U.S. Girls’ Youth Down Egypt, Win Pool

Becky Murdy
Assistant, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: 719-228-6800
E-Mail: becky.murdy@usav.org

Photo Gallery * FIVB Official Stats

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Aug. 18, 2011) - The U.S. Girls’ Youth National Team (GYNT) defeated Egypt 25-16, 25-15, 30-28 in dominant fashion on Thursday to wrap up the second round and take the  Pool G title at the 2011 FIVB Volleyball Girls’ Youth World Championship Turkey 2011.

The U.S. secured first place in Pool G with nine points, while Egypt is now 0-3 with zero points. With the victory, the U.S. will advance to the 9-12 classification semifinals on Saturday where they will face Mexico at 4:30 p.m. local time (6:30 a.m. PT).

Round one pool play proved to be tough for the Americans as Serbia and China, the only two teams to beat the U.S., have advanced to the semifinals Thursday after winning both their second-round pools, ranking them in the top four.

Jordan Burgess (Tampa, Fla.) charted 19 points in just two sets against Egypt, good for her personal tournament record and the team-tournament record. Burgess connected for 15 kills on 27 attempts and four blocks.  Two of her kills came at the end of sets; ending both set one and set three, the only sets she posted playing time. Burgess also recorded a team-high nine digs and added five excellent service receptions.

Amber Rolfzen (Papillion, Neb.) gave the U.S. 13 points with six kills on 13 attacks, a team-best five blocks and two service aces. Nicole Dalton (Parker, Colo.) and Andie Malloy (Allen, Texas) pocketed seven points each with Dalton entering the match in the second set and posting seven kills in 17 attempts. Malloy connected on five kills in addition to a block and an ace. Paulina Prieto-Cerame (Miami, Fla.) tallied five kills and a block for six points, while Kadie Rolfzen (Papillion, Neb.) recorded five kills for five points. Janae Hall (Centennial, Colo.) posted three kills and two blocks during her starts in the second and third sets.

Nicole Edelman (Boulder, Colo.) started both the second and third set at setter, charting 12 assists in addition to a block and a service ace. Lauren Carlini (Aurora, Ill.) set for the U.S. in the first set charting 12 assists on 24 attempts. Libero Allison Palmer (Laguna Beach, Calif.) totaled six digs and a team-high six excellent receptions. Chloe Collins (Cypress, Texas) saw playing time as she subbed for Edelman in the second and third sets.

Team USA, which held a 46-28 advantage in kills, converted 41.8 percent of its attacks for a .273 hitting efficiency in comparison to Egypt’s 25.7 kill percent and .064 hitting efficiency with 21 attack errors. The Americans dominated the net with a 14-7 block advantaged and edged the Egyptians in the passing game with a 51-42 dig advantage, along with a 28.81 excellent reception percent (19-59) to Egypt’s 28.57 reception percent (23-70). The U.S. also held a 4-2 edge in aces. Both teams committed a high number of errors with the U.S. totaling 24 errors to Egypt’s 28 (total attack faults, service faults and aces allowed).

U.S. GYNT Head Coach Jim Stone rotated the starters against Egypt with outside hitter Prieto-Cerame and libero Palmer being the only two players to start all three sets. In the first set Stone started Carlini as setter, Palmer as libero, Malloy as opposite, Kadie Rolfzen and Burgess to swing on the outside and Prieto-Cerame and Amber Rolfzen as middle blockers.  In the second set Edelman started as setter, Palmer remained as libero, Hall and Amber Rolfzen as middle blockers, Dalton as the opposite and Kadie Rolfzen and Prieto-Cerame as outside hitters. Edelman remained the setter and Palmer the libero in the third set with Malloy back in as opposite, Dalton and Burgess attacking on the outside and Hall and Prieto-Cerame in the middle.

"I was impressed by Egypt’s defense and their libero with roles in every point,” Stone said to the FIVB. “Their libero was a very important part of the play and she fought for every point. Their blockings was very good and they were aggressive in attack especially in the last set. I am very happy that we won this match. I wish Egypt good luck in their last two matches.”

