NCAA | Final Four at Key Arena on brink of a sellout

Less than 200 seats remain; still a few suites available

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

PRO VOLLEYBALL | David defeats Goliath

A small-town team shows it can beat an opponent studded with Olympic stars

• CEV Cup Championship: Muszyna 3, Istanbul 2 (25-18, 1-25, 25-15, 22-25, 15-11)

Olympics | Courtney Thompson: “Losing sucks”

Back in the USA, the Olympic setter talks about the gold medal match, her punch in the nose and her next volleyball assignment. A Volleyblog Seattle exclusive.

For a very long stretch, Courtney Thompson and her Olympic teammates knew nothing but winning.

A 2012 World Grand Prix championship after going undefeated in 14 matches across three continents. Winners of seven straight Olympic matches, dropping just two sets along the way.

Olympics | Lessons learned from volleyball's gold medal match

Brazil 3, USA 1 (11-25, 25-17, 25-20, 25-17)

After shock and a bit of sadness, fans of USA volleyball will want to evaluate just how sure-fire gold slipped from the team’s fingers. Here, then, are some early talking points:

IT ALWAYS COMES DOWN TO SERVING AND PASSING

Brazilian ball falls between Nicole Davis and Lindsey Berg
-Getty

In every volleyball match, at every level, winning teams have to serve tough and pass well. Many of USA’s 9 service errors came at inopportune momentum-killing times, especially the 4 by Logan Tom. But USA’s serve-receive was the real story: libero Nicole Davis was simply not up to the task, and USA coach Hugh McCutcheon made a huge mistake sticking with poor-passing Megan Hodge too long. Far too often, USA was operating out-of-system and Brazil was in-system. At this level, that essentially spells defeat.

LINDSEY BERG’S WEAKNESSES WERE EXPOSED

Olympics | Gold Medal Match: How USA beat Brazil 12 days ago

Gold Medal match: USA (7-0) vs. Brazil (5-2)
Saturday, August 11 | 10:30am (Pacific)

Only July 30, USA met Brazil in the second match of Olympic pool play. Coming in, USA had looked erratic in a hard-fought 3-1 victory against South Korea. Brazil had struggled to a 3-2 win against Turkey.

USA’s 3-1 win against Brazil that night was hardly easy (25-18, 25-17, 22-25, 25-21). But a careful review of that contest may shed light on what to expect during Saturday’s gold medal rematch:

USA STEPPED UP ITS PASSING

Logan Tom passes as Nicole Davis looks on during
USA's July 30 win against Brazil
-Getty

After a shaky pool play performance against South Korea, libero Nicole Davis greatly improved her serve-receive game against Brazil. It helped that the Brazilians had a terrible serving night; when they weren’t making service errors (15 for the match), they were delivering easy serves. By comparison, USA served tough, particularly Jordan Larson and Logan Tom.

LOGAN TOM WAS ON FIRE

Olympics | Playing for gold: USA defeats South Korea

USA 3, South Korea 0 (25-20, 25-22, 25-22)

Gold Medal Match: USA vs. Brazil, Saturday, August 11, 10:30am

On a day when its passing and setting were less than stellar, USA found a way to outlast South Korea in straight sets to reach Saturday’s Olympic gold medal match.

Destinee Hooker celebrates during USA's 3-0 semifinal victory over South Korea
-Associated Press

Destinee Hooker was again the star. She had 21 kills and just 1 error on 33 attempts. Her incredible .606 average marked the sixth straight match she has improved her efficiency.

Olympics | Courtney Thompson's nose, Lindsey Berg's calf

USA vs. South Korea (semifinals), Thursday, August 9, 7:00am (Pacific)

USA volleyball fans won't know until Thursday morning whether Courtney Thompson or Lindsey Berg will take the setter's reins against South Korea in the Olympic semifinals.

There is no reason to suspect that Thompson's bump on the nose--sustained on the final play of Tuesday's Dominican Republic match--has had any significant effect. But much thanks to Seattle's Dave Weitl of Washington Volleyball Academy for passing along his photo of Courtney signaling to her parents that she's bloodied, but not bowed:

Olympics | Courtney Thompson leads USA to 3-0 victory in quarterfinals

USA 3, Dominican Republic 0 (25-14, 25-21, 25-22)

next: Semifinals, USA (6-0) vs. South Korea (3-3),
Thursday, August 9, 7:00am (Pacific)

USA coach Hugh McCutcheon raised a few eyebrows when he named Courtney Thompson as one of his two 2012 Olympic setters. Some thought Thompson had impressed McCutcheon primarily for her ability to provide a late spark in close matches.

Courtney Thompson sets during 3-0 Olympic
quarterfinal win against Dominican Republic
-FIVB

But when Volleyblog Seattle flatly asked McCutcheon if he thought Thompson could lead the team through an entire match, he didn’t hesitate.

