COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Aug. 25, 2019) – The U.S. Women’s Sitting Team, ranked No. 1 in the world, answered a big challenge on Sunday by defeating Brazil 25-12, 25-18, 22-25, 25-21 on the second day of the Parapan American Games competition.
The U.S. Women, now 2-0 in the four-team preliminary round robin, conclude pool play against Canada on Aug. 26 at noon ET. The Parapan Am Games women’s sitting division semifinals are on the evening of Aug. 27, with the medal-round matches on Aug. 28. The matches are being streamed on the Lima 2019 app.
Katie Holloway (Lake Stevens, Washington) led Team USA with 17 points with 11 kills swings, four blocks and two aces. Heather Erickson (Fayetteville, North Carolina) charted 11 points with all coming on kills. Nicky Nieves (Kissimmee, Florida) tallied 11 points including eight kills and three blocks.
Lora Webster (Point Lookout, New York) charted four kills, two blocks and an ace for seven points. Kaleo Kanahele Maclay scored a kill and ace for two points and Jillian Williams (Odem, Texas) rounded out the scoring with a kill as sub in the second set.
The Americans, behind the setting of Kanahele Maclay, converted 43 with a 33 kill percent and held a 7-5 ace advantage. Brazil managed a 13-9 block margin as the South American power converted 31 with a 28 kill percent. The U.S. had 27 errors in the match to Brazil’s 38.
Libero Bethany Zummo (Dublin, California) handled six receptions in the match and provided defense on the back row. Erickson was 53 percent positive on 34 reception chances.
Team USA controlled the opening set, charging out to a 3-0 and 8-3 advantages before capping it at 25-12. The Americans used a 5-0 run to gain a 9-4 lead in the second set and prevailed 25-18. Brazil used a 5-1 spurt to take a 9-6 lead in the third set and opened up a 18-10 advantage. After trailing 21-13, the U.S. crept back into the set before falling 25-22.
Brazil led 6-3 in the fourth set before the Americans tied the set at 7-all and grabbed an 14-8 advantage on an 11-2 swing. After Brazil closed back to three at 14-11, the U.S. answered with four unanswered to take an 18-1 lead. After Brazil moved to within four at 23-19, Team USA closed the match out at 25-21.