U.S. Women's Sitting Team Opens 2024 Super 6 With a Win

Colorado Springs, Colo. (June 11, 2024) – The U.S. Women’s Sitting Team returned to international play for the first time since July 2023 and picked up right where it left off — with a win. The U.S. Women, currently ranked No. 3 in the world, opened the World ParaVolley Super 6 with a 3-1 (25-18, 24-26, 25-21, 25-22) victory over No. 2 ranked Brazil.

The U.S. (1-0) will face No. 7 Italy at 7 a.m. PT on Wednesday, June 12. Earlier on Tuesday, Italy defeated France, 3-0.

MATCH STATISTICS (PDF)

U.S. head coach Bill Hamiter started a veteran group against Brazil: five-time Paralympian Lora Webster, four-time Paralympians Heather Erickson and Katie (Holloway) Bridge, three-time Paralympians Monique Matthews and Kaleo Kanahele Maclay, two-time Paralympian Bethany Zummo, and 2016 Paralympian Tia Edwards.

Brazil and the U.S. played close early in all four sets, with both teams capitalizing on runs only to see their opponent catch up. The U.S. pulled away midway through the first set to win 25-18, but Brazil wasn’t going quietly. In the set two battle, Brazil grabbed set point at 24-23, but the U.S. wiped that away to tie it at 24. Brazil scored the next two for the 26-24 win.

The U.S. regrouped in set three, led by Erickson, who paced the U.S. team with 22 points on 19 kills, two blocks and an ace. The set was close until the U.S. pulled away at 22-19, and a few points later Erickson put the set away with a kill at 25-21.

Brazil threatened to push it to five sets in set four with leads of 15-12 and 18-15. But each time, the U.S. pushed back, with an eventual 25-22 win.

“That was a great way to start this Super 6 tournament,” Hamiter said. “We were challenged from the start, and that’s exactly what we need in preparation for the Paralympics. We had to be very scrappy, and we competed well. It’s always good to get a win and especially against the No. 2 team in the world.”

Bridge was a force at the net, leading the team with six blocks in addition to 10 kills. Webster added five kills and five blocks, and Matthews scored nine points on five kills, three blocks and one ace.

Nicky Nieves started sets three and four and provided additional firepower with eight points on six kills and two blocks. Maclay scored six points on four kills and a two aces. Edwards finished with a block and a kill.

As a team, the U.S. led Brazil in kills (50-44) and block points (19-16), but Brazil had the edge in aces, 5-4.

Matches will be streamed on World ParaVolley’s YouTube channel.

No., Name, Pos., Ht., Hometown, USAV Region

1 Lora Webster (MB, 5-11, Point Lookout, N.Y., Garden Empire)
2 Bethany Zummo (L, 5-3, Dublin, Calif., Northern California)
3 Alexis Shifflett-Patterson (S/L, 5-4, Waseca, Minn., North Country)
5 Katie (Holloway) Bridge (OH, 6-3, Lake Stevens, Wash., Puget Sound)
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)
22 MaKenzie Franklin (OH, 6-0, Red Wing, Minn., North Country)
24 Raelene Elam (OH, 6-1, St. George, Utah, Northern California)

Head Coach: Bill Hamiter
Assistant Coaches: Leo Filho, Michelle Goodall
Athletic Trainer: Kat King
Performance Analyst: Jeffery Hicks
Team Psychologist: Adam O’Neil
Athletic Performance Coach: Bobby Moore
Team Manager: Patrick Lawrence

Schedule

All times Pacific

June 11
USA def. Brazil, 3-1 (25-18, 24-26, 25-21, 25-22)

June 12
USA vs. Italy, 7 a.m.

June 13
USA vs. China, 11 a.m.

June 14
USA vs. France, 9 a.m.

June 15
USA vs. Canada, 11 a.m.

June 16
Placement matches