COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (May 1, 2017) – The U.S. Women’s National Volleyball team will renew its long-standing rivalry with Brazil as part of a two-match USA Volleyball Cup series played Aug. 27 and Aug. 29 at the Anaheim Convention Center Arena.
The U.S. is ranked No. 2 in the current FIVB world ranking after earning bronze at the 2016 Olympic Games. Brazil, which lost to eventual 2016 Olympic Games champion China in a five-set match in the quarterfinals in Rio, is ranked No. 4 in the world.
“Brazil has built one of a handful of legendary programs in international volleyball, and this year’s USA Volleyball Cup matches will be a wonderful opportunity for American fans to see both programs live,” U.S. Women’s National Team Head Coach Karch Kiraly said. “Every time we square off across the net, it’s a battle – both teams test each other, and learn, and we cherish experiences like that. We’ll see you in August!”
The USA Volleyball Cup opening match will have first serve at 4 p.m. PT on Aug. 27, while the Aug. 29 match will start at 7:30 p.m. PT. Tickets for the matches will go on sale in early May.
Anaheim serves as the official host city for the U.S. Women’s and Men’s National Volleyball Teams.
“Anaheim and the greater hospitality community is looking forward to welcoming Brazil to the heart of Southern California,” Sports Anaheim Vice President of Sports Development Roy Edmondson said. “The City of Anaheim is proud to watch two of the most prestigious women’s volleyball nations face head-to-head in the U.S. Women’s National Team’s home city, Anaheim.”
The U.S. and Brazil had competed in the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games gold-medal match with the Brazilians winning both times. Until the 2016 Olympic Games, Team USA’s final match in four straight Olympics were losses to Brazil – including the bronze-medal match in 2000 and quarterfinal round in 2004.
The two rivals have played 24 times since 2011 with the USA holding a 14-10 edge. Six of the 24 matches have been in tournament gold-medal matches. Since 1983, USA and Brazil have played 114 times with Brazil leading the series 67-47.
The USA Volleyball Cup was initiated in 2013 and the U.S. Women have played in the event every year since except for 2016 due to a constricted Olympic year schedule. Team USA hosted Japan in the inaugural event in 2013, followed by Brazil in 2014 and China in 2015. During the 2014 USA Volleyball Cup, the Americans defeated Brazil in all four matches of the series with two matches in Southern California and two matches in Hawaii.
The USA Volleyball Cup will serve as final preparations for both Team USA and Brazil before they compete in the FIVB World Grand Champions Cup in Japan. The event is a six-team round-robin event played over the course of six days from Sept. 5-10. Other countries participating in the season-ending World Grand Champions Cup are China, Russia, host Japan and Korea.
The U.S. Women officially begins their summer training block on May 1, though some players will start to train before that date and others will not arrive until a few weeks afterwards due to their pro club seasons still in competition.
Sport Court is the official athletic flooring for the USA Volleyball Cup.
Most Recent U.S. Women vs. Brazil Matches
July 10, 2016: Brazil def. USA 18-25, 25-17, 25-23, 22-25, 15-9 in FIVB World Grand Prix (gold-medal match)
July 25, 2015: USA def. Brazil 25-22, 25-21, 28-26 in Pan American Games (gold-medal match)
July 25, 2015: USA def. Brazil 25-16, 25-22, 25-21 in FIVB World Grand Prix (gold-medal match)
July 20, 2015: Brazil def. USA 22-25, 25-21, 18-25, 25-22, 15-11 in Pan American Games (pool play)
Oct. 11, 2014: USA def. Brazil 25-18, 29-27, 25-20 in FIVB World Championship (semifinals)
Oct. 5, 2014: Brazil def. USA 25-23, 25-22, 25-21 in FIVB World Championship (pool play)
Aug. 15, 2014: Brazil def. USA 29-31, 22-25, 25-22, 25-19, 15-9 in FIVB World Grand Prix (pool play)
Aug. 10, 2014: Brazil def. USA 25-20, 25-22, 29-27 in FIVB World Grand Prix (pool play)
July 12, 2014: USA def. Brazil 22-25, 27-25, 23-25, 25-23, 15-11 in USA Volleyball Cup
July 11, 2014: USA def. Brazil 25-19, 22-25, 27-25, 25-27, 15-11 in USA Volleyball Cup
July 6, 2014: USA def. Brazil 25-21, 25-23, 25-20 in USA Volleyball Cup
July 5, 2014: USA def. Brazil 25-22, 25-27, 25-19, 25-19 in USA Volleyball Cup
Nov. 12, 2013: Brazil def. USA 26-24, 26-24, 25-20 in FIVB World Grand Champions Cup
Aug. 28, 2013: Brazil def. USA 25-19, 25-12, 25-10 in FIVB World Grand Prix Finals Round
June 15, 2013: USA def. Brazil 25-11, 25-20, 25-22 in Pan American Cup (semifinals)
Aug. 11, 2012: Brazil def. USA 11-25, 25-17, 25-20, 25-17 in Olympic Games (gold-medal match)
July 30, 2012: USA def. Brazil 25-18, 25-17, 22-25, 25-21 in Olympic Games (pool play)
July 20, 2012: USA def. Brazil 28-30, 18-25, 25-22, 25-21, 15-11 in Pan Am Cup (gold-medal match)
June 27, 2012: USA def. Brazil 25-19, 25-20, 20-25, 13-25, 15-13 in FIVB World Grand Prix Finals (pool play)
June 17, 2012: USA def. Brazil 20-25, 25-18, 25-18, 25-23 in FIVB World Grand Prix (pool play)
Nov. 4, 2011: USA def. Brazil 25-22, 17-25, 27-25, 25-19 in FIVB World Cup
Aug. 28, 2011: USA def. Brazil 26-24, 25-20, 25-21 in FIVB World Grand Prix Final Round (gold-medal match)
Aug. 26, 2011: Brazil def. USA 22-25, 26-24, 25-21, 25-20 in FIVB World Grand Prix Final Round (pool play)
July 5, 2011: Brazil def. USA 28-30, 25-18, 25-19, 17-25, 15-11 in Pan American Cup (pool play)