Courtney Thompson looks solid in USA Grand Prix Volleyball victory

UW grad gets her chance to set; delivers with strong performance against Argentina

The match in Bangkok started at midnight Seattle time, and the Internet video was glitchy. But you didn’t have to see the computer screen to know when Team USA scored a point against Argentina: you could always hear the familiar “YEAHHHH!” It meant the Americans tallied and that Courtney Thompson (Washington) was the American setter.

Courtney Thompson (22) celebrates with Nicole Davis against Argentina in Bangkok

After a slow start, Thompson and Team USA (8-0 in 2012 World Grand Prix competition) pulled away from Argentina (0-8), sporting a style that was distinctly Thompson’s.

Unlike the previous night, when setter Alisha Glass sent 36 attack chances to her former Penn State teammate Megan Hodge, Thompson spread the assists around. She didn’t ignore Hodge—who hit an eye-popping .500 (15 kills, 1 error)—but also assisted on 10 kills to Cynthia Barboza (Stanford) and six each to Danielle-Scott-Arruda (Long Beach State), Tayyiba Haneef Park (Long Beach State) and Heather Bown (Hawai’i). Nice balance.

With Thompson setting against Argentina, USA hit an impressive .365 (45-10-96). The night before, with Glass at the controls, the team hit just .239 (31-13-113) against Serbia (2-6 in World Grand Prix competition.)

So what might this tell us about who might be on the roster at the London Olympics?

On the one hand, neither Thompson nor Glass get a chance this week to work with the likely Olympic starters: Logan Tom (Stanford), Foluke Akinradewo (Stanford) and Destinee Hooker (Texas) ... all stayed at home for the Grand Prix third round. And, the past two nights, the opponents were from the bottom of the World Grand Prix standings.

But Thompson made the most of her first full-time WGP opportunity. Her defense was solid and occasionally spectacular. Her serving was a bit below her standards, but better, on average, than the usual performances by either Glass or likely Olympic starter Lindsey Berg (Minnesota). Thompson even had a block; on replays, it was obvious that she gets her hands noticeably higher than equally-statured Berg.

Most obviously, however, Thompson is comfortable being a leader. She endlessly encourages her teammates—even her fellow setters. And against Argentina, she continued a habit she’s had since high school: when a hitter makes an error, Thompson gets that hitter the next ball right away. Hitters love the chance to instantly atone.

Courtney Thompson (22) serves against Argentina in 2012 World Grand Prix Third Round competition in Bangkok

Once again, Nicole Davis (USC) wore the libero jersey, offering Tama Miyashiro (Washington) limited time as a spot server. But Miyashiro made the most of it, staying at the line for seven serves, mostly difficult jump floats to the corners. To be honest, Davis had another sub-par performance, with six digs and seven faults on 16 attempts.

Up next: host Thailand. The Thai team has a 7-1 record in WGP competition, a significant step up from Serbia and Argentina. The question is: Thompson or Glass? And if either falters, how quickly will USA coach Hugh McCutcheon be willing to make a change?

One more decision: how hard-core a volleyball fan are you? Tonight’s match starts at 2:40am in Seattle (Sunday morning.) You can usually find it on the menu at www.sportlemon.tv. Once you connect, ignore all the  “download” and “play” buttons, and wait about a minute for the commercials to end. You should see the match appear in the background (if you log in AFTER 2:40), and can bring it full screen thereafter. Big bonus: there are usually no announcers, so you get to hear the coaches during time outs.

see also:

U.S. Women Surge Past Argentina, 8-0 at Grand Prix (USA Volleyballpress release)

USA Volleyball remains undefeated; ex-Huskies contribute

UW Alums Tama Miyashiro and Courtney Thompson make most of limited World Grand Prix action in Sao Paolo

It was the second set of a second-round World Grand Prix match against Germany; the US National women’s team trailed 19-20. Top-ranked USA had barely won the sloppy first set, 25-23, and seemed unable to maintain a sustained advantage. The Brazilian crowd in Sao Paolo did most of its cheering for the underdog Europeans.

Courtney Thompson listens as Hugh McCutcheon talks to Lindsey Berg

Defensive specialist Tama Miyashiro stepped to the service line. The former University of Washington All-American’s wicked jump float kept the Germans out of system, allowing the US to tie the score. Five more quality Miyashiro serves yielded four more points, until Germany held off set point. Throughout her service run, Miyashiro swept up a number of stellar digs, keeping crucial rallies alive.

