U.S. Women to Face Mexico in NORCECA Quarters

Bill Kauffman
Associate Director, Communications
Phone: 719-228-6800
Email: bill.kauffman@usav.org

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Sept. 14, 2011) - The U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team became the odd team out in earning a direct bid into the semifinals of the NORCECA Women’s Continental Championship being played Sept. 12-17 in Caguas, Puerto Rico.

The U.S., ranked second in the world by the FIVB, finished Pool B with a 2-0 record and 12 group points, which matched host Puerto Rico and Cuba’s records in Pools A and C. However, Puerto Rico and Cuba as the top two first-place teams based on point ratio advanced to the semifinals on Sept. 16 leaving the Americans to compete in the quarterfinals on Sept. 15 with the three second-place finishers.

The U.S. will face Mexico on Thursday in its 6 p.m. (3 p.m. Pacific Time) quarterfinal match. Dominican Republic will challenge Canada in the second quarterfinal match on Thursday at 8:18 p.m. (5:18 p.m. Pacific Time). Please note this is an update from the original schedule and release.

The quarterfinal winners will take on semifinalists Puerto Rico and Cuba on Sept. 16 with opponents and times to be determined (first-round pool contestants are avoided in quarterfinals and semifinals). The NORCECA Women’s Continental Championship concludes on Sept. 17 with the final classification matches. The event’s gold and silver medalist will earn tickets to the 2011 FIVB World Cup, the first 2012 Olympic Games qualification event, being staged Nov. 4-18 in Japan.

The U.S. finished Pool B with a 1.471 point ratio (150-102) with victories over Canada and Trinidad & Tobago. Cuba ended Pool C with a 1.556 point ratio (154-99) with victories over Dominican Republic and Panama. Host Puerto Rico capped Pool A with a 1.700 point ratio (153-90).

For additional information on the U.S. Women’s National Team at the 2011 NORCECA Continental Championship, visit usavolleyball.org/events/8347.

All matches during the 2011 NORCECA Women’s Continental Championship will have Live Stats that can be accessed through the NORCECA event page clicking here.

U.S. Women’s National Team Roster for NORCECA Women’s Continental Championship
# - Name (Position, Height, Hometown, College)
4 - Lindsey Berg (S, 5-8, Honolulu, Hawaii, Minnesota)
6 - Nicole Davis (L, 5-4, Stockton, Calif., Southern California)
7 - Heather Bown (MB, 6-3, Yorba Linda, Calif., Hawaii)
8 - Alisha Glass (S, 6-0, Leland, Mich., Penn State)
9 - Jennifer Tamas (MB, 6-4, Milpitas, Calif., Pacific)
10 - Kim Glass (OH, 6-2, Lancaster, Pa., Arizona)
11 - Jordan Larson (OH, 6-2, Hooper, Neb., Nebraska)
12 - Nancy Metcalf (Opp, 6-1, Hull, Iowa, Nebraska)
15 - Logan Tom (OH, 6-1, Salt Lake City, Utah, Stanford)
16 - Foluke Akinradewo (MB, 6-3, Plantation, Fla., Stanford)
18 - Megan Hodge (OH, 6-3, Durham, N.C., Penn State)
19 - Destinee Hooker (Opp, 6-4, San Antonio, Texas, Texas)

Head Coach: Hugh McCutcheon (Christchurch, New Zealand)
Assistant Coach: Karch Kiraly (San Clemente, Calif.)
Assistant Coach: Paula Weishoff (Irvine, Calif.)
Assistant Coach/Technical Coordinator: Jamie Morrison (Dana Point, Calif.)
Athletic Trainer/Medical Support: Jill Wosmek (Silver Lake, Minn.)
Team Manager: Ken Sullivan (Laguna Beach, Calif.)

2011 NORCECA Women’s Continental Championship Schedule
Caguas, Puerto Rico * Sept. 12-17
Times Listed as Puerto Rico Time and Subject to Change

Pool A
Sept. 12: Puerto Rico def. Costa Rica 25-8, 25-12, 25-10 (Match 3)
Sept. 13: Mexico def. Costa Rica 25-21, 21-25, 25-11, 25-17 (Match 4)
Sept. 14: Puerto Rico def. Mexico 25-16, 25-18, 28-26 (Match 9)

Pool B
Sept. 12: Canada def. Trinidad & Tobago 25-15, 28-30, 25-22, 25-11 (Match 2)
Sept. 13: USA def. Canada 25-19, 25-19, 25-23 (Match 6)
Sept. 14: USA def. Trinidad & Tobago 25-14, 25-16, 25-11 (Match 7)

Pool C
Sept. 12: Dominican Republic def. Panama 25-12, 25-10, 25-15 (Match 1)
Sept. 13: Cuba def. Panama 25-13, 25-15, 25-7 (Match 5)
Sept. 14: Cuba def. Dominican Republic 25-15, 29-27, 25-22 (Match 8)

Classification 7-9
Sept. 15: Costa Rica vs. Panama, 4 p.m. (Match 10)

Quarterfinals
Sept. 15: USA vs. Mexico, 6 p.m. (Match 11)
Sept. 15: Dominican Republic vs Canada, 8:18 p.m. (Match 12)

Final Classification 7-8
Sept. 16: 3rd HR1 vs. Winner of Match 10, 4 p.m. (Match 13)

Semifinals
Sept. 16: 1st HR2 vs. Winner Match 11/12, 6 p.m. (Match 14)
Sept. 16: 1st HR1 vs. Winner Match 12/11, 8:18 p.m. (Match 15)

Final Classification 5-6
Sept. 17: Loser Match 11 vs. Loser Match 12, 4 p.m. (Match 16)

Medal Matches
Sept. 17: Loser Match 14 vs. Loser Match 15, 6 p.m. (Bronze)
Sept. 17: Winner Match 14 vs. Match 15, 8:18 p.m. (Gold)

Tags: Alisha Glass, Destinee Hooker, Foluke Akinradewo, Heather Bown, Hugh McCutcheon, Jamie Morrison, Jennifer Tamas, Jill Wosmek, Jordan Larson, Karch Kiraly, Kim Glass, Lindsey Berg, Logan Tom, Megan Hodge, mobile, Nancy Metcalf, Nicole Davis, NORCECA Women's Continental Championship, Paula Weishoff, U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team