U.S. Girls U18 Team Tops Turkey for Trip to Semis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Sept. 27, 2021) – The U.S. Girls U18 National Team never gave up against an equally tough team from Turkey and came away with a 3-2 (19-25, 25-23, 22-25, 25-21, 15-9) quarterfinal victory on Monday at the FIVB World Championship in Durango, Mexico.

The U.S. Girls Team (6-0) will play Italy (6-0) in the semifinals at 6 p.m. PT on Tuesday. Russia (6-0) will play Serbia (6-0) in the other semifinal. Live streams are available at youtube.com.

OFFICIAL STATISTICS * TEAM STATISTICS * FIVB TOURNAMENT PAGE 

Every player on the U.S. roster got into the match for more than one set. Eleven players started at least one set.

“Our team has grown up with every match and we’re ready for the semifinals,” U.S. Head Coach Jamie Morrison said. “Everyone in our team has played, we’re one of the deepest team and it shows.”

Turkey held the edge in attacks (49-48). The U.S. barely led in blocks (19-18). Each team had five aces. The U.S. scored on 34 of Turkey’s errors while committing 31.

The U.S. hit .234 behind setters Alexis Stucky and Bergen Reilly. Turkey hit .238. Libero Laney Choboy played a critical role in the win and was credited with 19 digs and 12 successful receptions.

Outside hitter Mckenna Wucherer, who started four out of five sets, led the U.S. with 16 points on 14 kills and two blocks. Opposite Devin Kahahawai, who started all five sets, finished with 14 points on 10 kills, two blocks and two aces.

Outside hitter Chloe Chicoine entered the match at the end of the first set and started the next four. She scored 13 points on 11 kills and two aces and earned praise from Morrison.

“Chloe, our substitute that came in made the difference,” Morrison said. “She showed up to beat a team like Turkey, taking smart swings and being a good volleyball player.”

Middle blocker Bekka Allick, who started every set, scored 12 points on a match-high seven blocks, four kills and one ace.

“We are so excited,” Allick said. “We were hesitating and holding back on occasions. All we needed to hear was to fight for our team and spread good energy. It´s nice to see our hard work payoff into something tangible.”

Middle Maggie Mendelson started the first four sets and totaled nine points on four kills and five blocks. Backup outside hitter and opposite Julia Blyashov had five points on three kills and two blocks.

Stucky, Bergen and middle Eloise Brandewie each scored one point.

After losing the first set, the U.S. took an 8-2 lead in the second set and later led 16-11, only to see Turkey come back and tie the score at 16-16. The teams battled back and forth. At 22-22, Chicoine served an ace and Blyashov followed with a kill to give the U.S. set point. Turkey scored on a U.S. violation before Blyashov won the set on a block.

Turkey led the third set 22-16. The U.S. used a 4-1 run to pull to within three at 23-20. Turkey took set point at 24-20. The U.S. scored twice more before Turkey won the set.

Turkey led the fourth set 11-7. The U.S. tied the score at 12-12. The score was still tied at 19-19 when the Wucherer scored on a block and a kill off the block to put the U.S. ahead for good.

The fifth set was tied 4-4 when the U.S. scored the next three points to take the lead for good.

2021 U.S. Girls U18 National Team
Name (Pos., Height, Hometown, Region, Club)
1 Laney Choboy (L, 5-3, Raleigh, N.C., Carolina, NC Volleyball Academy)
4 Chloe Chicoine (OH/L, 5-10, Lafayette, Ind., Hoosier, Circle City)
6 Bergen Reilly (S, 6-1, Sioux Falls, S.D., North Country, Kairos Elite Volleyball)
7 Mckenna Wucherer (OH, 6-1, Brookfield , Wis., Badger, Milwaukee Sting)
10 Caroline Jurevicius (OPP, 6-2, Gates Mills, Ohio, Ohio Valley, Academy Volleyball Cleveland)
13 Harper Murray (OH, 6-2, Ann Arbor, Mich., Lakeshore, Legacy Volleyball Club)
14 Alexis Stucky (S, 6-2, Laramie, Wyo., Rocky Mountain, Northern Colorado Juniors)
16 Devin Kahahawai (OH, 6-3, Kailua, Hawaii, Aloha, Spike and Serve)
18 Eloise Brandewie (MB, 6-3, Columbus, Ohio, Ohio Valley, Mintonette)
19 Julia Blyashov (OH, 6-3, San Diego, Calif., Southern California, Wave Volleyball Club)
21 Bekka Allick (MB, 6-4, Waverly, Neb., Great Plains, VC Nebraska)
24 Maggie Mendelson (MB, 6-5, North Ogden, Utah, Intermountain, Hive Volleyball)

Head Coach: Jamie Morrison
Assistant Coach: Michelle Chatman-Smith
Assistant Coach: Alisha Glass Childress
Technical Coordinator: Mike Gee
Team Leader: Meredith Lee
Athletic Trainer: Wyatt Blue

U.S. Schedule for the FIVB U18 World Championship
(All times PT)
Live streams available at youtube.com

Sept. 21: USA def Thailand, 3-0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-23)
Sept. 22: USA def Romania, 3-1 (25-21, 25-11, 18-25, 25-16)
Sept. 23: USA def Puerto Rico, 3-0 (25-9, 25-15, 25-9)
Sept. 24: USA def Nigeria, 3-0 (forfeit)
Sept. 25 Rest Day
Sept. 26:USA def Argentina, 3-2 (26-24, 23-25, 21-25, 25-18, 15-7)
Sept. 27 QFs: USA def Turkey, 3-2 (19-25, 25-23, 22-25, 25-21, 15-9)
Sept. 28 SFs at 6 p.m. USA v Italy