The USA girls stored themselves within the driver’s seat with a four-set victory over Korea on Wednesday within the Highway to Paris qualifier in Lodz, Poland.
Now, at 4-0, they get a time off after which play three matches in a row towards Italy (4-0), Poland (3-1) and Germany (3-0). If the USA wins two of the three, they’re however assured a spot within the Paris 2024 Olympics. The USA received the gold medal on the final Olympics in Tokyo.
We’ve received the hardest matches, on paper, but to come back, with the highest-ranked groups, Italy, Poland and Germany,” USA coach Karch Kiraly stated.
Coming into the match, the USA was ranked No. 2 on the earth, Italy No. 5, Poland No. 7 and Germany No. 12.
Wednesday, the Individuals misplaced the primary set however then overpowered Korea (0-4) 20-25, 25-17, 25-19, 25-17. Jordan Thompson led with 20 kills, three blocks, three aces and 9 digs.
Each outsides had been sturdy as Kelsey Robinson had 12 kills, a block and a match-high 16 digs. Jordan Larson had 9 kills, two blocks, an ace and 14 digs. Libero Justine Wong-Orantes had 13 digs.
“We’ve put collectively a robust passing lineup with Jordan and Kelsey and Justine,” Kiraly stated. “They’ve been doing a pleasant job of maintaining our offense going.
“That’s a giant focus of ours, to play the strongest side-out sport attainable as a result of if we facet out at a pleasant degree — earned facet out, not counting the factors we get when the opposite staff serves out — however earned facet outs, if we will do this on a very constant foundation then we’re going to be in any match, even when we occur to search out ourselves struggling to attain factors once we serve, block and defend.”
Dana Rettke ahd 9 kills, two blocks and an ace and setter Lauren Carlini had three kills and a block. Her staff hit .316.
“Korea threw so much at us with their scrappy protection and difficult serves,” Thompson stated. “We simply must settle in and discover our rhythm after the primary set.”
Korea’s Sohwi Kang had 13 kills and Seungju Peo had 11. Yeongyeon had 14 digs.
Additionally Wednesday in Pool C, Italy swept Colombia (0-4), Thailand (1-3) surprised Poland in 5 and Germany received previous Slovenia (0-3) in 5. Thailand’s Ajcharaporn Kongyot had 19 kills, whereas Magdalena Stysiak had 24 for Poland.
In Pool A, Canada pulled off a surprising five-set upset of China in Beijing, the Dominican Republic swept Mexico and Serbia beat Czechia in 4. Canada received 26 kills from Kiera Van Ryk and 23 from former BYU star Alexa Grey. China’s Yingying Li had 25 kills, three blocks and two aces.
In Pool B, Brazil swept Puerto Rico and Japan did the identical to Bulgaria.
The USA opened with a sweep of Colombia on Saturday after which swept Thailand on Sunday. Tuesday, the Individuals beat Slovenia in 4.
“Thus far the group has been doing a very nice job right here,” Kiraly stated. “We took care of enterprise towards Colombia, after which we noticed them take a set off Germany they usually had been up 22-20 within the second. So we’ve seen every kind of attention-grabbing issues occur each in our qualifier right here in Poland but additionally elsewhere, like Canada beating China in 5 on their house court docket and Thailand as we speak beating Poland in 5 on their house court docket. Something can occur right here.
“We’re fully understanding how any opponent can put collectively an awesome sport or a number of video games and even a match. We’re prepared for something and also you’ve received to present quite a lot of credit score to the group that’s right here.”
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