Ninth for Girls' Youth at FIVB Worlds

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

FIVB Offical Stats * Photos

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Aug. 21) -The U.S. Girls’ Youth National Team (GYNT) finished ninth after downing Slovakia 25-21, 25-16, 25-14 on Sunday in the finals of the FIVB Volleyball Girls’ Youth World Championship Turkey 2011 being held in Ankara.

The U.S., ranked second in the FIVB world rankings, captured its fifth-straight win to conclude a valiant showing at the FIVB World Championships regardless of its difficult first pool match-ups. The GYNT only recorded two losses on the tournament, both in the first round Pool C, to Serbia who captured the bronze and China who will fight for the gold Sunday night. The Americans also did not drop a set after leaving first-round pool play going 19-6 in sets for the tournament.

The win marks the second time the U.S. has downed Slovakia this tournament with a previous three-set win in second-round pool play defeating Slovakia in three, 27-25, 25-20, 25-19.

“I am very proud how my players entered the match today,” U.S. Girls’ Youth Team Head Coach Jim Stone said. “They were very focused and were playing a high-level of volleyball today.”

U.S. blocking late in the first set expanded its one-point, 18-17 lead, giving the Americans the 25-21 victory despite handing Slovakia 10 of its points from unforced errors. The U.S. capitalized on a 9-4 run in the second set to reach 19-12 and again out-blocked Slovakia 5-1 to take the set at 25-16. The U.S. dominated the third set in its entirety by posting 17 kills to Slovakia’s seven and concluding on a 4-0 run to take the set at 25-14 and the match.

“It was a privilege to play at the World Championship,” U.S. Girls’ Youth Team Captain Molly McCage said. “We improved our level of play with every single match. Today we ran a very strong offense.”

Team USA used a 44-21 kill advantage to top Slovakia in three sets with a match-high 11 kills coming from McCage (Spring, Texas) on 17 attacks in addition to a block for 12 points. Paulina Prieto-Cerame (Miami, Fla.) charted 10 kills on 20 attacks and three blocks for a match-high 13 points. Amber Rolfzen (Papillion, Neb.) added a match-high four blocks in addition to six kills and a service ace for 11 points. Jordan Burgess (Tampa, Fla.) contributed 10 points on 10 kills with a team-high 12 digs and 13 excellent receptions with no faults. Andie Malloy (Allen, Texas) connected on five kills for five points, while Chloe Collins (Cypress, Texas) and Nicole Edelman (Boulder, Colo.) contributed one point on service aces. Nicole Dalton (Parker, Colo.) tallied a kill for one point.

Lauren Carlini (Aurora, Ill.) set for the U.S. posting a match-high 31 assists and 10 digs in addition to equaling the match-high four blocks and delivering a kill and a service ace for six points. Libero Allison Palmer (Laguna Beach, Calif.) provided the U.S. with five digs and four excellent receptions.

The U.S. converted 45.8 of their attacks for a .333 hitting efficiency, in comparison to Slovakia’s 22.6 attack conversion with a .043 hitting efficiency. The U.S. dominated the net with a 12-2 block advantage and led in passing with 48 digs to Slovakia’s 39. The Americans edged the Slovakians with 36-12 assists and 4-2 aces. Though both teams accumulated 20 excellent receptions the U.S. converted 37.5 in comparison to Slovakia’s 12.0 conversion rate.

Stone started Burgess and Prieto-Cerame at outside hitter, McCage and Amber Rolfzen at middle blocker, Malloy at opposite and Carlini at setter. Palmer was the libero for the match. Dalton entered the match in the first set for Prieto Cerame and Edelman came off the bench in the first and second sets. Kadie Rolfzen subbed in the second set, while Collins entered the third set for Malloy to serve.

Slovakia was led by Nikola Pistelakova who tallied nine kills.

Turkey, the host country, won the gold medal after downing China, 25-19, 25-17, 25-22. This marks Turkey's first gold-medal at the FIVB Boys' World Championship and second medal as they captured the silver in 2007.

