COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Aug. 20, 2017) – The U.S. Girls Youth National Team lost to Belarus 25-20, 25-13, 21-25, 25-20 on Sunday during pool play of the biennial FIVB Women’s U18 World Championship at Santa Fe, Argentina.
The Americans, now 0-2, will face Brazil on Monday at 11 a.m. ET and conclude pool play versus Mexico on Tuesday at 9 a.m. ET. Belarus is now 3-0 in the pool, having lost just one set.
Logan Eggleston (Franklin, Tennessee) led the Americans with 20 points as she hammered 16 kills on 50 attacks to go with three aces and a block. Madison Horin (Munster, Indiana) totaled five blocks, three kills and two aces for 10 points. Mica Allison (White Heath, Illinois), who was a sub in the first two sets before starting the final two, contributed four kills and three blocks for seven points. Taylor Landfair (Plainfield, Illinois) totaled six kills on 13 swings as she started the final two sets after being a sub in the first two sets.
Nicklin Hames (Maryville, Tennessee) provided two aces, one block and one kill from her setter position. Holly Campbell (Austin, Texas) turned in two kills, one block and one ace for four points. Kendall Kipp (Newport Beach, California), who started the first two sets, scored two kills and a block. Madison Williams (Mansfield, Texas) and Madi Kubik (West Des Moines, Iowa) rounded out the scoring with a kill apiece.
Libero Brooke Nuneviller (Chandler, Arizona) was credited with 11 excellent receptions on 20 chances to go with 11 digs. Landfair secured seven digs and seven excellent receptions on 16 chances in the match.
The U.S. converted 28.6 percent of its attacks into points, but 26 attack errors limited its hitting efficiency to .079 (36-26-126) for the match. Hames was credited with nine running sets on 102 total set attempts. In contrast, Belarus converted 36.5 percent of its attacks into points with a .175 hitting efficiency (46-24-126).
The U.S. held a 12-5 block advantage a slim 8-7 margin in aces, but 38 errors was too much to overcome in the end. Belarus, which committed just 22 errors for the match, managed a 46-36 edge in kills.
The U.S. started Eggleston and Kubik at outside, Campbell and Horin at middle, Kipp at opposite and Hames at setter. Nuneviller was the libero for the match.
The U.S. started the opening set with a 6-2 lead including blocks from Kipp and Horin. Belarus went on a 9-2 scoring run after the first technical timeout to take a 13-10 advantage. Belarus reached the second technical timeout holding a 16-11 advantage. Out of the timeout, the Americans scored four quick points to slice the deficit to 16-15, then leveled the score at 18-all. Belarus broke the tie with back-to-back point to establish a 20-18 margin. Belarus finished the set at 25-20 on a 5-2 run. The Americans held advantages of 4-0 in blocks and 2-0 in aces, but 10 errors and a Belarus 15-8 margin in kills provided the difference.
The Americans opened the second set with a quick 2-0 advantage, but Belarus came back to take a 7-4 lead. Belarus expanded its lead to 15-5 with eight unanswered points and cruised to the 25-13 victory. Belarus served four aces in the set and took advantage of nine American errors.
As with the first two sets, Team USA grabbed an early 8-1 advantage in the third set. Belarus cut into the deficit at 11-8. The Americans went into the second technical timeout leading 16-11. Belarus charged back to square the set at 18-all on a 7-2 run. The U.S. ended the spurt with three consecutive points staking a 21-18 advantage, but Belarus used its own 3-0 run to tie the set again at 21-all. However, Team USA scored the final four points for a 25-21 victory.
This U.S. broke an 8-all tie in the fourth set with consecutive points to take a 10-8 advantage. Belarus scored three straight to take the lead at 13-12 and went into the second technical timeout up 16-14. The Americans scored the first six points out of the break to regain the lead back at 20-16. Belarus stopped the run with the final nine straight points to win 25-20.
o the second technical timeout up 16-14. The Americans scored the first six points out of the break to regain the lead back at 20-16. Belarus stopped the run with the final nine straight points to win 25-20.
U.S. Girls Youth National Team at FIVB Women’s U18 World Championship
# — Name (Position, Ht., Hometown, Club, Region)
3 – Brooke Nuneviller (L, 5-11, Chandler, Arizona, Aspire, Arizona)
4 – Mica Allison (S/OPP, 6-0, White Heath, Illinois, Illini Elite, Great Lakes)
5 – Nicklin Hames (S, 5-11, Maryville, Tennessee, K2 Volleyball, Southern)
6 – Selina Xu (S, 6-0, San Carlos, California, Vision Volleyball, Northern California)
8 – Madison Williams (OH, 6-1, Mansfield, Texas, Texas Advantage, North Texas)
9 – Logan Eggleston (OH, 6-3, Franklin, Tennessee, Alliance, Southern)
11 – Skylar Fields (OH, 6-2, Missouri City, Texas, Houston Juniors, Lone Star)
14 – Madi Kubik (OH, 6-2, West Des Moines, Iowa, Central Iowa Select, Iowa)
15 – Kendall Kipp (M/OPP, 6-5, Newport Beach, California, Laguna Beach, Southern California)
16 – Madison Horin (M, 6-3, Munster, Indiana, First Alliance, Great Lakes)
17 – Holly Campbell (M, 6-3, Austin, Texas, Austin Juniors, Lone Star)
19 – Taylor Landfair (OH, 6-4, Plainfield, Illinois, Elite Sports Performance, Great Lakes)
Head Coach: Jim Stone
Assistant Coaches: Michelle Chatman-Smith, Michael Gee
Technical Coordinator: Herb Summer
Head of Delegation: Lizzy Briones
U.S. Girls Youth National Team Schedule at FIVB Women’s U18 World Championship
Aug. 19: USA lost to Russia 25-17, 25-20, 25-19
Aug. 20: USA lost to Belarus 25-20, 25-13, 21-25, 25-20
Aug. 21: USA Vs. Brazil, 11 a.m. ET
Aug. 22: USA vs. Mexico, 9 a.m. ET