U.S. Women Prepare for Final Four Cup in Peru

Bill Kauffman September 02, 2009

Photo: USA Volleyball/Carlos Sanchez

Jordan Larson swings against the Peru defense on June 29 at the 2009 Pan American Cup held in Miami

Bill Kauffman
Manager, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: 719-228-6800
E-Mail: bill.kauffman@usav.org

ANAHEIM, Calif. (Sept. 2, 2009) – The U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team, ranked second in the latest FIVB World Ranking released Aug. 24, is one of four countries which will compete in the four-team 2009 Final Four Intercontinental Cup held Sept. 9-13 at the City Sport Stadium in Lima, Peru.

The Final Four Intercontinental Cup comprises teams from the Pan-American Volleyball Union, which includes countries from NORCECA and the South American Volleyball Confederation. NORCECA is represented in the tournament by the Americans and 14th-ranked Dominican Republic. South America is represented by world top-ranked Brazil and 16th-ranked Peru. The teams qualified through the 2009 Women’s Pan American Cup hosted by USA Volleyball in Miami, Fla.

The Final Four Intercontinental Cup format starts with a round-robin over the first three days (Sept. 9-11) of the event. Based on the round robin results, the fourth day (Sept. 12) pits ranked teams one versus four and two versus three in the semifinal round. The final and fifth day (Sept. 13) of competition includes the gold- and bronze-medal match. A schedule of the round robin phase of the tournament has not yet been released.

Team USA has faced all three of its Final Four Intercontinental Cup opponents in 2009. The Americans faced both Brazil and Peru during the Pan American Cup. The U.S. defeated Peru in three close sets during pool play, while Brazil won a four-set battle in the semifinals. During the opening weekend of the World Grand Prix, Brazil swept the USA at Rio De Janeiro, but the U.S. bounced back to win a marathon five-set match (23-21 in the tiebreaking set) over Dominican Republic the following weekend at Chinese Taipei.

U.S. Women’s National Team Head Coach Hugh McCutcheon (Christchurch, New Zealand) has named a 19-player preliminary roster for the Final Four Intercontinental Cup. The final roster of up to 14 players must come from the preliminary roster. McCutcheon’s preliminary roster includes six outside hitters, five middle blockers, four setters, two opposites and two liberos.

The outside hitters include three-time Olympian Logan Tom (Salt Lake City, Utah), 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games alternate Cynthia Barboza (Long Beach, Calif.), 2008 Olympic Games alternate Kristin Richards (Orem, Utah), Jane Collymore (Seattle, Wash.), Jordan Larson (Hooper, Neb.) and Angie Pressey (Lake Mary, Fla.). The middle blockers group includes four-time Olympian Danielle Scott-Arruda (Baton Rouge, La.), three-time Olympian Heather Bown (Yorba Linda, Calif.), Alexis Crimes (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.), Christa Harmotto (Aliquippa, Pa.) and Elisha Thomas (Grass Valley, Calif.).

Among the setters selected for the preliminary roster include two-time Olympian Lindsey Berg (Honolulu, Hawaii), 2008 Olympic Games alternate Angie McGinnis (Fraser, Mich.), Nellie Spicer (Barrington, Ill.) and Courtney Thompson (Kent, Wash.). The opposites are represented by 2004 Olympian Nancy Metcalf (Hull, Iowa) and Nicole Fawcett (Zanesfield, Ohio). The liberos are three-time Olympian Stacy Sykora (Burleson, Texas) and 2008 Olympian Nicole Davis (Stockton, Calif.).

“We are planning to look at some different lineups at the Final Four Cup,” McCutcheon said. “And as always, our goal is to get better with each day.”

The preliminary roster group also includes three players who have yet to compete in a 2009 tournament for the United States – Berg, Thomas and Tom. In addition, Bown, Collymore and Scott-Arruda did not participate in the recent World Grand Prix after playing the Pan American Cup and FIVB World Championship Qualification Tournament in Florida earlier this summer.

