U.S. Women's Jr. National Team Baffles Belgium

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

Unofficial DataVolley Stats * Official Match Statistics

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 22, 2011) – The U.S. Women’s Junior National Team defeated Belgium in a straight-set victory 25-21, 25-18, 25-16 on Friday evening at the FIVB Women’s Junior World Championships Peru 2011 held in Trujillo at the Gran Chimu Gymnasium.

Team USA, part of the four-team Pool C in the 16-team tournament, won its tournament opener, while Belgium starts at 0-1. The U.S. continues pool play on Saturday afternoon versus Poland at 2:30 p.m. PT, before concluding group action on July 24 versus Korea at 1:30 p.m. PT.

Haley Eckerman (Waterloo, Iowa) led the U.S. Women’s Junior Team with 15 points on 13 kills, a block and an ace. Captain Kelly Reeves (San Diego) and Haleigh Hampton (Huntington Beach, Calif.) each scored 11 points apiece. Reeves racked up her points with eight kills and three blocks, while Hampton had 10 kills and a block.

Moneshia Simmons (Buford, Ga.) added nine points with four kills and five blocks. Carly Wopat (Goleta, Calif.) scored eight points, contributing six kills and two blocks. Stephanie Holthus (Elgin, Ill.) scored with a kill and a block. Hannah Allison (Siloam Springs, Ark.) scored an ace and Andrea McHugh (Yorba Linda, Calif.) added a kill in Team USA’s first pool play match.

U.S. Women's Junior National Team Head Coach Rob Browning felt that the first match was tough, considering the short amount of time that the U.S. Team had to prepare before traveling to Peru.

“We practiced about 10 days before travelling here to Peru,” Browning said. “We feel like we are at a disadvantage because of that.”

Reeves added the team put on a good performance against a talented team.

“We followed the game plan and played to represent our country,” Reeves said. “We are very happy with the result. Belgium is a great team and we were surprised to see that our team played better as the match went along.”

Belgium captain Lise Van Hecke scored 18 points.

Natalie Hagglund (Encinitas, Calif.) contributed 11 digs and five receptions for the U.S. team. Reeves added three digs and 12 receptions, while McHugh had eight digs. Allison contributed 24 assists and 65 total set attempts. Lauren Plum (Poway, Calif.) added three assists and seven attempts.

Team USA had 43 kills, while its opponents had 29. The U.S. team out-blocked Belgium with a 13-5 ratio.

In the first set, the U.S. won the first three points, but the U.S. and Belgium battled within two points of each other up to 18-16 in the U.S. team’s favor. The U.S. gained a more comfortable lead at 21-17 and propelled to a 25-21 victory.

In the second set, the U.S. took the first four points, but Belgium struck back to tie the score, 4-all. Team USA gained momentum and pulled a 12-6 advantage. Belgium put forth tremendous effort, but couldn’t top the U.S. team’s performance, resulting in a 25-18 victory.

In the third set, Belgium took a 4-1 advantage, but the U.S. matched the team at a 10-all score. The U.S. gained a 16-11 advantage and Belgium couldn’t mount an aggressive comeback. The U.S. won the match 3-0, finishing with a 25-16 third-set victory.

Browning started Reeves and Eckerman at outside hitter, Wopat and Hampton at middle blocker, Allison at setter and Simmons as opposite. Hagglund was the designated libero. McHugh subbed in early on in all three sets and Holthus and Plum subbed in mid-way through all three sets as part of a double-switch.

Belgium’s Head Coach Julien Van De Vyver is keeping his team’s focus ahead on the upcoming matches.

“The competition is long and we have many coming matches to focus on,” Van De Vyver said. “The team and I have been together for around a year. Our captain had an injury last year and I’m glad that she is back."

In Pool C, Korea defeated Poland, 22-25, 25-22, 24-26, 25-29, 15-10 on Friday. On Saturday, Belgium will face Korea at 7:30 a.m. PT. Belgium is set to play Poland at 7:30 a.m. PT on Sunday.

