COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Sept. 22, 2016) – Following the conclusion of the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, the U.S. Sitting Volleyball Teams are enjoying some well-earned time off. As the athletes rest, recover and look forward to the start of a new Paralympic cycle, check out some facts and figures about the U.S. Teams and athletes following the conclusion of the Paralympics.
1 – Gold medal won by the U.S. Women’s Sitting Volleyball Team. It is the first gold for any U.S. Paralympic Volleyball Team, and also the first time a country other than China has won women’s sitting volleyball gold at the Paralympic Games.
65 – Points scored by U.S. Women’s Captain Heather Erickson (Fayetteville, North Carolina). Erickson finished with 54 kills, seven blocks and four aces and was named MVP and “Best Receiver” of the Paralympic tournament.
13 – Players made their Paralympic debut for the U.S. Sitting Volleyball Teams. Bethany Zummo (Dublin, California), Nicky Nieves (Kissimmee, Florida), Tia Edwards (Skiatook, Oklahoma) and Lexi Shifflett (Waseca, Minnesota) debuted on the U.S. Paralympic Women’s Team. Dan Regan (St. Louis, Missouri), Ben Aman (Tacoma, Washington), Charlie Swearingen (Gulfport, Mississippi), John Kremer (Buford, Georgia), J. Dee Marinko (Guthrie, Oklahoma), James Stuck (New Kensington, Pennsylvania), Josh Smith (Mesquite, Texas), Edgar Laforest (San Juan, Puerto Rico), and Jese Schag (Norway, Illinois) played in their first Paralympic Games for the U.S. Paralympic Men’s Team.
19 – Blocks by Lora Webster (Point Lookout, New York). Webster led all players in blocks and block-rebounds (38), averaging 1.12 blocks per set. She was named “Best Blocker,” following the gold medal match.
6 – U.S. Military Veterans played on the U.S. Paralympic Sitting Volleyball Teams. On the U.S. Men’s Team, John Kremer, James Stuck, Dan Regan, Josh Smith and Jese Schag represented their country after serving in the Navy, Army, Army National Guard and Marines. Kari Miller (Washington D.C.) is a U.S. Army veteran on the U.S. Women’s Team.
189 – Kills by the U.S. Paralympic Women’s Sitting Volleyball Team. The U.S. Women tied with Brazil for the second-most number of team kills; China led all teams with 202 kills.
4 – Paralympic Games appearances by both Lora Webster and Chris Seilkop (Victoria, Texas). Seilkop was a member of the 1996 and 2000 U.S. Men’s Paralympic Standing Volleyball Teams, as well as the 2004 U.S. Men’s Sitting Volleyball Team. Webster played in the 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016 Paralympic Games, winning one bronze, two silvers and one gold medal along the way.
3 – Paralympic Games appearances by Roderick Green (West Monroe, Louisiana). Green competed in Para-Track and Field at the 2000 and 2004 Paralympic Games, winning one silver medal and two bronze medals before joining the U.S. Men’s Sitting Volleyball Team.
51 – Blocks by the U.S. Paralympic Women’s Sitting Team, three more than any other team. The U.S. Women dominated the net throughout the tournament, posting an additional 106 block-rebounds, 24 more than the next closest team (China, 92 block rebounds).
29 – Kills by U.S. Men’s outside hitter J. Dee Marinko. Joining Marinko at the top of the U.S. Men’s offensive leader board were Eric Duda (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) (23 kills) and Roderick Green (20).
17 – Sets played by Monique Burkland (Ardmore, Oklahoma). Burkland played every point of every set she started, only sitting out for the third set of the U.S. Women’s win against Rwanda during pool play. She finished seventh overall in scoring with 56 points overall (42 kills, five blocks, nine aces).