After the Final Four Intercontinental Cup, the U.S. Women’s National Team will only have a brief break from action before hitting the competition trail again. Team USA will take part in the 2009 NORCECA Continental Championship held Sept. 22-27 at Bayamon, Puerto Rico. The NORCECA Continental Championship, held every other year, is a qualifying event with the gold medalist earning a berth into the 2009 FIVB World Championship Cup to be held Nov. 10-15 in Japan.

“The tournament in Peru will hopefully provide us with a lot of information about our team leading into the NORCECA Championship,” McCutcheon said.

The U.S. Women’s National Team has now played in three tournaments this summer covering 19 matches, not counting a two-match goodwill tour to Egypt in April. Team USA finished fourth at the Pan American Cup in Miami, while earning the gold medal at the FIVB World Championship Qualification Tournament – NORCECA Pool G at Orlando. It went overseas to Brazil, Chinese Taipei and Thailand in the three preliminary round weekends of the FIVB World Grand Prix, compiling a 3-6 record for ninth place.

“The World Grand Prix was obviously a challenging experience for our team, but in spite of the results, it was positive in a number of areas,” McCutcheon said. “We learned a lot and I think we’ve made significant improvements in the gym since our return. Now is the time to see if that progress made in the practice gym will transfer onto the match court. This team works hard and they are committed to improving every day. It’s a wonderful group to work with.”

Through the 2009 FIVB World Grand Prix, Metcalf is the USA’s leading scorer in 2009 with 178 points and a 4.45 points per set average. Foluke Akinradewo (Plantation, Fla.), who is not part of the upcoming tournament roster, and Danielle Scott-Arruda (Baton Rouge, La.) have averaged 0.86 blocks per set during 2009. Scott-Arruda has 25 blocks in 29 sets. Thompson has a team-leading 21 service aces during the 2009 season, resulting in a 0.37 ace average. She also averages a team-leading 4.75 assists per set.

Among hitters with at least 10 sets played and 10 attack attempts in 2009, Collymore has a 53.6 kill percent on 56 attacks to lead the team. Other top kill percentages include Harmotto’s 51.3 percent and Scott-Arruda’s 50.0. Davis has a team-leading 179 digs for the season, while Sykora has added 113. Davis averages 2.59 digs per set, while Sykora averages 2.57 digs per set.

U.S. Women’s National Team Preliminary Roster for 2009 Final Four Intercontinental Cup
# - Name (Pos, Ht, Hometown, College)
1 – Nicole Fawcett (OPP, 6-4, Zanesfield, Ohio, Penn State)
2 – Danielle Scott-Arruda (MB, 6-2, Baton Rouge, La., Long Beach State)
3 – Angie Pressey (OH, 5-8, Lake Mary, Fla., California-Berkeley)
4 – Lindsey Berg (S, 5-8, Honolulu, Hawaii, Minnesota)
5 – Stacy Sykora (L, 5-10, Burleson, Texas, Texas A&M)
6 – Nicole Davis (L, 5-6, Stockton, Calif., Southern California)
7 – Heather Bown (MB, 6-3, Yorba Linda, Calif., Hawaii)
8 – Cynthia Barboza (OH, 6-0, Long Beach, Calif., Stanford)
9 – Alexis Crimes (MB, 6-3, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., Long Beach State)
10 – Kristin Richards (OH, 6-1, Orem, Utah, Stanford)
11 – Jordan Larson (OH, 6-2, Hooper, Neb., Nebraska)
12 – Nancy Metcalf (OPP, 6-1, Hull, Iowa, Nebraska)
13 – Elisha Thomas (MB, 6-3, Grass Valley, Calif., Long Beach State)
14 – Angie McGinnis (S, 5-11, Fraser, Mich., Florida)
15 – Logan Tom (OH, 6-1, Salt Lake City, Utah, Stanford)
16 – Christa Harmotto (MB, 6-2, Aliquippa, Pa., Penn State)
17 – Nellie Spicer (S, 5-10, Barrington, Ill., UCLA)
18 – Courtney Thompson (S, 5-7, Kent, Wash., Washington)
19 – Jane Collymore (OH, 5-11, Seattle, Wash., Florida)

Head Coach: Hugh McCutcheon (Christchurch, New Zealand)
Assistant Coach: Karch Kiraly (San Clemente, Calif.), Tom Pestolesi (Huntington Beach, Calif.)
Technical Coordinator/Team Leader: Jamie Morrison (Dana Point, Calif.)
Athletic Trainer: Jill Wosmek (Silver Lake, Minn.)

