Flying Aces: Sitting Team Sweeps France in Paris

PARIS, France (Sept. 1, 2024) – The U.S. Women’s Sitting Team scored on 28 aces as it defeated host France 3-0 (25-5, 25-1, 25-5) on Sunday at the Paralympic Games in Paris.

The U.S. Women improved to 1-1 and will conclude pool play at 5 a.m. PT (2 p.m. in Paris) on Tuesday (Sept. 3) with a must-win match against Italy (1-1). The winner will advance to the semifinals.

MATCH STATISTICS (PDF)

The U.S. Women’s Sitting Team has won gold at the last two Paralympic Games and is ranked No. 3 in the world. France qualified by virtue of hosting the Games and is ranked 30th.

“It’s always good to get a win,” head coach Bill Hamiter said. “We had to have it. We needed to win that one and we need to beat Italy in a couple days. It was so great to play in front of this home crowd, all the noise. The French coach and I were talking, and I was just telling him, ‘enjoy it.’ I’ve been coaching a long time. I’ve never been able to coach in my home country and have that kind of reception.”

Although the French team did not score many points, their fans cheered passionately from the opening serve.

“It was electric,” said setter Lexi Shifflett-Patterson. “It was the first time in a long time that we’ve had a crowd like that. We came out, played lights out, and I couldn’t be happier about it.”

The United States dominated from the start and led in aces (28-0), kills (21-3) and blocks (10-1). The U.S. scored 16 points on France’s errors while committing seven. The match lasted 45 minutes.

Outside hitter Emma Schieck started all three sets and led all scorers with 11 points on eight aces and three kills. In the second set, Schieck took the serve with the U.S. leading 4-1 and served until the end of the set.

“I pride myself on trusting my team a lot,” Schieck said. “I get to play with the best team out there. Putting the ball in play and letting them do their job is my only focus.”

Outside hitter Monique Matthews and opposite Heather Erickson each started two sets and each finished with 10 points.

Erickson started the first and third sets and scored on six aces, two kills and two blocks. Matthews started the second and third sets and scored on six kills, three blocks and one ace.

Shifflett-Patterson and outside hitter Whitney Dosty each started the first two sets, and each scored six points.

Dosty scored on three kills and three aces. Shifflett-Patterson scored on five aces and one block and combined with setter Kaleo Kanahele Maclay to help the U.S. complete 60 percent of its kill attempts.

Middle blocker Nicky Nieves started all three sets and scored five points on three kills, one block and one ace. Kanahele Maclay started the third set and scored five points on two blocks and three aces.

Middle Tia Edwards started the first and third sets and scored three points on two kills and one ace. Middle Lora Webster started the second set and scored on two kills and one block.

Libero Sydney Satchell started all three sets and was credited with two digs and two successful receptions.

In the first and third sets, all six U.S. positions made it to the serve, but nobody got a second turn. Only two U.S. servers were needed in the second set.

Paris Paralympics Hub | U.S. Women’s Sitting Team home

2024 U.S. Paralympic Women’s Sitting Volleyball Team

No., Name, Pos., Height, Hometown, USAV Region
1 Lora Webster (MB, 5-11, Point Lookout, N.Y., Garden Empire)
2 Bethany Zummo (L, 5-3, Dublin, Calif., Northern California)
3 Lexi Shifflett-Patterson (S/L, 5-4, Waseca, Minn., North Country)
5 Katie Holloway Bridge (OH, 6-3, Lake Stevens, Wash., Puget Sound)
6 Heather Erickson (OPP, 6-0, Fayetteville, N.C., Carolina)
7C Monique Matthews (MB/OH, 6-0, Ardmore, Okla., Oklahoma)
8 Whitney Dosty (OH/OPP, 6-3, Tucson, Ariz., Arizona)
9 Tia Edwards (OH/MB, 5-7, Skiatook, Okla., Oklahoma)
10 Sydney Satchell (L, 5-2, Windsor, Conn., New England)
12 Emma Schieck (OH, 5-7, Statesville, N.C., Carolina)
14 Kaleo Kanahele Maclay (S, 5-6, Oklahoma City, Okla., Oklahoma)
16 Nicky Nieves (MB/OH, 5-10, Kissimmee, Fla., Florida)

Alternates
18 Courtney Baker (OH, 5-9, Crofton, Ky., Pioneer)
22 MaKenzie Franklin (OH, 6-0, Red Wing, Minn., North Country)
24 Raelene Elam (OH, 6-1, St. George, Utah, Northern California)

Head Coach: Bill Hamiter
Assistant Coaches: Leo Filho, Michelle Goodall
Team Leader: Patrick Lawrence
Athletic Trainer: Kat King
Performance Analyst: Jeffery Hicks
Team Psychologist: Adam O’Neil
Athletic Performance Coach: Bobby Moore
Dietitian: Jacque Scaramella

U.S. Women’s Schedule for the 2024 Paralympic Games

Aug. 30: China def. USA, 3-1 (21-25, 25-20, 25-18, 26-24)
Sept. 1: USA def. France, 3-0 (25-5, 25-1, 25-5)
Sept. 3: USA vs. Italy, 2 p.m. Paris time/5 a.m. Pacific time (USA and Peacock)
Sept. 4: Classification matches for 5th/6th and 7th/8th places
Sept. 5: Semifinals (Peacock)
Sept. 7: Medal matches (CNBC and Peacock)