U.S. Women Still Undefeated after Two VNL Rounds

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 2, 2021) – Two groups down, three to go. The U.S. Women’s National Team remained undefeated at the end of their second group at the FIVB Volleyball Nations League on Wednesday, beating Thailand, 3-0 (25-17, 25-14, 25-16) in Rimini.

The U.S. Women (6-0) get three days off before playing Germany (2-4) at noon PT on June 6. The U.S. Women and Turkey (5-0) are the only women’s VNL teams still undefeated (Turkey will play China later today) in the Preliminary Round.

Outside hitter Michelle Bartsch-Hackley led all scorers with 18 points on 11 kills (.500), a match-high four aces and three blocks. Opposite Jordan Thompson added 17 points on a match-high 14 kills (.480) and three blocks.

OFFICIAL STATISTICS * TEAM STATISTICS

The U.S. Women led Thailand in kills (47-26), blocks (11-2) and aces (7-0). The U.S. scored 20 points on Thailand’s errors while giving up only 10 points on errors.

Although the match statistics were one-sided, it was an entertaining game with some long rallies, including one that lasted almost a minute.

“When we play Thailand, we’re always expecting a battle and really long rallies both ways,” Bartsch-Hackley said. “I think we did a good job controlling those and turning them into our points.”

Among other U.S. scorers, outside hitter Kim Hill totaled 11 points on nine kill and two blocks. Middle blocker Haleigh Washington scored eight points on six kills, one block and one ace. Middle Hannah Tapp added seven points on six kills and one ace.

Setter Micha Hancock scored four points on two blocks, one kill and one ace. She set the U.S. Women to a .446 hitting efficiency while Thailand hit .240. Libero Megan Courtney was credited with nine successful receptions and five digs. Hill also had five digs.

U.S. Head Coach Karch Kiraly started Bartsch-Hackley and Hill at outside hitter, Washington and Tapp at middle blocker, Thompson at opposite, Hancock at seter and Courney at libero. He did not substitute any players.

U.S. Women’s National Team 14-Person Roster for June 2

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

1 Micha Hancock (S, 5-11, Edmond, Okla., Penn State Univ.)
4 Justine Wong-Orantes (L, 5-6, Cypress, Calif., Univ. of Nebraska)
6 Tori Dixon (M, 6-3, Burnsville, Minn., Univ. of Minnesota)
7 Lauren Carlini (S, 6-2, Aurora, Ill., Univ. of Wisconsin)
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)
14 Michelle Bartsch-Hackley (OH, 6-3, Champaign, Ill., Univ. of Illinois)
15 Kim Hill (OH, 6-4, Portland, Ore., Pepperdine, Univ.)
17 Megan Courtney (L, 6-1, Dayton, Ohio, Penn State 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 at noon: German vs USA
June 7 at 7 a.m.: Korea vs USA
June 8 at noon: Italy vs USA

June 12 at 6 a.m.: USA vs Belgium
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