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On September 02, 2009 Jay Kong wrote

I'm so glad to see Logan, Heather and Berg back! GO USA!!
On September 02, 2009 Justin Sabas wrote

Is Fawcett officially an opposite hitter?
On September 03, 2009 Jason Texas wrote

I said earlier that there is no need to bring back players from the Olympic team. I maintain my opinion. But I confess that the excellent performance that Logan Tom had in Beijing in 2008, especially in the final against Brazil, I think she is the one that deserves another chance to compete and, above all, win a gold medal. The Danielle Scott, Hether Bown and Lidsey Berg my opinion is totally opposite. Scott is practically old for the next Olympics and Beijing 2008 Olympics was the fourth in which she participated, so it's time to stop. Bown, totally out of shape. Many other middle blockers better than it already exist within and outside the team. Why Hugh has not granted the opportunity to Cheryl Weaver instead?. Berg, the same problem Bown, lacks lightness in the body. Spicer and McGinnis deserve the setters officers. Regarding the opposite, I think Metcalf very weak. Fawcett is perfect and deserves another more worthy partner to share the position with her. Outside Hitter, I hope you stay out Richards. She was responsible for almost all errors in the GP, especially in the game against Brazil. Libero, would be a good opportunity to see what Jessica Fine could do for the team, but unfortunately, Hugh chose Sykora seems no longer has the same quality as one ever had.
On September 03, 2009 Bob Austria wrote

Hugh should try this line-up: OH- Logan Tom and Jordan Larson MB- Harmoto, Crimes (Bown, is still good though) Op- Fawcett and I still like Metcalf Setter: Spicer and Ginnis but I was not impressed with Courtney. Main libero: Sykora Backrow sub for the middles: Davis I think there's some good chemistry there.
On September 03, 2009 Jason Texas wrote

Bob, your suggestion is in line with mine. Dual Logan Tom and Jordan Larson would be phenomenal. Nicole Fawcett has to be the official opposite. We had not the pleasure of seeing double Christa Harmotto and Alexis Crimes in GP, I think it would be interesting to see them working together. Nellie Spicer is my favorite on setter. Libero, I still think Hugh should have selected Jessica Fine. She always made incredible saves in the UCLA team.
On September 03, 2009 Bob Austria wrote

I forgot about Foluke for middle. She can take over Crimes. So, it will be Foluke and Harmotto for me in the middle. I picked Sykora for libero since she's loaded with international experience. And I like her energy on the court. Now, we should forward this line-up to Hugh's email, lol. :-)
On September 03, 2009 Jay Kong wrote

Seriously, USA should groom better liberos now before the Olympics.
On September 04, 2009 Timothy Johnson wrote

Bob & Jason, I'm right there with you. If the goal of the Quadrennial is 2012 Olympic Gold, shouldn't we be grooming players who will be at their peak at that time? Why are we using players who by that time will no longer be the best??? I feel Coach McCutcheon is basing some roster decisions on the THUMPING the USA received at the GP (Losing to THAILAND??!!)He MAY be getting some heat from the head of USA Volleyball to put some X's in the "W" column; thus Scott-Arruda, Berg, Bown. PROS: Larson @ outside, a fireball on the court who brings it on each and every play. One to watch in 4 yrs. Crimes @ middle, jump thru the roof, cat like reflexes, long & lean. Tom @ outside if for none other reason than some desperately needed TEAM LEADERSHIP!! CONS: Barboza's dismal play @ GP vs. outstanding play previously. Pressey, great emotion, work ethic & drive but a 5'9"??? outside won't cut it Internationally. Richards @ outside, too hot/cold a player.
On September 04, 2009 Jason Texas wrote

Timothy, your descriptions are completely right. I don't understand. why does Hugh insists Barboza and Richards at OH?. Particularly, I don't see much potential at them. I thought Julie Rubenstein would have an oportunity to play this event.