COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (April 10, 2017) – The U.S. Women’s National Team officially resumes training on May 1 at the American Sports Centers in Anaheim, California, the official host city for the U.S. Women’s and Men’s National Teams. The U.S. Women have also announced upcoming Red-Blue intrasquad match dates in Southern California, along with a friendly match with the Canadian national team.
U.S. WOMEN TO HOST CANADA IN FRIENDLY MATCH: The U.S. Women’s National Team will host the Canadian Women’s National Team in a friendly match on June 13 at JSerra High School in San Juan Capistrano, California. The match will start at 7 p.m. PT and tickets will be available for purchase at the door one hour prior to the match. The USA-Canada match will represent the first contest against an international opponent for Team USA since it won bronze at the 2016 Olympic Games. Both the USA and Canada will travel later in the week to Peru for the XVI Pan American Cup that is from June 16-25.
RED-BLUE SCRIMMAGE SCHEDULE: The U.S. Women’s National Team will officially begin its summer training block on May 1, and already have several Red-Blue intrasquad matches lined up for fans in Southern California to watch the team get ready for summer competitions. In addition, fans are welcome to attend training sessions at the American Sports Centers in Anaheim. The U.S. Women typically train Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. PT.
- May 12: at Murrieta Mesa High School (Murrieta, California), 7 p.m. PT
- May 19: at TBA in Southern California, 7 p.m. PT
- May 26: at Santiago Canyon College (Orange, California), 6 p.m. PT (doubleheader with U.S. Men’s National Team)
- June 2: at Kennedy High School (La Palma, California), 7 p.m. PT
DAVID HUNT NAMED AVCA THIRTY UNDER 30 AWARD RECIPIENT: David Hunt, a consultant coach with the U.S. Women’s National Team through the final three years of the 2016 Olympic Games quadrennial that led to a bronze medal for Team USA, was selected as a recipient of the American Volleyball Coaches Association Thirty Under 30 Award. He has now the award three times with the first coming in 2010 followed by 2016 and now 2017. “It means a ton to be recognized by my peers for the time dedicated to the people I work with,” said Hunt, who is also the associate head men’s volleyball coach at Pepperdine University. Before joining the U.S. Women’s National Team’s coaching staff, Hunt served as an assistant coach with the Japan Men’s National Team in 2013.
U.S. WOMEN’S COLLEGIATE NATIONAL TEAM-EUROPE TOUR ROSTER NAMED: USA Volleyball is proud to announce its U.S. Women’s Collegiate National Team Europe Tour (CNT-Europe) roster comprised of current collegiate players who will train and compete in Europe from July 5-16. Middles selected to the elite CNT-Europe squad are Corissa Crocker (University of Michigan, Brighton, Michigan), Claire Kiefer-Wright (University of Michigan, South Pasadena, California) and Jenna Rosenthal (Marquette University, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin). The outside hitters name to the roster are Courtney Schwan (University of Washington, Auburn, Washington), Carlyle Nusbaum (Lipscomb University, Overland Park, Kansas) and Jaali Winters (Creighton University, Ankeny, Iowa). The two opposites selected to the CNT-Europe Tour are Kelsie Payne (University of Kansas, Austin, Texas) and Taylor Mims (Washington State University, Billings, Montana). The setters are Kristen Gengenbacher (University of San Diego, Quincy, Illinois) and Taira Robins-Hardy (Brigham Young University, Waimanalo, Hawaii). The libero will be Brittany Witt (Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska).
