COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Nov. 15, 2011) - The U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team, assisted by UC Irvine head coach, Paula Weishoff, held off China to take a 25-21, 31-29, 18-25, 19-25, 15-10 victory on Wednesday morning in Tokyo during the FIVB World Cup final round being held at Yoyogi National Stadium.
The U.S., which entered the match in second place, improves to 8-1 with 23 points in the FIVB World Cup standings. The FIVB World Cup uses a round-robin format resulting in 11 matches over a 15-day period. The three teams reaching the World Cup medal podium on Nov. 18 will earn berths into the 2012 Olympic Games. For the full FIVB World Cup schedule and tournament details, visit the U.S. Women's tournament event page at www.usavolleyball.org/events/8883.
The U.S. returns to action against tournament-leader Italy on Nov. 17 at 3 p.m. local time (10 p.m. Pacific Time on Nov. 16) and concludes the tournament versus Japan on Nov. 18 at 6:20 p.m. local time (1:20 a.m. Pacific Time).
After winning the first two sets, the U.S. Women saw China take the third set handily and then come back from a 9-4 deficit to win the fourth. The tie-breaking fifth set was tied 7-7 when the U.S. went on a 4-0 run, including two blocks and a tip by Opposite Destinee Hooker (San Antonio, Texas) and a block from outside hitter Jordan Larson (Hooper, Neb.) to lead 11-7. China could not respond.
"I'm extremely proud of our team today," U.S. Head Coach Hugh McCutcheon (Christchurch, New Zealand) said. "China is playing good volleyball. Their style is different than most teams here. We started well and showed poise in the second set coming from behind and again in the fifth set.
"Can we play better? Yes. It's easy to play at your best, but it's finding a way to win when not at our best that matters."
Hooker led all scorers with 37 points on a match-high 34 attacks, two blocks and one ace. Middle blocker Heather Bown (Yorba Linda, Calif.) added 16 points on 11 kills, three blocks and a team-high two aces. Middle blocker Foluke Akinradewo (Plantation, Fla.) totaled 15 points on 13 kills, one block and one ace.
U.S. libero Nicole Davis (Stockton, Calif.) was named the match's most valuable player. She was credited with 12 receptions and nine digs.
To view complete release, visit usavolleyball.org/news/article/45473.
