Just two World Grand
Prix matches remain; Miyashiro proves worth in tough victory against Turkey
Team USA was struggling.
It was the fourth set; the score was tied 3-3. After handily
dispatching Turkey in the first set, the Americans barely hung on in set two,
and lost set three.
Although the US was undefeated (11-0) in 2012 World Grand Prix competition, its
passing had been suspect the past two weeks, when nine athletes were competing
for the final four slots on the 12-member London Olympic roster. Turkey had
been on an impressive World Grand Prix run, entering the match with a 9-2
record and a reputation for tough serving.
Viewers watching Internet feeds at 2:00am (Seattle time) got
a surprise. The second official, Pedro Fabian of Argentina, was seen removing a
blank blue jersey from a plastic sack. Without a translated explanation (the
broadcast feed we saw was in Polish), former Washington All-American Tama
Miyashiro pulled the jersey over her uniform and took the court, replacing
starting libero Nicole Davis (USC).
It was the first time in a month of competition that an
American other than Davis had worn the libero jersey.
 |
| Tama Miyashiro (left, in blue jersey) and Courtney Thompson (right of Miyashiro) join USA teammates and head coach Hugh McCutcheon in a huddle during the World Grand Prix Final Round match against Turkey |
Bill Kauffman,
Senior Manager of Communication for USA
Volleyball in Colorado Springs, tells Volleyblog
Seattle that privacy laws and USA Volleyball policy prohibit comment on
injuries or health status unless permission has been granted. But Rule 19.4 of
the FIVB rulebook seems to indicate that last night’s Miyashiro-for-Davis
switch was possible only if Davis was injured or ill.
Miyashiro played well the rest of the way, helping Team USA
to a 3-1 victory. Her spot duty may help head coach Hugh McCutcheon as he fills out the 12 roster spots for the Olympic
team. The roster is due on Monday, and is expected to be announced Tuesday or
Wednesday. [see Volleyblog Seattle’s roster handicap, below]
Former Husky setter Courtney
Thompson is also among those in the running. Although Alisha Glass (Penn State) played most of the Turkey match, Thompson
was once again strong during double switches. At worst, she is Glass’s equal in
setting and—surprisingly—in blocking, despite Glass’s height advantage. Glass
has stepped up her serving, while Thompson has plateaued of late. Thompson,
however, maintains a clear advantage in both defense and in intangibles—she is
a confident leader where Glass still often seems detached.
Tonight, Team USA faces struggling Cuba. Will Thompson get
the start? Will Miyashiro replace Davis if Davis was, in fact, injured? The
match starts at 12:30am (Pacific time), and can usually be found on the website
www.sportlemon.tv
(ignore the “download” buttons and wait about a minute for the initial
commercials to play.)
The final 2012 World Grand Prix match pits host China
against the USA; it starts Sunday morning at 4:30am.
Volleyblog Seattle
handicaps the Olympic roster:
Eight players have likely already earned roster spots:
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||||
1.
|
Setter 1
|
Lindsey Berg
|
Minnesota
|
|
2.
|
Outside Hitter 1
|
Logan Tom
|
Stanford
|
|
3.
|
Outside Hitter 2
|
Jordan Larson
|
Nebraska
|
|
4.
|
Outside Hitter 3
|
Megan Hodge
|
Penn State
|
|
5.
|
Opposite Hitter 1
|
Destinee Hooker
|
Texas
|
|
6.
|
Middle Blocker 1
|
Foluke Akinradewo
|
Stanford
|
|
7.
|
Middle Blocker 2
|
Christa Harmotto
|
Penn State
|
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8.
|
Libero
|
Nicole Davis
|
Southern California
|
|
The team will certainly carry one of these two as a second
setter; at this point, McCutcheon has to decide which player can provide the
spark if Berg falters or is injured. Frankly, Thompson has shown she has what
it takes:
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9.
|
Setter 2
|
-OR-
|
Courtney Thompson
|
Washington
|
Alisha Glass
|
Penn State
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The team will likely carry one of these two as a second
opposite hitter; Haneef-Park may have a slight edge:
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10.
|
Opposite Hitter 2
|
-OR-
|
Tayyiba Haneef-Park
|
Long Beach State
|
Nancy Metcalf
|
Nebraska
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The team will probably carry one of these two as a third
middle blocker; both players are deserving, a difficult toss-up for
McCutcheon:
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11.
|
Middle Blocker 3
|
-OR-
|
Danielle Scott-Arruda
|
Long Beach State
|
Heather Bown
|
Hawai’i
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Here’s where it gets tricky. Does the team carry a second
defender (Miyashiro) or a fourth hitter (Richards or Barboza)? Miyashiro’s
performance after Davis’s injury could be the tipping point in her favor. A
longshot possibility: no third middle blocker and two of these three players:
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12.
|
Defensive Spec.
|
-OR-
|
Tama Miyashiro
|
Washington
|
Outside Hitter 4
|
Kristin Richards
|
Stanford
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Outside Hitter 4
|
Cynthia Barboza
|
Stanford
|
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2012 World Grand Prix
Final Round Standings
(Team USA has already
defeated Brazil, Thailand and Turkey; it plays Cuba tonight and China Sunday
morning)
1.
|
USA
|
3
|
0
|
2.
|
Brazil
|
2
|
1
|
3.
|
Turkey
|
2
|
1
|
4.
|
China
|
1
|
2
|
5.
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Thailand
|
1
|
2
|
6.
|
Cuba
|
0
|
3
|
·
Ties among
teams with similar W-L records are broken by sets and points won
·
The six
finalists had the best record of 16 teams who competed in three round-robin
tournaments in venues around the world.
·
Team USA
has not yet lost a match in the 2012 WGP, and is seeking its third consecutive
title.
