UW grads lead USA to Pan Am win

Courtney Thompson and Alix Klineman

Washington volleyball alums Courtney Thompson and Tama Miyashiro each played starring roles in a USA victory against host Mexico in the Pan Am games preliminary rounds.

Excerpts from the report by USA Volleyball:

Thompson set Team USA to a 43.1 kill percent and .266 hitting efficiency (47-18-109). Mexico was limited to a 25.4 kill percent and .085 hitting efficiency (30-20-118). Tama Miyashiro (Kaneohe, Hawaii) provided the Americans with a team-high nine digs, while Klineman had a team-high four excellent receptions.

Team USA out-blocked Mexico 13-6 and held a 47-30 advantage in kills. Mexico managed a slim 19-18 margin in digs and totaled 29 excellent receptions on 71 attempts compared to the Americans’ 10 excellent receptions on 55 attempts.

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“We knew tonight’s crowd would be way more intense than the past two days,” Klineman said of the near-capacity crowd. “Our coaches told us to embrace it and use it.”

Thompson added that the environment was special to compete in against the host team.

“Any time you get to play a game like this, it’s special,” Thompson said. “These games may happen once in a tournament. It was an honor to play Mexico here.”