U.S. Women's Jr. National Team Polishes off Poland

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 23, 2011) – The U.S. Women’s Junior National Team put away Poland 25-19, 16-25, 29-27, 25-14 in front of 1,200 spectators on Saturday afternoon to win its second match 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, improves its standing to 2-0 after Saturday’s victory and defeating Belgium on Friday. Poland fell to Korea it its first pool play match on Friday and now holds a 0-2 tournament record. The U.S., already guaranteed a slot into the top eight second round pools, concludes group action on July 24 versus Korea at 1:30 p.m. PT.

U.S. captain Kelly Reeves (San Diego) led the U.S. Women’s Junior Team with 15 points on 11 kills, three aces and a block. Haleigh Hampton (Huntington Beach, Calif.) scored 13 points with eight kills on 19 swings, three aces and two blocks. Haley Eckerman (Waterloo, Iowa) added 12 points, contributing 11 kills on 26 attacks and an ace. Carly Wopat (Goleta, Calif.) scored 10 points with seven kills, two aces and a block.

Moneshia Simmons (Buford, Ga.) added five points with four kills and an ace. Madelyn Hutson (Brentwood, Tenn.) and Lauren Plum (Poway, Calif.) each scored four points apiece. Both Hutson and Plum racked up their points by each adding two kills, a block and an ace. Hannah Allison (Siloam Springs, Ark.) added an ace in Team USA’s second pool play victory.

U.S. Women's Junior National Team Head Coach Rob Browning expressed pride in his team.

“Our captain (Reeves) is a great leader; she helps the group maintain confidence and to keep good communication going.” Browning said. “We beat a really good team and we have a lot of respect for them. In the first set we controlled the game. The second one was a hard one and the third one was the most exciting. It was quite even; either team could have won it. We are really glad and lucky that it was our team.”

U.S. libero Natalie Hagglund (Encinitas, Calif.) added, “Our team played the best that we could and we feel that we did a really good job on blocking and attacking. The second set was the hardest of the four. We had had a lot of fun in this match.”

Poland’s Czyznielewska Zuzanna scored 18 points and was the leading scorer for her team.

Hagglund contributed 19 digs, nine receptions and an assist for the U.S. team. Reeves added 10 digs and 10 receptions, while Andrea McHugh (Yorba, Linda, Calif.) had three digs and two receptions. Plum contributed 10 assists and 62 total set attempts. Allison added four assists and 16 attempts.

Team USA accumulated a 13-7 ace advantage over Poland. The U.S. team and Poland tied with 45 kills for each team.

In the first set, the U.S. came out hot and took a quick lead with a five point run at 5-3 to gain a 10-3 advantage. Poland’s defense put forth a strong effort, but the U.S. team’s serving and consistent offense couldn’t be terminated. Team USA had 20-10 lead, but Poland kept bringing the heat and pushed to an eventual 24-18 score. The U.S. sealed a 25-19 victory.

In the second set, Poland established a 10-5 advantage, but the U.S. team struck back winning the next four points lessening Poland’s lead to 10-9. The teams tied at 13-all and 14-all, but Poland forced a 21-15 lead. Team USA made substitutions and kept attacking, but ended up losing its first tournament set, 25-16 to Poland.

In the third set, Poland led 8-4, but the U.S. tied it at 11-all. The two teams kept the score close, battling back and forth with five tied scores up to Poland’s 21-20 advantage. Team USA’s tough defense and serving kept them in a close hunt. Team USA and Poland kept tying and exchanging one-point leads, but the U.S. finally put a cap on the third set and finished with a 29-27 victory.

In the fourth set, Team USA came out hungry and established an 11-7 lead. Poland kept fighting, but couldn’t match with the U.S. team’s solid performance. The U.S. had a 21-11 lead and propelled to a fourth set victory, 25-14 to win the match.

Browning started Reeves and Eckerman at outside hitter, Wopat and Hampton at middle blocker, Plum at setter and Simmons as opposite. Hagglund was the designated libero. McHugh subbed in early on in all four sets. Allison and Holthus played later on in the first, second and fourth sets. Hutson played for her first time in the tournament mid-way through the third set and started in the fourth set.

Poland’s Head Coach Gregorz expressed concern about his team’s short turnaround time for its next match against Belgium.

“I congratulate my team and USA’s team,” Kosatka said. “These were really good sets and a couple went poorly for us. I’m kind of worried because we have a really short time to rest for tomorrow’s match.”

In Pool C, Korea defeated Poland, 22-25, 25-22, 24-26, 25-29, 15-10 on Friday. On Saturday, Belgium defeated Korea, 25-19, 25-16, 18-25, 25-20. 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 defeated Egypt, 25-18, 25-17, 25-16. Slovakia swept Egypt on Saturday morning, 25-20, 25-10, 25-10. Tunisia is set to compete against Peru at 5:15 p.m. PT on Saturday. 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 it its first match on Friday and Serbia defeated Cuba, 25-22, 23-25, 25-17, 25-10. On Saturday, Italy defeated Cuba, 25-16, 25-12, 26-24. Brazil and Serbia are set to play at 5:15 p.m. PT. To conclude pool play on Sunday, Serbia will face 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 Friday it its first pool play match. On Saturday, Dominican Republic won its match against Russia, 17-25, 25-20, 25-20, 24-20, and China defeated Japan, 17-25, 25-23, 25-19. 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.

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 def. Egypt, 25-18, 25-17, 25-16
July 23: Slovakia def. Egypt, 25-20, 25-10, 25-10
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 def. Italy, 23-25, 25-20, 25-18, 25-16
July 22: Serbia def. Cuba, 25-22, 23-25, 25-17, 25-10
July 23: Italy def. Cuba, 25-16, 25-12, 26-24
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 def. Korea, 25-19, 25-16, 18-25, 25-20
July 23: USA def. Poland, 25-19, 16-25, 29-27, 25-14
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 def. Russia, 17-25, 25-20, 25-20, 25-20
July 23: China def. Japan, 25-18, 17-25, 25-23, 25-19
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, Haley Eckerman, Hannah Allison, Kelly Reeves, Lauren Plum, Madelyn Hutson, Moneshia Simmons, Natalie Hagglund, Sallie McLaurin, Stephanie Holthus, U.S. Women's Junior National Team