Monday, 15 Jul 2024

Both Sitting Teams Win Exhibition Series Finales

Both the U.S. Women’s and Men’s Sitting Teams had a successful end to their five-match exhibition series against Russia and Canada, respectively. The matches took place alongside the USA Volleyball Open National Championships in Columbus, Ohio.

The U.S. Women’s Sitting Team, currently ranked number one in the world, triumphed over defending World ParaVolley champions Russia in a thrilling final match. The American team displayed their dominance by winning the game 25-18, 20-25, 26-24, 16-25, 15-10. This victory solidified their undefeated record against Russia in this weekend’s exhibition matches, bringing their overall record to an impressive 12-0 for the year. Since the beginning of 2018, they have only suffered one loss, which occurred in the World Championship finale against Russia.

Key player Lora Webster from Point Lookout, New York, showcased her skills with 12 kills on 30 attacks, three aces, and three blocks, earning a total of 18 points. Katie Holloway from Lake Stevens, Washington, also contributed significantly with 11 kills on 23 attacks and an ace, accumulating 12 points. Heather Erickson from Fayetteville, North Carolina, and Monique Burkland from Ardmore, Oklahoma, made valuable contributions, each scoring nine and eight points respectively, despite only playing two sets. Team USA demonstrated their depth as 11 players scored at least two points in the victory.

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Jillian Williams from Odem, Texas, played a crucial role in handling serves, with 18 successful receptions and an impressive 56% positive reception rate, along with four points to her name. Libero Sydney Satchell from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, also played a significant role, recording 16 receptions with a 38% positive rate. Burkland demonstrated her defensive prowess, achieving a 71% positive rate on 14 chances.

Despite Russia’s advantage in blocks (16-14) and aces (10-9), the U.S. Women’s Sitting Team emerged victorious. Team USA converted 37% of their attacks into points with a .245 hitting efficiency, while Russia struggled with a 29% kill rate and a .130 hitting efficiency.

In the Men’s Sitting Team series finale, the U.S. swept Canada in dominating fashion with a 25-11, 25-15, and 25-21 victory. Although Canada managed to win a bonus fourth set 25-18, the Americans concluded the series with an impressive 4-1 record.

Notably, all 12 players from the U.S. Men’s Sitting Team contributed at least one point to the match. J Dee Marinko from Norman, Oklahoma, led the team with eight points, including five kills and three aces. Zach Upp from Bartlett, Illinois, showcased his skills with four kills on seven attacks, two blocks, and an ace, totaling seven points in the first two sets. Dan Regan from Edmond, Oklahoma, and Stephen Bracken also made valuable contributions, each scoring six points in their two sets.

Josh Smith played a crucial role in the American reception, recording 14 chances and an impressive 43% positive rate. James Stuck from New Kensington, Pennsylvania, achieved an 83% positive reception rate on six receptions, while libero John Kremer from Buford, Georgia, maintained a 71% positive reception rate on seven chances.

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The U.S. Men’s Sitting Team outperformed Canada both in blocks, with a 12-5 advantage, and aces, with an 8-1 margin. Team USA converted 34% of their attacks into points with a .172 hitting efficiency. Their strong defense limited Canada to a 35% kill rate and a .073 hitting efficiency.

FAQs

Q: How did the U.S. Women’s Sitting Team perform in their exhibition series against Russia?

A: The U.S. Women’s Sitting Team had a remarkable exhibition series against Russia, winning all five matches. Their final match was a closely contested battle, with the Americans emerging victorious in five sets. With this win, the U.S. Women’s Sitting Team maintained their unbeaten record against Russia and improved to a remarkable 12-0 for the year.

Q: What were the standout performances from the U.S. Women’s Sitting Team?

A: Lora Webster, Katie Holloway, Heather Erickson, and Monique Burkland all had standout performances in the final match against Russia. Webster led the team with 12 kills, three aces, and three blocks, earning a total of 18 points. Holloway made significant contributions with 11 kills and an ace, accumulating 12 points. Erickson and Burkland, despite playing only two sets, scored nine and eight points respectively. The team showcased their depth as 11 players scored at least two points in the victory.

Summary

The U.S. Women’s and Men’s Sitting Teams concluded their exhibition series with impressive victories. The Women’s Team, ranked number one in the world, secured a hard-fought win against defending champions Russia, maintaining their undefeated record for the series. The Men’s Team dominated their series against Canada, finishing with a 4-1 record. These wins highlight the skill and determination of both teams and solidify their positions as powerhouses in sitting volleyball. The players’ standout performances and the overall teamwork demonstrated the depth and talent within the U.S. Sitting Teams. With their continued success, these teams are poised for future achievements in the sport. For more information and updates, visit the Alpinetgheep website.

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