National Team | Courtney Thompson adds another volleyball medal to her collection

Updates on former Washington stars Thompson, Miyashiro, Hagglund, Sanders, Barfield, Vansant, Nelson and Perry 

National Team | A double sweep as USA wins two titles, both 3-0 over Brazil

Thompson, Miyashiro part of World Grand Prix championship in Omaha; Vansant, Hagglund win Pan Am Games gold in Toronto

• USA def. Brazil 3-0 (25-16, 25-22, 25-21) [World Grand Prix Finals]
• USA def. Brazil 3-0 (25-22, 25-21, 28-26) [Pan Am Games Gold Medal Match]

USA players celebrate a point in a 3-0 sweep of Brazil to win the 2015 World Grand Prix championship
-FIVB

USA won two titles in two countries Saturday, in both cases earning 3-0 sweeps against rival Brazil.

In Omaha, setters Molly Kreklow and Courtney Thompson spread the offense about as evenly as possible in a 3-0 win over the Brazilians (25-16, 25-22, 25-21). With the win, USA (4-0) clinched the 2015 World Grand Prix championship, even as they have one match remaining, Sunday morning against China (broadcast live at 10AM Pacific on NBC.)

Thompson and Kreklow kept Brazilian defenders off-balance by securing a combined 16 kills from outside hitters Kim Hill (10) and Kelsey Robinson (6), 15 combined kills from middle blockers Foluke Akinradewo (8) and Christa Dietzen (7) and 14 combined kills from opposites Karsta Lowe (9) and Kelly Murphy (5).

USA middle blocker had 7 kills and 7 blocks in a 3-0 sweep of Brazil
-FIVB

“We knew it was important to serve tough,” said US head coach Karch Kiraly, who credited Dietzen and Akinradewo with helping organize the American defense each time Brazil struggled to pass. Dietzen has 7 terminations blocks in the match, while fellow middle Akinradewo had 6 soft blocks.

“Brazil plays a very similar style as we do,” said Dietzen. “As blockers, we see attacks like those in our own gym.”

In Toronto, an American roster without a single Olympic veteran faced a Brazilian team that included several Olympic champions. One of those Brazilian veterans, outside hitter Fe Garay, showed an ability to dominate the match, serving aces and attacking with power from both the front and back row.

Each time Brazil surged ahead, the American scrambled back, thanks to exceptional defense by libero Natalie Hagglund (17 digs) and an offensive explosion by opposite Nicole Fawcett (19 kills). Outside hitter Krista Vansant struggled at times, especially with her passing, but contributed 10 kills. Jenna Hagglund, entering on the double-sub, led several big runs late in each set.

In the third set, Vansant excelled late at the service line, putting USA in a position to turn away three Brazilian set points. In the end, it was another 3-0 sweep for USA (25-22, 25-21, 28-26.), and Pan Am gold around their necks.

National Team | USA wins in both Omaha and Toronto

Vansant leads the way in Pan Am Games quarterfinals; Thompson helps serve to victory in World Grand Prix final round

• USA def. Japan 3-0 (25-12, 25-15, 25-18) [World Grand Prix final round]
• USA def. Cuba 3-1 (25-18, 25-19, 22-25, 25-18) [Pan Am Games Quarterfinals]

USA's Courtney Thompson (3) sets Foluke Akinradewo (16) during a 3-0 World Grand Prix Final Round win over Japan
-FIVB

Two recent college grads—Washington’s Krista Vansant and UCLA’s Karsta Lowe—were each USA’s leading scorer in a pair of international matches in Toronto (Vansant) and Omaha (Lowe.)

Vansant led all scorers with 13 kills on 31 attacks, two blocks and one ace in a Pan Am Games quarterfinal win against Cuba 3-1 (25-18, 25-19, 22-25, 25-18). The Cubans featured a team with several talented teenagers, with one hitter just 15 years old. Washington alum Jenna Hagglund rotated in during all four sets. USA’s Kristin Hildebrand keyed several long service runs for the Americans.

USA outside hitter Krista Vansant (24) celebrates a point with teammates during a 3-1 Pan Am Games quarterfinal win against Cuba
-NORCECA

In Omaha, both Courtney Thompson and fellow setter Molly Kreklow also had good nights at the service line, as USA overwhelmed Japan 3-0 (25-12, 25-15, 25-18). Lowe was dominant on the right side, recording 14 kills and 3 blocks. Like Thompson and Kreklow, outside hitter Kim Hill also had a big night at the service line, earning a pair of aces and launching several effective scoring streaks.

