Women's Sitting Team Passes Test from Iran

U.S. Women's Sitting Team Playing at the World Championship

COLORADO SPRING, Colo. (Nov. 4, 2022) – The U.S. Women’s Sitting Team began its journey at the 2022 World ParaVolley World Championship with a 3-1 (25-13, 25-12, 20-25, 25-16) win over Iran on Friday in Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina.

The U.S. Women will continue pool play against Canada at 2 a.m. CT on Sunday.

The U.S. Women led Iran in kills (43-29) and blocks (14-9) while Iran led in aces (6-5). Iran tested the U.S. Women in the third set, but the U.S. came back in the fourth to win the match.

“Due to COVID, we haven’t seen Iran since 2018,” U.S. Head Coach Bill Hamiter said. “We knew that they could serve well and had a couple of good hitters. They played scrappy, played good defense and passed reasonably well.”

Team Captain Monique Matthews led all scorers with 17 points on a match-high 13 kills and a match-high four blocks. Heather Erickson was right behind her with 15 points on 12 kills and three blocks.

“We used three different lineups since we haven’t been able to play consistent personnel this year due to injuries, pregnancy, etc.,” Hamiter said. “It was good to test those lineups. We served and passed well in sets one, two and four.”

Kaleo Kanahele Maclay and Nicky Nieves each scored seven points on five kills, one block and one ace.

Lora Webster scored five points on two kills, two blocks and an ace. Whitney Dosty played as a substitute and scored five points on four kills and one block.

Tia Edwards played as a substitute and scored four points on two kills and two blocks. Lexi Shifflett scored two points in a team-high two aces while also starting at setter.

Bethany Zummo started at libero and played sets one and three and had 11 receptions, 27 percent positive. Sydney Satchel played libero in sets two and four and had five receptions, 80 percent positive.

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 at 2 a.m. USA vs Canada
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