COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. For the second night in a row, the U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team was edged by Brazil in five sets, this time by scores of 24-26, 25-17, 25-22, 20-25, 15-10 on Sept. 26 at Maringa, Brazil, as part of a four-match friendly exhibition tour of Brazil.
Brazil is currently ranked No. 1 by the FIVB in the world ranking, while the U.S. moved up two spots to No. 2 after claiming the 2010 FIVB World Grand Prix last month. During the FIVB World Grand Prix Final Round, Team USA edged Brazil in a hard-fought five-set match as it went on to win the gold medal without dropping a match.
Team USA's four-match tour of Brazil continues on Sept. 28 and Sept. 29 at Londrina with both match start times at 7 p.m. Both teams are using the friendly scrimmages as a chance to evaluate and fine tune their lineups for the upcoming FIVB World Championship, which takes place Oct. 29 to Nov. 14 in Japan.
Like the first night, Megan Hodge (Durham, N.C.) led the American offense with 20 points via 15 kills, three blocks and two aces while starting just the final three sets. Ogonna Nnamani (Bloomington, Ill.) matched Hodge's total with 20 points on 12 kills and match-high eight blocks. Jennifer Tamas (Milpitas, Calif.) reached double-figure scoring with seven kills on 14 attacks and three blocks for 10 points. Kim Glass (Lancaster, Pa.) scored eight kills and an ace for nine points while starting just the first two sets. Lauren Paolini (Ann Arbor, Mich.) contributed three kills, three aces and a block for seven points. Nellie Spicer (Barrington, Ill.) chipped in two aces and a kill for three points, while Jordan Larson (Hooper, Neb.) netted two kills in a reserve role. Stacy Sykora (Burleson, Texas) took reception of a team-leading 29 Brazil serves with a 72 positive percent.
Brazil converted 41 percent of its attacks into points and limited the U.S. to a 33 kill percent. Team USA held an 8-3 margin in aces and both teams were credited with 17 blocks.
for the complete press release, visit usavolleyball.org/news/article/38723.
