U.S. Women to Play for Bronze at World Championship

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Oct. 12, 2022) – The U.S. Women’s National Team will play for the bronze medal at the FIVB World Championship after falling to defending world champion Serbia 3-1 (25-21, 25-20, 17-25, 25-23) in the semifinals on Wednesday in Gliwice, Poland.

In the bronze medal match, the U.S. Women will play the loser of Thursday’s semifinal match between Brazil and Italy. The bronze medal match will be Saturday at 7 a.m. PT in Apeldoorn, Netherlands.

OFFICIAL STATISTICS

Against Serbia, the U.S. Women led in blocks (7-6) and aces (8-4). But they trailed in kills (62-53) and struggled to slow down Serbia’s opposite Tijana Boškovic, who finished with 33 points on 32 kills and one block.

It did look like the U.S. Women might take the match to a fifth set. Outside hitter Kelsey (Robinson) Cook, who was part of the U.S. team that won the 2014 World title, led the comeback in the third set, scoring nine points on eight kills and one block.

The U.S. led 15-13 in the fourth set, but Serbia tied it at 15s. The teams traded points, but at 19-19, Serbia went on a four-point run and the U.S. never recovered.

Cook led the U.S. scoring with 18 points on a team-high 16 kills and two blocks. Opposite Annie Drews added 14 points on 12 kills and two aces.

Middle blocker Chiaka Ogbogu totaled 10 points on six kills, a team-high three blocks and one ace. Outside hitter Ali Frantti, who started the first three sets, finished with 10 points on eight kills and two aces.

Outside hitter Kara Bajema, who took over for Frantti in the third set and started the fourth, scored six points on five kills and one ace. Middle Haleigh Washington totaled five points on four kills and one block.

Setter Jordyn Poulter scored three points on two aces and a kill. Opposite Danielle Cuttino played as a substitute and scored two points on a kill and a block.

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

Liberos Justine Wong-Orantes and Morgan Hentz again split time at the position. Wong-Orantes was credited with three digs and two successful receptions. Hentz had three digs. Drews led the team in digs with six and Poulter had four.

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)
USA def Thailand 3-2 (23-25, 21-25, 25-19, 27-25, 15-13)

Quarterfinals
USA def Türkiye, 3-0 (25-22, 25-15, 25-20)

Semifinals
Serbia def USA, 3-1 (25-21, 25-20, 17-25, 25-23)
Oct. 13 at 11 a.m. Italy vs Brazil

Finals
Oct. 15
Bronze medal at 7 a.m.: USA vs Brazil/Italy loser
Gold medal at 11 a.m.: Serbia vs Brazil/Italy winner