The American offense was well-distributed across front line, with Kelsey Robinson landing 8 kills on 18 attacks, and both Hill and Foluke Akinradewo each contributing 6 kills. Akinradewo added 4 blocks.

Both teams of Americans will be in action at the very same time Thursday. USA faces Dominican Republic in the Pan Am Games semifinal round, while the other half of the split squad meets Italy in the Grand Prix finals round-robin. Both matches start at 6PM (Pacific)

National Team | Former Washington volleyball stars in US National Team spotlight this week

Thompson, Miyashiro, Vansant and Hagglund competing in World Grand Prix and Pan Am Games

USA libero Natalie Hagglund (10) encourages teammates in a 3-2 Pan Am Games loss to Brazil in Toronto

Four former Washington All-Americans—setter Courtney Thompson, libero Tama Miyashiro, outside hitter Krista Vansant and setter Jenna Hagglund—are wearing USA uniforms this week as two international competitions approach medal rounds.

Olympians Thompson and Miyashiro are with the USA squad in Omaha, one of six teams in the final round of the month-long World Grand Prix. They’ll play five matches in the next five days; all will be available for viewing via NBC’s universalsports.com website, with the final two matches possibly available on over-the-air broadcast (we’ll let you know.)

2015 World Grand Prix Finals | Omaha  

Wed, July 22	6:05PM (Pacific)	USA vs. Japan
Thu, July 23	6:05PM (Pacific)	USA vs. Italy
Fri, July 24	6:05PM (Pacific)	USA vs. Russia
Sat, July 25	3:00PM (Pacific)	USA vs. Brazil
Sun, July 26	1:00PM (Pacific)	USA vs. China

  

Vansant and Hagglund are members of the USA team in Toronto, advancing to Wednesday’s quarterfinals of the 2015 Pan Am Games. Last night, USA dropped a 3-2 (22-25, 25-21, 18-25, 25-22, 15-11) decision to Brazil, behind Vansant’s team-leading 18 kills. Hagglund had considerable playing time in the match, double-subbing with fellow setter Carli Lloyd, and occasionally staying in the rotation in the front row.

Like volleyball at every level, the USA/Brazil match was ultimately decided by serving and passing. Holding a 2-1 set lead in the fourth set, USA committed three service errors in a row, and five for the set. USA responded most of the rest of the way with easy serves right to Brazil’s libero, allowing the Brazilians to use all their attack options. At the same time, USA’s passing grew worse, ensuring that Brazil could consistently employ double and triple blocks.

In the Pan Am Games quarterfinals, USA will face Cuba Wednesday at 12:30PM (Pacific Time.) The match should be available on ESPN3.

See also: USA Women’s Volleyball Road to Rio

Part One: setters and opposites

Part Two: outside hitters and liberos

Part Three: middles

NOTES:

• If you’ve been watching the Pan Am Games coverage on ESPN3, the broadcast team might have caught your attention. If gaffes make you smile, then there’s plenty to grin about with Charles Parkinson and Dorothy Franco-Reed at the microphone. Parkinson coaches men’s volleyball at Camosun College in Victoria, British Columbia. He’s been broadcasting beach and indoor volleyball for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation since 1990, and no one pronounces “libero” quite like he does (rhymes with “fibber-oh”). Franco-Reed, an ESPN volleyball freelancer, played volleyball and basketball at Alabama, where she also coached volleyball from 1989-95 (and played team handball at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.) She and Parkinson have the good grace to apologize when they repeatedly misidentify players and are confused about rotations and substitutions (particularly the setter/opposite double substitution.) Frankly, the modern international women’s volleyball game seems to baffle them both, and when you’re not laughing, you might be a bit sad. Volleyball—now the most popular team sport for high school girls in the USA (and essentially tied with basketball at the collegiate level)—hasn’t yet earned enough respect at ESPN and CBC to draw announcers with better broadcast knowledge and skills.

National Team | USA Women’s Volleyball Road to Rio [Part 1]

Which players are in the running for the 12 USA women’s volleyball roster spots at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio? Today: setters and opposites

Which 12 American women will be on the 2016 Olympic Games roster for the Rio de Janeiro?
-FIVB

Roughly a year from now, USA head coach Karch Kiraly will have one of the best and worst days of his coaching life so far.

As several former Olympic coaches have told us, announcing the final roster decision is one of the hardest, most gut-wrenching parts of the job. It’s done in a small room, with each nervous candidate facing a coaching staff who know her every strength and weakness. It’s a zero-sum game: for every ecstatic athlete, one or more is absolutely crushed. And the head coach has to look each and every one in the eye and say yes or no.

