COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Nov. 6, 2022) – The U.S. Women’s Sitting Team started slow against Canada on Sunday, but found a way to beat its northern neighbor, 3-2 (22-25, 25-22, 21-25, 25-12, 15-7) at the World ParaVolley World Championship in Sarajevo.
The U.S. Women (2-0) will finish pool play at 4:30 a.m. CT on Monday against Slovenia (1-1).
The U.S. and Canada played the first match of the day, and it took some time for the American side to get up to speed.
“Canada came out swinging and really pushed us to find a way to be successful,” middle blocker Lora Webster said. “We’ve been working with different lineups and once we found our comfort zone with one today, we were able to settle in.”
Canada led the match in kills (55-43). The U.S. hitting efficiency was .264 while Canada hit .255.
The U.S. led in blocks (20-13) and aces (9-6). The U.S. scored 36 points on Canada errors while giving up 17 points on errors.
Outside hitter Heather Erickson led all scorers with 25 points on 18 kills, three blocks and a match-high four aces.
Webster scored 14 points on a match-high eight blocks, five kills and one ace.
Outside hitter Whitney Dosty, who played as a substitute in the first three sets before starting the final two scored 13 points on nine kills, one block and three aces.
“This match truly showed the depth of our team,” Webster said. “We could mix it up and still pull out a beautiful, albeit slightly stressful, win.”
Outside hitter Monique Matthews scored eight points on five kills and three blocks. Middle blocker Tia Edwards played as a substitute in the first set and started the final four. She scored five points on three blocks and two kills.
Kaleo Kanahele Maclay, playing setter/opposite, started the first three sets and scored five points on three kills and two blocks.
Setter Lexi Shifflett scored one point with an ace and middle Nicky Nieves started the first set and scored one point with a kill.
Matches are being live streamed on the World ParaVolley YouTube Channel.
U.S. Women’s Sitting Team Roster for the World Championship
No. Name (Position, Ht., Hometown, Region)
1 Lora Webster (MB, 5-11, Point Lookout, N.Y., Garden Empire)
2 Bethany Zummo (L, 5-3, Dublin, Calif., Northern California)
3 Lexi Shifflett-Patterson (S, 5-4, Waseca, Minn., North Country)
4 Maddy Ball (OH, 5-7, Delray Beach, Fla., Florida)
6 Heather Erickson (Opp, 6-0, Fayetteville, N.C., Carolina)
7C Monique Matthews (MB/OH, 6-0, Ardmore, Okla., Oklahoma)
8 Whitney Dosty (OH/OPP, 6-3, Tucson, Ariz., Arizona)
9 Tia Edwards (OH/MB, 5-7, Skiatook, Okla., Oklahoma)
10 Sydney Satchell (L, 5-2, Windsor, Conn., New England)
12 Emma Schieck (OH, 5-7, Statesville, N.C., Carolina)
13 Gia Cruz (S, 5-5, San Antonio, Texas, Lone Star)
14 Kaleo Kanahele Maclay (S, 5-6, Honolulu, Hawaii, Oklahoma)
16 Nicky Nieves (MB/OH, 5-10, Kissimmee, Fla., Florida)
18 Courtney Baker (OH, 5-9, Crofton, Ky., Pioneer)
Head Coach: Bill Hamiter
Assistant Coach: Michelle Goodall
Assistant Coach: Jeffery Hicks
Athletic Trainer: Kat King
Team Manager: Patrick Lawrence
Sport Psychologist: Adam O’Neil
U.S. Women’s Sitting Team Schedule for the World Championship
(Subject to change; All times CT)
Nov. 4: USA def Iran 3-1 (25-13, 25-12, 20-25, 25-16)
Nov. 6: USA def Canada 3-2 (22-25, 25-22, 21-25, 25-12, 15-7)
Nov. 7 at 4:30 a.m. USA vs Slovenia
Nov. 8-9 Playoffs, classification matches and quarterfinals
Nov. 10 Semifinals and classification matches
Nov. 11 Playoffs and Medal matches