U.S. Women Fend off Challenge from Türkiye

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Aug. 7, 2022) – The U.S. Women’s National Team held off a challenge from Türkiye to win their FIVB World Championship match 3-1 (25-22, 21-25, 25-20, 25-22) on Friday in Łódź, Poland.

The U.S. Women improved to 6-2 in Pool F and are in second place behind Serbia (8-0), the only unbeaten team left in the tournament. The top four teams in each pool advance to the quarterfinals.

The U.S. Women finish the second round of pool play against Thailand (4-4) at 6 a.m. PT on Sunday.

OFFICIAL STATISTICS 

The U.S. Women and Türkiye know each other well, having played four previous matches this year. The U.S. Women won their VNL contest and took all three USAV Cup friendly matches in August.

“The matches in Southern California were great preparation,” U.S. libero Justine Wong-Orantes said. “Both teams know each other so well so I was super happy with what our team showed tonight across the board.”

The match was a battle from the start, with the U.S. Women fighting back from a 10-14 deficit in the first set and dropping the second before coming back in the third and fourth.

Türkiye led in kills (55-49) while the U.S. Women led in blocks (15-10) and aces (9-5). Team USA scored 23 points on Türkiye errors while giving up 19.

Middle blocker Chiaka Ogbogu led the U.S. scoring with 15 points on seven kills (.500 hitting efficiency), a match-high six blocks and two aces.

“I’m really proud of this team,” Ogbogu said. “After our last loss (to Poland), we really wanted to focus on block and defense. One thing about this team, we are going to respond, always.”

Setter Jordyn Poulter scored five points on a match-high four aces and one block.

Outside hitter Kelsey (Robinson) Cook stayed aggressive throughout the match and finished with 14 points on 13 kills (.400) and one block. Opposite Annie Drews finished with 13 points on 10 kills, two blocks and one ace.

Outside hitter Ali Frantti added 12 points on 10 kills, one block and one ace. Middle Haleigh Washington finished with eight points on four kills, three blocks and one ace.

Backup opposite Danielle Cuttino scored six points on five kills and one block.

Setter Lauren Carlini and outside hitter Sarah Wilhite Parsons played as substitutes.

Wong-Orantes and libero Morgan Hentz took turns in the position, with Wong-Orantes in serve receive and Hentz on defense.

Matches are being livestreamed on VolleyballWorld.tv.

The U.S. Women 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

U.S. Schedule for the World Championships
All times PT

Pool Play Round One
Arnhem, Netherlands
USA def Kazakhstan, 3-0 (25-16, 25-13, 25-22)
USA def Canada, 3-0 (25-19, 26-24, 25-15)

Łódź, Poland
USA def Bulgaria, 3-1 (25-14, 23-25, 25-11, 25-15)
USA def Germany, 3-0 (25-17, 25-13, 26-24)
Serbia def USA, 3-0 (25-20, 25-23, 25-13)

Pool Play Round Two
Łódź, Poland
USA def Dominican Republic, 3-1 (21-25, 25-19, 25-20, 25-14)
Poland def USA, 3-0 (25-23, 25-20, 25-18)
USA def Türkiye, 3-1 (25-22, 21-25, 25-20, 25-22)
Oct. 8 at 6 a.m. USA vs Thailand

Quarterfinals
Oct. 11

Semifinals
Oct. 12-13

Finals
Oct. 15