U.S. Women Come Back to Beat Dominican Republic

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Oct. 4, 2022) – The U.S. Women’s National Team came back from a first-set loss to beat the Dominican Republic, 3-1 (21-25, 25-19, 25-20, 25-14) on Tuesday at the FIVB World Championship in Łódź, Poland.

The U.S. Women (5-1) will continue the second phase of pool play on Wednesday when they will play host Poland (3-2) at 11:30 a.m. PT.

After losing the first set, the U.S. Women fell behind 7-11 in the second before mounting the comeback.

OFFICIAL STATISTICS

“We always expect a battle with the Dominicans,” said U.S. setter Jordyn Poulter who finished with four points including two aces and a block. “They’re an extremely physical group and they came out hot. We were on our heels the entire first set, which made it difficult to find our rhythm.

“We maintained a level of composure and picked a couple of defensive upgrades to home in on, on top of turning up the service pressure.”

The U.S. Women struggled early to find their way around Dominican middle blockers Jineiry Martinez and Geraldine Gonzalez, who each finished with five blocks.

Outside hitter Ali Frantti, who led the U.S. scoring with 17 points on 14 kills, one block and two aces, said patience was the key.

“Credit to them, they put up a really strong block,” Frantti said. “I just have to be patient when that happens. My team really helped me out with advice and coverage.”

Libero Justine Wong-Orantes was credited with 11 digs. Outside hitter Kelsey (Robinson) Cook added seven.

The U.S. Women led the match in kills (63-47) and aces (6-2). The Dominican Republic led in blocks (12-10). The teams tied in errors (17-17).

Opposite Annie Drews finished with 15 points on 14 kills and one ace. Cook finished with 15 points on 13 kills and two blocks.

Middle blocker Haleigh Washington totaled 11 points on seven kills, a team-high three blocks and one ace. Middle Chiaka Ogbogu finished with nine points on seven kills and two blocks.

Opposite Danielle Cuttino, who played in every set as a substitute, scored five points on five kills. Middle Hannah Tapp, who took over for Ogbogu in the fourth set, scored three points on two kills and one block.

Setter Lauren Carlini and outside hitter Sarah Wilhite Parsons also played as substitutes.

Matches are being livestreamed on VolleyballWorld.tv.

The U.S. Women are ranked No. 1 in the world. They won the World Championships for the first time in 2014. They took silver in 1967 and 2002. They took third in 1982 and 1990. They tied for fifth at the last World Championships in 2018.

U.S. Women’s Roster for 2022 FIVB World Championships
No. Name (Pos., Ht., Hometown, College, USAV Region)
2 Jordyn Poulter (S, 6-2, Aurora, Colo., Univ. of Illinois, Great Lakes)
4 Justine Wong-Orantes (L, 5-6, Cypress, Calif., Univ. of Nebraska, Southern California)
5 Morgan Hentz (L, 5-9, Lakeside Park, Ky., Stanford Univ., Pioneer)
7 Lauren Carlini (S, 6-2, Aurora, Ill., Univ. of Wisconsin, Great Lakes)
8 Hannah Tapp (MB, 6-3, Stewartville, Minn., Univ. of Minnesota, North Country)
11 Annie Drews (Opp, 6-4, Elkhart, Ind., Purdue Univ., Hoosier)
13 Sarah Wilhite Parsons (OH, 6-2, Eden Prairie, Minn., Univ. of Minnesota, North Country)
15 Haleigh Washington (MB, 6-3, Colorado Springs, Colo., Penn State Univ., Rocky Mountain)
18 Kara Bajema (OH, 6-2, Lynden, Wash., Univ. of Washington, Puget Sound)
20 Danielle Cuttino (Opp, 6-4, Indianapolis, Ind., Purdue Univ., Hoosier)
23 Kelsey (Robinson) Cook (OH, 6-2, Manhattan Beach, Calif., Univ. of Nebraska, Southern California)
24 Chiaka Ogbogu (MB, 6-2, Coppell, Texas, Univ. of Texas, North Texas)
30 Ali Frantti (OH, 6-1, Spring Grove, Ill., Penn State, Great Lakes)
31 Anna (Stevenson) Hall (MB, 6-2, Laurens S.C., Univ. of Louisville, Palmetto)

Head Coach: Karch Kiraly
Assistant Coaches: Erin Virtue, Tama Miyashiro, Marv Dunphy
Performance Analyst: Brian Hurler
Physical Therapist/Athletic Trainer: Kara Kessans
Consultant Coach: Sue Enquist
Team Manager: Coley Pawlikowski
Strength & Conditioning Coach: Brandon Siakel
Sports Dietitian: Shawn Hueglin
Massage Specialist: Tony Poland
Team Doctors: Warren Young and Steven Stovitz

U.S. Schedule for the World Championships
All times PT

Pool Play Round One
Arnhem, Netherlands
USA def Kazakhstan, 3-0 (25-16, 25-13, 25-22)
USA def Canada, 3-0 (25-19, 26-24, 25-15)

Łódź, Poland
USA def Bulgaria, 3-1 (25-14, 23-25, 25-11, 25-15)
USA def Germany, 3-0 (25-17, 25-13, 26-24)
Serbia def USA, 3-0 (25-20, 25-23, 25-13)

Pool Play Round Two
Łódź, Poland
USA def Dominican Republic, 3-1 (21-25, 25-19, 25-20, 25-14)
Oct. 5 at 11:30 a.m. USA vs Poland
Oct. 7 at 8:30 a.m. USA vs Türkiye
Oct. 8 at 6 a.m. USA vs Thailand

Quarterfinals
Oct. 11

Semifinals
Oct. 12-13

Finals
Oct. 15