Saturday, 21 Dec 2024

U.S. WJNT falls in NORCECA U20 final

After a successful run in the semifinals against Cuba, the U.S. Women’s Junior National Team faced a tough defeat in the gold medal match against the Dominican Republic at the NORCECA U20 Continental Championship. The Dominican Republic emerged as the tournament champions, winning with a score of 25-22, 25-14, 23-25, 25-17. Despite the loss, it was a remarkable journey for the U.S. team, which had previously dominated both its NORCECA pool and the U20 division at the 2016 High Performance Championships.

Head Coach Laurie Corbelli expressed pride in the team’s accomplishments over the past three weeks, emphasizing their youth and exceptional performance. Although they did not secure the victory, Corbelli remains confident in the team’s potential to qualify for the World Championships.

The Dominican Republic’s powerful serving and relentless testing of the U.S. block proved to be noteworthy factors in their victory. The U.S. team recorded only five total blocks, compared to their dominant performance at the net in previous matches. Corbelli acknowledged the opponent’s excellent game plan and ability to execute, stating that they deserved the win.

Despite struggling in Set 2, the U.S. team made a strong comeback in Set 3, showcasing their aggressive style of play that had been their trademark throughout the tournament. Lexi Sun led the team with 14 points and was named the NORCECA U20 “Best Spiker” during the awards ceremony. Brionne Butler, who had three blocks during the match, was recognized as the tournament’s “Best Blocker.”

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With their victory, the Dominican Republic automatically qualifies for the 2017 FIVB U20 World Championships. However, the U.S. will have additional opportunities to secure qualification, either through the 2017 Pan Am Cup or international rankings.

FAQs

Q: Did the U.S. Women’s Junior National Team win the NORCECA U20 Continental Championship?
A: No, the team faltered in the gold medal match against the Dominican Republic and finished as the runner-up.

Q: Which player performed exceptionally well during the tournament?
A: Lexi Sun stood out as the team’s top scorer and was named the NORCECA U20 “Best Spiker” during the awards ceremony.

Q: How did the Dominican Republic secure their victory?
A: The Dominican Republic utilized powerful serving and consistently tested the U.S. team’s block, resulting in their win.

Summary

The U.S. Women’s Junior National Team faced a disappointing loss against the Dominican Republic in the NORCECA U20 Continental Championship gold medal match. Despite their remarkable performance throughout the tournament, they were unable to secure the victory. Head Coach Laurie Corbelli expressed pride in the team’s accomplishments and remains confident in their potential to qualify for the World Championships. The Dominican Republic’s powerful serving and ability to test the U.S. block proved to be the deciding factors in their win. Lexi Sun emerged as the team’s top scorer and was honored as the NORCECA U20 “Best Spiker.”