COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Sept. 26, 2022) – The U.S. Women’s Team improved to 2-0 in pool play at the FIVB World Championships with a sweep (25-19, 26-24, 25-15) of Canada on Monday in Ahren, Netherlands.
The U.S. Women will have two days off while they travel to Poland to finish pool play. They will play Bulgaria at 10 a.m. PT on Thursday.
The U.S. Women led Canada in kills (43-39), blocks (8-3) and aces (7-2). The U.S. scored 18 points on U.S. errors and committed 14.
The U.S. had a bit of a scare in the second set when Canada took set point at 24-23. Outside hitter Kelsey (Robinson) Cook tied the score with a kill. She then served for the final two points and got a key dig as outside hitter Ali Frantti gave the U.S. the win with two successful attacks.
“I think we played with a lot of poise tonight,” Cook said. “Even when Canada pushed us, we stayed steady and patient and scored points when we had the chance. I’m really proud of our team and it’s one step in the right direction.”
Frantti led the U.S. scoring with 15 points on 14 kills (.520) and one block.
“You have to focus in those moments,” Frantti said of the finish in the second set. “I like those moments actually, the pressure. It’s a battle each point.”
Starting setter Jordyn Poulter, who got some help from Lauren Carlini in the third set, helped the team to a .411 hitting efficiency.
Opposite Annie Drews finished the match with 14 points on 11 kills (.500), one block and two aces.
Middle blocker Chiaka Ogbogu scored 10 points on six kills (.455) and a match-high four blocks. Cook finished with eight points on eight kills and led the team in digs with seven.
Poulter scored six points on a match-high three aces along with one kill and two blocks. Middle Haleigh Washington finished with three points on two kills and one ace.
Outside hitter and serving substitute Sarah Wilhite Parsons scored a point with an ace and backup opposite Danielle Cuttino had a kill.
Libero Justine Wong-Orantes was credited with six excellent receptions and four digs. Frantti led in receptions with six and had four digs.
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
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
Sept. 29 at 10 a.m. USA vs Bulgaria
Sept. 30 at 10 a.m. USA vs Germany
Oct. 1 at 10 a.m. USA vs Serbia
Pool Play Round Two
Oct. 2-9
Quarterfinals
Oct. 11
Semifinals
Oct. 12-13
Finals
Oct. 15