U.S. Sitting Team Finishes with Fourth Victory

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

View unofficial DataVolley statistics

DENVER, Colo. (March 20, 2011) – The U.S. Women’s Sitting Volleyball Team completed its four-match exhibition series with a Shanghai club team with a 3-1 (25-19, 23-25, 25-21, 25-14) victory on Sunday morning at the Colorado Convention Center.

The U.S. Women’s Sitting Team went 4-0 for the weekend series, which was held in conjunction with the Crossroads Qualifier, but the matches got progressively more difficult as Shanghai made changes and improvements.

The U.S. players were pleased with the confidence and experience they gained from the weekend.

“We came away knowing China can be beaten,” Heather Erickson (Fayetteville, N.C.) said. “We also got to experience new stuff as a team and we got to try different things.”

After winning the first set rather easily, the U.S. Women fell behind 0-13 in the second set before the United States started to fight its way back, eventually leading 19-18 before losing the set 25-23.

In unofficial statistics, Katie Holloway (Lake Stevens, Wash.) finished with 20 points on 16 kills, two blocks and two aces. Nichole Millage (Champagne, Ill.) added 11 points on five kills, two blocks and four aces. Allison Aldrich (Schuyler, Neb.) totaled 10 points on 10 kills.

Erickson scored seven points on five kills, one block and one ace.

Michelle Gerlosky (Lake Wales, Fla.), who finished with five points, including one kill, one block and three aces, was happy with the playing experience she got over the weekend.

“I thought (U.S. Head Coach Bill Hamiter) did a great job getting different players to play different roles,” she said. “The players really embraced it.”

Other U.S. players who saw more time on the court were Monique Burkland (Plainview, Okla.) and libero Bethany Zummo (Dublin, Calif.), who was making her debut with the team.

Burkland, who scored three points on three kills on Sunday, made her sitting team debut at the 2010 World Championships in Edmond, Okla., and enjoyed playing in a more laid-back atmosphere in Denver.

“I got to play more and I wasn’t as nervous,” she said. “I’m trying to work on being faster with my blocks and serving tougher.”

Brenda Maymon (Sellersburg, Ind.) totaled four points on two kills, one block and one ace. Kendra Lancaster (Westfield, Ind.) scored three points on two kills and one ace.

Libero Kari Miller (Washington, D.C.) was credited with 18 receptions, 94 percent positive and 72 percent excellent.

U.S. Women's Sitting Team

Allison Aldrich (Schuyler, Neb.)
Monique Burkland (Plainview, Okla.)
Heather Erickson (Fayetteville, N.C.)
Michelle Gerlosky (Lake Wales, Fla.)
Katie Holloway (Lake Stevens, Wash.)
Kendra Lancaster (Westfield, Ind.)
Brenda Maymon (Sellersburg, Ind.)
Kari Miller (Washington, D.C.)
Nichole Millage (Champaign, Ill.)
Bethany Zummo (Dublin, Calif.)

Staff
Bill Hamiter (Bethany, Okla.) – Head Coach
Cara Lang (Sartell, Minn.) – Asst. Coach & Stats
Jarrett Austin – Athletic Trainer
Elliot Blake – Coordinator Sitting Volleyball Teams

Tags: Allison Aldrich, Bethany Zummo, Bill Hamiter, Brenda Maymon, Heather Erickson, Kari Miller, Katie Holloway, Kendra Lancaster, Michelle Gerlosky, Nichole Millage, Sitting Volleyball, U.S. Women's Sitting Volleyball Team