U.S. Women Looking Forward after Finishing VNL

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 21, 2024) – The U.S. Women’s National Team finished the 2024 Volleyball Nations League with a 3-0 (25-21, 25-21, 25-23) loss to Italy on Friday in Bangkok, Thailand.

The U.S. Women (7-6) finished seventh at VNL and will return to Anaheim, Calif., to prepare for the USA Volleyball Cup (on July 10, 12 and 14 in Long Beach, Calif.) and the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

MATCH STATISTICS

“Italy is a great team. I had a long season facing a lot of these women,” said outside hitter Kelsey Robinson Cook, who played for Prosecco Doc Imoco Conegliano over the winter, to Volleyball World. “I try to think about the positives. We were right there. It’s just inches. I am excited to have the time to work right now.”

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The U.S. led Italy in kills (45-40) and aces (3-1). But Italy dominated on defense, leading in blocks (11-7). The U.S. also committed 23 scoring errors while Italy had 10.

Cook played as a substitute and started the third set, scoring six points on six kills. She was credited with six successful receptions and six digs.

Libero Justine Wong-Orantes led the team in digs with 11. She also had five receptions.

Outside hitter Avery Skinner led the U.S. scoring with 11 points on 10 kills and one ace. She had six successful receptions and six digs.

Middle blocker Haleigh Washington added nine points on six kills and three blocks. Opposite Jordan Thompson played as a substitute and scored eight points on eight kills.

Middle Dana Rettke totaled seven points on five kills, one block and one ace. Middle Chiaka Ogbogu, who started the third set, scored five points on three kills and two blocks.

Setter Lauren Carlini scored four points on two kills, one block and one ace.

Opposite Annie Drews totaled three points on three kills and outside hitter Jordan Larson had two points on two attacks.

Setter Micha Hancock also played as a substitute.

U.S. Women’s Roster for VNL Preliminary Round 3
No. Name (Pos., Ht., Hometown, College, USAV Region)
1 Micha Hancock (S, 5-11, Edmond, Okla., Penn State Univ., Oklahoma)
3 Avery Skinner (OH, 6-1, Katy, Texas, Univ. of Kentucky, Lone Star)
4 Justine Wong-Orantes (L, 5-6, Cypress, Calif., Univ. of Nebraska, Southern California)
6 Morgan Hentz (L, 5-9, Lakeside Park, Ky., Stanford Univ., Pioneer)
7 Lauren Carlini (S, 6-2, Aurora, Ill., Univ. of Wisconsin, Great Lakes)
10 Jordan Larson (OH, 6-2, Hooper, Neb., Univ. of Nebraska, Great Plains)
11 Annie Drews (Opp, 6-4, Elkhart, Ind., Purdue Univ., Hoosier)
12 Jordan Thompson (Opp, 6-4, Edina, Minn., Univ. of Cincinnati, North Country)
14 Anna Stevenson Hall (MB, 6-2, Laurens, S.C., Univ. of Louisville, Palmetto)
15 Haleigh Washington (MB, 6-3, Colorado Springs, Colo., Penn State Univ., Rocky Mountain)
16 Dana Rettke (MB, 6-8, Riverside, Ill., Univ. of Wisconsin, Great Lakes)
23C Kelsey Robinson Cook (OH, 6-2, Bartlett, Ill., Univ. of Nebraska, Great Lakes)
24 Chiaka Ogbogu (MB, 6-2, Coppell, Texas, Univ. of Texas, North Texas)
29 Khalia Lanier (OH, 6-2, Scottsdale, Ariz., Univ. of Southern California, Arizona)

Head Coach: Karch Kiraly
Assistant Coaches: Tama Miyashiro, Erin Virtue,  Alfee Reft
Physical Therapist/Athletic Trainer: Kara Kessans
Strength & Conditioning Coach: Brandon Siakel
Performance Analyst: Rianne Verhoek
Team Leader: Coley Pawlikowski
Dietitian: Shawn Hueglin
Team Doctor: James Suchy

U.S. Women’s Schedule for the 2024 Volleyball Nations League
Matches will be shown live and on-demand on VolleyballWorld.tv
(All times PDT)

Week 1 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
May 15 USA def Thailand 3-1 (25-22, 19-25, 25-12, 25-18)
May 16 China def USA 3-1 (23-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-19)
May 17 Brazil def USA 3-1 (25-22, 25-16, 18-25, 25-19)
May 19 USA def Dominican Republic 3-0 (25-23, 25-20, 25-18)

Week 2 in Arlington, Texas
May 28 USA def Canada 3-1 (25-22, 25-17, 23-25, 25-20)
May 31 USA def Bulgaria 3-0 (25-17, 25-22, 25-22)
June 1 Poland def. USA 3-1 (28-26, 25-22, 20-25, 25-23)
June 2 Türkiye def. USA 3-2 (21-25, 25-20, 25-21, 12-25, 15-12)

Week 3 in Fukuoka, Japan
June 10 USA def France 3-0 (25-15, 26-24, 25-20)
June 12 USA def Netherlands 3-0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-22)
June 14 Italy def USA 3-1 (25-17, 19-25, 25-15, 25-21)
June 16 USA def Japan 3-0 (25-15, 25-18, 26-24)

Final Round in Bangkok, Thailand
June 21 QF: Italy def USA 3-0 (25-21, 25-21, 25-23)