Slovakia defeated Tunisia in the opening match of the tournament in Pool A on Friday, 25-15, 25-10, 25-14. Peru is set to face Egypt at 6:15 p.m. PT. Slovakia will play Egypt in its next match on Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. PT and Tunisia will compete against Peru at 5:15 p.m. PT. To conclude pool play on Sunday, Tunisia will play Egypt at 9:30 a.m. PT and Peru will face Slovakia 4:15 p.m. PT.

In Pool B, Brazil defeated Italy 23-25, 25-20, 25-18, 25-16 on Friday. Serbia and Cuba are set to play at 4:15 p.m. PT on Friday. On Saturday, Italy and Cuba will play at 9:30 a.m. PT and Brazil and Serbia will play at 5:15 p.m. PT. To conclude pool play on Sunday, Serbia will play Italy at 7:30 a.m. PT and Cuba will face Brazil at 9:30 a.m. PT.

Dominican Republic won the first match in Lima on Friday in Pool D, 25-14, 25-20, 20-25, 25-22, over Japan. China defeated Russia, 25-19, 25-19, 27-25 on its first day of match play. On Saturday, Dominican Republic is set to face Russia at 7:30 a.m. PT and Japan will play China at 3:15 p.m. PT. To wrap up pool play on Sunday, China will face the Dominican Republic at 2:15 p.m. PT and Russia will play Japan at 5:15 p.m. PT.

The top three teams of the 2010 NORCECA Women’s Junior Continental Championship earned berths into FIVB Women’s Junior World Championship in Peru 2011. The U.S. Women’s Junior National Team qualified for this year’s event when it defeated the Dominican Republic to capture the gold medal at the 2010 NORCEA Women’s Junior Continental Championship in Tijuana, Mexico. Cuba earned berth to this year’s event after defeating Mexico in the bronze-medal match.

2011 U.S. Women’s Junior National Team
# - Name (Position, Height, Hometown, H.S. Grad Year, Club/School, Region)
1 - Hannah Allison (S, 5-11, Siloam Springs, Ark., 2010, Ozark Juniors/University of Texas, Delta)
2 - Stephanie Holthus (OH, 6-0, Elgin, Ill., 2010, Fusion/Northwestern University, Great Lakes)
3 - Natalie Hagglund (L, 5-9, Encinitas, Calif., 2010, Encinitas WAVE/University of Southern California, SCVA)
4 - Lauren Plum (S, 5-9, Poway, Calif., 2010, Coast VBC/University of Oregon, SCVA)
6 - Haleigh Hampton (MB, 6-6, Huntington Beach, Calif., 2010, Cal Juniors/Long Beach State University, SCVA)
7 - Haley Eckerman (OH, 6-3, Waterloo, Iowa, 2011, Iowa Rockets/University of Texas, Iowa)
9 - Kelly Reeves (OH, 6-0, San Diego, Calif., 2010, Encinitas WAVE/UCLA, SCVA)
10 - Sallie McLaurin (MB, 6-2, Midwest City, Okla., 2010, Oklahoma Charge/University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma)
11 - Moneshia Simmons (OH, 6-0, Buford, Ga., 2010, NFC Volleyball /Clemson University, Southern)
15 - Madelyn Hutson (MB, 6-6, Brentwood, Tenn., 2011, Impact/University of Texas, Southern)
16 - Andrea McHugh (OH, 5-10, Yorba Linda, Calif., 2010, Laguna Beach/Notre Dame, SCVA)
17 - Carly Wopat (MB, 6-2, Goleta, Calif,. 2010, Santa Barbara VBC/Stanford University, SCVA)

