NCAA | Washington vs Penn State played memorable match the last time out

“Courtney Thompson just kicked our butts,” remembers a former Penn State star

• #12 Wisconsin vs. #1 Texas | December 19 | 4:30 PM (Pacific) |Key Arena, Seattle
• #2 Penn State vs. #3 Washington | December 19 | 6:30 PM (Pacific) |Key Arena, Seattle

Former Washington duo excel in World Grand Prix volleyball championship

Courtney Thompson and Tama Miyashiro play key roles in 3-0 win over China; await Olympic decision

[update: Since this blog was first posted, we've learned that the US Olympic team roster is due by the end of the day July 2, not at noon, as previously reported. Also, the names of those selected may not be released until after the 4th of July holiday]

With gold medals around their necks and confetti in their hair, former University of Washington All-Americans Courtney Thompson and Tama Miyashiro had reason to smile.

The USA National Team celebrates winning the 2012 World Grand Prix championships. Washington's Tama Miyashiro is on the far right; Washington's Courtney Thompson is fourth from the left.
-photo courtesy FIVB

Not only had Team USA cleared the final hurdle to winning its third consecutive World Grand Prix volleyball championship by defeating host China in Ningbo, but both players seemed to have earned the confidence of coach Hugh McCutcheon when the match was on the line.

Until this week, Miyashiro had seen limited court time during the month-long tournament. But Friday’s unspecified injury to USC’s Nicole Davis allowed Miyashiro to wear the libero jersey against Turkey, Cuba and China. In all three matches—and especially against the Chinese—Miyashiro was sensational, passing nails and hustling for key digs.

Setter Thompson has been on the roster the final three weeks of the WGP, usually playing one rotation per set. Against China, starter Alisha Glass continued her usual pattern of setting former Penn State teammate Megan Hodge, rarely getting the ball to the opposites or middles, even when the team is in system. As the match wore on, China kept things close, and exploited Hodge’s inconsistent passing. Too often, Glass still went to Hodge, even after difficult serve receives.

The US won the first two sets, but only after surviving China’s 7-2 run at the end of set two. China opened set three with a 5-1 lead, and was ahead 17-14 when Thompson rotated in and immediately served an ace.

Courtney Thompson (22) and
Kristin Richards dig ball
against China
-photo courtesy FIVB

At 18-18, the teams played a long, stirring point. When McCutcheon studies film, he’ll see Thompson and Miyashiro on the corners, each in perfect defensive position: knees bent, heads up, arms down and shoulders squared to the hitter. Time and again, Chinese hitters connected with power; time and again, the two former Huskies were there. At one point, Thompson flew toward the bench to save the rally; at another, Miyashiro dug a bomb right to Thompson. In the end it was Miyashiro to Thompson to Tayyiba Haneef-Park for the kill.

Every other time Thompson rotates to the front row, McCutcheon re-inserts the taller Glass. But this time, he kept Thompson in the game. Mixing her sets and providing fiery leadership, Thompson stayed until the very end, helping fight off two Chinese set points. When it was all over, the USA had a 3-0 sweep and a 13-0 record in the 2012 WGP Tournament.

“We played a great game,” McCutcheon said in the post-match press conference. “Especially in the third set, our players found ways to win.”

“It is wonderful to see players make plays in big moments.”

McCutcheon has until noon the end of the day Monday to submit the 12-member roster for the London Olympics. (USA Volleyball says the announcement may not be made public until Tuesday after the 4th of July). It would be a shocker if Miyashiro doesn’t make the cut: Davis might be vulnerable to injury. And, quite frankly, Miyashiro played better against China than Davis played against any of the other opponents the past month.

Thompson’s position is more tenuous. Minnesota’s Lindsey Berg will undoubtedly get one of the two setter spots, with Thompson or Glass as backup. The two contenders have equal technique and both get similar results on their serves (few errors, intermittent aces.) Although Glass is taller, her occasional blocks produce far fewer points than the rallies saved by Thompson’s superior defense. Either player would enter an Olympic match as a one-rotation-per-set replacement; that’s a role Thompson has performed extremely well the past month. And Thompson has the intangibles—she is an unabashed floor leader, whose enthusiasm and grit make those around her play better.

(L to R) Danielle Scott-Arruda, Heather Bown, Megan Hodge, Courtney Thompson, Kristin Richards and Tayyiba Haneef-Park celebrate the final point of the 2012 WGP victory against China
-photo courtesy FIVB

The final point of the China match ended with a block by Danielle Scott-Arruda, a 40-year-old Olympic veteran with a megawatt smile. Thompson, however, immediately raced into the arms of another veteran, Hawai’i’s Heather Bown. Bown had just made two picture-perfect serves at clutch moments. Thompson, as usual, understood that the keys to success are often in the smallest details.

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NOTES:

• Team USA earned $200,000 for winning the championship, and another $105,000 for winning each of its first three pools. FIVB requires that at least 40% of that money be distributed to the players. A USA Volleyball spokesman declined to reveal how shares will be divided among the Americans.
• Team USA outside hitter Megan Hodge was named the 2012 World Grand Prix most valuable player. She received a check for $15,000.
• McCutcheon must name 12 players to his Olympic roster. It is widely assumed that the following 8 players have already earned spots, though nothing is official:

setter 1: Lindsey Berg (Minnesota)
outside hitter 1: Logan Tom (Stanford)
outside hitter 2: Jordan Larson (Nebraska)
outside hitter 3: Megan Hodge (Penn State)
opposite hitter 1: Destinee Hooker (Texas)
middle blocker 1: Foluke Akinradewo (Stanford)
middle blocker 2: Christa Harmotto (Penn State)
libero: Nicole Davis (USC)

McCutcheon will probably take one more setter, one more middle blocker, one more opposite hitter and either Miyashiro or one more outside hitter. The 9 following players are the likely finalists for the final 4 roster spots: 

setter Courtney Thompson (Washington)
setter Alisha Glass (Penn State)
libero/defensive specialist Tama Miyashiro (Washington)
middle blocker Danielle Scott-Arruda (Long Beach State)
middle blocker Heather Bown (Hawai’i)
opposite hitter Tayyiba Haneef-Park (Long Beach State)
opposite hitter Nancy Metcalf (Nebraska)
outside hitter Kristin Richards (Stanford)
outside hitter Cynthia Barboza (Stanford)

Olympic Volleyball decision looms for two former Washington players

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.

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Volleyblog Seattle handicaps the Olympic roster:

	Eight players have likely already earned roster spots:
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
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:
9.	Setter 2	-OR-	Courtney Thompson	Washington
			Alisha Glass	Penn State
	The team will likely carry one of these two as a second opposite hitter; Haneef-Park may have a slight edge:
10.	Opposite Hitter 2	-OR-	Tayyiba Haneef-Park	Long Beach State
			Nancy Metcalf	Nebraska
	The team will probably carry one of these two as a third middle blocker; both players are deserving, a difficult toss-up for McCutcheon:
11.	Middle Blocker 3	-OR-	Danielle Scott-Arruda	Long Beach State
			Heather Bown	Hawai’i
	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:
12.	Defensive Spec.	-OR-	Tama Miyashiro	Washington
	Outside Hitter 4		Kristin Richards	Stanford
	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.	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.