COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (May 20, 2017) – The U.S. Women’s National Team held its second Red-Blue intrasquad scrimmage of the season Friday evening with 21 players seeing action at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School in San Juan Capistrano, California.
The Red Team won the three of the four sets, coming back to win 22-25, 25-18, 25-23, 25-19. Players switched between the Red and Blue team throughout the night. The Red-Blue was scheduled for four sets with each set played to 25 points.
Outside hitter Michelle Bartsch (Maryville, Illinois) led all scorers with 26 points with 18 kills on 41 attacks as part of a .293 hitting efficiency. She added five aces and three blocks in playing all four sets for the Blue Team. Outside hitter Sonja Newcombe (Lake Arrowhead, California) pocketed 18 points with four sets for the Red Team, including 15 kills on 34 attacks as part of a .353 hitting efficiency and three blocks.
Outside Madi Kingdon (Phoenix, Arizona) chipped in 15 points via 12 kills on 32 attacks and three blocks in splitting two sets each on the Red and Blue side. Outside hitter Sarah Wilhite (Eden Prairie, Minnesota), the 2016 AVCA Division I Player of the Year, contributed 13 points with 11 kills on 30 swings, one block and one ace in four sets. She was playing her first Red-Blue match of the season. Middle Molly McCage (Spring, Texas) recorded six kills on 13 attacks, three aces and a block for 10 points as highest scoring non-outside hitter.
In total, 16 players scored at least one point in the match. Only liberos and setters did not score a point in the contest.
The offense was run by five setters, including the return of Lauren Carlini (Aurora, Illinois) to the National Team. Setter Micha Hancock (Edmond, Oklahoma) tallied four aces, two kills and a block in playing two sets.
Four liberos also saw action with Justine Wong-Orantes (Cypress, California) handling 21 receptions on the evening with a 38 positive reception percent leading the way.
The U.S. Women’s National Team’s next Red-Blue match is on May 26 at Santiago Canyon College in Orange, California. The match starts at 6 p.m. PT, while the U.S. Men’s National Team will hold its first and only Red-Blue match of the season immediately following the women’s match. Tickets are $7 and available at the door starting at 5 p.m. PT.
Player (Position, 2016-17 Club/College, College, Hometown)
Inky Ajanaku (Middle, Rehabbing in USA, Stanford, Tulsa, Oklahoma)
Michelle Bartsch (Outside, Bolzano (Italy), Illinois, Maryville, Illinois)
Amanda Benson (Libero, Final Season in College, Oregon, Litchfield Park, Arizona)
Madi Bugg (Setter, NUC (Switzerland), Stanford, Apex, North Carolina)
Lauren Carlini (Setter, Final Season in College, Wisconsin, Aurora, Illinois)
Megan Courtney (Outside, Wroclaw (Poland), Penn State, Dayton, Ohio)
Lexi Dannemiller (Setter, Schweriner (Germany), Michigan, West Chester, Ohio)
Tori Dixon (Middle, Rehabbing in USA, Minnesota, Burnsville, Minnesota)
Lauren Gibbemeyer (Middle, Pomi Casalmaggiore (Italy), Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota)
Micha Hancock (Setter, Wroclaw (Poland), Penn State, Edmond, Oklahoma)
Kristen Hahn (Libero, Did not compete, Iowa State, Cedar Rapids, Iowa)
Morgan Heise (Libero, Final Season in College, SMU, Hempstead, Texas)
Madi Kingdon (Outside, IBK (Korea), Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona)
Molly McCage (Middle, Wiesbaden (Germany), Texas, Spring, Texas)
Liz McMahon (Opposite, Dresden (Germany), Illinois, Liberty Township, Ohio)
Kelly Murphy (Opposite, Henan (China), Florida, Wilmington, Illinois)
Sonja Newcombe (Outside, Sichuan (China), Oregon, Lake Arrowhead, California)
Val Nichol (Setter, MTV Stuttgart (Germany), Purdue, Normal, Illinois)
Amber Rolfzen (Middle, Dresden (Germany), Nebraska, Papillion, Nebraska)
Kadie Rolfzen (Opposite, Dresden (Germany), Nebraska, Papillion, Nebraska)
Hannah Tapp (Middle, Schweriner (Germany), Minnesota, Stewartville, Minnesota)
Aiyana Whitney (Opposite, MTV Stuttgart (Germany), Penn State, Norwood, New Jersey)
Sarah Wilhite (Outside, Final Season in College, Minnesota, Eden Prairie, Minnesota)
Justine Wong-Orantes (Libero, Final Season in College, Nebraska, Cypress, California)