In the other finals matches today Serbia captured the bronze-medal after defeating Poland 25-21, 25-13, 25-18. Puerto Rico took 15th place after defeating Algeria 20-25, 25-11, 27-25, 25-12. Thailand placed 13th after defeating Egypt 25-18, 25-15, 25-20. Placing 11th was Italy, who smoked Mexico 25-18, 25-15, 25-20. Japan outplayed Argentina 25-22, 25-20, 25-17 for seventh place, and Germany secured fifth over Brazil, 23-25, 25-18, 25-19, 25-19.

Turkey, the host country, won the gold medal after downing China, 25-19, 25-17, 25-22. This marks Turkey's first gold-medal at the FIVB Boys' World Championship and second medal as they captured the silver in 2007.

The first set was one sided with the U.S. both scoring points and giving points to Slovakia on unforced errors. Team USA connected on four kills from McCage, Burgess and a pair from Amber Rolfzen to keep the game tied at 4-4. Slovakia took the lead at 8-5 with help from seven errors on the American side. Slovakia then posted two service aces of its own. The U.S. posted a five-point run, holding Slovakia at 11 as it climbed to take the lead at 14-11 with kills from Amber Rolfzen and Burgess. The Americans took their lead to four at 16-12 as Malloy connected for a kill. Dalton charted a kill at 17-14 before Slovakia reached within one of the U.S. at 18-17. Carlini and McCage threw up consecutive blocks to reach 22-17, which was enough to give Team USA the momentum and set-point. Amber Rolfzen posted a stuff-block to take the first set 25-21.

In the second set the U.S. outplayed Slovakia early in leading 6-4, initiated by a kill from Amber Rolfzen to give the Americans the confidence they needed to post a 9-4 run to reach 19-12. Amber Rolfzen charted three kills, Prieto-Cerame denied Slovakia on two blocks and a kill, while Burgess and McCage both converted attacks for kills. A Slovakian error gave the U.S. its 20th point followed by two blocks from Carlini. Prieto-Cerame delivered her fifth kill and the Americans took the second set 25-16.

To start the third set Burgess connected on a kill followed by a pair of blocks from Carlini to give the U.S. a 3-1 advantage, forcing Slovakia to use tips to earn kills. With full control of the set the U.S. began to expand its lead with kills from Malloy and McCage to bring the score to 8-5 before Burgess and Paulina found their own gaps on attacks at 11-6. Burgess connected on her ninth kill and Malloy followed suit with her fourth kill at 13-9. Prieto-Cerame posted consecutive points off a kill and a block to give the Americans a 20-13 advantage. At 21-14 the U.S. decided to close-out the match posting four unanswered points including McCage’s 10th kill and an ace from Prieto-Cerame to reach set-match point. Edelman assisted McCage on a kill to end the set, 25-14.

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

Final Leader Board 

1. Turkey (5)
2. China (13)
3.Serbia (9) 
4.Poland (29) 
5.Germany (7) 
6.Brazil (1) 
7.Japan (4) 
8.Argentina (19) 
9.USA (2) 
10.Slovakia (28) 
11.Italy (12) 
12.Mexico (10) 
13.Thailand (14) 
14.Egypt (10) 
15.Puerto Rico (21) 
16.Algeria (17)

Finals Match schedule for Sunday, August 21
Times are in Pacific Time

Gold medal match: Turkey (5) def. China (13) 25-19, 25-17, 25-22
Bronze medal match: Serbia (9) def. Poland (29) 25-21, 25-13, 25-18

Positions 5-6: Germany (7) def. Brazil (1) 23-25, 25-18, 25-19, 25-19
Positions 7-8: Japan (4) def Argentina (19) 25-22, 25-20, 25-17

Positions 9-10: USA (2) def. Slovakia (28) 25-21, 25-16, 25-14 
Positions 11-12: Italy (12) def. Mexico (10) 25-18, 25-15, 25-20