USA eventually prevailed 3 sets to 0, running its 2012 World Grand Prix record to 5-0. But it was the team’s second straight subpar performance, with a much-anticipated match against Brazil up next.

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"It was the team's second straight subpar performance ..."

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During both Friday’s victory against Italy and Saturday’s Germany win, American setter Lindsey Berg was rarely in sync with her hitters. Time and again, the timing was off, forcing the US to send across tips and off-speed shots, or to tie up in jousts from balls set too close to the net. In three sets against Germany, Berg dished just nine combined assists to her two outside hitters, Nebraska’s Jordan Larson (6 kills) and Stanford’s Logan Tom (3 kills). The offense ran almost exclusively through the right side, by setting opposite Destinee Hooker of Texas (10 kills), or slides to middle blockers Christa Harmotto of Penn State (10 kills) and Stanford’s Akinradewo Foluke (9).

Defensively, the Germans followed the lead of the Italians, trying to hit line over Berg when she was in the front row, tipping in front of Hooker whenever possible. Libero Nicole Davis (USC) was erratic, sending many serve receives to the net, and rarely showing the hustle displayed by Miyashiro on broken plays.

USA Head Coach Hugh McCutcheon never played former Washington setter Courtney Thompson against Italy, and only inserted her late in the final moments of the German match. But even that brief appearance showed Thompson’s considerable talent. Like Miyashiro, she delivered a difficult jump float serve. On offense, she sets up further from the net than Berg does, giving her more options and delivering precision sets to her middles and outsides. And on a broken play, Thompson sprinted for the ball ;it was hustle we didn’t see from Berg or from Davis the past two matches.

Germany's  Heike  Beier (12) sends a kill past Lindsey Berg (4) and Foluke Akinradewo (16)

The rap on Thompson is her height. But it was interesting to see her step aside with Berg during each timeout: both players are the same size. The world’s best coaches want their setters to set, play defense and serve—blocking is secondary. But Berg has no obvious physical advantage over Thompson, and after Berg’s two shaky performances, Thompson deserves a shot at running the team against Brazil.

The Brazil match begins Sunday, June 17, at 9:20am (Pacific). You can watch it online at http://www.sportlemon.tv. [Hint: you can ignore the “Load plugin” warning; you can get access without it.]

see also:
U.S. Women Dig Past Germany (USA Volleyball press release)

Two Washington Volleyball alums make Olympic push

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NOTES:

• In a rather poor marketing move, Sao Paolo fans were given shirts that exactly matched the seats: bright yellow shirts to those sitting in the yellow sections and bright blue in the blue. When the camera was wide, it had the disconcerting effect of making the arena look empty. 

Two Washington Volleyball alums make Olympic push

Two former Washington Huskies--setter Courtney Thompson and libero Tama Miyashiro--will represent the USA in the second leg of the 2012 FIVB World Grand Prix Volleyball Tournament.

Courtney Thomspon

The Grand Prix is the final major event before the 2012 London Olympic Games. USA Head Coach Hugh McCutcheon will select the 12 players for the US Olympic roster at the conclusion of the Grand Prix.

The World Grand Prix features the world's top teams competing in three round-robin events. The USA played the first round in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and went undefeated, with victories against Germany, Chinese Taipei and Dominican Republic. Miyashiro saw limited time during the first round; Thompson was not on the roster.

Tama Miyashiro

Most observers believe Minnesota's Lindsey Berg has the inside track for one of the two Olympic setter positions. Thompson is likely competing with Penn State's Alisha Glass for the second setter spot. Berg and Glass set during the first round, with Berg getting most of the action. Thompson replaces Glass in the second round.

The second round, in Sao Paulo, features powerhouses Brazil, often-dangerous Italy and a repeat date with Germany. The third round is next week in Bangkok, where the US will face a strong Serbia team, plus Argentina and Thailand. If Thompson plays well in Sao Paolo, McCutcheon could pair her against Glass. He also has Nellie Spicer (UCLA) and Carli Lloyd (Cal) on the 25-athlete eligible roster.

The Grand Prix finals--featuring the top six teams from preliminary play--is June 27-July 1 in Ningbo, China.

LINKS:

• 2012 FIVB Grand Prix schedule and results
• USA Volleyball Round Two Roster (press release)

Pool E – Sao Paulo, Brazil
June 15: USA vs. Italy, 6:20 p.m. (2:20 p.m. PT)
June 15: Brazil vs. Germany, 8:20 p.m.
June 16: USA vs. Germany, 6:20 p.m. (2:20 p.m. PT)
June 16: Brazil vs. Italy, 8:20 p.m.
June 17: USA vs. Brazil, 1:20 p.m.
June 17: Germany vs. Italy, 3:20 p.m. (9:20 a.m.)

