COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (May 21, 2017) – The U.S. Women’s Sitting Team finished the World ParaVolley World Super 6 tournament with the silver medal after falling to Russia in the final, 25-23, 16-25, 25-17, 25-18 on Sunday.
The U.S. Women finished the tournament with a 4-2 record, with their only losses coming to Russia (6-0) in the round robin and the final. The tournament is the first sitting volleyball tournament to offer prize money with a total purse of $20,000.
U.S. opposite Heather Erickson was named tournament MVP and Best Spiker and outside hitter Monique Burkland was named Best Server.
“The team played hard to keep themselves in the match,” U.S. Head Coach Bill Hamiter said via email. “We should have won the first set but let it slip away. Russia is tall across the board. I’m really proud of the way our team fought and the good play from some of our young players in a pressured situation.”
The U.S. led Sunday’s match in aces (12-7) and kills (45-39), but Russia dominated the blocking (22-9). Erickson led all scorers with 19 points on a match-high 28 kills and one ace. Burkland added 16 points, including a team-high five blocks and Nicky Nieves scored 13 points including a match-high seven aces.
The U.S. Women’s Sitting Team will play scrimmages at the USA Volleyball Open National Championships on May 27 at 3 p.m. and on May 28 at 8:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. The U.S. Men’s Sitting Team will play on May 27 at 3:30 p.m. and on May 28 at 8 a.m.
U.S. Starters vs Russia
Outside hitter: Monique Burkland and Tia Edwards
Middle blockers: Nicky Nieves and Lexi Shifflett
Opposite: Heather Erickson
Setter: Kaleo (Kanahele) Maclay
Libero: Bethany Zummo
U.S. Statistics vs Russia
Kills: Heather Erickson 18, Monique Burkland 9, Tia Edwards 6, Lexi Shifflett 6, Nicky Nieves 4, Kaleo Maclay 2
Blocks: Burkland 5, Nieves 2, Edwards 2
Aces: Nieves 7, Burkland 2, Shifflett 1, Erickson 1, Maclay 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
Ukraine def Japan, 25-7, 25-19, 25-17
China def Netherlands, 25-5, 25-12, 25-11
May 21
Fifth place: Netherlands def Japan, 25-11, 25-15, 22-25, 25-19
Bronze: China def Ukraine, 25-12, 25-23, 25-11
Russia def USA, 25-23, 16-25, 25-17, 25-18