Know this: with one year to go before the big decision, Kiraly is rooting for every one of his current Olympic candidates. He wants every injured player to get well, every veteran to reach her pinnacle, every rookie to dazzle. You can bet that Karch (and his staff) won’t make any decisions until they absolutely have to, perhaps sweating some until the final hour.

No one, at this stage, is a lock.

That said, we can confidently predict most of the legitimate Rio roster candidates, and suggest what each has to do to make the final cut. Today, we’ll focus on setters and opposites. Next post, outside hitters and liberos. Finally, the middle blockers.

One more thing: The team in Rio will likely not be the 12 best athletes, or even the 12 best at their respective positions. The starting seven (setter, libero, 2 outsides, 2 middles, opposite) will surely be the cream of the crop, but the remaining five will likely include some who are there as much for their leadership and/or ability to be a killer substitute as they are for their talent. In team sports, chemistry matters.

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SETTERS

2012 London Olympics

• Lindsey Berg (Honolulu, University of Minnesota)
• Courtney Thompson (Kent, WA, University of Washington)

2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic candidates

• Thompson
• Alicia Glass (Leland, MI, Penn State University)
• Molly Kreklow (Delano, MN, University of Missouri)
• Carli Lloyd (Bonsall, CA, University of California)
• Jenna Hagglund (West Chester, OH, University of Washington)

During the past 4 years, the US National Team has essentially created two different setter positions. The starting setter gets most of the playing time. The substitute setter rotates in when the starting opposite is ready to serve a second time (usually when USA has 14-18 points or so.) At the same time, the starting setter subs out for the substitute opposite.

In the international game, teams are allowed limited substitutions. This setter/opposite sub gives USA three front-row hitters (and a taller blocker) for nine straight serve rotations. Hugh McCutcheon used this system to good effect in the second half of the last quad, and Kiraly has continued it ever since.

The substitute setter has to have all the physical tools, plus a certain passion when she enters the match. She must be able to run the team throughout an entire match, as Courtney Thompson did in the 2012 London quarterfinals, when starter Lindsey Berg was sidelined by an injury.

USA World Grand Prix captain Courtney Thompson
-FIVB

Courtney Thompson is the leading candidate for the substitute setter position, and will stay in the running for the starting position as long as she can. She is currently captain of USA’s World Grand Prix team, and has upped her game every year since 2006, when she first wore a USA jersey. As a pro, she captained Volero Zurich—one of Europe’s top teams—to the final rounds of most international club tournaments the past two seasons. This fall, she’s signed with Brazil’s Rexona-Ades, one of the world’s top professional teams. Playing in Brazil will allow her to acclimate to that volleyball-mad nation’s level of competition in advance of the 2016 Rio Games. Brazil, of course, is the nation that broke USA hearts by winning the gold medal match against the Americans in each of the last two Olympics.

Alicia Glass has been the leading candidate for the starting setter position for most of the current quad. She is recovering from an injury—reportedly an ankle—and has not seen any National Team competition this summer. Glass battled Lindsey Berg for the starting setter spot for London, and has been determined not to let an Olympic roster spot slip away again. Glass is tall (6-0) and a decent blocker, but she usually lets someone else be the vocal leader on the floor. At the international level, a setter has to be both a great server and defender, two areas where Glass needs more work.

Molly Kreklow has assumed the starting setter position during Glass’s recovery. She seemed to come out of nowhere, from a program (Missouri) that is not a traditional power. That Mizzou team, however, went 35-0 in 2013 before losing to Purdue in the NCAA second round. Kreklow shares many of Glass’s attributes; she’s also 6-0 and a decent blocker. She, too, is not a vocal leader, and—at this stage of her career—makes a lot of service errors. Those errors, however, are usually because she’s being aggressive, which is better than the alternative.

Carli Lloyd could step in if any of the previous three falter. Since being named AVCA National Player of the Year in 2010 while leading Cal to the NCAA Championship Match, Lloyd has been a bit of an enigma. Injuries have been a big factor. Even when healthy, however, she hasn’t yet made a USA roster for a major competition. This summer, she seems to be doing well, and has shared setting chores at secondary tournaments in Peru and Canada.

Jenna Hagglund has probably as good a shot as Lloyd if any of the top three miss the cut. In her years as a pro, she’s worked hard in the weight room and is a much stronger, confident setter than she was during her years at Washington. She and Lloyd share time at the secondary tournaments, but her fellow Huskies alum might offer an inspiring lesson: At the start of 2011, Courtney Thompson was probably fifth in the USA depth chart, but worked her way onto the Olympic roster.

