Women's Sitting Team is 24K at Golden Nations League

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 4, 2021) – The U.S. Women’s Sitting Team celebrated July 4 by winning the Golden Nations League tournament in Assen, Netherlands.

The U.S. Women (6-0) beat world champion Russia in Sunday’s final, 3-1 (27-25, 25-19, 25-27, 25-18). Russia was the only team to take a set from the U.S. Women’s Sitting Team. The U.S. also beat Russia in pool play, 3-1.

This was the last international competition for the team before it competes at the Tokyo Paralympic Games on Aug. 24-Sept. 5.

The U.S. Women’s Sitting Team led Russia in kills (75-68), blocks (16-15) and aces (8-6).

Outside hitter Katie Holloway led all scorers in the final with 23 points on a match-high 16 kills, a match-high six blocks and one ace. Outside hitter Monique Matthews added 19 points on 11 kills, a match-high three aces and five blocks.

Opposite Heather Erickson finished with 12 points on 11 kills and one block. Middle blocker Lora Webster scored eight points on four kills and four blocks.

Setter Kaleo Maclay started the first, second and fourth sets and scored six points on four kills and two aces. She combined with substitute setter Lexi Shifflett, who started the third set, to set the team to a hitting efficiency of .370. Russia hit .355.

Jillian Williams started the first and fourth sets at middle blocker and scored three points on kills. Tia Edwards started the second and third sets at middle blocker and scored two points on two kills. Emma Schieck and Nichole Millage each played as substitutes.

U.S. Women’s National Sitting Team Roster for the Golden Nations League

No. Name (Position, Height, Hometown)
1 Lora Webster (Middle blocker, 5-11, Point Lookout, N.Y.)
2 Bethany Zummo (Libero, 5-3, Dublin, Calif.)
3 Lexi Shifflett (Setter, 5-4, Waseca, Minn.)
5 Katie Holloway (Outside Hitter, 6-3, Lake Stevens, Wash.)
6 Heather Erickson (Opposite, 5-11, Fayetteville, N.C.)
7 Monique Matthews (Middle Blocker/Outside Hitter, 6-0, Ardmore, Okla.)
9 Tia Edwards (Outside Hitter/Middle Blocker, 5-7, Skiatook, Okla.)
11 Jillian Williams (Middle Blocker/Opposite, 5-10, Odem, Texas)
12 Emma Schieck (Outside Hitter, 5-7, Statesville, N.C.)
13 Nichole Millage (Opposite, 5-7, Champaign, Ill.)
14 Kaleo Kanahele Maclay (Setter, 5-6, Edmond, Okla.)
16 Nicky Nieves (Middle Blocker/Outside Hitter, 5-10, Kissimmee, Fla.)

Head Coach: Bill Hamiter
Assistant Coach: Michelle Goodall
Assistant Coach: Jon Aharoni
Athletic Trainer: Kat King
Technical Coordinator: Joe Skinner
Team Manager: Mark Herrin

U.S. Results for the Golden Nations League

July 2: USA def Russia, 3-1 (21-25, 25-22, 25-22, 25-15) – Team Statistics
July 2: USA def Slovenia, 3-0 (25-6, 25-11, 25-14)
July 3: USA def Ukraine, 3-0 (25-9, 25-9, 25-13)
July 3: USA def Netherlands, 3-0 (25-7, 25-7, 25-7)
July 4: USA def Germany, 3-0 (25-7, 25-13, 25-9)
July 4: USA def Russia, 3-1 (27-25, 25-19, 25-27, 25-18)