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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 17, 2023) – The U.S. Women’s National Team suffered its first 2023 Volleyball Nations League loss of the preliminary round, 3-2 (23-25, 25-23, 25-19, 23-25, 15-6) to Japan on Saturday in Brasilia, Brazil. It marked the second consecutive year that Japan has handed the U.S. its first VNL defeat.
The U.S. Women, currently ranked second in the world, will have a quick turnaround time before meeting the host and world’s top-ranked team, Brazil, at 6 a.m. PDT on Sunday, June 18.
Opposite Danielle Cuttino scored eight points in the opening set to lead the U.S. to a two-point victory. Despite losing three set points, Japan returned the favor with a two-point victory in the second set.
Six service errors contributed to a third-set loss for the U.S. In a highly competitive fourth set, the U.S. team took its first lead midway through the set and took its first two-point lead with back-to-back points with the set tied at 19. After Japan fought off two set points at 24-21, the U.S. sent the match to a fifth set with a kill from setter Ashley Evans.
Japan opened the final set with six consecutive points and cruised to the deciding set win to earn their first five-set victory in this year’s VNL. The U.S. women played their fourth five-set match in the preliminary round.
Outside hitter Khalia Lanier paced the U.S. with 20 points (15 kills, three blocks, two service aces) and Cuttino led the team with 17 kills. Outsider hitter Avery Skinner contributed 12 kills and middle blocker Anna Hall hit .500 with 11 kills.
The U.S. finished with 11 blocks to eight for Japan. Seven different U.S. players recorded at least one block with Lanier’s three leading the way.
Volleyball Nations League is the world’s premier annual international indoor volleyball tournament. The top 16 teams in the world play four matches a week for three weeks of preliminary competition. The top eight teams at the end of the preliminaries will go to the Final Round.
The United States will host the 2023 Women’s VNL Final Round on July 12-16 at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas, which means the U.S. automatically qualifies.
Get tickets for the final round at tickets.volleyballworld.com/arlington.
U.S. Women’s Roster for 2023 VNL Week 2
No. Name (Pos., Ht., Hometown, College, USAV Region)
1 Micha Hancock (S, 5-11, Edmond, Okla., Penn State Univ., Oklahoma)
3 Kendall White (L, 5-5, Zionsville, Ind., Penn State, Hoosier)
5 Ali Frantti (OH, 6-1, Spring Grove, Ill., Penn State, Great Lakes)
6 Morgan Hentz (L, 5-9, Lakeside Park, Ky., Stanford Univ., Pioneer)
8 Brionne Butler (MB, 6-4, Kendleton, Texas, Univ. of Texas, Lone Star)
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)
20 Danielle Cuttino (Opp, 6-4, Indianapolis, Ind., Purdue, Hoosier)
22 Kathryn Plummer (OH, 6-6, Aliso Viejo, Calif., Stanford, Southern California)
26 Asjia O’Neal (MB, 6-3, Southlake, Texas, Univ. of Texas, North Texas)
27 Avery Skinner (OH, 6-1, Katy, Texas, Baylor, Lone Star)
28 Ashley Evans (S, 6-1, Liberty Township, Ohio, Purdue, Ohio Valley)
29 Khalia Lanier (OH, 6-2, Scottsdale, Ariz., Univ. of Southern California, Arizona)
Head Coach: Karch Kiraly
Assistant Coach: Tama Miyashiro
Second Assistant Coaches: Marv Dunphy, Alfee Reft, Erin Virtue
Performance Analyst: Rianne Verhoek
Physical Therapist/Athletic Trainer: Kara Kessans
Team Doctor: William Briner
Team Manager: Coley Pawlikowski
U.S. Women’s Schedule for the 2023 VNL
All matches will be broadcast on volleyballworld.tv
Week 1 at Antalya, Türkiye
May 31: USA def. Serbia 3-2 (25-20, 19-25, 21-25, 25-21, 15-12)
June 2: USA def. Italy 3-2 (25-16, 14-25, 22-25, 25-20, 15-9)
June 3: USA def. Korea 3-0 (25-16, 27-25, 25-11)
June 4: USA def. Türkiye 3-2 (25-22, 25-22, 22-25, 11-25, 15-9)
Week 2 at Brasilia, Brazil
June 13 USA def. Croatia 3-1 (17-22, 25-22, 25-18, 25-15)
June 15 USA def. Thailand 3-0 (25-21, 25-18, 25-16)
June 17 Japan def. USA 3-2 (23-25, 25-23, 25-19, 23-25, 15-6)
June 18 at 6 a.m. PT USA vs Brazil
Week 3 (all times PT) at Suwon, Korea
June 27 at 11:30 p.m. USA vs Poland
June 28 at 11:30 p.m. USA vs Bulgaria
July 1 at 1:30 a.m. USA vs Germany
July 2 at 1:30 a.m. USA vs China
Final Round on July 12-16 at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas
The U.S. Women’s National Team moved to 5-0 in Volleyball Nations League (VNL) preliminary round play with a 17-25, 25-22, 25-18, 25-15 victory over Croatia in Brasilia, Brazil. The team, which is currently ranked No. 2 in the world, finished 4-0 in the tournament last week.
The U.S. Women’s National Team moved to 5-0 in Volleyball Nations League (VNL) preliminary round play with a 17-25, 25-22, 25-18, 25-15 victory over Croatia in Brasilia, Brazil. The team, which is currently ranked No. 2 in the world, finished 4-0 in the tournament last week.
The U.S. Women’s National Team returns to the court for its second week of Volleyball Nations League (VNL) preliminary round competition today when it plays Croatia at 1:30 p.m. PT
The U.S. Women’s National Team finished its first round of Volleyball Nations League (VNL) at 4-0 after beating host Türkiye 3-2 (25-22, 25-22, 22-25, 11-25, 15-9) on Sunday in Antalya
After going five sets in the first two VNL matches, The U.S. Women’s National Team needed only three sets to defeat Korea 3-0 (25-16, 27-25, 25-11) on Saturday in Antalya, Türkiye.
The U.S. Women’s National Team found itself in a 2-1 hole for the second straight match but once again battled back for a five-set victory, this time over world No. 2 Italy (25-16, 14-25, 22-25, 25-20, 15-9) on Friday in Antalya, Türkiye.
Setter, 5-11
Opposite, 6-4
Middle, 6-3
Libero, 5-9
Opposite/Outside Hitter, 6-6
Opposite, 6-4
Middle Blocker, 6-2
Middle Blocker, 6-4
Middle Blocker, 6-3
Outside Hitter, 6-1
Setter, 6-1
Outside Hitter, 6-2
Libero, 5-5
Outside Hitter, 6-1
