Thompson Totals 34 Points in Sweep of China in Tokyo

TOKYO (July 26, 2021) –Jordan Thompson joined an elite group of women’s volleyball players on Monday as she scored 34 points in leading the U.S. Women’s National Team to a 3-0 (29-27, 25-22, 25-21) win over China at the Olympic Games.

The U.S. Women (2-0) will continue Olympic pool play on Thursday against Turkey (1-0) at 5:45 a.m. PT.

Thompson’s 34 points on a match-high 28 kills, a team-high four blocks and two aces tied her for third on the Olympic scoring record list.

OFFICIAL STATISTICS * TEAM STATISTICS * MEDIA GUIDE *  USA VOLLEYBALL MATCH CENTER

“She’s on fire,” U.S. Head Coach Karch Kiraly said of Thompson, who was also the team’s leading scorer in its first Olympic match against Argentina.

In June, China and the U.S. Women played at the FIVB Volleyball Nations League where China handed the U.S. its only loss of the tournament, 3-0. Kiraly credited Monday’s win to better passing and serving from the U.S. Women. in particular, Kiraly praised outside hitters Jordan Larson and Michelle Bartsch-Hackley and libero Justine Wong Orantes for their prowess at serve receive.

“That was one of the best passing matches that we’ve had in a long, long time, which allows us to run the offense that we want to run,” Kiraly said. “It allows our hitters and (setter) Jordyn Poulter to do their jobs.

“Partway through the match, China started serving short to disrupt things and our passers handled that too.”

Bartsch-Hackley was credited with 29 successful receptions. Wong Orantes had 16 and Larson had 12. Wong Orantes was credited with 16 digs, Bartsch-Hackley had 12 and Larson finished with eight.

Poulter set the U.S. Women to a .357 hitting efficiency.

The U.S. led China in kills (58-45) and aces (4-1). China led in blocks (11-10).

Bartsch-Hackley added 15 points on 15 kills. Larson scored 12 points on 11 kills and one block.

Middle blocker Haleigh Washington scored two points and starting middle Foluke Akinradewo Gunderson did not score, something that Kiraly acknowledged the team need to work on.

“If we have a couple positions struggling to score points for us, it’s nice to have the other three hitters step up for us, especially Jordan Thompson,” Kiraly said.

NOTES

• Jordan Thompson set the NCAA women’s match scoring record (in the rally-scoring era) in 2019 when she scored 50 points for Cincinnati in a match against Connecticut.
• Barbara Jelic of Croatia set the women’s Olympic match scoring record in Sydney in 2000 when she finished with 44 points in 40 kills, three blocks and an ace in a match against China. Brazil’s Marianne “Mari” Steinbrecher scored 37 points against Russia at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. Kim Yeon Koung is now tied with Thompson for third. Koung scored 34 points in a match against Serbia at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
• The United States’ Danielle Scott is also on the list of top scorers. She totaled 30 points in a match against Korea at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.
• U.S. Women’s Assistant Coach Erin Virtue was back on the bench for the match against China. Virtue was put into quarantine after it was determined she was a “close contact” of someone who had tested positive for COVID. Virtue has not tested positive.

U.S. Women’s Roster for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020

1 Micha Hancock (S, 5-11, Edmond, Okla., Penn State Univ.)
2 Jordyn Poulter (S, 6-2, Aurora, Colo., Univ. of Illinois)
4 Justine Wong Orantes (L, 5-6, Cypress, Calif., Univ. of Nebraska)
10 Jordan Larson (OH, 6-2, Hooper, Neb., Univ. of Nebraska)
11 Annie Drews (OPP, 6-4, Elkhart, Ind., Purdue Univ.)
12 Jordan Thompson (OPP, 6-4, Edina, Minn., Univ. of Cincinnati)
14 Michelle Bartsch-Hackley (OH, 6-3, Champaign, Ill., Univ. of Illinois)
15 Kim Hill (OH, 6-4, Portland, Ore., Pepperdine, Univ.)
16 Foluke Akinradewo Gunderson (M, 6-3, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Stanford Univ.)
22 Haleigh Washington (M, 6-3, Colorado Springs, Colo., Penn State Univ.)
23 Kelsey Robinson (OH, 6-2, Manhattan Beach, Calif., Univ. of Nebraska)
24 Chiaka Ogbogu (M, 6-2, Coppell, Texas, Univ. of Texas)

Head Coach Karch Kiraly
Asst. Coach Erin Virtue
Asst. Coach Tama Miyashiro
Asst. Coach Luka Slabe
Performance Analyst Jeff Liu
Sport Physiologist & Team Leader Jimmy Stitz
Physical Therapist & ATC Kara Kessans
Consultant Coach Sue Enquist
Consultant Coach Marv Dunphy
Team Doctor Dr. Chris Lee
Second Scout Justin Chang

Olympic Schedule (All times PT)
Jul 24: USA def Argentina, 3-0 (25-20, 25-19, 25-20)
July 26: USA def China, 3-0 (29-27, 25-22, 25-21)
July 29 at 5:45 a.m. USA v Turkey
July 30 at 7:05 p.m. USA v Russian Olympic Committee
Aug. 1 at 7:05 p.m. USA v Italy
Aug. 3/4 Quarterfinals
Aug. 5/6 Semifinals
Aug. 7/8 Medal matches