Loss to Serbia Places U.S. Women 2nd in Pool at Worlds

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Oct. 1, 2022) – The U.S. Women’s National Team finished second in Pool C at the FIVB World Championships after losing its first match of the tournament on Saturday, 3-0 (25-20, 25-23, 25-13) to Serbia in Łódź, Poland.

The U.S. Women (4-1) will advance to the second phase of pool play where they will face the Dominican Republic (3-2) at 8:30 a.m. on Oct. 4.

The U.S. Women struggled with Serbia’s blocking on Saturday as the Europeans led 13-1 in blocks. Serbia also led in kills (38-30) while the teams tied in aces (3-3). The U.S. Women scored 22 points on Serbia errors and gave up 21 points.

OFFICIAL STATISTICS

Outside hitter Kara Bajema made her first start of the World Championships and led the U.S. scoring with six points on six kills.

Starting opposite Annie Drews and starting middle blocker Haleigh Washington each scored five points on four kills and one ace.

Starting middle Hannah Tapp scored four points on three kills and one ace. Substitute outside hitter Sarah Wilhite Parsons, who took over for starter Kelsey (Robinson) Cook in the second set, added four points on four kills. Cook scored three points on three kills.

Opposite Danielle Cuttino, who subbed for Drews in the second set, had three points on three kills.

Setter Jordyn Poulter totaled two points on a kill and the United States’ only block. Middle Anna Hall, who subbed for Washington in the second set, had two points on two kills.

Liberos Justine Wong-Orantes and Morgan Hentz split time in the match. Wong-Orantes led the team in digs with five. Bajema led in successful receptions with 10.

The U.S. Women again received vocal support at the match from members of the U.S. Air Force’s 90th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron (F-22 Raptors).

Matches are being livestreamed on VolleyballWorld.tv.

The U.S. Women are ranked No. 1 in the world. They won the World Championships for the first time in 2014. They took silver in 1967 and 2002. They took third in 1982 and 1990. They tied for fifth at the last World Championships in 2018.

U.S. Women’s Roster for 2022 FIVB World Championships
No. Name (Pos., Ht., Hometown, College, USAV Region)
2 Jordyn Poulter (S, 6-2, Aurora, Colo., Univ. of Illinois, Great Lakes)
4 Justine Wong-Orantes (L, 5-6, Cypress, Calif., Univ. of Nebraska, Southern California)
5 Morgan Hentz (L, 5-9, Lakeside Park, Ky., Stanford Univ., Pioneer)
7 Lauren Carlini (S, 6-2, Aurora, Ill., Univ. of Wisconsin, Great Lakes)
8 Hannah Tapp (MB, 6-3, Stewartville, Minn., Univ. of Minnesota, North Country)
11 Annie Drews (Opp, 6-4, Elkhart, Ind., Purdue Univ., Hoosier)
13 Sarah Wilhite Parsons (OH, 6-2, Eden Prairie, Minn., Univ. of Minnesota, North Country)
15 Haleigh Washington (MB, 6-3, Colorado Springs, Colo., Penn State Univ., Rocky Mountain)
18 Kara Bajema (OH, 6-2, Lynden, Wash., Univ. of Washington, Puget Sound)
20 Danielle Cuttino (Opp, 6-4, Indianapolis, Ind., Purdue Univ., Hoosier)
23 Kelsey (Robinson) Cook (OH, 6-2, Manhattan Beach, Calif., Univ. of Nebraska, Southern California)
24 Chiaka Ogbogu (MB, 6-2, Coppell, Texas, Univ. of Texas, North Texas)
30 Ali Frantti (OH, 6-1, Spring Grove, Ill., Penn State, Great Lakes)
31 Anna (Stevenson) Hall (MB, 6-2, Laurens S.C., Univ. of Louisville, Palmetto)

Head Coach: Karch Kiraly
Assistant Coaches: Erin Virtue, Tama Miyashiro, Marv Dunphy
Performance Analyst: Brian Hurler
Physical Therapist/Athletic Trainer: Kara Kessans
Consultant Coach: Sue Enquist
Team Manager: Coley Pawlikowski
Strength & Conditioning Coach: Brandon Siakel
Sports Dietitian: Shawn Hueglin
Massage Specialist: Tony Poland
Team Doctors: Warren Young and Steven Stovitz

U.S. Schedule for the World Championships
All times PT

Pool Play Round One
Arnhem, Netherlands
USA def Kazakhstan, 3-0 (25-16, 25-13, 25-22)
USA def Canada, 3-0 (25-19, 26-24, 25-15)

Łódź, Poland
USA def Bulgaria, 3-1 (25-14, 23-25, 25-11, 25-15)
USA def Germany, 3-0 (25-17, 25-13, 26-24)
Serbia def USA, 3-0 (25-20, 25-23, 25-13)

Pool Play Round Two
Łódź, Poland
Oct. 4 at 8:30 a.m. USA vs Dominican Republic
Oct. 5 at 11:30 a.m. USA vs Poland
Oct. 7 at 8:30 a.m. USA vs Türkiye
Oct. 8 at 6 a.m. USA vs Thailand

Quarterfinals
Oct. 11

Semifinals
Oct. 12-13

Finals
Oct. 15