LARSON, ADAMS WITH TURKEY’S ECZACIBASI: Outside hitter Jordan Larson (Hooper, Nebraska, Twitter, Instagram) and middle Rachael Adams (Cincinnati, Ohio, Twitter, Instagram), both members of the 2016 U.S. Olympic Women’s Volleyball Team that won bronze in Rio, are playing for Eczacibasi of the Turkish League and as part of the European Champions League this winter. In the European Champions League, Eczacibasi rallied to defeat Turkish rival Fenerbahce 29-31, 25-14, 27-25, 25-23 in a must-win Playoff 6 Round (quarterfinals) match on April 4 to advance to the Champions League semifinals. Adams tallied 16 points in the victory with 13 kills on 21 attacks and just two errors to go with two aces and a block. Five of her points came in the third set. Larson contributed 10 points with eight kills on 25 errorless swings, one block and one ace. She also handled 15 of the team’s 87 receptions with a 67 positive reception percent. During the match, Brazilian star middle Thaisa suffered a dislocated ankle, but Eczacibasi was able to come back to win. “I am very sad because of the injury that occurred to Thaisa and I can say that we played the remainder of the match for her. It was one of the most difficult and challenging matches I have ever played. Fenerbahce played really well and we did that too. I am really proud of my team and we already feel the excitement ahead of the Finals.” Eczacibasi will now head to the Champions League semifinals on April 22 where it will meet Turkish rival VakifBank with the winner moving on to the final to play either Italy’s Imoco Volley Conegliano or Russia’s Dinamo Moscow. In the Turkish League playoffs, Eczacibasi swept Fenerbahce 26-24, 25-19, 25-22 on April 8 in the first semifinal of the home-and-home series in Istanbul. Adams pocketed 11 kills on 15 attacks while also handling two service receptions with a 100 excellent percent. Larson charted nine points with five kills on 24 swings, three blocks and an ace. She also was credited with an 83 positive reception percent on 12 chances. The two teams meet again on April 12 with Fenerbahce now needing to win in three to force a golden set to determine which team advances to the final round.
HILL WITH TURKEY’S VAKIFBANK: Outside hitter Kim Hill (Portland, Oregon, Instagram) a bronze medalist on the 2016 U.S. Olympic Women’s Volleyball Team, returns this winter to play for Turkey’s VakifBank and in the European Champions League. In the European Champions League, VakifBank rallied to defeat Switzerland’s Volero Zurich April 5 22-25, 25-21, 25-16, 25-22 in Turkey to advance to the semifinals. Hill tallied 10 points with seven kills on 21 attacks and just one error to go with three aces on 22 serves. She also handled 14 receptions with a 71 positive reception percent. VakifBank needed to win only two sets to advance to the semifinals after winning the first match of the home-and-home series in five sets. VakifBank, which has now advanced to the Champions League semifinals for the sixth time, will face Turkish rival Eczacibasi on April 22 with the winner advancing to the final to meet the other semifinal winner between Italy’s Imoco Volley Conegliano and Russia’s Dinamo Moscow. In the Turkish League, top-seeded VakifBank was upset 25-19, 25-23, 25-22 on April 9 in the first home-and-home semifinal round series. Hill, a sub in the first two sets before starting the third set, tallied two kills on six swings, one block and an ace on six serves. She also handled 10 receptions in her limited action with a 60 positive reception percent. VakifBank will now need to win the second semifinal match in three sets on April 12 to force a golden set to determine which team will move on to the Turkish League playoff final round.
CRIMES WITH TURKEY’S SARIYER: Middle Alexis Crimes (Rancho Cucamonga, California, Instagram), an alternate to the 2016 U.S. Olympic Women’s Volleyball Team, is competing for Sariyer in the Turkish League this winter. Sariyer lost to Seramiksan 25-23, 31-29, 25-17 on April 2 in the first match of the opening relegation weekend. Crimes pocketed nine points with eight kills on 12 attacks and a block in the match. Sariyer came back to defeat Idman Ocagi 19-25, 25-18, 25-20, 25-16 on April 3 to even its record on the opening weekend. Crimes scored six kills on nine errorless attacks in the victory. On the third day, Sariyer handled Nilufer 25-21, 25-18, 24-26, 25-19 on April 4. Crimes notched 16 points in the victory on the strength of 15 kills via 21 attacks and a block. Sariyer dropped a 25-17, 25-21, 24-26, 13-25, 15-12 match to Seramiksan on April 8 to start the second round-robin weekend of the relegation playoffs. Crimes notched 10 kills on 2 swings in the loss. Sariyer bounced back to win the second match of the weekend, a 25-13, 25-15, 25-16 victory over Idman Ocagi. Crimes scored two kills on eight attacks in the victory. In the final match, Sariyer lost to Nilufer 25-23, 25-23, 25-19 on April 10 and fell short of remaining in the top Turkish division for the 2017-18 season.