“We wouldn’t have selected her if she couldn’t.”

On a day when three favored teams—Russia, China and Italy—all went down to defeat in the Olympic quarterfinals, it was Courtney Thompson fully at the controls as USA swept Dominican Republic in generally emphatic fashion.

Thompson replaced Lindsey Berg, who injured her right ankle in the third set of Sunday’s pool play victory over Turkey. If she was nervous about her first-ever Olympic start, she didn’t show it.

The first point of the match was a sweet connection between Thompson and middle blocker Foluke Akinradewo. The two were in sync all night, as Akinradewo finished with 10 kills and no errors on 13 attempts … an eye-popping .770 average.

Olympics | How USA and Dominican Republic match up

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

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.

	vs. Italy (L 1-3)	vs. Russia (L 1-3)	vs. Japan (L 0-3)	vs. Britain (W 3-0)	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)

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.

Olympics | Thompson replaces injured Berg as USA goes 5-0

Courtney Thompson replaces Lindsey Berg in third set as USA stays undefeated in Olympic play.

USA 3, Turkey 0 (27, 25, 25-16, 25-19)

• next match: Tuesday, 11:00am (Pacific) USA vs. Dominican Republic (quarterfinals/single elimination)

After a lackluster start, USA swept past Turkey to finish Olympic pool play with a perfect 5-0 record.

With USA leading 9-5 in the third set, starting setter Lindsey Berg came out with an injury. Courtney Thompson finished the match at setter, finishing with 11 assists.

USA trainers treated the upper part of Berg’s leftcalf with ice, compression and elevation. Berg was able to join the team on the court for post-match handshakes.

"It's okay," Berg said after the match. "I felt something different, something was working and I didn't want to push it. I'm sure it will be fine. I hope I can play on Tuesday."

"We think she's OK - nothing torn," said USA head coach Hugh McCutcheon. "Of course, we are concerned. We'll have to see how she is."

Destinee Hooker recorded 17 kills on 38 attacks. Foluke Akinradewo added 9 kills on 12 attacks.

Destinee Hooker receives a congratulatory hug from Courtney Thompson during USA's 3-0 victory against Turkey.
-Associated Press

NOTES;
At the post-match press conference, there were questions about the China vs. South Korea match, won 3-2 by China. Because losing teams one point when a match goes five sets, both China and Korea could guarantee advancing to the quarterfinals if their match went five. Turkey's head coach, Marco Aurelio Motta, declined to speculate whether China and Korea has illegally arranged to ensure their match went past four sets.

Olympics | Keys to Wednesday’s USA vs. China match

USA (2-0) vs. China (2-0)

Wednesday, August 1, 12:00noon (Pacific)
[Live on www.nbcolympics.com/liveextra/]

After dispatching Brazil, the US team faces another formidable foe: China.

Here are a couple things to watch when the teams take the court Wednesday at noon (Pacific):

PASSING

USA’s serve receive was vastly better against Brazil than in its first match against South Korea. At every level of volleyball, the ability of back row players to consistently deliver clean passes gives a setter her full arsenal of weapons. Conversely, several USA servers have room for improvement, as they’ve delivered too many easily-passed balls to their opponents.

MIXING IT UP

American setter Lindsey Berg has made little secret that Destinee Hooker is her go-to hitter. That said, Berg’s distribution has been both respectable—and consistent. Here are the attack attempts for the first two matches:

	vs. South Korea	vs. Brazil
Destinee Hooker	42	45
Jordan Larson	33	36
Logan Tom	34	27
Foluke Akinradewo	17	19
Christa Harmotto	8	8

(NOTE: Berg delivered 71% of USA’s sets against Korea and 77% against Brazil)

If opponents key on Hooker, or if Hooker gets tired (as she seemed to against South Korea), Berg will need all her weapons. In particular, both Akinradewo and Harmotto are capable of piling up points when the opponent’s second middle blocker is in the rotation; Berg would do well to look to them more often.

DEFENDING RIGHT SIDE

Both USA setters—Lindsey Berg and Courtney Thompson—are 5-8, on the short side for international play. While blocking is not their first responsibility, the USA is vulnerable in rotations 4, 5 & 6, when the setter is in the front row. In those rotations, Harmotto has helped tremendously with her eyework and long arms, often blocking line by reaching over Berg. The trouble comes when opponents tip … and Hooker is playing back row behind the setter. USA did a great job covering tips against Brazil, however, and may need to be equally alert against the Chinese.

Lindsey Berg (4), Christa Harmotto (13) and Logan Tom (15) put up a right side triple block against Brazil
-photo courtesy David Weitl

Olympics | #1 USA defeats #2 Brazil

Final score: USA 3, Brazil 1 (25-18, 25-17, 22-25, 25-21)

Next match: Wednesday, noon (Pacific) vs. China

When two top teams meet in a marquee match, it usually comes down to serving.

