2018 FIVB WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL NATIONS LEAGUE – WEEK 4 / POOL 14
- June 5-7, 2018
- Jiangmen, China | Jiangmen Sports Hall (Capacity: 8,500)
- Time Zone: China Standard Time (UTC + 8)
- World Rankings: #1 China, #2 USA, #4 Brazil, #5 Russia
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- Schedule/Results
USA def. Russia 3-0
- USA defeated Russia 25-14, 25-18, 25-18
- USA moved to 9-1 (28 points); Russia moved to 6-4 (17 points)
The United States crushed eight aces and also led the Russians in kills and blocks in a quick sweep on Tuesday to earn its eighth straight world level victory, its best since a run of nine in a row at the 2016 FIVB World Grand Prix. Even more impressive is that the Americans have won those eight matches via sweep, setting a new program best, surpassing a string of seven sweeps from 1978-81 (1978 World Championship and 1981 World Cup).
Team USA boasted the advantage in kills (39-32), aces (8-4) and blocks (8-4), while running an efficient offense, committing just eight errors to 22 for Russia.
Michelle Bartsch-Hackley paced the team with 16 points (13 kills, 2 aces, 1 block). Annie Drews chipped in nine points (5 kills, 4 blocks) and Kim Hill also notched nine (7 kills, 2 aces). Tori Dixon (7), Rachael Adams (6) and Carli Lloyd (5) rounded out the scoring. Dixon downed seven kills and an ace, while Adams scored on four putaways, a block and an ace. Lloyd served up two aces as well.
Drews, Bartsch-Hackley, Hill, Adams and Dixon got the starts across the front with Lloyd dishing the ball and Kelsey Robinson playing libero. Murphy and Micha Hancock were the only other players to see the court for the USA.
Kseniia Parubets (12) and Irina Voronkova (10) paced the Russian attack, scoring all of their points on kills. Natalia Malykh chipped in five putaways. Angelina Lazarenko put up a team-leading two blocks, while Daria Ryseva notched two aces.
The United States slowly built a 9-5 lead in Set 1 as four different players turned in kills. The American lead stood at six (15-9) after Russia chipped in three errors, but the Russians slice the margin to two with four straight points including two aces. Hill answered with two aces and a Dixon kill and Murphy block helped push the USA lead to seven at 21-13. A Bartsch-Hackley putaway and Dixon ace gave the Americans the easy 25-14 win.
Set 2 was a much closer affair as the teams were within just one point at 11-10 midway through, that coming after Team USA used its balanced attack to surged ahead 9-5. An ace by Lloyd and putaways by Drews and Murphy highlighted a 7-3 run that put the Americans on top 18-13. The serve continued to give to the U.S. with Adams adding one to make it 21-15. Bartsch-Hackley sealed the 25-18 win with a pair of kills.
Russia did not go quietly, however, taking an early 6-3 lead in Set 3. The United States chipped away, however, eventually tying it up at 13-all as Hill, Bartsch-Hackley and Dixon chimed in offensively. At the second technical timeout, the Americans boasted a 16-15 advantage. Trailing 17-15 after a Lloyd ace, Russia scored three straight to go up 18-17. Team USA countered with a 8-0 run of its own including stuffs by Drews and Adams and a pair of Bartsch-Hackley aces to round out the 25-18 win and the match. Hill issued the final blow with a kill.
The Americans are set to face rival Brazil at 4 a.m. ET Wednesday in Jiangmen, China, while Russia will take on China.
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