scored six points and Teknipp added four points for the Americans in the second set.

Team USA earned a quick 5-1 lead in the third set with a Teknipp kill and Graff ace around two Japan errors as part of a 4-0 scoring run. Cash collected a kill and block after a Mitchell kill to push the American lead to 10-4 forcing a Japan timeout. Japan answered with a 5-1 scoring run to cut the deficit to 11-9. McMahon downed a kill and Teknipp followed with a block to send the U.S. in front 14-10. Japan responded with three consecutive points to cut the deficit to a single point at 14-13. McMahon followed a Japan service error with a kill to allow the U.S. to go into the second technical timeout with a 16-13 advantage. Japan connected with consecutive points to slice the gap to a point at 18-17. Hancock put down a second contact for a kill and Teknipp put up a block to give the Americans a three-point cushion at 20-17. Japan responded with a kill and block to come back to within one at 20-19. Japan tied the set at 21-21 after a U.S. attack went long. McMahon slammed a cross-court winner and Cash put up a block to give the U.S. match points at 24-22. Japan then hit long on the next play to give the U.S. a 25-22 victory.

The Youth Olympic Games is hosting 3,600 athletes from ages 14-18 that participate on one of 26 different sports. Over 20 National Olympic Committees are participating in the Games. The goal of the event is to teach athletes the basics of Olympism, their ability to have a positive impact on those around them and learning about new cultures. Five educational themes are the driving force of the event; Olympism, skills development, well-being and healthy lifestyle, social responsibility and expression.

Along with these educational themes, the event is doing its part in helping the environment and hopefully engaging an estimated 26,000 spectators to “Go Green." All of the venues hosting the Games have been declared as environmentally-friendly.

Several Web sites are available for the general fan to follow the volleyball action at the Youth Olympic Games. For statistics, photos and other match information, the FIVB has a site portal devoted to the Youth Olympic Games. To reach the site, click here. The Local Organizing Committee (LOC) Youth Olympic Games site for results and information can be found by clicking here. In addition, the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) has its own Web portal set up at youtholympicgames.teamusa.org.

The Youth Olympic Games video programming will air daily at 2 p.m. ET and be repeated at midnight ET from August 15-27. The show will feature all 26 sports contended over the 13-day duration of the Youth Olympic Games. Universal Sports’ show will feature highlights, news and information based on the day’s events. There will also be VOD highlights available on www.universalsports.com. In addition, the IOC has created www.youtholympicgames.org for webcasts - both live and on demand.

2010 U.S. Youth Olympic Game Roster:
# - Player (Position, Height, Hometown, Club, Region)
3 - Samantha Cash (MB, 6-3, San Diego, Calif., Coast Volleyball Club, Southern California)
4 - Crystal Graff (OH, 6-3, Madison, Wis., Capital Volleyball Club, Badger)
5 - Micha Hancock (S, 5-11, Edmond, Okla., Oklahoma Peak, Oklahoma)
6 - Jade Hayes (OH/L, 6-0, Ozark, Mo., Springfield Juniors, Heart of America)
7 - Christina Higgins (OH, 6-2, Inglewood, Calif., Sport Shack, Southern California)
8 - Madison Kamp (S, 6-1, Orland, Ill., Ultimate VBC, Great Lakes)
10 - Elizabeth McMahon (MB, 6-6, Liberty Township, Ohio, Team Z, Ohio Valley)
11 - Katie Mitchell (OH, 6-3, The Woodlands, Texas, Texas Pride VBC, Lone Star)
12 - Tiffany Morales (Libero, 5-5, Redondo Beach, Calif., Mizuno Long Beach, Southern California)
14 - Olivia Okoro (MB, 6-1, Carrollton, Texas, Dallas Premier, North Texas)
16 - Taylor Simpson (OH, 6-3, Colorado Springs, Colo., Colorado Juniors, Rocky Mountain)
17 - Lauren Teknipp (MB/OH, 6-2, McDonough, Ga., A5, Southern)

2010 Youth Olympic Games
Aug. 21-26 (Singapore)

Toa Payons Sports Hall (Volleyball)
(All Times Listed as Local Time)

Pool A
August 21: Peru def. Singapore 25-11, 25-13, 25-12 (Match 1)
August 22: Japan def. Singapore 25-9, 25-16, 25-9 (Match 3)
August 23: Peru def. Japan 25-22, 25-19, 25-18 (Match 5)

Pool B
August 21: Belgium def. Egypt 25-11, 25-12, 25-10 (Match 2)
August 22: USA def. Belgium 25-22, 15-25, 25-20, 18-25, 15-11 (Match 4)
August 23: USA def. Egypt 25-18, 25-19, 25-23 (Match 6)

Semifinal
August 24: Belgium (B2) def. Peru (A1) vs. Belgium (B2) 25-19, 19-25, 25-21, 25-22 (Match 7)
August 24: USA (B1) def. Japan (A2) 25-20, 25-23, 25-23 (Match 8)

5-6 Classification
August 25: Egypt (A3) vs. Singapore (B3), 12:30 p.m./7 p.m. Pacific Time on Aug. 24 (Match 9)

Bronze Medal
August 25: Peru vs. Japan, 3:30 p.m./12:30 a.m. Pacific Time (Match 10)

Gold Medal
August 26: USA vs. Belgium, 9 a.m./6 p.m. Pacific Time on Aug. 25 (Match 11)

Tags: 2010 U.S. Girls' Youth Olympic Team, 2010 Youth Olympic Games, Christina Higgins, Crystal Graff, Jade Hayes, Katie Mitchell, Lauren Teknipp, Liz McMahon, Madison Kamp, Micha Hancock, Olivia Okoro, Rod Wilde, Samantha Cash, Taylor Simpson, Tiffany Morales, YOG, youth, Youth Olympic Games, Youth Olympics