Egypt’s libero Perihan Eldeeb was a standout, charting 15 digs and 11 excellent receptions on 22 attempts. Mai Moustafa led Egypt’s scoring with 10 points from nine kills and a service ace.

In the first set the U.S. started in a two person serve-receive with Burgess and Palmer. The U.S. maintained control over Egypt throughout the first set starting with a 3-1 run off the block of Burgess and back-to-back kills from Kadie Rolfzen and Prieto-Cerame. The U.S. continued to climb ahead of Egypt leading by five at 12-7 with kills off the hands of Burgess, Kadie Rolfzen and Prieto-Cerame. Burgess threw up her second block with bullets from Malloy, Kadie Rolfzen and Prieto-Cerame recorded in the books as kills at 15-9. The U.S. held Egypt at 11 in a four-point run with twins Kadie and Amber Rolfzen knocking down three kills and a block (two kills from Kadie, a kill and a block from Amber) leading the team to a 21-11 advantage. The U.S. felt the energy and excitement with its 10-point lead and it showed in serving. Malloy chalked-up an ace before Egypt regained position only to lose it to an attack by Amber Rolfzen followed by her own service ace at 24-15. Burgess left her mark on Egypt’s outside blockers hand as she delivered a missile to give the U.S. the first set at 25-16.

The second set started out slower for the Americans, but they quickly found their rhythm again leading 6-3 with Hall securing three points as she came into the set for the first time. Hall recorded two kills and a block before Egypt posted two unforced errors capitalized by an Edelman block at 9-5, who made her first set start and appearance of the match. The U.S. advanced to a five-point lead at 10-5 with a kill by Prieto-Cerame. Egypt battled back through U.S. errors to take the match within two at 10-8, but that would be the closest they would come for the rest of the set.  Edelman charted an ace followed by consecutive U.S. kills from Dalton and Hall at 17-14. Amber Rolfzen led the team at the end of the set, connecting on two kills and posting two solo blocks to give the U.S. the second set at 25-15.

Egypt wasn’t going to give the U.S. a straight-set win without a fight, but the U.S. rose to the occasion in what was the marathon set of the match. Malloy came out swinging for the U.S. charting three kills in its first five points at 5-3. Egypt took its first set lead of the match at 7-6 and set the U.S. back six points, the greatest deficit of the set, at 18-12. Burgess posted back-to-back kills, capped by a kill from Malloy. It was a race to the finish from there with Burgess recording six points, the most consecutive points for the U.S. this tournament, off of five kills and a block at 22-20. Dalton posted three kills with blocks off the arms of Prieto-Cerame and Malloy to tie the set at 25. Dalton delivered a bullet that Egypt couldn’t handle and Egypt retaliated bringing it to 26-all. The U.S. took back the lead at 28-27 with a block from Burgess and an unforced error from the other side of the net. Burgess delivered a forceful attack to give the U.S. the win on its sixth match-point opportunity at 30-28. The U.S. Burgess held the enthusiasm and showcased endurance, recording 13 of her 19 points in the third set.

2011 U.S. Girls’ Youth National Team
Name (Pos, Hometown, HS Grad Year, Club/Region or High School)
1 - Lauren Carlini (S, Aurora, Ill., 2013, West Aurora High School/Aurora, Ill.)
3 - Jordan Burgess (OH, Tampa, Fla., 2012, Tampa Bay Juniors/Florida)
4 - Nicole Dalton (OPP, Parker, Colo., 2012, Front Range/Rocky Mountain)
5 - Nicole Edelman (S, Boulder, Colo., 2012, Front Range/Rocky Mountain)
6 - Alexis Austin * (MB, Houston, Texas, 2012, Thunder Volleyball/Lone Star)
9 - Andie Malloy (OPP, Allen, Texas, 2012, Skyline Juniors/North Texas)
10 - Chloe Collins (S/DS, Cypress, Texas, 2013, Texas Pride/Lone star)
11 - Molly McCage (MB, Spring, Texas, 2012, Woodlands Wave/Lone Star)
12 - Allison Palmer (L, Laguna Beach, Calif., 2012, Laguna Beach/Southern California)
13 - Janae Hall (MB, Centennial, Colo., 2012, Front Range/Rocky Mountain)
15 - Amber Rolfzen (MB, Papillion, Neb., 2013, Nebraska Juniors/Great Plains)
16 - Kadie Rolfzen (OH, Papillion, Neb., 2013, Nebraska Juniors/Great Plains)
17 - Paulina Prieto-Cerame (OH, Miami, Fla., 2011, Boomers Volleyball Club/Florida)
* Alexis Austin was originally named to the roster but could not attend due to injury

