2017 FIVB VOLLEYBALL WORLD GRAND PRIX
- Group 1
- July 7th – August 6th
- FIVB World Grand Prix Round 3
- Schedule/Results
Team USA has made 23 appearances in the FIVB World Grand Prix, having won six gold medals, being only second behind Brazil in the gold medal count. Their latest win at the World Grand Prix came at home in Omaha, Nebraska in 2015. The 2016 edition of the event Team USA finished with their first silver medal behind Brazil.
At the 2016 Olympic Games, the Americans finished in third place after taking down the Netherlands in the bronze medal match.
After week one of the 2017 World Grand Prix, Team USA posted a 3-0 record but faltered in the second week with only a 1-2 record. In their final week of play, Team USA had a 2-1 record that propelled them to the #2 rank in the competition with a 6-3 overall record.
Top Contributors
- Kelly Murphy – Murphy emerged as the top scorer for Team USA with 133 points scored over the three weeks on 115 kills, 14 blocks and four aces.
- Madison Kingdon – Holding strong for the USA was Kingdon with 126 points on 113 kills, nine blocks and four aces.
- Michelle Bartsch-Hackley – Bartsch-Hackley has been a strong contributor for the team so far in the competition with 118 points on 90 kills, 11 blocks and 17 aces. Overall, Bartsch-Hackley posted the most aces in Group 1.
Team USA has a strong lineup of contributors, with three ranking in the 12 of the competition. For the Americans to find success in the finals they will have to continue utilizing these players along with the remainder of the team.
Roster
(* denotes their participation at the 2016 Olympic Games)
- Micah Hancock
- Kristen Hahn
- Carli Lloyd*
- Justine Wong-Orantes
- Sarah Wilhite
- Tori Dixon
- Lauren Carlini
- Lauren Gibbemeyer
- Madison Kingdon
- Andrea Drews
- Kelly Murphy*
- Michelle Bartsch-Hackley
- Mallory Mccage
- Megan Courtney
- Sonja Newcombe
- Hannah Tapp
- Amanda Benson
- Paige Tapp
- Alexa Dannemiller
- Elizabeth Mcmahon
- Amber Rolfzen
Only two players on this seasons roster played with Team USA in the bronze medal finish in Rio – Carli Lloyd and Kelly Murphy. For the most part, head coach Karch Kiraly has chosen youthful players to earn their shot on the team, while giving veteran players a rest this summer.
Of the 21 names submitted to the FIVB, only 14 have been used over the course of the three weeks of play. The FIVB allows each team to have 14 players on their roster each week and Kiraly has not made a single change throughout the competition.
Schedule
Team USA will open up their Final play with Serbia on August 2 followed by Italy on August 3. Serbia finished #1 in the rankings during the preliminary rounds while Italy emerged as a top team late in the game.
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