Women's Sitting Team Wins Friendly Match

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

Elliot Blake contributed to this release

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Aug. 12, 2011) – The U.S. Women’s Sitting National Team defeated Canada on Friday, 25-14, 25-15, 25-10, 25-10, in the first of two friendly matches being played at the end of a weeklong training camp at the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) in Edmond. An extra set was played for extra experience.

Canada’s Women’s Sitting Volleyball Team has been training with the U.S. resident athlete program at UCO for the past week. The two teams are in their final preparations for the upcoming Parapan American Zonal Championship in September in Brazil.

While Team USA has already qualified for the 2012 London Paralympic Games, Canada is capitalizing on the knowledge and experience of the United States in its effort to further develop its program. Team USA is using this unique training and competition opportunity to provide more game experience to its newest members on the team.

The United States was led in Friday’s match by Heather Erickson who recorded nine points on three kills and six aces. Michelle Gerlosky added seven points on three kills and four aces, while Monique Burkland contributed six points on three kills, two aces, and a block.

The U.S. had a kill percent of 44.0 while Canada’s was 24.0. The U.S. Women’s serve was the key to their victory with a 19-3 lead in service aces. The United States also led in attacks (44-15) and in blocks (3-2).

Head Coach Bill Hamiter was pleased with the performance of the young players and of those from the veterans.

“Tonight we were able to use our entire roster to provide as much experience as possible to our newest players while our veterans were able to get the reps they need to maintain their high level of play,” Hamiter said.

“Canada has made some big improvements since the last time we last faced them,” he added. “They are very scrappy, which kept pressure on us the whole match, and we are fortunate that we had such a strong serving night.”

Among other U.S. scorers, Brenda Maymon (Sellersburg, Ind.) scored five points on four attacks and one ace. Allison Aldrich (Schuyler, Neb.) added five points on two kills, two blocks and one ace. Nicole Millage (Champaign, Ill.) totaled five points on three attacks and two aces.

Kaleo Kanahele finished with four points on two attacks and two aces. Nicole Nieves (Kissimmee, Fla.) added two points on two spikes and Angela Dehann (Yuba City, Calif.) scored with one block.

The two teams will return to the court Saturday morning for a joint training session and will then square off again in the evening at 7 p.m. in the UCO Wellness Center. The public is encouraged to attend the free scrimmage.

Roster
2 Bethany Zummo (Dublin, Calif.)
3 Brenda Maymon (Sellersburg, Ind.)
4 Michelle Gerlosky (Lake Wales, Fla.)
6 Heather Erickson (Fayetteville, N.C.)
7 Monique Burkland (Plainview, Okla.)
8 Angela Dehaan (Yuba City, Calif.)
10 Kari Miller (Washington, D.C.)
11 Allison Aldrich (Schuyler, Neb.)
13 Nichole Millage (Champaign, Ill.)
14 Kaleo Kanahele (Oklahoma City, Okla.)
16 Nicole Nieves (Kissimmee, Fla.)

Head Coach – Bill Hamiter
Assistant Coach – Jamie Aweau & Quinton Kraeer
Athletic Trainer – Kazuma Akehi
Statistician – Elliot Blake

Tags: Allison Aldrich, Angela Dehaan, Bethany Zummo, Bill Hamiter, Brenda Maymon, Kari Miller, Michelle Gerlosky, mobile, Monique Burkland, Nichole Millage, Sitting Volleyball, U.S. Women's Sitting Volleyball Team