Brazil’s inability to serve well was the most important storyline as top-ranked USA prevailed 3-1 in a much-anticipated Olympic pool play showdown. At the Beijing Olympics in 2008, Brazil took the gold and USA the silver.

Jordan Larson, Nicole Davis, Logan Tom, Foluke Akinradewo and Destinee Hooker celebrate a point against Brazil
-USA Volleyball

At the most obvious level, Brazil gave away far too many points—15—on outright service errors, compared to just 7 for the USA (3 by Jordan Larson). In the decisive fourth set, Brazil missed its final two serves, while Larson and Logan Tom served tough.

And throughout the match, Brazil’s in-bounds serves were generally not tough enough, producing just 3 aces and allowing the Americans to make far too many decent passes. When the USA was in system, it rarely made mistakes.

Brazil proved to be a lopsided team. When middle blocker Thaisa Menezes was in the front row, the offense clicked. But on two rotations, both the second middle blocker (usually Fabiana Claudino) and the setter (alternating between Fernanda Ferreira and Danielle Lins) were ineffective, allowing the USA to concentrate on just one hitter. In fact, Brazil rarely went to its opposite hitter, and it set few quicks to either middle.

“[USA] is a team that deserves a lot of respect,” said veteran Brazilian hitter Paula Pequeno, “but they have a lot of weak points that we have to know how to take advantage of. They put all of the responsibility on top of us and just defended. We need to have more patience and better ourselves a lot.”

Logan Tom tips past Fernanda Ferreira (9) and Fabiana Claudino
-Getty Images

Libero Nicole Davis, despite a few lapses in the fourth set, played much better than she did against South Korea, committing just two serve-receive errors and just two digging errors. That allowed setter Lindsey Berg to set with notable confidence and better deception.

Once again, Destinee Hooker was the top attacker, recording 22 kills and 3 errors on 45 attempts (.422). Logan Tom bounced back with big numbers: 12 kills and just 1 error on 27 attempts (.407). Jordan Larson was once again solid with 16 kills and 6 on 36 attempts (.277).

With better passes, Berg was also able to get her middles more involved in the offense. Foluke Akinradewo had 9 kills and 4 errors on 19 attempts (.263), while Christa Harmotto added 4 kills and 1 error on 8 attempts (.375).

Both Courtney Thompson and Tama Miyashiro saw time as substitutes; both played well, but neither was in long enough to influence the match.

Olympics | setter Lindsey Berg to retire after London

According to an article by sportswriter Anne Peterson of the Associated Press, Lindsey Berg plans to retire at the end of the London Olympics.

Berg and Courtney Thompson are the USA’s two setters. 

Berg has been on the National Team since 2003; she was also on the Olympic roster in Beijing. 

The University of Minnesota graduate from Honolulu tells Peterson “I’ve had an incredible run,” but admits “It’s not as easy as it looks.” She also reports that her knees hurt “all the time.”

USA women's volleyball team and USA men's basketball team at London Olympic opening ceremonies,
Lindsey Berg is in the back row, under the USA flag, to LeBron James' right.
Courtney Thompson is front row, three from right; Tama Miyashiro is second from right
-photo Courtesy Tayyiba Haneef-Park, via Facebook

Jim McLaughlin reacts to Olympic volleyball selections

Washington volleyball coach thrilled that Courtney Thompson and Tama Miyashiro are on the roster for London

“It’s a great, great day.”

That was Washington coach Jim McLaughlin’s first reaction when he learned that two of his former players had been named to the 12-member USA Olympic roster for the 2012 London Olympics.

“I’m just fired up,” he said.

University of Washington head coach Jim McLaughlin
-Volleyblog Seattle photo by Leslie Hamann

Back in 2003, McLaughlin placed his offense in the hands of Courtney Thompson, an undersized setter with an outsized personality. While other snickered, Thompson led Washington to a string of success, capped by three Final Four appearances and a national title.

But during the past decade, American universities have produced dozens of quality setters, many of them taller and—well, many of them who look the part. Even a few weeks ago, few gave Thompson a chance to be named one of the USA’s two Olympic setters (Minnesota’s Lindsey Berg is the other.)

“It’s a testament to who she is as a person,” McLaughlin told Volleyblog Seattle. “You know, I think ability is always part of the equation, but maybe the most important part is the intangibles. And Courtney has that in place better than anybody. I mean, just in terms of how hard she competes.”

“She competes, but she is a great teammate. And she makes the people around her better. And it will be a stronger unit because she’s on the team.”

Many also thought Tama Miyashiro was a longshot. But, like Thompson, she made every chance of every opportunity as the USA won the World Grand Prix tournament Sunday.

“I’m so happy she’s going,” said McLaughlin. “She’s laid back, but she’ll compete. She’ll make improvements. She’ll do what you need to do.”

see also:
Two former UW All-Americans named to US Olympic team