2018 FIVB WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL NATIONS LEAGUE – WEEK 2/POOL 5
- May 22-24, 2018
- Sky Hall Toyota | Toyota, Japan
- Time Zone: UTC +09:00
- World Rankings: #2 USA, #6 Japan, #8 Netherlands, #13 Belgium
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- Schedule/Results
| Date | Time | Score | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 May | 15:40 | Belgium  |
2–3 |  Netherlands |
25–21 | 19–25 | 25–23 | 29–31 | 10–15 | 108–115 | P2 P3 |
| 22 May | 19:10 | Japan  |
0–3 |  United States |
20–25 | 16–25 | 23–25 | 59–75 | P2 P3 | ||
| 23 May | 15:40 | Netherlands |
0–3 | United States |
19–25 | 21–25 | 23–25 | 63–75 | P2 P3 | ||
| 23 May | 19:10 | Japan |
3–0 | Belgium |
25–19 | 25–20 | 25–19 | 75–58 | P2 P3 | ||
| 24 May | 15:40 | Belgium |
0–3 | United States |
11–25 | 18–25 | 17–25 | 46–75 | P2 P3 | ||
| 24 May | 19:10 | Japan |
0–3 | Netherlands |
18–25 | 18–25 | 21–25 | 57–75 |
United States def. Belgium 3-0
- United States defeated Belgium 25-11, 25-18, 25-17
- United States moves to 5-1 (17 points); Belgium moved to 2-4 (6 points)
USA coach Karch Kiraly tabbed a mix of seasoned and newer players, including opposite Annie Drews and middle Lauren Gibbemeyer, to lead the team against Belgium on Thursday and the Americans came through with a dominating sweep, their fourth straight Volleyball Nations League win.
The star of the tournament for the Americans, Michelle Bartsch-Hackley, led the group with 14 points (12 kills, 2 blocks), while Drews chipped in 12 (10 kills, 2 blocks). Jordan Larson (11) and Gibbemeyer rounded (10) out the double-digit scorers, while Rachael Adams turned in eight points. Larson served up two aces, while Gibbemeyer notched a team-leading four blocks and an ace.
Team USA nearly doubled Belgium’s offensive output (44-24 in kills) and overpowered its foe at the net (11-2 in blocks).
Celine Van Gestel paced the Belgian attack with 10 points (all kills), while Britt Herbot, Nathalie Lemmens and Kaja Grobelna were limited to four points apiece.
The United States showed its diversity in scoring as three different players sealed the set victories: Larson in Set 1, Adams in Set 2 and Gibbemeyer in Set 3.
Here are some post-match reactions.
Belgium coach Gert Vande Broek said: “We were not able to play well and the US team impressed us both physically and technically. But we’ve learned a lot, as I have said these three days. Today’s main goal was to match our opponents on serves, pick-ups, and receptions.”
USA captain Jordan Larson said: “I am really proud of our team. We have stepped up and focused on teamwork. And we will keep building on it.”
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