COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Aug. 26, 2017) – The U.S. Girls Youth National Team lost to Germany today, 20-25, 25-22, 25-17, 25-17 at the FIVB Girls U18 World Championship in Rosario, Argentina.
The U.S. (3-4) will now play the loser of the Argentina-Japan match Sunday in the 7th-8th place final.
The U.S. bounced back from a poor performance on Friday against the Italians where the team had just two blocks and one ace. Today, the U.S. had one of their best blocking matches of the tournament, besting the Germans 13-7, and tallying 11 aces.
Outside hitter Logan Eggleston led U.S. scorers with 13 points on nine kills from 22 attempts, plus a block and three aces. Middle Madison Horin led the team with five blocks and four aces, finishing with 10 points. Middle Holly Campbell also had 10 points with six kills, three blocks and an ace
Team USA Starters
Libero: Brooke Nuneviller
Setter: Nicklin Hames
Middles: Holly Campbell, Madison Horin
Opposite: Mica Allison
Outside Hitters: Logan Eggleston, Madi Kubik
Team USA Stat Leaders
Points: Logan Eggleston, 13; Madison Horin, 10; Holly Campbell, 10; Madi Kubik, 9
Kills: Madi Kubik, 9; Logan Eggleston, 9; Skylar Fields, 7
Blocks: Madison Horin, 5; Holly Campbell, 3; Nicklin Hames, 2
Aces: Madison Horin, 4; Logan Eggleston, 3; Nicklin Hames, 2
The young Americans started out brightly winning the first set by five, 25-20, and held the lead in the second set, 20-17, but from that point on the Germans were in control, winning the second set with an 8-2 run, 25-22. The strong German squad took the third set 25-17, but the U.S. were keeping it close, fighting back in the fourth set. The Americans, down just 18-16, saw the Germans, like in the second set, go on a run of 7-1 to close the match.
“Germany served very well and we didn’t pass, which has been our Achilles’ hell the entire tournament,” said head coach Jim Stone. In the third and fourth we were always out of system, always giving four attacks back. We were hoping to improve as the tournament went on and we have, so to get to the final eight teams is a good thing for us.
“We’re not ready for Italy, we’re not ready for Germany yet and that’s OK. It’s part of the process.”
The U.S. made twice as many errors (31-15) as Germany.
“We didn’t pass that well today,” said setter Nicklin Hames. “Our ball control went down these last couple of games. We just made way too many errors. The first game here we were clean, didn’t make a lot of errors, but these last matches, we made a ton of them and that killed us.
“We’re trying to get better,” she said. “We’re still young and it’s the first time for many of us playing internationally, so this has been a really good learning experience for us.”
Team USA Matches
Aug. 19 … USA v. Russia … L … 25-17, 25-20, 25-19
Aug. 20 … USA v. Belarus … L … 25-20, 25-13, 21-25, 25-20
Aug. 21 … USA v. Brazil … W … 26-24, 19-25, 8-25, 25-19, 15-11
Aug. 22 … USA v. Mexico … W … 17-25, 24-26, 25-19, 30-28, 15-10
Aug. 23 … USA v. Slovenia … W … 25-21, 25-18, 25-22
Aug. 25 … USA v. Italy … L … 25-7, 25-16, 25-15
Aug. 26 … USA v. Germany … L … 20-25, 25-22, 25-17, 25-17
In 2013, the U.S. Girls Youth National Team made history, becoming the first U.S. volleyball team of either gender to win a world championship medal at the youth or junior level, taking the silver after losing to China in the final in Thailand. In 2015, the U.S. earned another silver in the World Championship final against Italy.
The U.S., ranked No. 1 in the world, competed in Pool B along with Russia, the 2017 European U18 champions; Brazil, the 2017 South American champions, plus, Belarus and Mexico.
2017 U.S. Girls Youth National Team
# — Name (Position, Ht., Hometown, Club, Region)
3 – Brooke Nuneviller – L, 5-11, Chandler, Ariz., Aspire, Arizona
4 – Mica Allison – OPP/S, 6-0, White Heath, Ill., Illini Elite, Great Lakes
5 – Nicklin Hames – S, 5-11, Maryville, Tenn., K2 Volleyball, Southern
6 – Selina Xu – S, 6-0, San Carlos, Calif., Vision Volleyball, Northern California
8 – Madison Williams – OH, 6-1, Grand Prairie, Texas, Texas Advantage, North Texas
9 – Logan Eggleston – OH, 6-3, Franklin, Tenn., 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 – M/OPP, 6-5, Newport Beach, Calif., Laguna Beach, Southern California
16 – Madison Horin – M, 6-3, Munster, Ind., First Alliance, Great Lakes
17 – Holly Campbell – M, 6-3, Austin, Texas, Austin Juniors, Lone Star
19 – Taylor Landfair – OH, 6-4, Plainfield, Ill., Elite Sports Performance, Great Lakes
Team USA Staff
Head Coach: Jim Stone
Asst. Coach: Michelle Chatman-Smith
Asst. Coach: Michael Gee
Head of Delegation: Lizzy Briones
Technical Coordinator: Herb Summer