2012 London Olympic Quarterfinals
USA (5-0) vs. Dominican Republic (2-3)
Tuesday, August 6, 2012, 11:00am (Pacific Time)
Pool Play
USA:
5-0 in Pool B [beat South Korea (3-1), Brazil (3-1), China (3-1), Serbia
(3-0), Turkey (3-0)]
Dominican Republic: 2-3 in Pool A [lost to Italy (1-3), Russia (1-3),
Japan (0-3); beat Great Britain (3-0), Algeria (3-0)
World
Ranking (as of July 4)
USA: #1
Dominican Republic: #11
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Foluke Akinradewo attacks against South Korea
-Getty |
Keys:
USA’s setters
Starting setter Lindsey Berg left Sunday’s Turkey match
with an apparent right ankle injury. After the match, head coach Hugh McCutcheon said she had not torn
anything, and Berg said she hoped to play against Dominican Republic. Sources
tell us Berg had an MRI on Monday—standard practice, we assume—but no word on results.
Berg, who says her knees hurt “all the time,” announced a couple weeks ago that
she will retire after these Olympics.
Berg has forged a strong
setter/hitter connection with Destinee
Hooker, USA’s most consistent and devastating weapon. Berg’s distribution
to her outside hitters has remained fairly constant, but she seems less
confident setting her middles. Her serving is adequate, and her defense
(perhaps because of her knees) can be uninspired. But because she gets the ball
to Hooker—right side, left side and back row—the team wins.
When backup setter Courtney Thompson enters matches,
Hooker comes out, so Thompson usually works without USA’s best player. Thompson
does a great job setting her middles, though, and tends to disguise her sets
until the very last moment, often leaving opposing blockers flat-footer. Her
serving, usually a plus, has been so-so during the Olympics. But her defense is
outstanding, and anytime she plays an entire set, her leadership shines. Both
Berg and Thompson are 5-8, so their blocking is a wash. Frankly, if Berg can’t
go, the USA will be a slightly different team, but just as good a team.
Dominican Republic’s defense
Libero Brenda Castillo is one of the world’s best defenders, and
leads all Olympic setters in digging and serve receiving. USA must have the
confidence and patience to serve short or to the deep corners … anywhere except
right at Castillo. Great teams also find ways to attack line and set quicks;
both strategies usually take liberos out of the play.
Consistent hitting
Dominican Republic has three big
experienced hitters (see below,) but each has struggled at times during these
Olympics. The middles see very few sets, so USA’s usually overpowering block
advantage can make the difference. For USA, Hooker has been great throughout; Logan Tom and Foluke Akinradewo get better each match. McCutcheon will likely
keep Jordan Larson in the match as
long as she is producing, but he’s been willing to insert Megan Hodge if Larson falters.
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vs. Italy
(L 1-3)
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vs. Russia
(L 1-3)
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vs. Japan
(L 0-3)
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vs. Britain
(W 3-0)
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vs. Algeria
(W 3-0)
|
total
Pool A
|
|
Bethania de la Cruz de Pena (6-2 OH)
|
13/7/45
(.133)
|
21/6/54
(.277)
|
15/7/44
(.182)
|
9/1/12
(.667)
|
0/0/1
(.000)
|
58/21/156
(.237)
|
|
Milagros Cabral de la Cruz (5-11 OH)
|
17/7/37
(.270)
|
16/7/39
(.230)
|
4/3/15
(.077)
|
7/5/19
(.105)
|
11/2/22
(.409)
|
55/24/132
(.235)
|
|
Prisilla Rivera Brens
(6-1 OPP)
|
2/0/5
(.400)
|
4/4/18
(.000)
|
14/5/34
(.265)
|
10/1/20
(.450)
|
17/0/25
(.680)
|
47/10/102
(.363)
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Prediction
This looks like a 3-0 USA sweep.
I’ll also guess Italy 3-2 over
South Korea and China 3-1 over Japan
In the biggest match of the
quarterfinals, I think Russia will prevail over defending gold medalist Brazil.
It should be 3-1, but a five-set thriller wouldn’t surprise me.
