U.S. Women Finish USAV Cup 3-0 vs. Netherlands

LONG BEACH, Calif. (July 14, 2024) – The U.S. Women’s National Team celebrated its Paris sendoff with a second straight sweep of the Netherlands 3-0 (28-26, 25-18, 25-17) at the USA Volleyball Cup presented by hoag on Sunday at The Walter Pyramid. The Netherlands won a bonus set 25-22.

A sendoff celebration for the U.S. Women, U.S. Men and U.S. Beach Olympic delegations was held after Sunday’s match. The U.S. Women, the defending Olympic gold medalists, will leave for the Summer Games in Paris on July 20 and will play their first match on July 29 against China.

The U.S. Women won all three exhibition matches over Netherlands, which will also be competing in Paris.

MATCH STATISTICS

“We did some good things here and also we see that we still have work to do,” U.S. Head Coach Karch Kiraly said. “We’re going to take these 15 days and improve as much as we can and then throw everything we’ve got at China and Serbia.”

The U.S. led in kills (61-44) and blocks (15-14) and the teams tied in aces (3-3). The U.S. hitting efficiency was .301 while Netherlands hit .228.

Kiraly was happy about more than the statistics.

“We’re ecstatic that our group is getting to a really good state of health,” Kiraly said. “For the first time all season, we were able to start the same seven people for two consecutive matches (Friday and Sunday).”

U.S. opposite Annie Drews started all four sets and led all scorers with 19 points on 15 kills and four blocks. Outside hitter Kathryn Plummer started all four sets and added 16 points on 13 kills and three blocks.

Middle blocker Chiaka Ogbogu started all four sets and scored 12 points on seven kills, four blocks and one ace. Middle Haleigh Washington started the first three sets and totaled 10 points on seven kills and three blocks.

Outside hitter Kelsey Robinson Cook started all four sets and scored eight points on eight kills.

Outside hitter Avery Skinner played as a substitute and scored four points on four kills.

Middle Dana Rettke started the fourth set and scored three points on two kills and a block. Opposite Jordan Thompson played as a substitute and scored three points on three kills.

Setter Jordyn Poulter started the first three sets and scored three points on two aces and a kill. Setter Lauren Carlini played as a substitute and the entire fourth set and scored one point with a kill. Libero Justine Wong-Orantes was credited with 22 receptions, 50 percent positive. Cook led in receptions with 32, 59 percent positive.

U.S. Women’s Roster
No. Name (Pos., Ht., Hometown, College, USAV Region)
1 Micha Hancock (S, 5-11, Edmond, Okla., Penn State Univ., Oklahoma)
2 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)
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)
15 Haleigh Washington (MB, 6-3, Colorado Springs, Colo., Penn State Univ., Rocky Mountain)
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)
29 Khalia Lanier (OH/Opp, 6-2, Scottsdale, Ariz., Univ. of Southern California, Arizona)

Head Coach: Karch Kiraly
Assistant Coaches: Tama Miyashiro, Erin Virtue,  Alfee Reft
Consultant Coach: Marv Dunphy
Physical Therapist/Athletic Trainer: Kara Kessans
Strength & Conditioning Coach: Brandon Siakel
Performance Analyst: Rianne Verhoek
Team Leader: Coley Pawlikowski
Mental Performance Coach: Katy Stanfill
Culture Consultant: Sue Enquist
Dietitian: Shawn Hueglin
Massage Therapist: Ricardo Brambila
Team Doctor: Dr. Lori Boyajian-O’Neill

Netherlands Roster
No. Name (Position, Height)
4 Celeste Plak (Opp, 6-3)
5 Jolien Knollema (OH, 6-2)
7 Juliët Lohuis (MB, 6-4)
10 Sarah Van Aalen (S, 6-1)
11 Anne Buijs (OH, 6-3)
12 Britt Bongaerts (S, 6-1)
14 Laura Dijkema (S, 6-0)
16 Indy Baijens (MB, 6-4)
18 Marit Jasper (OH, 5-11)
19 Nika Daalderop (OH, 6-3)
23 Eline Timmerman (MB, 6-3)
25 Florien Reesink (L, 5-9)
26 Elles Dambrink (Opp, 6-1)
33 Nova Marring (OH, 6-0)

Head Coach: Felix Koslowski
Assistant Coach: Eric Meijer
Performance Analyst: Olaf Garbe
Physiotherapist: Marta Gutierrez Perez
Physiotherapist: Alewijn Huisman
Physical Preparation: Alessandro Bracceschi
Team Manager: Karel Eggen