COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Aug. 19, 2017) – The U.S. Girs’ Youth National Team was plagued by unforced errors and reception issues in losing to Russia 25-17, 25-20, 25-19 on Saturday in its opening match of the biennial FIVB Women’s U18 World Championship at Santa Fe, Argentina.
The Americans will face Belarus on Sunday at 11 a.m. ET in its second match of the tournament in Pool B. Belarus opened its tournament with an upset of Brazil on Friday, which was an off-day for the Americans in the five-team pool. Belarus plays Mexico later today. The U.S. will later face Brazil on Monday at 11 a.m. ET and conclude pool play versus Mexico on Tuesday at 9 a.m. ET.
American outside hitter Logan Eggleston (Franklin, Tennessee) provided a team-best 13 points with 11 kills on 24 attacks and two blocks. Outside Madi Kubik (West Des Moines, Iowa) charted eight kills on 23 attacks with a block for nine points. Opposite Kendall Kipp (Newport Beach, California) contributed eight kills on 13 attacks.
Middle Holly Campbell (Austin, Texas) tacked on seven points with four kills and a team-best three blocks. Middle Madison Horin (Munster, Indiana) pocketed five kills on 10 swings and an ace for six points.
The U.S. converted 43.4 percent of its attacks into kills with a .181 hitting efficiency (36-21-83). Nicklin Hames (Maryville, Tennessee) was credited with 17 running sets on 70 total set attempts. The American defense limited Russia to a 37.7 kill percent, but the Russians limited their attack errors to 11 for a .234 hitting efficiency.
Brooke Nuneviller (Chandler, Arizona) was credited with nine excellent receptions on 17 chances with one error, in addition to six digs. Eggleston had 13 excellent receptions on 23 chances, while Kubik had 12 excellent receptions and team-best seven digs.
Team USA committed 27 errors in the three-set loss and Russia held a 10-1 margin in aces. The Americans held a 36-29 margin in kills, while the Russians managed a 9-6 block advantage and held their errors to 13 for the match.
The U.S. started Eggleston and Kubik at outside, Campbell and Horin at middle, Kipp at opposite and Hames at setter. Nuneviller was the libero for the match. Selina Xu (San Carlos, California) and Taylor Landfair (Plainfield, Illinois) were subs for the U.S. in the second set, while Skylar Fields (Missouri City, Texas) was a sub in the third set.
Russia opened up a 12-9 advantage in the first set with back-to-back points and it quickly escalated to an 17-11 margin. Trailing 20-13, the Americans scored three straight to cut the gap to 20-16. However, Russia responded by closing out the match on a 5-1 run for a 25-17 win. The U.S. committed nine errors in the set.
Russia continued the momentum to open the second set by going up 3-0. After Russia reached the first technical timeout up 8-5, the Americans scored the first two points after the break to close to 8-7. Russia regained its three-point cushion at 13-10. The U.S. scored three unanswered points to level the score at 15-all. However, Russia responded with three straight points to stake an 18-15 lead. The Americans cut the gap to 19-18 with back-to-back points, but Russia took a commanding 22-18 lead with three straight points and closed out the match at 25-20. Russia scored 11 points in the set on USA errors.
Russia broke a 3-all tie in the third set with three straight points to grab a 6-3 lead. The European side reached the second technical timeout with a 16-10 advantage. Down 18-11, the U.S. chipped away at the deficit with three straight to slice Russia’s lead to 18-14, then closed to within three at 20-17. Russia stopped the momentum and ended match with a 25-19 victory.
U.S. Girls Youth National Team at FIVB Women’s U18 World Championship
# — Name (Position, Ht., Hometown, Club, Region)
3 – Brooke Nuneviller (L, 5-11, Chandler, Arizona, Aspire, Arizona)
4 – Mica Allison (S/OPP, 6-0, White Heath, Illinois, Illini Elite, Great Lakes)
5 – Nicklin Hames (S, 5-11, Maryville, Tennessee, K2 Volleyball, Southern)
6 – Selina Xu (S, 6-0, San Carlos, California, Vision Volleyball, Northern California)
8 – Madison Williams (OH, 6-1, Mansfield, Texas, Texas Advantage, North Texas)
9 – Logan Eggleston (OH, 6-3, Franklin, Tennessee, Alliance, Southern)
11 – Skylar Fields (OH, 6-2, Missouri City, Texas, Houston Juniors, Lone Star)
14 – Madi Kubik (OH, 6-2, West Des Moines, Iowa, Central Iowa Select, Iowa)
15 – Kendall Kipp (/MOPP, 6-5, Newport Beach, California, Laguna Beach, Southern California)
16 – Madison Horin (M, 6-3, Munster, Indiana, First Alliance, Great Lakes)
17 – Holly Campbell (M, 6-3, Austin, Texas, Austin Juniors, Lone Star)
19 – Taylor Landfair (OH, 6-4, Plainfield, Illinois, Elite Sports Performance, Great Lakes)
Head Coach: Jim Stone
Assistant Coaches: Michelle Chatman-Smith, Michael Gee
Technical Coordinator: Herb Summer
Head of Delegation: Lizzy Briones
U.S. Girls Youth National Team Schedule at FIVB Women’s U18 World Championship
Aug. 19: USA lost to Russia 25-17, 25-20, 25-19
Aug. 20: USA vs. Belarus, 11 a.m. ET
Aug. 21: USA Vs. Brazil, 11 a.m. ET
Aug. 22: USA vs. Mexico, 9 a.m. ET