U.S. Women 3-0 at Worlds after Beating Bulgaria

U.S.Women's Team competing at the World Championship

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Sept. 29, 2022) – The U.S. Women’s National Team put another check in the win column on Thursday with a 3-1 (25-14, 23-25, 25-11, 25-15) victory over Bulgaria at the World Championships in Łódź, Poland.

This pool-play match was the first of three in a row for the United States, which will play Germany on Friday (10 a.m. PT on Sept. 30) and Serbia on Saturday (10 a.m. PT on Oct. 1).

The U.S. Women lead Pool C with a 3-0 record and nine points (teams receive three points for each 3-0 and 3-1 victory). The top four teams from each pool will advance to the second round of pool play.

OFFICIAL STATISTICS

Middle blocker Chiaka Ogbogu stood out for the U.S. Women, finishing with 16 points on eight kills, a match-high five blocks and three aces.

“Our setters did a great job to put our setter, Lauren, in great positions to run the middle,” Ogbogu said. “When it comes to blocks, I can’t block well unless my pins set me up. Shout out to all my pins tonight for setting up the blocks.”

Setter Lauren Carlini made her first start of the World Championships and set the team to a .417 hitting efficiency.

Libero Morgan Hentz also made her first Worlds appearance for Justin Wong-Orantes, taking over in the second set. She was credited with seven digs and two successful receptions. Wong-Orantes finished with seven digs.

Outside hitter Ali Frantti led all scorers with 19 points on 17 kills (.625), one block and one ace. Outside hitter Kelsey Cook scored 15 points on 12 kills, two blocks and one ace.

Opposite Annie Drews totaled 13 points on seven kills, two blocks and a match-high four aces, three of which came in a row near the end of the third set.

Middle Haleigh Washington scored eight points on five kills, one block and two aces, which also came in a row in the fourth set.

Carlini scored two points on a kill and block and serving substitute Sarah Wilhite Parsons scored with an ace.

Opposite Danielle Cuttino finished the fourth set for Drews.

The U.S. led Bulgaria in kills (50-43), blocks (12-4) and aces (12-3). The U.S. Women scored 24 points on Bulgaria’s errors and gave up 15.

The U.S. Women received vocal support at the match from members of the U.S. Air Force’s 90th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron (F-22 Raptors).

Matches are being livestreamed on VolleyballWorld.tv.

The U.S. Women are ranked No. 1 in the world. They won the World Championships for the first time in 2014. They took silver in 1967 and 2002. They took third in 1982 and 1990. They tied for fifth at the last World Championships in 2018.

U.S. Women’s Roster for 2022 FIVB World Championships
No. Name (Pos., Ht., Hometown, College, USAV Region)
2 Jordyn Poulter (S, 6-2, Aurora, Colo., Univ. of Illinois, Great Lakes)
4 Justine Wong-Orantes (L, 5-6, Cypress, Calif., Univ. of Nebraska, Southern California)
5 Morgan Hentz (L, 5-9, Lakeside Park, Ky., Stanford Univ., Pioneer)
7 Lauren Carlini (S, 6-2, Aurora, Ill., Univ. of Wisconsin, Great Lakes)
8 Hannah Tapp (MB, 6-3, Stewartville, Minn., Univ. of Minnesota, North Country)
11 Annie Drews (Opp, 6-4, Elkhart, Ind., Purdue Univ., Hoosier)
13 Sarah Wilhite Parsons (OH, 6-2, Eden Prairie, Minn., Univ. of Minnesota, North Country)
15 Haleigh Washington (MB, 6-3, Colorado Springs, Colo., Penn State Univ., Rocky Mountain)
18 Kara Bajema (OH, 6-2, Lynden, Wash., Univ. of Washington, Puget Sound)
20 Danielle Cuttino (Opp, 6-4, Indianapolis, Ind., Purdue Univ., Hoosier)
23 Kelsey (Robinson) Cook (OH, 6-2, Manhattan Beach, Calif., Univ. of Nebraska, Southern California)
24 Chiaka Ogbogu (MB, 6-2, Coppell, Texas, Univ. of Texas, North Texas)
30 Ali Frantti (OH, 6-1, Spring Grove, Ill., Penn State, Great Lakes)
31 Anna (Stevenson) Hall (MB, 6-2, Laurens S.C., Univ. of Louisville, Palmetto)

Head Coach: Karch Kiraly
Assistant Coaches: Erin Virtue, Tama Miyashiro, Marv Dunphy
Performance Analyst: Brian Hurler
Physical Therapist/Athletic Trainer: Kara Kessans
Consultant Coach: Sue Enquist
Team Manager: Coley Pawlikowski
Strength & Conditioning Coach: Brandon Siakel
Sports Dietitian: Shawn Hueglin
Massage Specialist: Tony Poland
Team Doctors: Warren Young and Steven Stovitz