COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Sept 3, 2016) – The U.S. Girls’ Youth National Team (GYNT) used a balanced offense to sweep Barbados 25-13, 25-8, 25-11 on Saturday afternoon on the second day of the NORCECA Women’s U18 Continental Championship taking place in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The GYNT, now 2-0 in Pool B, concludes the preliminary round on Sunday against Dominican Republic at 6 p.m. ET. Dominican Republic is the reigning champion of the biennial event, though Team USA has won seven of the previous nine tournaments.
The Americans had 10 players with at least two points, led by opposite Haley Warner (Fayetteville, Arkansas, Ozark Juniors). She turned in five kills and four aces for nine points. Outside hitter Skylar Fields (Missouri City, Texas, Houston Juniors) contributed eight points via five kills, two aces and a block. Middle Kendall Kipp (Newport Beach, California, Momentous VBC) notched seven points with three aces, two kills and two blocks.
Outside hitter Logan Eggleston (Franklin, Tennessee, Alliance VBC) tacked on six points with four aces and two kills in just playing the opening set. Outside hitter Brooklyn Schirmer (Long Beach, California, Mizuno Long Beach VBC) scored six points with four kills and two aces. Outside hitter Mia Grunze (Waterford, Wisconsin, Milwaukee Sting) also pocketed six points, all on kills.
Middle Serena Gray (San Gabriel, California, San Gabriel Elite) charted four kills in starting the first two sets. Starting setter Ella Powell (Fayetteville, Arkansas, Ozark Juniors) was credited with two kills and an ace for three points, which was matched by middle blocker Sophia Dorsch-Summers (Beaverton, Oregon, Athena Volleyball Academy) with two kills and a block. Allison Martinez (Montebello, California, San Gabriel Elite) rounded out the scoring with a kill and ace for two points.
The U.S. used seven aces in the opening set, including four from Eggleston, to cruise to a 25-13 victory to start the match. Team USA cruised to a 12-3 lead in the second set and held strong for a 25-8 win. The third set was much like the second with the Americans taking a 16-5 lead en route to a 25-11 victory.
The U.S. converted 61.1 percent of its attacks into points with a .554 hitting efficiency (33-3-54). Powell was credited with 10 running sets on 27 set attempts, while Erin O’Leary (Novi, Michigan, Legacy VBC) added eight running sets on 19 set attempts.
Libero Brooke Nuneviller (Chandler Arizona, Aspire VBC) totaled nine digs and handed 17 receptions with nine excellent receptions. Warner added five digs in the victory.
Team USA held a 17-5 advantage in aces and a slim 4-3 margin in blocks. The Americans’ offense had a 33-9 advantage in kills. The U.S. cut its errors to 15 for the match, 11 of which were service errors.
The GYNT is comprised of 12 players born in 2000 or 2001 and all making their debuts in an international NORCECA or FIVB tournament.
The top team in each pool advances directly to the semifinals on Sept. 6, while the second- and third-place teams play crossover quarterfinals on Sept. 5. The biennial tournament concludes on Sept. 7 with the final classification matches, including the medal round matches. The top two teams will advance to next year’s age-group FIVB World Championship, and Team USA has won silver in each of the last two biennial age-group World Championship events.
USA Starters:
M – Serena Gray and Kendall Kipp
OH – Logan Eggleston and Brooklyn Schirmer
OPP – Haley Warner
S – Ella Powell
L – Brooke Nuneviller
USA Scoring
Points – Haley Warner 9, Skylar Fields 8, Kendall Kipp 7, Logan Eggleston 6, Mia Grunze 6, Brooklyn Schirmer 6, Serena Gray 4, Sophia Dorsch-Summers 3, Ella Powell 3, Allison Martinez 2. Team USA 75, BARBADOS 32.
Kills – Mia Grunze 6, Skylar Fields 5, Haley Warner 5, Serena Gray 4, Brooklyn Schirmer 4, Sophia Dorsch-Summers 2, Logan Eggleston 2, Kendall Kipp 2, Ella Powell 2, Allison Martinez 1. TEAM USA 33, BARBADOS 9.
