Miyashiro and
Thompson excel in Omaha; Vansant has another big night in Toronto
- USA def. Italy 3-1 (25-17, 25-14, 15-25, 25-18) [World Grand Prix Final Round]
- USA def. Dominican Republic 3-1 (25-17, 22-25, 25-18, 25-22) [Pan Am Games semifinals]
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| USA libero Tama Miyashiro digs one of 15 balls in a 3-1 World Grand Prix victory over Italy -FIVB |
Former Washington
All-Americans continued to excel as US
National Team split squads once again picked up victories in the
round-robin final round of the World
Grand Prix and in the semifinals of the Pan Am Games.
In Omaha, Tama Miyashiro had 15 digs and was in an
excellent serve receive groove as USA’s defense outlasted a scrappy Italian team 3-1 (25-17, 25-14, 15-25,
25-18). Christa Dietzen led the US with
13 kills. Courtney Thompson made
long runs in each set of the setter/opposite double-sub, at one point
connecting with Karsta Lowe for 4 straight
kills.
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| Team USA, including Courtney Thompson (3) and Tama Miyashiro (5) celebrate a point against Italy. -FIVB |
Over five days of competition, each of the six World Grand
Prix finalists play each other once. On Friday night, USA squares off against Russia, the only other undefeated (2-0)
team in final round robin. Earlier Thursday, Russia handed Brazil its first loss of the 2015 World Grand Prix, a 3-0 pasting
led by Nataliya Goncharova’s 16
kills and 8 blocks. Also Thursday, China
beat Japan 3-0.
In Toronto, USA
defeated Dominican Republic 3-1
(25-17, 22-25, 25-18, 25-22) in the Pan Am Games semifinals. The Americans were
led by Nicole Fawcett (14 kills,) Krista Vansant (13 kills) and Rachael Adams (6 blocks.) On Friday,
USA goes for the gold medal against Brazil,
a 3-2 winner over Puerto Rico.