Other talented setters are out there, but they aren’t part of the USA system this quad. Contenders for future Olympics might include Micha Hancock, Lauren Carlini and Lauren Plum, among others.

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OPPOSITES

2012 London Olympics

• Destinee Hooker (San Antonio, University of Texas)
• Tayyiba Haneef-Park (Laguna Hills, CA, Long Beach State)

2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic candidates

• Karsta Lowe (Rancho Santa Fe, CA, UCLA)
• Kelly Murphy (Wilmington, IL, University of Florida)
• Nicole Fawcett (Zanesfield, OH, Penn State University)
• Alix Klineman (Manhattan Beach, CA, Stanford University)

We pair opposites with setters for the reasons described above. Under the current USA system, one player is the usually starting opposite, while the other substitutes in with the substitute setter.

Karsta Lowe has been the summer surprise of 2015. Just weeks after college graduation, she’s taken the World Grand Prix by storm, igniting what will be perhaps the best competition at any position. Lowe, a lefty, is big, strong, and unafraid to hit hard, even when a play breaks down. Her back row attacks seem to baffle defenders, as she hits across her body with that powerful left arm. For a rookie, her court demeanor is calm and focused. She plays her first pro season this fall (Puerto Rico) and will try to be one of the few just-out-of-college players to ever make the roster.

We were with Kelly Murphy in 2013, on her very first day with the National Team. Off the court, she struck us a sweet and extremely shy. On the court, she blew us away with her power and focus. In 2014, she was the surprise star of several international tournaments. This year and next, she’ll be in a battle with Lowe for the starting opposite spot in Rio. Also a tall lefty, Murphy excels at disguising whether she’ll hit cross or line. Like Lowe, she attacks with power from the back row. Most of the time, her footwork is disciplined, making herself available whenever the team is in system.

Nicole Fawcett just missed making the London roster, and would seem a natural frontrunner for the substitute opposite position. She’s a savvy veteran, with the respect of her teammates. As a right-hander, she’d bring a different look during her rotations. At the Grand Prix, she’s been more reluctant than Lowe to blast a less-than-perfect set, and her blocking can be inconsistent. Her biggest hurdle might be Kiraly’s hesitation to keep either of his young left-handers home.

Alix Klineman is probably fourth on the opposite depth chart. The Stanford grad has yet to break into a major international tournament lineup, and would need two of those ahead of her to falter to have a good shot at Rio.

Other opposites hoping to make an impression: Juliann Faucette, Falyn Fonoimoana, Bailey Webster.

NEXT POST: Outside Hitters and Liberos

National Team | Washington Alums named to US National Team Rosters

Courtney Thompson and Tama Miyashiro named to final two rounds of World Grand Prix; Krista Vansant and Jenna Hagglund on Pan Am Games squad

• July 16: USA vs. Japan, 3:30 a.m. PT
• July 17: USA vs. Thailand, 3:30 a.m. PT
• July 18: USA vs. China, 4:30 a.m. PT

Team captain Courtney Thompson (3) will remain on the USA roster for the final two rounds of the 2015 World Grand Prix
-FIVB

Two former Washington All-Americans—Olympians Courtney Thompson and Tama Miyashiro—will remain on the US National Team roster for this weekend’s World Grand Prix third round in Hong Kong, and for the Finals the following week in Omaha, Nebraska.

Thompson, the team captain, played in all six matches of the first two rounds, helping lead USA to a 6-0 record. Miyashiro, one of two liberos on the roster, played during the July 11 win over Turkey.

USA Head Coach Karch Kiraly made four changes to the roster for the final two rounds of the 2015 World Grand Prix
-FIVB

Head coach Karch Kiraly can choose 14 players from a roster of 25 for each round. Four changes were announced for the final two rounds:

• OH Jordan Larson-Burbach (Nebraska) replaces Krista Vansant (Washington)
• MB Christa Dietzen (Penn State) replaces Cursty Jackson (Arizona)
• MB Foluke Akinradewo (Stanford) replaces Lauren Paolini (Texas)
• OPP Kelly Murphy (Florida) replaces Nicole Fawcett (Penn State)

Vansant, Jackson, Paolini and Fawcett are on the roster for the Pan Am Games, now underway in Toronto. Former Washington All-American setter Jenna Hagglund is also on the US Team for Pan Am. Both Vansant and Hagglund played major roles for the US in the earlier similarly-named Pan Am Cup; Vansant was MVP of that tournament, hosted by Peru and won by USA.