Pool J – Bangkok, Thailand
June 22: USA vs. Serbia, 1:50 p.m. (11:50 p.m. PT on June 21)
June 22: Thailand vs. Argentina, 4:20 p.m.
June 23: USA vs. Argentina, 1:50 p.m. (11:50 p.m. PT on June 22)
June 23: Serbia vs. Thailand, 4:20 p.m.
June 24: Argentina vs. Serbia, 1:50 p.m.
June 25: USA vs. Thailand, 4:20 p.m. (2 a.m. PT)

FIVB World Grand Prix Final Round
Ningbo, China – June 27 to July 1
Top five teams from preliminary round plus China


thanks to Dave Weitl for the spelling edit ...

Courtney Thompson ready to compete for Olympic volleyball spot

It was 6am, and the sun was rising. On the streets and in the plaza of Cataño, joyous volleyball fans were still celebrating. And Courtney Thompson and her Lancheras teammates were out there with them.

“It was amazing,” Thompson says. “It’s the reason I decided to play in Puerto Rico.”

Courtney Thompson (center) exhorts her team during the Puerto Rican professional championships.

Thompson, the former University of Washington All-American, is now back on the mainland after the all-night Caribbean party. Next week, she’ll head back to Anaheim, continuing her four-year quest to be selected to the team representing the United States at the London Summer Olympics.

But, for a few more days, she’s relishing what it felt like to help win a professional volleyball championship in a country that understands and appreciates her sport.

“I had opportunities to return to the European leagues,” she said, “but—as corny as it sounds—I wanted to go where I could play for more than just me, where it was more than just a job. It was a very calculated decision.”

Thompson first signed with Cataño two years ago, for a team that had no history of winning. “Maybe the worst team ever,” she remembers. But Thompson and her teammates turned it around, leading the Lancheras deep into the playoffs that season.

In 2009, Thompson opted for the European pro leagues, where most members of the USA National Team play (and where star American outside hitters can earn salaries in excess of a million dollars.) Thompson, one of the shorter setters among the international elite, was overlooked by several teams, and signed with Zeiler Konizset. She promptly led her team to the Swiss championship.

This winter, however, her heart returned to Puerto Rico. “The Puerto Rican league begins in January, which allowed me to be home (in Kent, WA) for Christmas, something I couldn’t do if I played in Europe. One of my brothers is in the military and the other has just gotten married. We weren’t sure when we’d next get the chance to be together again.”

And even though the level of play—and amount of pay—is higher in Europe, Thompson longed for a chance to demonstrate her leadership. “As a setter, you’ve got to locate the ball, no matter where you play,” says Thompson. In Puerto Rico, she’d also get a chance to help a team play better than anyone expected.

Her Cataño team started strong, bolstered by fellow USA teammates Angie Forsett (Cal) and Jessica Jones (Minnesota), but struggled with injuries throughout the season. The team mounted an inspired charge throughout the playoffs, and shocked everyone by sweeping heavily-favored Caguas 4-0 in the best-of-seven Finals. Thompson—wildly popular for her on-court passion—was named Championship MVP. Fans in the packed arena swarmed the court and were ready to party.

“There were, like, 7,000 people waiting for us in the plaza,” said Thompson. “These are good, hard-working, mostly blue collar folks, and they are absolutely proud of their city. It was the first championship in any sport that the city had ever won, and they were ready to celebrate.”

With another championship under her belt, Thompson rejoins what is likely the best women’s volleyball team on the planet. The US National Team may have its best collection of athletes ever, including a bevy of great setters. Lindsay Berg (Minnesota) may have the inside track on one of two setter slots on the 12-person London roster. The battle for the second opening will be epic, featuring Carly Lloyd (California), Nellie Spicer (UCLA), Alisha Glass (Penn State), and, of course, Thompson.

“I don’t look like much, and it isn’t always pretty,” says Thompson, “but I expect to give it my best shot.”

As if she knows how to do it any other way.

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• On April 19, Thompson will be at Washington’s Hec Ed Pavilion at 3:30pm. She’ll participate in a scrimmage with the 2012 Huskies’ team, now in their second week of spring practice.
  CLARIFICATION (11:00am, 4/19/12): Thompson plans to attend today's scrimmage, but will not participate in the drills.

• Next up for the US National Team is the Grand Prix competition. The 12 players on the London Olympics roster won't be named until July.