Blocks – Kendall Kipp 2, Sophia Dorsch-Summers 1, Skylar Fields 1. TEAM USA 4, BARBADOS 3.
Aces – Logan Eggleston 4, Haley Warner 4, Kendall Kipp 3, Skylar Fields 2, Brooklyn Schirmer 2, Allison Martinez 1, Ella Powell 1. TEAM USA 17, BARBADOS 5.
2016 U.S. Girls’ Youth National Team
Name (Position, Hometown, Height, HS Grad Year, Volleyball Club, Region)
4 – Sophia Dorsch-Summers (M, Beaverton, Oregon, 6-3, 2019, Athena Volleyball Academy, Columbia Empire)
5 – Logan Eggleston (OH, Franklin, Tennessee, 6-2, 2019, Alliance VBC, Southern)
6 – Skylar Fields (OH, Missouri City, Texas, 6-2, 2019, Houston Juniors, Lone Star)
7 – Serena Gray (M, San Gabriel, California, 6-3, 2018, San Gabriel Elite VBC, Southern California)
8 – Mia Grunze (OH, Waterford, Wisconsin, 6-2, 2018, Milwaukee Sting, Badger)
10 – Kendall Kipp (M, Newport Beach, California, 6-4, 2019, Momentous VBC, Southern California)
12 – Allison Martinez (OH, Montebello, California, 6-0, 2018, San Gabriel Elite, Southern California)
13 – Brooke Nuneviller (L, Chandler, Arizona, 5-10, 2018, Aspire VBC, Arizona)
14 – Erin O’Leary (S, Novi, Michigan, 5-10, 2018, Legacy VBC, Lakeshore)
17 – Ella Powell (S, Fayetteville, Arkansas, 6-0, 2018, Ozark Juniors, Delta)
20 – Brooklyn Schirmer (OH, Long Beach, California, 6-1, 2018, Mizuno Long Beach VBC, Southern California)
23 – Haley Warner (OH, Fayetteville, Arkansas, 6-1, 2018, Ozark Juniors, Delta)
Head Coach: Erin Virtue
Assistant Coaches: Stacy Sykora, Kayla Cole
Technical Coordinator: Nicki Holmes
Physiotherapist: Molly Mattea
Team Leader: Denise Sheldon
2016 NORCECA Women’s U18 Continental Championship Schedule (all times ET)
Pool A
Sept. 2: Mexico def. Costa Rica 25-20, 25-16, 25-16
Sept. 2: Puerto Rico def. French St. Martin 25-5, 25-4, 25-4
Sept. 3: French St. Martin vs. Mexico, 4 p.m.
Sept. 3: Puerto Rico vs. Costa Rica, 8 p.m.
Sept. 4: Costa Rica vs. French St. Martin, 2 p.m.
Sept. 4: Puerto Rico vs. Mexico, 8 p.m.
Pool B
Sept. 2: USA def. Guatemala 25-12, 25-12, 25-10
Sept. 2: Dominican Republic def. Barbados 25-10, 25-13, 25-13
Sept. 3: USA def. Barbados 25-13, 25-8, 25-11
Sept. 3: Dominican Republic vs. Guatemala, 6 p.m.
Sept. 4: Barbados vs. Guatemala, 4 p.m.
Sept. 4: USA vs. Dominican Republic, 6 p.m.
Quarterfinals
Sept. 5: 2B vs. 3A, 6 p.m.
Sept. 5: 2A vs. 3B, 8 p.m.
Classification 5-8
Sept. 6: 4B vs. Quarterfinal Loser TBA, 2 p.m.
Sept. 6: 4A vs. Quarterfinal Loser TBA, 4 p.m.
Semifinals
Sept. 6: 1B vs. Quarterfinal Winner TBA, 6 p.m.
Sept. 6: 1A vs. Quarterfinal Winner TBA, 8 p.m.
Final Classification Matches
Sept. 7: Classification 5-8 Losers, 2 p.m. (7th Place)
Sept. 7: Classification 5-8 Winners, 4 p.m. (5th Place)
Sept. 7: Semifinal Losers, 6 p.m. (Bronze Medal)
Sept. 7: Semifinal Winners, 8 p.m. (Gold Medal)