U.S. Women's Sitting Team Defeats Canada in Five-Set Thriller

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (May 9, 2023) – The U.S. Women’s Sitting Team picked up a victory the hard way tonight, defeating Canada in a five-set comeback (21-25 18-25, 25-16, 25-17, 15-12) at the 2023 ParaVolley Pan American Zonal Championship in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

The match was the first in a best-of-five series between the U.S. and Canada, with the winner earning a berth to the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. The U.S. has won the last two Paralympic gold medals and is currently ranked No. 1 in the world. Canada is ranked No. 3.

Match Stats

The two teams traded points in set one until they were tied at 21. Then, Canada reeled off two aces, a block and a kill to win 25-21. In set two, Canada pushed ahead early and never looked back, winning 25-18. The U.S. regained their focus and power in the third and fourth sets with all-around solid play. In the deciding set, the U.S. had an early lead, but Canada crawled back to even the score at 12. After the U.S. went ahead 13-12, Canada made errors on the final two points for the U.S. victory.

“It was a heck of a match, for sure,” U.S. head coach Bill Hamiter said. “Both sides played well throughout. Canada came out on fire, and we just weren’t matching that intensity. One thing I kept telling our players though, our error count was low throughout. We just gotta keep counting on our play. We just had to keep competing. You’re good players; you gotta play good. That’s the bottom line.”

Heather Erickson led the team with 16 points on 12 kills and four blocks. Nicky Nieves scored 13 points on nine kills, three blocks and an ace. Monique Matthews scored 13 points on eight kills, four blocks and and an ace. Tia Edwards scored 10 points (five kills, three blocks, two aces); Kaleo Maclay scored nine (four kills, two blocks, three aces); Whitney Dosty had four points on three blocks and a kill). Emma Schieck, Lora Webster and Lexi Shifflett all scored two, and libero Sydney Satchell had one.

Canada’s Danielle Ellis led all scorers with 21 points on 17 kills, two blocks and two aces.

Schedule/Results (all times PT)
Tuesday, May 9
USA def. Canada, 3-2 (21-25 18-25, 25-16, 25-17, 15-12)

Wednesday, May 10
3:30 p.m. vs. Canada

Thursday, May 11
6 p.m. vs. Canada

Friday, May 12
3:30 p.m. vs. Canada

Saturday, May 13
3 p.m. vs. Canada

Roster

U.S. Women’s Sitting Team Roster
No. Name (Position, Ht., Hometown, Region)
1 Lora Webster (MB, 5-11, Point Lookout, N.Y., Garden Empire)
3 Lexi Shifflett-Patterson (S, 5-4, Waseca, Minn., North Country)
4 Maddy Ball (OH, 5-7, Delray Beach, Fla., Florida)
6 Heather Erickson (Opp, 6-0, Fayetteville, N.C., Carolina)
7C Monique Matthews (MB/OH, 6-0, Ardmore, Okla., Oklahoma)
8 Whitney Dosty (OH/OPP, 6-3, Tucson, Ariz., Arizona)
9 Tia Edwards (OH/MB, 5-7, Skiatook, Okla., Oklahoma)
10 Sydney Satchell (L, 5-2, Windsor, Conn., New England)
12 Emma Schieck (OH, 5-7, Statesville, N.C., Carolina)
14 Kaleo Kanahele Maclay (S, 5-6, Honolulu, Hawaii, Oklahoma)
16 Nicky Nieves (MB/OH, 5-10, Kissimmee, Fla., Florida)
18 Courtney Baker (OH, 5-9, Crofton, Ky., Pioneer)
22 MaKenzie Franklin (OH, 6-0, Red Wing, Minn., North Country)

Head Coach: Bill Hamiter
Assistant Coach: Michelle Goodall
Assistant Coach: Jeffery Hicks
Athletic Trainer: Kat King
Team Manager: Patrick Lawrence
Sport Psychologist: Adam O’Neil