2011 Girls' Youth National Team Staff
Head Coach: Jim Stone, USA Volleyball High Performance
Assistant Coach: Melissa Wolter, University of West Florida
Assistant Coach: Charlene Whitted, USA Volleyball High Performance
Team Manager: Heath Hoke
Team Doctor: Priscilla Tu
Technical Coordinator: Herb Summers

Semifinal Rounds (Aug. 20) (Ankara, Turkey)
Times are in Pacific Time

Aug. 20 Serbia vs. Turkey, 6:30 a.m.
Aug. 20 China vs. Poland, 9:00 a.m.

Classification Place 5-8
Aug. 20 Germany vs. Japan, 1:30 a.m.
Aug. 20 Brazil vs. Argentina, 4:00 a.m.

Classification Places 9-12
Aug. 20 USA vs. Mexico, 6:30 a.m.
Aug. 20 Italy vs. Slovakia, 9:00 a.m.

Classification Places 13-16
Aug. 20 Thailand vs. Algeria, 1:30 a.m.
Aug. 20 Puerto Rico vs. Egypt, 4:00 a.m.

Pool E (Baskent Volleyball Hall)
Aug. 16: China def. Argentina, 25-17, 25-19, 25-7
Aug. 16: Turkey def. Germany 25-14, 25-20, 25-13
Aug. 17: China def. Germany 25-23, 25-23, 25-11
Aug. 17: Turkey def. Argentina 25-14, 25-18, 25-18
Aug. 18: Germany def. Argentina 25-21, 25-16, 25-16
Aug. 18: China def. Turkey 25-21, 19-25, 26-24, 25-17

Pool F (Baskent Volleyball Hall)
Aug. 16: Serbia def. Brazil 26-28, 21-15, 25-21, 25-16, 17-15
Aug. 16: Poland def. Japan 25-23, 25-17, 25-20
Aug. 17: Serbia def. Japan 25-17, 25-12, 25-10
Aug. 17: Brazil def. Poland 25-17, 24-26, 27-29, 25-22, 15-7
Aug. 18: Serbia def. Poland 25-19, 24-26, 26-24, 25-21
Aug. 18: Japan def. Brazil 25-23, 26-25, 15-25, 25-15

Pool G (Ankara Sports Hall)
Aug. 16: Thailand def. Egypt 25-15, 25-12, 25-22
Aug. 16: USA def. Slovakia 27-25, 25-20, 25-19
Aug. 17: USA def. Thailand 33-31, 25-10, 25-22
Aug. 17: Slovakia def. Egypt 25-21, 25-20, 25-19
Aug. 18: Thailand def. Slovakia 18-25, 25-17, 16-25, 25-17, 17-15
Aug. 18: USA def. Egypt 25-16, 25-15, 30-28

Pool H (Ankara Sports Hall)
Aug. 16: Italy def. Algeria 25-8, 25-16, 25-18
Aug. 16: Mexico def. Puerto 25-21, 25-23, 25-22
Aug. 17: Italy def. Puerto Rico 25-15, 16-25, 25-17, 25-14
Aug. 17: Mexico def. Algeria 25-18, 25-16, 25-15
Aug. 18: Italy def. Mexico 25-18, 26-24, 25-18
Aug. 18: Puerto Rico def. Argentina 25-15, 25-15, 25-21

Tags: 2011 FIVB Girls' Youth World Championships, Allison Palmer, Amber Rolfzen, Andie Malloy, Chloe Collins, FIVB Volleyball Girls' Youth World Championship Turkey 2011, Janae Hall, Jim Stone, Jordan Burgess, Kadie Rolfzen, Lauren Carllini, mobile, Molly McCage, Nicole Dalton, Nicole Edelman, U.S. Girls' Youth National Team