U.S. Women Battle but Fall to Italy at VNL

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 15, 2024) – The U.S. Women’s National Team kept battling but couldn’t overcome Italy and fell 3-1 (25-17, 19-25, 25-15, 25-21) on Saturday in a Volleyball Nations League match in Fukuoka, Japan.

To advance to the Final Round, the U.S. Women (6-5) must beat host Japan (8-3) on Sunday. Japan confirmed a berth at the 2024 Olympic Games via its world ranking on Saturday. Italy (9-2) has also confirmed its Olympic berth via its world ranking.

MATCH STATISTICS

Opposite Annie Drews and Jordan Thompson were bright spots for the U.S. Women. Drews played as a substitute and played all of the fourth set, finishing with 13 points on 13 kills (.440 hitting efficiency).

Thompson, who started the first three sets, scored 12 points on 11 kills (.346) and one block.

Libero Justine Wong-Orantes also played a strong match, making some incredible saves and finishing with a match-high 15 digs and six successful receptions.

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“I think Italy did a really good job with blocking defense,” Wong-Orantes told Volleyball World. “This match is something we can learn from, for sure and put it in the back of our minds and get ready for the next match.”

Italy led the U.S. Women in blocks 11-7. It led in kills 61-55 and in aces 6-3. The U.S. scored 13 points on Italy’s errors and committed 16. Italian opposite Paolo Egonu led all scorers with 23 points.

Among other U.S. scorers, middle blocker Haleigh Washington scored seven points on three kills, three blocks and one ace.

Outside hitter Kelsey Robinson Cook scored seven points on six kills and one ace. She also led the team in successful receptions with 11 and she had 13 digs.

Middle Chiaka Ogbogu scored seven points on seven kills.

Outside hitter Avery Skinner, who started the second, third and fourth sets, scored six points on six kills. Outside Jordan Larson, who started the first and fourth sets, scored six points on five kills and one block.

Middle Dana Rettke started the first set and scored four points on two kills, one block and one ace. Setter Lauren Carlini scored three points on two kills and one block.

U.S. Women’s Roster for VNL Preliminary Round 3
No. Name (Pos., Ht., Hometown, College, USAV Region)
1 Micha Hancock (S, 5-11, Edmond, Okla., Penn State Univ., Oklahoma)
2C Jordyn Poulter (S, 6-2, Aurora, Colo., Univ. of Illinois, Rocky Mountain)
3 Avery Skinner (OH, 6-1, Katy, Texas, Univ. of Kentucky, Lone Star)
4 Justine Wong-Orantes (L, 5-6, Cypress, Calif., Univ. of Nebraska, Southern California)
6 Morgan Hentz (L, 5-9, Lakeside Park, Ky., Stanford Univ., Pioneer)
7 Lauren Carlini (S, 6-2, Aurora, Ill., Univ. of Wisconsin, Great Lakes)
10 Jordan Larson (OH, 6-2, Hooper, Neb., Univ. of Nebraska, Great Plains)
11 Annie Drews (Opp, 6-4, Elkhart, Ind., Purdue Univ., Hoosier)
12 Jordan Thompson (Opp, 6-4, Edina, Minn., Univ. of Cincinnati, North Country)
14 Anna Stevenson Hall (MB, 6-2, Laurens, S.C., Univ. of Louisville, Palmetto)
16 Dana Rettke (MB, 6-8, Riverside, Ill., Univ. of Wisconsin, Great Lakes)
22 Kathryn Plummer (OH, 6-6, Aliso Viejo, Calif., Stanford Univ., Southern California)
23 Kelsey Robinson Cook (OH, 6-2, Bartlett, Ill., Univ. of Nebraska, Great Lakes)
24 Chiaka Ogbogu (MB, 6-2, Coppell, Texas, Univ. of Texas, North Texas)

Reserve Player
15 Haleigh Washington (MB, 6-3, Colorado Springs, Colo., Penn State Univ., Rocky Mountain)

Head Coach: Karch Kiraly
Assistant Coaches: Tama Miyashiro, Erin Virtue,  Alfee Reft
Physical Therapist/Athletic Trainer: Kara Kessans
Strength & Conditioning Coach: Brandon Siakel
Performance Analyst: Rianne Verhoek
Team Leader: Coley Pawlikowski
Dietitian: Shawn Hueglin
Team Doctor: James Suchy

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 USA def Canada 3-1 (25-22, 25-17, 23-25, 25-20)
May 31 USA def Bulgaria 3-0 (25-17, 25-22, 25-22)
June 1 Poland def USA 3-1 (28-26, 25-22, 20-25, 25-23)
June 2 Türkiye def USA 3-2 (21-25, 25-20, 25-21, 12-25, 15-12)

Week 3 in Fukuoka, Japan
June 10 USA def France 3-0 (25-15, 26-24, 25-20)
June 12 USA def Netherlands 3-0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-22)
June 14 Italy def USA 3-1 (25-17, 19-25, 25-15, 25-21)
June 16 at 2:45 a.m. USA vs Japan

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