COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (March 7, 2023) – The U.S. Women’s Sitting Team went 4-1 in exhibition matches against Canada held March 3-5 at the Boston Volleyball Festival Qualifier.
The U.S. Women’s Sitting Team is ranked No. 1 in the world and is the two-time defending Paralympic champion. The team is preparing for the ParaVolley PanAmerica Zonal Championship (May 9-15 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada), which is the first qualifier for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
Canada is ranked No. 3 in the world and finished second at the 2022 World ParaVolley World Championship.
The U.S. and Canada agreed to play all their sets to 25 points, including fifth set tiebreakers. In the one match that the U.S. lost, it dropped the fifth set 26-24. Had the match been played to 15, the U.S. would have won.
Over the five matches, outside hitter Monique Matthews led the team in scoring with 55 points on a team-high 42 kills, seven blocks and six aces. Middle blocker Nicky Nieves added 50 points on 33 kills, a team-high 11 blocks and six aces.
Opposite Heather Erickson scored 43 points on 29 kills, nine blocks and five aces. Middle Tia Edwards scored 43 points on 22 kills, seven blocks and 14 aces.
Outside hitter Whitney Dosty totaled 42 points on 33 kills, six blocks and three aces. Middle blocker Lora Webster scored 28 points on 14 kills, six blocks and eight aces. aces.
Setter Lexi Shifflett also had 25 points on seven kills, four blocks and 14 aces. Setter Kaleo Kanahele Maclay added 20 points on 10 kills, two blocks and eight aces.
MaKenzie Franklin had 19 points on 10 kills, five blocks and four aces. Emma Schieck finished with 15 points on 11 kills, two blocks and two aces.
Maddy Ball scored 12 points on seven kills, one blocks and four aces. Gia Cruz added 12 points on three kills, five blocks and four aces. Courtney Baker finished with nine points on one kill, two blocks and six aces.
Libero Sydney Satchell was credited with 57 passes and Bethany Zummo was credited with 38.
U.S. Women’s Sitting Team
No. Name (Position, Ht., Hometown, Region)
1 Lora Webster (MB, 5-11, Point Lookout, N.Y., Garden Empire)
2 Bethany Zummo (L, 5-3, Dublin, Calif., Northern California)
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)
13 Gia Cruz (S, 5-5, San Antonio, Texas, Lone Star)
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, Faribault, 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
Match Scores
Match 1, March 3: USA def Canada, 4-1 (25-10, 25-20, 24-26, 25-23, 25-13)
Match 2, March 3: Canada def USA, 3-2 (23-25, 16-25, 25-16, 25-17, 26-24)
Match 3, March 4: USA def Canada, 3-1 (25-20, 25-20, 24-26, 30-28)
Match 4, March 4: USA def Canada, 3-1 (25-20, 23-25, 25-18, 25-18)
Match 5, March 5: USA def Canada 3-1 (25-13, 25-17, 25-17, 23-25)