2015 U.S. Women’s National Team Roster for FIVB World Grand Prix Weeks 3 & 4

2	Kayla Banwarth	L	5-10	Dubuque, Iowa	University of Nebraska
3	Courtney Thompson	S	5-8	Kent, Wash.	University of Washington
5	Tama Miyashiro	L	5-7	Kaneohe, Hawaii	University of Washington
8	Lauren Gibbemeyer	MB	6-2	St. Paul, Minn.	University of Minnesota
10	Jordan Larson-Burbach	OH	6-2	Hooper, Neb.	University of Nebraska
11	Megan Easy	OH	6-3	Durham, N.C.	Penn State University
12	Kelly Murphy	OPP	6-2	Wilmington, Ill.	University of Florida
13	Christa Dietzen	MB	6-2	Hopewell Twn, Penn.	Penn State University
15	Kim Hill	OH	6-4	Portland, Ore.	Pepperdine University
16	Foluke Akinradewo	MB	6-3	Plantation, Fla.	Stanford University
18	Molly Kreklow	S	6-0	Delano, Minn.	University of Missouri
21	Tori Dixon	MB	6-3	Burnsville, Minn.	University of Minnesota
23	Kelsey Robinson	OH	6-2	Bartlett, Ill.	University of Nebraska
25	Karsta Lowe	OPP	6-4	Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.	UCLA

NOTES

• Although all three World Grand Prix matches in Hong Kong are in the middle of the night, Pacific Time, they should be available for online replay at universalsports.com/Olympics.

• Among those on the 25-player preliminary World Grand Prix roster who were not named to any of the 14-player competition rosters are setter Alicia Glass, libero Nicole Davis, outside hitter Cassidy Lichtman, outside hitter Kristin Hildebrand, opposite hitter Alix Klineman, outside hitter Michelle Bartsch and middle blocker Rachael Adams. Adams, Bartsch, Hildebrand and Lichtman are on the Pan Am roster. Carli Lloyd and Jenna Hagglund are the two setters; Natalie Hagglund is the libero.

College | Washington volleyball will be on the road to start & end Pac-12 season

Many Sunday matches on UW home schedule

Professional | 11 Washington alums playing pro volleyball overseas

Post-college volleyball careers now part of elite players’ job options

Sand | This road to college volleyball began on Seattle sand

• West Seattle star Eastyn Baleto will bring beach skills to New Mexico

National Team | UW grads Thompson & Hagglund set USA to victory over Germany

Red, White & Blue has a decided Purple & Gold tint in Montreux, Switzerland

• USA def. Germany 3-1 (22-25, 25-20, 25-23, 25-21)
• next: USA vs. Japan | May 28 | 12 noon (Pacific)

NCAA | Washington volleyball among elite in media poll

Huskies in top 3 of all national polls and RPI

• next: UCLA @ #3 Washington | November 13 | 6PM | Pac 12 Networks

NCAA | Washington volleyball sophomore is national player of the week

Middle blocker Lianna Sybeldon honored by American Volleyball Coaches Association

• next: Utah @ #3 Washington | November 1 | 7PM | no TV

National Team | Serbia dominates USA in World Grand Prix volleyball

Tama Miyashiro plays well at libero; Jenna Hagglund provides set 2 spark

• #9 Serbia def. #1 USA 3-1 (25-23, 20-25, 25-18, 25-23)
• next: #1 USA vs. #5 China | August 29 | 9:30PM (Pacific Time)

National Team | Brazil pounds USA in World Grand Prix volleyball

• #3 Brazil def. #1 USA 3-0 (25-19, 25-12, 25-10)
• next: #1 USA vs. #9 Serbia | August 28 | 9:30PM (Pacific Time)

National Team | Tama Miyashiro shines in World Grand Prix volleyball victory

Washington alum named player of the match in win against host Japan

• #1 USA def. #3 Japan 3-1 (25-17, 25-19, 21-25, 25-18)
• next: #1 USA vs. #43 Bulgaria | August 17, 2013 | 11:30PM (Pacific Time) | Sendai, Japan

National Team | USA defeats Czech Republic in World Grand Prix Volleyball

Tama Miyashiro and Jenna Hagglund contribute; host Japan is next

• #1 USA def. #24 Czech Republic 3-0 (25-20, 25-20, 25-23)
• next: #1 USA @ #3 Japan | August 16, 2013 | 8:30PM (Pacific) | Sendai, Japan

National Team | Brazil beats USA in World Grand Prix volleyball pool play

Rivalry heats up; Washington alums Miyashiro and Hagglund contribute

·         #2 Brazil def. #1 USA 3-1 (17-25, 25-23, 25-28, 25-20)
·         next: #1 USA vs. #14 Algeria | August 9, 2013 | Belgrade, Serbia