SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER CITY, La. (May 31, 2022) – The U.S. Women’s National Team got their 2022 FIVB Volleyball Nations League (VNL) campaign off to a strong start with a 3-0 (25-21, 25-17, 25-18) win over Dominican Republic on Tuesday at Brookshire Grocery Arena.
The U.S. Women are the three-time defending VNL champions and ranked No. 1 in the world. They will play next on Friday (June 3) against Canada. Tickets are still available at BrookshireGroceryArena.com.
The U.S. Women led the Dominican Republic in kills (47-32), blocks (9-7) and aces (4-0).
Opposite Jordan Thompson, one of two Tokyo Olympic gold medalists on the roster, finished with 15 points on 13 kills (.429 hitting efficiency), one block and one ace. Thompson has been working to recover from an injury she suffered during the Olympic Games and felt good about her performance on Tuesday.
“It felt amazing,” Thompson said. “I think our energy was really good and we started off strong… We knew that this is a brand-new team. We haven’t played together that long. We’re still feeling each other out and getting into a rhythm.”
Women’s National Team Head Coach Karch Kiraly was happy to have Thompson, or JT as she is know on the team, back on the court.
“I was really excited to see Jordan Thompson get back into it and to see Morgan Hentz get to have her first ever senior national team match,” Kiraly said. “They were both really fun to watch and took care of business.”
Hentz was brought on to the National Team early in 2020, shortly before the COVID pandemic shut down training. Making her VNL debut on Tuesday, she let the team in digs with 15 and had 10 excellent receptions.
Outside hitter Ali Frantti made her VNL debut on Tuesday and admitted she was feeling nervous before the match.
“I’ve had butterflies for two nights before this, so it was kind of crazy,” Frantti said. “I think it would be not a good sign if I didn’t have butterflies. Tonight was unbelievable.”
Frantti scored 15 points on 13 kills and two blocks. She led the team in successful receptions with 15.
Outside hitter Sarah Wilhite Parsons, a VNL veteran, scored 15 points on 10 kills, three blocks and two aces.
Among the other starters, middle blockers Tori Dixon and Dana Rettke each scored six points. Dixon scored on five kills and one ace. Rettke scored on three kills and three blocks.
Setter Lauran Carlini scored three points on three kills.
All matches will be shown on VolleyballWorld.tv, which is a subscription service.
U.S. Women’s Roster for VNL First Round
No. Name (Pos., Ht, Hometown, College, USAV Region)
5 Morgan Hentz (L, 5-9, Lakeside Park, Ky., Stanford Univ., Pioneer)
6 Tori Dixon (MB, 6-3, Burnsville, Minn., Univ. of Minnesota, North Country)
7 Lauren Carlini (S, 6-2, Aurora, Ill., Univ. of Wisconsin, Great Lakes)
9 Madi Kingdon Rishel (OH, 6-1, Phoenix, Ariz., Univ. of Arizona, Arizona)
10 Brionne Butler (MB, 6-4, Kendleton, Texas, Univ. of Texas, Lone Star)
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)
16 Dana Rettke (MB, 6-8, Riverside, Ill., Univ. of Wisconsin, Great Lakes)
18 Kara Bajema (OH, 6-2, Lynden, Wash., Univ. of Washington, Puget Sound)
19 Jenna Gray (S, 6-1, Shawnee, Kan., Stanford Univ., Heart of America)
22 Kendall White (L, 5-5, Zionsville, Ind., Penn State, Hoosier)
30 Ali Frantti (OH, 6-1, Spring Grove, Ill., Penn State, Great Lakes)
31 Anna Stevenson (MB, 6-2, Laurens S.C., Univ. of Louisville, Palmetto)
Head Coach: Karch Kiraly
Assistant Coaches: Erin Virtue, Tama Miyashiro, Alfee Reft
Performance Analyst: Brian Hurler
Physical Therapist/Athletic Trainer: Kara Kessans
Team Doctor: Christopher Lee
Consultant Coach: Sue Enquist
Team Manager: Coley Pawlikowski
Sports Dietitian: Shawn Hueglin
Strength & Conditioning Coach: Brandon Siakel
2022 U.S. Women’s VNL Schedule (All times PDT)
Week 1 – Bossier City, La.
USA def. Dominican Republic, 3-0 (25-21, 25-17, 25-18)
Friday, June 3
6 p.m. USA vs. Canada
Saturday, June 4
6 p.m. USA vs. Brazil
Sunday, June 5
1 p.m. Japan vs. USA
Week 2 – Quezon City, Philippines
Wednesday, June 15
12 a.m. USA vs. Bulgaria
Thursday, June 16
8 p.m. USA vs Poland
Saturday, June 18
4 a.m. USA vs China
Sunday, June 19
Midnight USA vs Thailand
Week 3 – Calgary, Canada
Wednesday, June 29
7 p.m. USA vs Belgium
Thursday, June 30
7 p.m. USA vs Serbia
Saturday, July 2
1 p.m. USA vs Turkey
Sunday, July 4
1 p.m. USA vs Germany
Finals: July 13-17 in Ankara, Turkey