AKINRADEWO WITH SWITZERLAND’S VOLERO ZURICH: Middle Foluke Akinradewo (Plantation, Florida, Twitter, Instagram), the Best Blocker in the 2016 Olympic Games after leading the U.S. Olympic Women’s Volleyball Team to a bronze medal, is playing for Volero Zurich in the Swiss League and in the European Champions League. In the CEV Champions League, Volero lost to Turkey’s VakifBank 22-25, 25-21, 25-16, 25-22 in the second match of the home-and-home semifinal round series. With VakifBank having won the opening match as well, Volero was eliminated from the Champions League playoffs. Akinradewo tallied five kills on 13 attacks and an ace for six points in the loss. Volero, which went undefeated in the Swiss League regular season, defeated TS Volley Dudingen I 25-16, 25-13, 25-16 on April 8 to open the Swiss League playoff semifinal round. Volero finished out the best-of-three semifinal round series with a 25-12, 25-13, 25-12 victory over Dudingen to advance to the final round against second-seed Aesch-Pfeffingen.
ROBINSON, FAWCETT WITH ITALY’S CONEGLIANO: Outside hitter Kelsey Robinson (Bartlett, Illinois, Twitter, Instagram), a 2016 Olympic bronze medalist, and opposite Nicole Fawcett (Zanesfield, Ohio, Instagram) are playing in the Italian Serie A1 after transferring midseason from teams China and Turkey, respectively. Conegliano, which ended the Italian regular season with a 10-point lead in the standings, lost its Italian Serie A1 best-of-three quarterfinal series opener to ninth-seed Il Bisonte Firenze 25-18, 25-15, 23-25, 17-25, 15-10 on April 8. Robinson charted 12 points with 11 kills on 34 swings and a block. She added a 70 positive reception percent in taking 43 of the team’s 89 service receptions. Fawcett, who did not start the first set, came off the bench to provide 19 points via 17 kills on 46 swings, one block and one ace. Conegliano will host the second match of the quarterfinal round on April 17. If necessary, the third match will be played on April 18.
LLOYD, GIBBEMEYER WITH ITALY’S CASALMAGGIORE: Carli Lloyd (Bonsall, California, Instagram), a 2016 Olympic bronze medalist setter for Team USA, and middle Lauren Gibbemeyer (St. Paul, Minnesota, Twitter, Instagram) have returned to Italy to compete for Pomi Casalmaggiore in the Italian Serie A1 league and the CEV Cup. In the Italian League, second-seed Casalmaggiore rallied to defeat seventh-seed Unet Yamamay Busto Arsizio 25-21, 26-28, 23-25, 25-17, 15-11 on April 7. Gibbemeyer notched 18 points in the victory, including 11 kills on 25 swings a seven of her team’s 14 blocks. Lloyd did not play in the match. Casalmaggiore will host the second match of the quarterfinal round on April 19. If necessary, the tiebreaking third match is scheduled for April 20.
BARTSCH WITH ITALY’S BOLZANO: Outside hitter Michelle Bartsch (Maryville, Illinois, Twitter), an alternate on the U.S. Olympic Women’s Volleyball Team, is competing for Sudtirol Bolzano in the Italian Serie A1 this winter. Bolzano, which finished the regular season in eighth place, defeated Il Bisonte Firenze 25-23, 25-19, 16-25, 25-22 on April 3 in the second match of the home-and-home first round of the Italian Serie A1 playoffs. Despite the win, Bolzano was eliminated from the playoffs as Firenze won the opening match in three sets. Bartsch scored a match-high 24 points in the victory, all via kills on 54 attacks. She added a 71 positive reception percent on 14 reception chances.
HANCOCK WITH POLAND’S IMPEL WROCLAW: Setter Micha Hancock (Edmond, Oklahoma, Twitter, Instagram), who played for the U.S. Women during the 2016 Pan American Cup and set the tournament record for aces in a match and tournament, is playing for Poland’s Impel Wroclaw in the Orlen Liga. Wroclaw, seeded second in the playoffs, lost to third-seeded Grot Budowlani Lodz 18-25, 25-22, 25-20, 25-22 on April 4 in the opening match of the home-and-home semifinal round series. Hancock set the team to a 35 kill percent and added four individual points with two kills on five errorless attacks and two aces on 20 serves. American teammate Megan Courtney contributed 11 points with 10 kills on 36 attacks and a block. Wroclaw will now need a victory in three or four sets on April 10 in Wroclaw in order to force a Golden Set and opportunity to move into the final round.