Foluke Akinradewo competes at the FIVB Volleyball Nations League on May 31, 2018 in Bangkok.
The U.S. women wrapped up Week 3 of FIVB Volleyball Nations League play with a 25-10, 25-22, 25-16 win over host Thailand to improve to 8-1 overall in preliminary pool play on Thursday.
The U.S. women — ranked second in the world and first in the Nations League standings since the second week of action — have a total of 25 points and have won their last seven matches in a row leading into Week 4 in China, where they’ll face Russia, Brazil and the host beginning on June 5.
U.S. captain Jordan Larson led the team with 15 points, Kim Hill had 13 kills and Annie Drews totaled 12 points in the win as four players scored in double-digits.
“What an awesome environment it was to play here,” Larson said. “It was just a great match to be a part of and I’m really proud of our team. We’re continuing to work on some things and we’re getting better every day. We have a tough team coming up, but I’m confident with our team and I’m excited to keep going.”
On Wednesday, it was Michelle Bartsch-Hackley who led the team with 19 points in a 25-20, 25-23, 25-21 win over the Dominican Republic. The two teams were tied 10-10 in the opening set, but the U.S. pushed ahead to build up a seven-point lead before taking the win. The Americans had to come from behind in the second set then in the third saw the score tied, 19-19, before a late run gave them what they needed to seal the victory.
Kim Hill had 16 kills, Lauren Gibbenmeyer had nine with a block and an ace and Kelly Murphy had 10 kills.
To open the week on Tuesday, the U.S. cruised past Germany, 25-18, 25-17, 25-17. Bartsch-Hackley once again paced the team with 16 points coming on 15 kills and a block. Murphy had 12 points and Larson had 10 points in the win.
The tournament has a five-week preliminary round robin schedule. The top five teams from the preliminary standings plus host China will compete in the final round.
Karen Price is a reporter from Pittsburgh who has covered Olympic sports for various publications. She is a freelance contributor to TeamUSA.org on behalf of Red Line Editorial, Inc.