2011 U.S. Women’s Junior National Team Alternates
Name (Position, Height, Hometown, H.S. Grad Year, Club/School, Region)
Jennifer Bonilla (L, 5-10, Reseda, Calif., 2010, Sports Shack/University of Illinois, SCVA)
Samantha Cash (MB, 6-3, San Diego, Calif., 2011, Coast/Pepperdine, SCVA)
Mackenzie Dagostino (S, 5-10, Tampa Bay, Fla., 2012, Tampa Bay Juniors/University of Maryland, Florida)
Madison Kingdon (OH, 6-0, Phoenix, Ariz., 2011, Arizona Storm/University of Arizona, Arizona)
Molly Kreklow (S, 6-0, Delano, Minn., 2010, Mizuno Northern Lights/ University of Missouri, North Country)
Liz McMahon (OH, 6-6, Liberty Township, Ohio, 2011, Team Z/University of Illinois, Ohio Valley)
Alyssa Warren (L, 5-9, Joliet, Ill., 2010, Sports Performance/Seton Hall University, Great Lakes)

2011 U.S. Women's Junior National Coaching Staff
Head Coach: Rob Browning, Saint Mary’s College (Calif.)
Assistant Coach: Erik Sullivan, University of Texas
Assistant Coach: Jill Kramer, West Virginia University
Team Leader/Assistant Coach: Denise Corlett, Stanford University

2011 FIVB Women’s Junior World Championship

First Round (July 22-24)
Pool A (at Trujillo, Peru)
July 22: Slovakia def. Tunisia, 25-15, 25-10, 25-14
July 22: Peru vs. Egypt, 20:15
July 23: Egypt vs. Slovakia, 11:30
July 23: Peru vs. Tunisia, 19:15
July 24: Tunisia vs. Egypt, 11:30
July 24: Peru vs. Slovakia, 18:15

Pool B (at Lima, Peru)
July 22: Brazil vs. Italy, 16:15
July 22: Serbia vs. Cuba, 18:15
July 23: Italy vs. Cuba, 11:30
July 23: Brazil vs. Serbia, 19:15
July 24: Serbia vs. Italy, 9:30
July 24: Cuba vs. Brazil, 11:30

Pool C (at Trujillo, Peru)
July 22: Korea def. Poland, 22-25, 25-22, 24-26, 25-19, 15-10
July 22: USA def. Belgium, 25-21, 25-18, 25-16
July 23: Belgium vs. Korea, 9:30
July 23: USA vs. Poland, 16:30
July 24: Poland vs. Belgium, 9:30
July 24: USA vs. Korea, 15:30

Pool D (at Lima, Peru)
July 22: Dominican Republic def. Japan, 25-14, 25-20, 20-25, 25-22
July 22: China def. Russia, 25-19, 25-19, 27-25
July 23: Dominican Republic vs. Russia, 9:30
July 23: Japan vs. China, 17:15
July 24: China vs. Dominican Republic, 16:15
July 24: Russia vs. Japan, 18:15

Second Round (July 26-28)
Pool E: A1, B2, C1, D2 (at Lima or Trujillo)
Pool F: B1, A2, D1, C2 (at Lima or Trujillo)
Pool G: A3, B4, c3, D4 (at Lima or Trujillo)
Pool H: B3, A4, D3, C4 (at Lima or Trujillo)

Semifinals and Playoffs (July 30)
E1 vs. F2 (gold semifinals)
F1 vs. E2 (gold semifinals)
E3 vs. F4
F3 vs. E4
G1 vs. H2
H1 vs. G2
G3 vs. H4
H3 vs. G4

Medal Rounds and Playoffs (July 31)
- the winners of the semifinals will play the final for the 1st and 2nd position.
- the losers of the semifinals will play for the 3rd and 4th position.
- the winners of the play-off 5-8 will play for the 5th-6th position.
- the losers of the play-off 5-8 will play for the 7th-8th position.
- the winners of the play-off 9-12 will play for the 9th-10th position.
- the losers of the play-off 9-12 will play for the 11th-12th position.
- the winners of the play-off 13-16 will play for the 13th-14th position.
- the losers of the play-off 13-16 will play for the 15th-16th position.

Tags: Andrea McHugh, Carly Wopat, FIVB Women's Junior World Championship Peru 2011, Haleigh Hampton, Lauren Plum, Moneshia Simmons, Natalie Hagglund, Rob Browning, Sallie McLaurin, U.S. Women's Junior National Team