COLUMBUS, Ohio (May 24, 2019) – The U.S. Women’s Sitting Volleyball Team, ranked No. 1 in the world, defeated defending ParaVolley world champions Russia twice on Friday in exhibition matches taking place in conjunction with the USA Volleyball Open National Championships at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Ohio.
The U.S. Men’s Sitting Volleyball also won two matches to start its five-match exhibition series against Canada during the USA Volleyball Open National Championships.
Both USA teams continue action on Saturday with each playing two matches before wrapping up their respective series on Sunday.
Sitting Volleyball Exhibitions Schedule (Eastern Time)
- Saturday Morning: U.S. Women vs. Russia at 9 a.m.; U.S. Men vs. Canada at 11 a.m.
- Saturday Afternoon: U.S. Women vs. Russia at 3 p.m.; U.S. Men vs. Canada at 5 p.m.
- Sunday Morning: U.S. Men vs. Canada at 9 a.m.; U.S. Women vs. Russia at 11 a.m.
Monique Burkland (Ardmore, Oklahoma) scored a Team USA-leading 18 points in the first match as the Americans won 23-25, 25-17, 25-22, 25-17. In a bonus fifth set, the U.S. prevailed 15-13. Burkland converted 11 of her 23 attacks into points and added six aces and a block. Katie Holloway (Lake Stevens, Washington) added 12 points in the victory, including eight kills, three blocks and an ace. Lora Webster (Point Lookout, New York) and Heather Erickson (Fayetteville, North Carolina) each totaled 11 points. Webster had nine kills on 16 attacks and a block, while Erickson chipped in nine kills and two blocks.
Burkland handled 18 receptions with a 61 positive reception percent, while libero Sydney Satchell (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) handed 13 receptions with a 46 positive percent in starting sets two and four.
As a team, the U.S. out-blocked Russia 17-15 and both teams served 13 aces. The setting of Kaleo Maclay (Honolulu, Hawaii) and Lexi Shifflett (Waseca, Minnesota) produced a 44 kill percent and .286 hitting efficiency (52-18-119) for Team USA. The American defense limited the Russians to a 34 kill percent and .153.
In the bonus fifth set, Nicole Nieves (Kissimmee, Florida) scored three points, while Jillian Williams (Odem, Texas), Nichole Millage (Champaign, Illinois) and Tia Edwards (Skitatook, Oklahoma) all had two points in a balanced offense behind the setting of Annie Flood (Salem, Oregon), who set Team USA to a 37 kill percent in the bonus set.
Women’s Match 2 | Match Stats
Like its opening match of the day, Team USA rallied from a first set loss to defeat Russia 21-25, 25-17, 28-26, 25-15 in the afternoon contest. Erickson paved the way with 19 points with 15 kills on 32 swings, two blocks and two aces. Burkland contributed 10 kills, four blocks and three aces for 17 points. Holloway pocketed 10 kills on 22 attacks and five blocks for 15 points. Williams, who started all but the second set, tallied six blocks, three kills and two aces for 11 points.
Burkland was credited with a 45 positive reception percent on 22 chances. Libero Bethany Zummo (Dublin, California), who started the first and third sets, charted 18 receptions and a 44 positive reception percent. Satchel, who started the second and fourth sets at libero, produced a 58 positive reception percent on 12 chances.
The U.S. was out-blocked 21-19 and out-served 12-9 in aces, but committed 17 fewer attack errors. The Americans had a 36 kill percent and .236 hitting efficiency while holding the Russians to a 27 kill percent and .016 hitting efficiency.
The U.S. Men’s National Team won its morning match against Canada 28-26, 25-27, 22-25, 25-9, 15-9. The Americans rallied from a 21-17 deficit in the opening set to win. After losing the next two sets, Team USA stormed past Canada in sets four and five. The match represents the Americans’ first contest of 2019.
Zach Upp (Bartlett, Illinois) led all American scorers with 26 points including 13 kills on 26 attacks, seven aces on 18 serves and six blocks. James Stuck (New Kensington, Pennsylvania) chipped in 12 points with eight kills on 16 attacks, two blocks and two aces. Roderick Green (West Monroe, Louisiana) added 11 points including six kills, three blocks and two aces. Stephen Bracken contributed 10 kills on 16 attacks.
Upp held a 75 positive reception percent on a team-best 20 chances, while libero John Kremer (Buford, Georgia) had 13 receptions and a 77 positive percent. Travis Ricks (San Diego, California), who started at libero in sets two and four, was credited with a 78 positive reception percent on nine chances.
The Americans out-blocked Canada 14-11 and had an 11-8 ace advantage. The U.S. had a .280 hitting efficiency (47-17-107) and 44 kill percent in the victory. Canada was held to a 33 kill percent and .056 hitting efficiency (36-30-108).
In the afternoon contest, the U.S. Men swept Canada 25-15, 25-14, 25-16 to improve to 2-0 on the young season. Stuck led the way in the second match with 14 points, including eight kills on 14 swings, four blocks and two aces. Green charted six kills on 11 errorless attacks, three blocks and two aces.
Eric Duda (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) scored four aces, three kills and two blocks for nine points. He recorded a 67 positive reception percent on nine chances.
Team USA held advantages of 9-2 in aces and 11-10 in blocks. The Americans converted 38 percent of their attacks with a .205 hitting efficiency (28-13-73). Canada was held to a 22 kill percent and negative .029 hitting efficiency (15-17-68).
U.S. Women’s National Sitting Volleyball Team
# – Name (Position, Height, Hometown)
1– Lora Webster (M, 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, N.C.)
7 – Monique Burkland (OH, 5-9, Ardmore, Okla.)
10 – Sydney Satchell (L, 5-1, Oklahoma City, Okla.)
11 – Jillian Williams (OPP, 5-10, Odem, Texas)
12 – Emma Schieck (OH, 5-8, Statesville, N.C.)
13 – Nichole Millage (OH, 5-7, Champaign, Ill.)
14 – Kaleo Maclay (S, 5-6, Honolulu, Hawaii)
15 – Annie Flood (S/OPP, 5-8, Salem, Ore.)
16 – Nicole Nieves (M, 5-10, Kissimmee, Fla.)
17 – Tia Edwards (OH, 5-7, Skitatook, Okla.)
Head Coach: Bill Hamiter
Assistant Coaches: Michelle Goodall, Jon Aharoni
U.S. Men’s National Sitting Volleyball Team
# – Name (Position, Height, Hometown)
1 – Travis Ricks (L, 5-7, San Diego, California)
2 – Dan Regan (M, 6-0, Edmond, Oklahoma)
3 – Nick Dadgostar (OH/S/DS, 6-0, Sydney, Nebraska)
4 – Ben Aman (OH, 6-5, Tacoma, Washington)
5 – Eric Duda (OH, 6-5, Fort Lauderdale, Florida)
7 – Stephen Bracken
8 – James Stuck (M, 6-5, New Kensington, Pennsylvania)
11 – Roderick Green (M, 6-3, West Monroe, Louisiana)
12 – Patrick Young (OH, 6-4, Albuquerque, New Mexico)
13 – Charlie Swearingen (OH, 6-3, Gulfport, Mississippi)
14 – John Kremer (L, 5-9, Buford, Georgia)
15 – Chris Seilkop (OH/MB, 6-6, Deland, Florida)
16 – Josh Smith (OPP/S, 6-2, Riverside California)
17 – Zach Upp (OPP, 6-5, Bartlett, Illinois)
18 – J Dee Marinko (OH, 6-4, Norman, Oklahoma)
Head Coach: Greg Walker
Assistant Coaches: Joe Skinner and Kyle Homeyer