Positions 13-14: Thailand (14) def. Egypt (10) 25-15, 25-15, 25-11
Positions 15-16: Puerto Rico (21) def. Algeria (17) 20-25, 25-11, 27-25, 25-12

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

Aug. 20 Turkey def. Serbia 25-14, 14-25, 25-17, 20-25, 16-14
Aug. 20 China def. Poland 25-21, 21-25, 25-23, 25-20

Classification Place 5-8
Aug. 20 Germany def. Japan 26-24, 25-14, 24-26, 25-21 
Aug. 20 Brazil def. Argentina, 21-25, 25-16, 23-25, 25-14, 15-10

Classification Places 9-12
Aug. 20 USA def. Mexico 26-24, 25-17, 25-20.
Aug. 20 Slovakia def. Italy 25-23, 26-24, 25-22

Classification Places 13-16
Aug. 20 Thailand def. Algeria 25-17, 25-8, 25-10 
Aug. 20 Egypt def. Puerto Rico 25-16, 19-25, 23-25, 25-22, 15-8

Second Round (Aug. 16-18) (Ankara, Turkey)
Times are in Pacific Time

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

First Round (Aug. 12-14) (Ankara, Turkey)
Times are in Pacific Time

Pool A (Baskent Volleyball Hall)
Aug. 12: Poland def. Egypt 25-13, 25-16, 26-24
Aug. 12: Turkey def. Algeria 25-8, 25-13, 25-14
Aug. 13: Poland def. Algeria 25-7, 25-13, 25-13
Aug. 13: Turkey def. Egypt 25-9, 25-21, 25-20
Aug. 14: Egypt def. Algeria 25-19, 25-13, 20-25, 25-18
Aug. 14: Turkey def. Poland 25-23, 25-17, 25-15

Pool B (Ankara Sports Hall)
Aug. 12: Brazil def. Slovakia 25-13, 25-12, 25-21
Aug. 12: Argentina def. Mexico 25-21, 25-19, 25-22
Aug. 13: Argentina def. Slovakia 23-25, 25-18, 25-11
Aug. 13: Brazil def. Mexico 25-13, 23-25, 25-14, 25-22
Aug. 14: Mexico def. Slovakia 25-21, 25-18, 25-14
Aug. 14: Brazil def. Argentina 25-17, 25-20, 25-13

Pool C (Baskent Volleyball Hall)
Aug. 12: USA def. Puerto Rico 25-15, 25-20, 25-17 
Aug. 12: China def. Serbia 25-18, 25-20, 25-23
Aug. 13: China def. Puerto Rico 25-22, 25-18, 25-11
Aug. 13: Serbia def. USA 25-21, 25-13, 26-14
Aug. 14: Serbia def. Puerto Rico 25-13, 25-8, 25-21
Aug. 14: China def. USA 24-26, 25-15, 25-21, 25-20

Pool D (Ankara Sports Hall)
Aug. 12: Japan def. Italy 25-20, 25-20, 25-21 
Aug. 12: Germany def. Thailand 25-18, 25-16, 25-20
Aug. 13: Italy def. Thailand 25-20, 25-17, 27-25.
Aug. 13: Japan def. Germany 17-25, 20-25, 25-23, 25-18, 15-12
Aug. 14: Germany def. Italy 31-29, 16-25, 27-25, 25-20
Aug. 14: Japan def. Thailand 25-16, 25-23, 25-20

Tags: 2011 FIVB Girls' Youth World Championships, 2011 U.S. Girls' Youth National Team, Alexis Austin, Allison Palmer, Amber Rolfzen, Andie Malloy, Chloe Collins, FIVB Volleyball Girls' Youth World Championship Turkey 2011, FIVB World Championship, James Stone, Janae Hall, Jordan Burgess, Kadie Rolfzen, Lauren Carlini, mobile, Molly McCage, Nicole Dalton, Nicole Edelman, Paulina Prieto-Cerame, U.S. Girls' Youth National Team