Women's Sitting Team To Play in Super 6 Gold-Medal Match

Colorado Springs, Colo. (June 15, 2024) – The U.S. Women’s Sitting Team finished round-robin play at the World ParaVolley Super 6 undefeated after sweeping World No. 1 Canada on Saturday, 3-0 (25-20, 25-16, 25-16) in Nancy, France.

The U.S. (5-0) will face China (4-1) in the gold-medal match at 6 a.m. PT June 16. China defeated France in its final round-robin match, with its only loss this week to the U.S.

Against the Canadians, the U.S. started Heather Erickson, Lora Webster, Kaleo Kanahele Maclay, Katie Bridge, Monique Matthews, Tia Edwards and Sydney Satchell (libero).

Canada, which took over the world No. 1 spot after winning silver at the 2023 World Cup (in which the U.S. did not compete), came out of the gate strong in set one, leading for the first half. With Canada up 11-10, an Edwards kill tied the game and a Canada error gave the U.S. its first lead, 12-11. Canada stayed in it until Erickson picked up her first kill of the match to make it 16-15. Two more kills from Erickson and one from Webster kept the U.S. in front. Up 21-20, the U.S. gained a 22-20 edge from a Canada service error and then scored three straight (including an ace from Matthews and a block from Whitney Dosty) for the 25-20 win.

The U.S. powered through set two. At 3-3, a six-point run included kills from Raelene Elam and Erickson (2), an Elam block and a Kanahele Maclay ace to make it 9-3. Continued dominance at the net, including blocks from Erickson, Dosty and Webster, kept Canada at bay the rest of the set for a 25-16 win.

Set three was another battle early on, with the two teams trading points until an Edwards kill and one from MaKenzie Franklin broke a 10-10 tie. The U.S. began pulling away with a strong offensive attack. At 22-16, the U.S. scored three to close it out on two Franklin kills and an Edwards ace, 25-16.

Erickson led all scorers with 15 points on 11 kills and four blocks. Matthews scored nine with seven sills, one block and one ace, and Tia Edwards had seven points with four kills, two blocks and an ace. Webster scored six on three kills and three blocks. Kanahele Maclay and Franklin each scored four on three kills and an ace. Elam had two blocks and a kill; Dosty had two blocks; Bridge had kills, and Nicky Nieves had a kill.

Kanahele Maclay and Lexi Shifflett-Patterson shared setting duties, and Satchell picked up key digs.

After the match, Kanahele Maclay spoke about preparing for Sunday’s finale.

“I think our team is really coming together, and we’re excited to be playing against China again tomorrow,” she said. “They bring the best out of us. There are a lot of small pieces, a lot of tweaks we’re going to do. I think blocking’s a big part; our offense is awesome. We’re going to do our best to get the win.”

All matches are livestreamed on World ParaVolley’s YouTube channel.

No., Name, Pos., Ht., Hometown, USAV Region

1 Lora Webster (MB, 5-11, Point Lookout, N.Y., Garden Empire)
2 Bethany Zummo (L, 5-3, Dublin, Calif., Northern California)
3 Alexis Shifflett-Patterson (S/L, 5-4, Waseca, Minn., North Country)
5 Katie (Holloway) Bridge (OH, 6-3, Lake Stevens, Wash., Puget Sound)
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)
14 Kaleo Kanahele Maclay (S, 5-6, Honolulu, Hawaii, Oklahoma)
16 Nicky Nieves (MB/OH, 5-10, Kissimmee, Fla., Florida)
22 MaKenzie Franklin (OH, 6-0, Red Wing, Minn., North Country)
24 Raelene Elam (OH, 6-1, St. George, Utah, Northern California)

Head Coach: Bill Hamiter
Assistant Coaches: Leo Filho, Michelle Goodall
Athletic Trainer: Kat King
Performance Analyst: Jeffery Hicks
Team Psychologist: Adam O’Neil
Athletic Performance Coach: Bobby Moore
Team Manager: Patrick Lawrence

Schedule

All times Pacific

June 11
USA def. Brazil, 3-1 (25-18, 24-26, 25-21, 25-22)

June 12
USA def. Italy, 3-1 (25-14, 25-11, 23-25, 25-10)

June 13
USA def. China, 3-1 (23-25, 25-18, 25-19, 25-19)

June 14
USA def. France, 2-0 (25-11, 25-7, 25-8)

June 15
USA vs. Canada, 11 a.m.

June 16
Placement matches