COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (June 24, 2017) – Opposite Liz McMahon (Liberty Township, Ohio) scored 10 of her match-high 16 points in the opening set to spark the U.S. Women’s National Team past host Peru 25-14, 25-17, 27-25 in the Pan American Cup semifinals on Saturday evening in Canete, Peru.
The U.S., 6-0 in the tournament, will now face Dominican Republic (6-0) in the Pan Am Cup gold-medal match on Sunday at 6 p.m. ET. Dominican Republic defeated Puerto Rico 25-18, 25-21, 25-19 in the first semifinal on Saturday.
Both Team USA and Dominican Republic have each won a tournament-best four Pan Am Cup titles, and Sunday’s winner will break a current three-way tie (including Cuba). The Americans have won the tournament three since 2012 (2012, 2013, 2015 along with 2003), while the Dominicans have won the event twice in the last three years (2014 and 2016, along with 2008 and 2010).
McMahon totaled 13 kills on 27 attacks, two blocks and an ace for 16 points in the victory. Middle Rhamat Alhassan (Glenarden, Maryland) chipped in six kills on eight attacks, a match-high five blocks and an ace for 12 points. Outside hitter Madi Kingdon (Phoenix, Arizona) contributed 10 points with six kills on 16 attacks, three blocks and an ace.
Outside hitter Michelle Bartsch-Hackley (Maryville, Illinois) pocketed nine points with seven kills on 30 swings and two blocks. Setter Micha Hancock (Edmond, Oklahoma) turned in six points with three aces, two kills on three swings and a block. Opposite Annie Drews (Elkhart, Indiana) recorded five points with four kills on 16 attacks and a block. Middle Paige Tapp (Stewartville, Minnesota) notched four kills on 12 swings and a block for five points.
Libero Amanda Benson (Litchfield Park, Arizona) secured 13 digs and handled nine receptions with seven being excellent. Bartsch-Hackley was credited with 12 excellent receptions on 25 chances and eight digs. Kingdon pocketed eight digs and eight excellent receptions on 19 chances.
The U.S. converted 37.5 percent of its kills with a .250 hitting efficiency (42-14-112) as Hancock turned in 22 running sets on 62 set attempts, while Lauren Carlini (Aurora, Illinois) added 11 running sets on 29 chances. The U.S. dominated the net and service line with a 15-4 block advantage and 6-0 margin in aces. Team USA held a 42-31 edge in kills. Peru benefited from 21 American errors in the match while holding its own mistakes to 14 for the match.
U.S. Women’s National Team Head Coach Karch Kiraly did not alter his starting lineup in any of the three sets. Starters were Hancock at setter, Alhassan and Tapp at middle, Bartsch and Kingdon at outside hitter, McMahon at opposite and Benson at libero. The double-sub combination of Carlini at setter and Drews at opposite was utilized in all three sets, while Sonja Newcombe (Lake Arrowhead, California) was a serving sub in all three sets.
U.S. Women’s National Team Roster for Pan Am Cup
# – Player (Position, Height, College, Hometown)
1 – Micha Hancock (S, 5-11, Penn State, Edmond, Oklahoma)
2 – Rhamat Alhassan (M, 6-4, Florida, Glenarden, Maryland)
4 – Justine Wong-Orantes (L, 5-6, Nebraska, Cypress, California)
6 – Amber Rolfzen (M, 6-3, Nebraska, Papillion, Nebraska)
7 – Lauren Carlini (S, 6-1, Wisconsin, Aurora, Illinois)
9 – Madi Kingdon (OH, 6-1, Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona)
11 – Annie Drews (OPP, 6-3, Purdue, Elkhart, Indiana)
14 – Michelle Bartsch-Hackley (OH, 6-3, Illinois, Maryville, Illinois)
16 – Molly McCage (M, 6-3, Texas, Spring, Texas)
17 – Megan Courtney (OH, 6-1, Penn State, Dayton, Ohio)
18 – Sonja Newcombe (OH, 6-1, Oregon, Lake Arrowhead, California)
20 – Amanda Benson (L, 5-7, Oregon, Litchfield Park, Arizona)
21 – Paige Tapp (M, 6-1, Minnesota, Stewartville, Minnesota)
23 – Liz McMahon (OPP, 6-6, Illinois, Liberty Township, Ohio)
Head Coach: Karch Kiraly
Assistant Coaches: Tama Miyashiro, Erin Virtue
Team Leader/Assistant Coach: Jon Newman-Gonchar
Technical Coordinator: Jeff Liu
Athletic Trainer: Beri Dwyer
16th Pan American Cup Schedule and Results for U.S. Women
Pool A
June 17: U.S. def. Venezuela 25-9, 25-16, 25-11
June 18: U.S. def. Colombia 25-8, 25-19, 29-27
June 19: U.S. def. Puerto Rico 25-23, 25-23, 23-25, 21-25, 15-12
June 20: U.S. def. Mexico 25-13, 25-15, 25-13
June 21: U.S. def. Argentina 27-25, 25-14, 25-23
Quarterfinals
June 23: Puerto Rico def. Cuba 25-23, 25-22, 25-17
June 23: Peru def. Argentina 20-25, 25-21, 20-25, 25-19, 15-9
Semifinals
June 24: Dominican Republic def. Puerto Rico 25-18, 25-21, 25-19
June 24: USA def. Peru 25-14, 25-17, 27-25
Medal Rounds
June 25: Puerto Rico vs. Peru, 4 p.m. ET
June 25: USA vs. Dominican Republic, 6 p.m. ET