COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 16, 2018) – The U.S. Women’s Sitting Team improved to 2-0 in pool play on Monday with a 25-14, 25-16, 25-23 win over Russia in Arnhern, Netherlands.

The U.S. Women (2-0) will finish pool play on Tuesday against Japan at 1 p.m. ET.

The U.S. Women have played Russia several times this season and the experienced showed on offense as the U.S. led in kills (40-21) and hit .393 behind setter Kaleo Maclay as compared to .095 for Russia.

The teams tied in blocks (10-10) and Russia led in aces (6-4).

U.S. Head Coach Bill Hamiter’s starting lineup were all players from the team that won gold at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

“Today was a great example of how far we’ve come and how much work we’ve done since Rio,” starting middle blocker Lora Webster said. “We are here to prove that we are still the best in the world and our play today demonstrated that.”

Outside hitter Katie Holloway and opposite Heather Erickson led the United States with 13 points each. Holloway scored on seven kills, three blocks and a match-high three aces. Erickson had a match-high 11 kills, one block and one ace. Middle blocker Nicky Nieves and outside hitter Monique Burkland each scored 11 points.

Libero Bethany Zummo was credited with 19 receptions, 26 percent positive. Burkland was credited with 15 receptions, 67 percent positive.

U.S. STARTERS VS RUSSIA
Outside hitters: Katie Holloway and Monique Burkland
Middle blockers: Lora Webster and Nicky Nieves
Opposite: Heather Erickson
Setter: Kaleo Maclay
Libero: Bethany Zummo
Substitute: Tia Edwards (MB)

U.S. STATISTICS VS RUSSIA
Kills: Erickson 11, Nieves 10, Burkland 10, Holloway 7, Maclay 1, Webster 1
Blocks: Webster 3, Holloway 3, Erickson 1, Burkland 1, Maclay 1, Nieves 1
Aces: Holloway 3, Erickson 1

U.S. Women’s Sitting Team Roster

No. Name (Position, Height, Hometown)
1. Lora Webster (MB, 5-11, Point Lookout, N.Y.)
2. Bethany Zummo (L, 5-2, Dublin, Calif.)
3. Lexi Shifflett (S, 5-4, Waseca, Minn.)
5. Katie Holloway (OH, 6-3, Lake Stevens, Wash.)
6. Heather Erickson (OH, 5-11, Fayetteville, NC)
7. Monique Burkland (OH, 5-9, Ardmore, Okla.)
8. Whitney Dosty(OH, 6-3, Tucson, Ariz.)
11. Jillian Williams (Opp, 5-10, Edmond, Oka.)
13. Nichole Millage (OH, 5-7, Champaign, Ill.)
14. Kaleo Kanahele Maclay (S, 5-6, Edmond, Okla.)
16. Nicky Nieves (MB, 5-10, Kissimmee, Fla.)
17. Tia Edwards (OH, 5-7, Skitatook, Okla.)

Head Coach: Bill Hamiter
Assistant Coach: Lazaro Beltran
Assistant Coach: Jon Aharoni
Athletic Trainer: Patrick Lawrence
Team Manager: Michelle Goodall
Technical Coordinator: Jeffery Hicks
Team Psychologist: Emily Clark

U.S. Women’s Schedule for World Championships
Arnhem, Netherlands (All times ET)

July 15: USA def Hungary, 25-7, 25-3, 25-8
July 16: USA def Russia, 25-14, 25-16, 25-23
July 17 at 1 p.m.: Japan v USA

Rotterdam, Netherlands (All times ET)
July 19: Quarterfinals and classification matches
July 20: Semifinals and classification matches
July 21: Placement and medal matches