COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Nov. 14, 2019) – The U.S. Women’s Sitting Team, ranked No. 1 in the world, was simply dominant on day two of the World ParaVolley World Super 6 after convincing sweeps over defending world champion Russia and host Japan in Tokyo on Thursday.
Team USA, now 3-0 through the first round of the double round-robin pool play, continues action against Ukraine at 9:30 p.m. ET on Thursday. The Americans, 21-0 in 2019, complete pool play with rematches versus Japan on Friday at 8 p.m. ET followed by Russia on Saturday at 1 a.m. ET.
The Americans swept Russia 25-17, 25-10, 25-16 in their second match of the day. The U.S. has now defeated Russia six times in 2019.
Katie Holloway (Lake Stevens, Washington) powered down nine kills on 15 attacks with three blocks and an ace for a match-high 13 points. Monique Burkland (Ardmore, Oklahoma) added 10 points with a stellar nine of 14 hitting and one aces. Jillian Williams (Odem, Texas) chalked up nine points against Russia with six aces, two blocks and a kill. Nicole Nieves (Kissimmee, Florida) contributed seven kills on 13 swings, one block and an ace for nine points.
Heather Erickson (Fayetteville, North Carolina) tallied six kills and three blocks for nine points. Setters Kaleo Kanahele Maclay (Honolulu) scored twice and Lexi Shifflett (Waseca) rounded out the scoring with an ace..
Burkland handled 14 receptions with a 64 positive percent, while Erickson managed a 60 positive reception percent on 10 chances. Holloway was 57 percent positive on seven receptions and libero Bethany Zummo (Dublin, California) was credited with a 50 positive reception percent on four chances.
Team USA hit an incredible 49 percent with a .373 hitting efficiency (33-8-67). The Americans held advantages of 11-6 in aces, 9-5 in blocks and 33-18 in kills. The U.S. limited Russia to a 24 kill percent and negative .067 hitting efficiency (18-23-75).
The U.S. starting the first set with a commanding 14-5 advantage before Russia responded with nine consecutive points to tie the set at 14-all. The Americans built a 19-16 lead on a 3-0 run as Erickson scored a kill and Williams put up a block after a Russia error. Burkland scored consecutive points and Nieves had a block as Team USA scored the final six points of the set for a 25-17 victory.
Trailing 3-1 in the second set, the Americans rolled off six straight capped by two Williams aces to take a 7-3 lead. Team USA jumped its lead to 15-7 as Nieves scored an ace as part of 4-0 run. The U.S. never let up in finishing the set at 25-10.
Team USA scored six straight, including three Nieves kills, to take a 13-7 lead in the third set. The Americans closed out the set strong with a 25-16 victory.
The U.S. swept host Japan 25-9, 25-10, 25-8 to start the day. Burkland led the Americans with 18 points, including 11 kills on 20 attacks and six aces. Nieves added nine kills on 14 errorless attacks, one block and one ace for 11 points. Erickson charted nine kills, one block and one ace for 11 points. Williams four aces, three kills and a block for eight points.
Shifflett and Nichole Millage (Champaign, Illinois) turned in four points each, while Tia Edwards (Skiatook, Oklahoma added three points. Annie Flood (Salem, Oregon) contributed three points, while Holloway and Kanahele Maclay rounded out the scoring with two points each.
Zummo was credited with a 62 positive reception percent on a team-leading eight chances while Burkland was 80 percent positive on five chances.
Team USA held a 17-2 ace advantage and 6-5 margin in blocks. The U.S. converted 52 percent of its attacks into points while having a 43-10 kill advantage over the host country.
Team USA reached an early 9-1 advantage in the opening set behind Williams’ three points. After Japan closed to 9-4, the Americans charged out to a 22-6 margin capped by seven unanswered points before winning 25-9. Leading by a slim 7-5 margin in the second set, the U.S. extended the gap to 18-7 and went on to win 25-10. Team USA broke a 2-all tie in the third set with a 9-1 run at 11-3. Burkland served three aces in a row to push the gap to 16-4 and the Americans went on to win 25-8.