COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (June 21, 2017) – Opposite Annie Drews (Elkhart, Indiana) led the U.S. Women’s National Team in scoring for the second night in a row as the Americans defeated Argentina 27-25, 25-14, 25-23 on Wednesday in Canete, Peru, to finish out the Pan American Cup Pool A with an undefeated record.
By winning the pool with a 5-0 record, the U.S. advances directly to Saturday’s semifinals and bypasses the quarterfinals on Friday. Argentina finished pool play with a 3-2 record and in third place.
Drews notched 14 kills on 33 swings and two blocks for a match-high 16 points. Outside hitter Madi Kingdon (Phoenix, Arizona) pocketed 10 kills on 32 attacks and an ace for 11 points. Outside hitter Michelle Bartsch-Hackley (Maryville, Illinois) contributed seven kills on 19 swings and a block for eight points.
Middle Rhamat Alhassan (Glenarden, Maryland) charted six kills on 19 swings and a block for seven points. Setter Micha Hancock (Edmond, Oklahoma) scored five points with two kills, two aces and a block. Middle Paige Tapp (Stewartville, Minnesota) added five points on two blocks, two aces and a kill. Rounding out the scoring was opposite Liz McMahon (Liberty Township, Ohio), who had three kills on five attacks as the double-sub in all three sets.
Libero Amanda Benson (Litchfield Park, Arizona) was credited with nine digs and a team-leading nine excellent receptions on 16 total chances. Kingdon led the backrow with 10 digs, while Bartsch-Hackley chipped in six excellent receptions on 24 chances and eight digs.
The U.S. converted 37.4 percent of its attacks with a .243 hitting efficiency (43-15-115) as Hancock was credited with 21 running sets on 75 set attempts. The Americans held a 43-34 advantage in kills, along with a 7-5 blocking edge and a 5-4 margin in aces. The U.S. limited its errors to 19 for the match while holding Argentina to a 29.3 kill percent and .121 hitting efficiency (34-20-116).
The U.S. used the same starters throughout the match with Hancock at setter, Alhassan and Tapp at middle, Kingdon and Bartsch-Hackley at outside hitter and Drews at opposite. Benson was the libero throughout the match. Lauren Carlini (Aurora, Illinois) was the setter in the double-sub in all three sets. Sonja Newcombe (Lake Arrowhead, California) was a sub in all three sets.
U.S. Women’s National Team Roster for Pan Am Cup
# – Player (Position, Height, College, Hometown)
1 – Micha Hancock (S, 5-11, Penn State, Edmond, Oklahoma)
2 – Rhamat Alhassan (M, 6-4, Florida, Glenarden, Maryland)
4 – Justine Wong-Orantes (L, 5-6, Nebraska, Cypress, California)
6 – Amber Rolfzen (M, 6-3, Nebraska, Papillion, Nebraska)
7 – Lauren Carlini (S, 6-1, Wisconsin, Aurora, Illinois)
9 – Madi Kingdon (OH, 6-1, Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona)
11 – Annie Drews (OPP, 6-3, Purdue, Elkhart, Indiana)
14 – Michelle Bartsch-Hackley (OH, 6-3, Illinois, Maryville, Illinois)
16 – Molly McCage (M, 6-3, Texas, Spring, Texas)
17 – Megan Courtney (OH, 6-1, Penn State, Dayton, Ohio)
18 – Sonja Newcombe (OH, 6-1, Oregon, Lake Arrowhead, California)>
20 – Amanda Benson (L, 5-7, Oregon, Litchfield Park, Arizona)
21 – Paige Tapp (M, 6-1, Minnesota, Stewartville, Minnesota)>
23 – Liz McMahon (OPP, 6-6, Illinois, Liberty Township, Ohio)
Head Coach: Karch Kiraly
Assistant Coaches: Tama Miyashiro, Erin Virtue
Team Leader/Assistant Coach: Jon Newman-Gonchar
Technical Coordinator: Jeff Liu
Athletic Trainer: Beri Dwyer
16th Pan American Cup Schedule and Results for U.S. Women
Pool A
June 17: U.S. def. Venezuela 25-9, 25-16, 25-11
June 18: U.S. def. Colombia 25-8, 25-19, 29-27
June 19: U.S. def. Puerto Rico 25-23, 25-23, 23-25, 21-25, 15-12
June 20: U.S. def. Mexico 25-13, 25-15, 25-13
June 21: U.S. def. Argentina 27-25, 25-14, 25-23
Semifinals
June 24: Pool A 1st place vs. Quarterfinal Winner
June 24: Pool B 1st place vs. Quarterfinal Winner
Medal Rounds
June 25: Bronze medal match (semifinal losers), 4 p.m. ET
June 25 Gold Medal match (semifinal winners), 6 p.m. ET