COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, (May 20, 2017) – The U.S. Women’s Sitting Team suffered its first loss of the World ParaVolley World Super 6 tournament on Saturday when it fell to Russia, 25-13, 25-23, 25-18.

The match was the final of the tournament round robin. The two teams will play again in Sunday’s gold medal match. Russia improved to 5-0 while the U.S. fell to 4-1.

Russia handled the U.S. serving, which had been dominant throughout the tournament. The Russians led in aces (8-4), blocks (10-7) and kills (35-25).

Heather Erickson led the U.S. with 12 points on 11 kills and one block. Monique Burkland added nine points, including four blocks. Whitney Dosty came off the bench to score seven points.

U.S. Starters vs Russia
Outside hitter: Monique Burkland and Lexi Shifflett
Middle blockers: Nicky Nieves and Tia Edwards
Opposite: Heather Erickson
Setter: Kaleo (Kanahele) Maclay
Libero: Bethany Zummo

U.S. Statistics vs Russia
Kills: Heather Erickson 11, Whitney Dosty 5, Monique Burkland 4, Lexi Shifflett 3, Nicky Nieves 2
Blocks: Burkland 4, Dosty 2, Erickson 1
Aces: Nieves 2, Shifflett 1, Burkland 1

U.S. Women’s Sitting Team

No. – Name (Position, Height, Hometown)
2 – Bethany Zummo (L, 5-2, Dublin, Calif.)
3 – Alexis Shifflett (S, 5-4, Waseca, Minn.)
6 – Heather Erickson (OH, 5-11, Fayetteville, N.C.)
7 – Monique Burkland (OH, 5-9, Ardmore, Okla.)
8 – Whitney Dosty (OH, 6-3, Tucson, Ariz.)
10 – Kari Miller (L, 5-6, Washington D.C.)
14 – Kaleo Kanahele Maclay (S, 5-6, Edmond, Okla.)
16 – Nicky Nieves (MB, 5-10, Kissimmee, Fla.)
17 – Tia Edwards (OH, 5-7, Skitatook, Okla.)
18 – Courtney Baker (OPP, 5-8, Crofton, Ken.)

Head Coach: Bill Hamiter
Assistant Coaches: Lazaro Beltran and Jon Aharoni
Technical Coordinator: Jeff Hicks
Team Leader: Michelle Goodall
Athletic Trainer: Patrick Lawrence

Competition Schedule and Results (all times ET)
May 16
USA def Japan, 25-19, 25-12, 25-14
Russia def China, 25-20, 16-25, 25-19, 23-25, 15-7
Ukraine def Netherlands, 25-20, 23-25, 25-15, 22-25, 15-13

May 17
USA def China, 25-23, 25-18, 25-17
Netherlands def Japan, 25-12, 25-9, 20-25, 25-14
Russia def Ukraine, 25-18, 25-20, 25-20

May 18
USA def Ukraine, 25-16, 25-22, 25-23
China def Japan, 25-9, 25-13, 25-19
Russia def Netherlands, 25-14, 25-9, 25-19

May 19
USA def Netherlands, 25-13, 25-7, 25-16
Russia def Japan, 25-11, 25-10, 25-18
China def Ukraine, 25-15, 25-21, 25-8

May 20: Russia def USA, 25-13, 25-23, 25-18

May 21
5 v 6, 9 p.m. (May 20)
3 v 4, 10:30 p.m. (May 20)
USA v Russia, 2 a.m.