Unlike the opening match of the tournament when the Dominican Republic defeated Team USA 25-23, 24-26, 25-20, 25-17 on July 22, the gold-medal match was never in doubt as the Americans led nearly the entire contest. Dominican Republic served with set leads only eight times, and only three times in the final two sets in the early stages.
Gina Mancuso (Bellevue, Neb.), who only started the opening pool match against Dominican Republic during the tournament, led Team USA with 13 points with nine kills on 17 swings. Michelle Bartsch (Maryville, Ill.) added 12 points via with nine kills on 11 errorless swings, two blocks and an ace. Darcy Dorton (Muncie, Ind.) contributed nine kills and an ace for 10 points in the victory. Cat Highmark (Huntington Beach, Calif.) netted four blocks as part of six points from her setter position, while Katie Slay (Raleigh, N.C.) matched her totals with four blocks and six points. Lilla Frederick (Huntington Beach, Calif.) charted five points for the U.S., while Hayley Spelman (Las Vegas, Nev.) rounded out the scoring with two points.
Kristin Carpenter (Mechanicsville, Va.) tallied 13 excellent service receptions on 19 attempts to assist Team USA into a 40.0 kill percent. Overall, the U.S. compiled a 61.8 excellent service reception percent compared to Dominican Republic’s 56.9 percent.
At the conclusion of the tournament, Bartsch was selected as the tournament's Best Server.
Team USA, coached by three-time U.S. Olympian Paula Weishoff and assisted by Kim Jagd and John Corbelli, started Highmark at setter, Dorton and Frederick at outside hitter, Bartsch and Slay at middle blocker and Spelman at opposite. Carpenter served as the U.S. designated libero for the tournament. Mancuso subbed into the match in the opening set, then started the final two sets. Sha’Dare McNeal (Fallbrook, Calif.) was a sub in the second and third sets.
Read more
