U.S. Women Hold Steady to Stop Belgium's Surge at VNL

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 12, 2021) – When Belgium picked up its serving for a second-set surge, the U.S. Women’s National Team pulled together to defeat the European side, 3-0 (25-9, 26-24, 25-20) on Saturday at the FIVB Volleyball Nations League in Rimini, Italy.

The U.S. Women (10-0) continue to lead the VNL standings but set your alarm! They will face second-place Japan (8-2) on Sunday at 3 a.m. PT. All matches are being shown live on VolleyballWorld.tv.

The U.S. Women led Belgium in kills (53-21) and blocks (7-5). Belgium led in aces (4-2) and it was that strong serving that worked it back into the match.

OFFICIAL STATISTICS * TEAM STATISTICS

“Belgium did a really good job of picking up their serving,” U.S. opposite Jordan Thompson said. “They were serving really tough in the second and third sets and we had to make some adjustments there with passing and I think we did a good job with that.”

Thompson led all scorers with 21 points on a match-high 18 kills (.405) and a match-high three blocks. Outside hitter Kelsey Robinson added 14 points on 12 kills, one block and one ace. Outside hitter Jordan Larson totaled 10 points on 10 kills.

Middle blocker Foluke Akinradewo Gunderson scored nine points on eight kills and one block. Middle Chiaka Ogbogu finished with six points on four kills and two blocks.

Setter Jordyn Poulter scored two points on a kill and an ace and set the U.S. to a .432 hitting efficiency. Libero Justine Wong Orantes was credited with 11 digs and 13 successful receptions. Robinson had 16 digs and Larson had 14.

Belgium scored 23 points on U.S. errors while committing 14 and Thompson praised her team for rebounding from some tough plays.

“I think we did a good job of staying patient and just trying to stay together as a team through the tough times,” Thompson said. “It wasn’t necessarily the prettiest match that we’ve played, but I think as we come back together as a team and try to work out all the kinks, it’s only going to get better.”

During and after the U.S. Women’s first-set victory, Belgium made some personnel changes that seemed to steady it somewhat.

The U.S. Women led the second set 18-15 when Belgium scored four straight points, including a block from outside hitter Lise De Valkeneer and a kill by middle blocker Nathalie Lemmens, neither of whom started the match for Belgium. The teams traded points until the U.S. grabbed the first set point at 24-23 on a Thompson attack. A U.S. service error tied it at 24-24. Thompson scored again on a kill and the U.S. won the set on Belgium’s attack error.

Belgium led the third set 10-8 when the U.S. went on a four-point run on two kills and a block by Thompson and a kill from Larson. Belgium stayed within striking distance until the U.S. led 18-16 and it scored on Larson kill and Belgium attack error to put the set out of reach.

U.S. Women’s National Team 14-Person Roster for June 12

No. Player (Position, Height, Hometown, College)

1 Micha Hancock (S, 5-11, Edmond, Okla., Penn State Univ.)
2 Jordyn Poulter (S, 6-2, Aurora, Colo., Univ. of Illinois)
4 Justine Wong Orantes (L, 5-6, Cypress, Calif., Univ. of Nebraska)
8 Hannah Tapp (M, 6-3, Stewartville, Minn., Univ. of Minnesota)
10 Jordan Larson (OH, 6-2, Hooper, Neb., Univ. of Nebraska)
11 Annie Drews (OPP, 6-4, Elkhart, Ind., Purdue Univ.)
12 Jordan Thompson (OPP, 6-4, Edina, Minn., Univ. of Cincinnati)
13 Sarah Wilhite Parsons (OH, 6-2, Eden Prairie, Minn., Univ. of Minnesota)
14 Michelle Bartsch-Hackley (OH, 6-3, Champaign, Ill., Univ. of Illinois)
15 Kim Hill (OH, 6-4, Portland, Ore., Pepperdine, Univ.)
16 Foluke Akinradewo Gunderson (M, 6-3, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Stanford Univ.)
22 Haleigh Washington (M, 6-3, Colorado Springs, Colo., Penn State Univ.)
23 Kelsey Robinson (OH, 6-2, Manhattan Beach, Calif., Univ. of Nebraska)
24 Chiaka Ogbogu (M, 6-2, Coppell, Texas, Univ. of Texas)

Head Coach: Karch Kiraly
Assistant Coaches: Luka Slabe, Erin Virtue, Tama Miyashiro
Technical Coordinator: Jeff Liu
Athletic Trainer: Kara Kessans
Team Manager: Jimmy Stitz

U.S. Women’s Schedule for FIVB Volleyball Nations League (all times Pacific)

May 25: USA def Dominican Republic, 3-0 (25-20, 25-21, 25-12)
May 26: USA def Canada, 3-0 (26-34, 25-15, 25-10)
May 27: USA def Brazil 3-1 (25-17, 25-19, 23-25, 25-22)

May 31: USA def Serbia, 3-0 (25-20, 25-16, 25-12)
June 1: USA def Netherlands, 3-0 (25-22, 25-15, 25-18)
June 2: USA def Thailand, 3-0 (25-17, 25-14, 25-16)

June 6: USA def Germany, 3-0 (25-23, 25-13, 25-13)
June 7: USA def South Korea, 3-0 (25-16, 25-12, 25-15)
June 8: USA def Italy, 3-1 (25-18, 25-21, 20-25, 25-16)

June 12: USA def Belgium, 3-0 (25-9, 26-24, 25-20)
June 13 at 3 a.m.: USA vs Japan
June 14 at noon: USA vs Turkey

June 18 at 9 a.m.: Poland vs USA
June 19 at 3 a.m.: USA vs Russia
June 20 at 3 a.m.: China vs USA

June 23: Semifinals 1 and 2
June 24: Bronze and Gold medal matches