U.S. Sweeps Dominican Republic to End 2024 VNL Week 1

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (May 19, 2024) – The U.S. Women’s National Team ended the first round of Volleyball Nations League preliminary play on a high note with a sweep (25-23, 25-20, 25-18) of the Dominican Republic on Sunday in Rio de Janeiro.

The U.S. Women (2-2) will return to Anaheim, California, before heading to the next round on May 26-June 2 in Arlington, Texas. The U.S Men begin their Volleyball Nations League preliminary round this week in Türkiye.

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The U.S. Women dominated on the attack, leading the Dominican Republic in kills 51-35. The U.S. also led in aces 4-1. The Dominican led in blocks 11-6 and the teams tied in scoring errors 14-14.

MATCH STATISTICS

U.S. outside hitter Avery Skinner led all scorers with 18 points on a match-high 18 kills. She also had 10 digs and seven receptions.

“We’re happy with how we finished,” Skinner told Volleyball World. “We wanted to come out strong today. We’re going to get back in the gym and work hard for week 2.”

Middle blocker Chiaka Ogbogu added 12 points on seven kills and a match-high five blocks. Outside Jordan Larson scored 11 points on nine kills and a match-high two aces. Larson led the U.S. in digs with 13.

Sarah Wilhite Parsons, who made her first start at opposite for the U.S. Women, scored nine points on seven kills, one block and one ace. Madi Skinner, who substituted at opposite in every set, scored five points on five kills.

Middle Anna Stevenson Hall, playing in a clear facemask after getting hit in the face with an attack on Friday, scored five points on five kills.

Setter Jordyn Poulter scored two points on two kills. Libero Justine Wong-Orantes had 11 successful receptions and 10 digs.

Setter Lauren Carlini and outside Ali Frantti played as substitutes.

The first set was tied 13-13 when the Dominican scored three points on two kills off the block and a block. The Dominican still let 18-15 when the U.S. scored three straight points on two Dominican errors and a kill from Larson. With the teams still tied at 22, the U.S. scored twice on a Poulter dump and Ogbogu kill to reach set point. The DR held off the loss with a kill. But Larson ended it with a kill.

In the second and third sets, the U.S. took early leads and never trailed.

U.S. Women’s Preliminary Roster for 2024 VNL
No. Name (Pos., Ht., Hometown, College, USAV Region)

2 Jordyn Poulter (S, 6-2, Aurora, Colo., Univ. of Illinois, Rocky Mountain)
3 Avery Skinner (OH, 6-1, Katy, Texas, Univ. of Kentucky and Baylor, Lone Star)
4 Justine Wong-Orantes (L, 5-6, Cypress, Calif., Univ. of Nebraska, Southern California)
5 Ali Frantti (OH, 6-1, Spring Grove, Ill., Penn State, Great Lakes)
7 Lauren Carlini (S, 6-2, Aurora, Ill., Univ. of Wisconsin, Great Lakes)
8 Brionne Butler (MB, 6-4, Kendleton, Texas, Univ. of Texas, Lone Star)
9 Madisen Skinner (OH, 6-2, Katy, Texas, Univ. of Kentucky and Univ. of Texas, Lone Star)
10 Jordan Larson (OH, 6-2, Hooper, Neb., Univ. of Nebraska, Great Plains)
13 Sarah Wilhite Parsons (OH, 6-2, Eden Prairie, Minn., Univ. of Minnesota, North Country)
14 Anna Stevenson Hall (MB, 6-2, Laurens S.C., Univ. of Louisville, Palmetto)
17 Zoe Fleck (L, 5-6, Granada Hills, Calif., UCLA and Univ. of Texas, Southern California)
20 Danielle Cuttino (Opp, 6-4, Indianapolis, Ind., Purdue, Hoosier)
24 Chiaka Ogbogu (MB, 6-2, Coppell, Texas, Univ. of Texas, North Texas)
37 Kayla Haneline (MB, 6-3, Plattsmouth, Neb., Northern Iowa, Great Plains)

Head Coach: Karch Kiraly
Assistant Coach: Tama Miyashiro
Second Assistant Coaches: Marv Dunphy, Alfee Reft, Erin Virtue
Performance Analyst: Rianne Verhoek
Physical Therapist/Athletic Trainer: Kara Kessans
Team Doctor: Lori Boyajian-O’Neill, William Briner, James Suchy
Consultant Coaches: Sue Enquist, Katy Stanfill
Team Manager: Coley Pawlikowski
Sports Dietitian: Shawn Hueglin
Strength & Conditioning Coach: Brandon Siakel
General Managers: Peter Vint and John Crawley

U.S. Women’s Schedule for the 2024 Volleyball Nations League
Matches will be shown live and on-demand on VolleyballWorld.tv
(All times PDT)

Week 1 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
May 15 USA def Thailand 3-1 (25-22, 19-25, 25-12, 25-18)
May 16 China def USA 3-1 (23-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-19)
May 17 Brazil def USA 3-1 (25-22, 25-16, 18-25, 25-19)
May 19 USA def Dominican Republic 3-0 (25-23, 25-20, 25-18)

Week 2 in Arlington, Texas
May 28 at 5:30 p.m. USA vs Canada
May 31 at 6 p.m. USA vs Bulgaria
June 1 at 2:30 p.m. USA vs Poland
June 2 at 1 p.m. USA vs Türkiye

Week 3 in Fukuoka, Japan
June 10 at 11:30 p.m. USA vs France
June 12 at 8 p.m. USA vs Netherlands
June 14 at 11:30 p.m. USA vs Italy
June 16 at 2:45 a.m. USA vs Japan

Final Round: June 20-23 in Bangkok, Thailand.