The USA girls completed the primary spherical of Volleyball Nations League with a sweep of the Dominican Republic.
Now it’s the lads’s flip.
A USA crew of reserves — the Olympians and coach John Speraw are staying residence — goes to Antalya, Türkiye, and opens play Wednesday in opposition to Poland. The remainder of the lads’s subject will get going Tuesday. In Antalya, Bulgaria performs France and Türkiye faces Canada, and in Rio de Janeiro, the place the ladies simply wrapped up, Argentina performs Japan and Cuba performs Brazil.
Wednesday earlier than the USA match, the Netherlands performs Slovenia and in Rio, Germany performs Italy and Iran performs Serbia.
The USA girls grinded to a 25-23, 25-20, 25-18 victory Sunday over the Dominicans as Avery Skinner had 18 kills and 10 digs. The opposite outdoors, Jordan Larson, had 9 kills, hit .350, and had two aces to go along with 13 digs. Sarah Parsons, who had an ace and a solo block, and Chiaka Ogbogu had seven kills every. Ogobogu had 5 solo blocks.
Setter Jordyn Poulter had 11 digs and two kills.
The USA, which opened with a four-set win over Thailand, misplaced in 4 to each China and Brazil.
Definitely a really combined week with a few disappointing losses to China after which to Brazil,” USA coach Karch Kiraly stated. “We actually struggled to generate the form of offense we want to and aspire to perform in zone 2 and zone 1, overhead, behind the setter, entrance row and again row.
“So there stays loads of work to be accomplished on that entrance.”
A lot of the 14 gamers in Rio bought court docket time and, for that matter, Kiraly used one lineup in opposition to Thailand after which virtually a totally completely different one in opposition to China.
The crew is headed again to the coaching fitness center in Anaheim.
“We’ve had numerous folks arrive within the fitness center within the final seven working days or so, folks like Haleigh Washington and Khalia Lanier and Kathryn Plummer and Kelsey Cook dinner from Imoco Conegliano, the very best crew on the planet, and Dana Rettke, too. So you’ll anticipate to see some completely different faces for week two in Texas.”
The second spherical of VNL is at UT Arlington, the positioning of final yr’s finals. The USA performs Canada — Canada’s a scorching crew proper now,” Kiraly stated — on Might 28, has two days off, after which performs Bulgaria, Poland and Türkiye.
“We’ll solely have a few days to apply this week the place we will combine these folks. It would come quick and livid and we’ve bought our work lower out for us, however I’m excited that we are going to have everyone who’s with our program collectively Wednesday for the primary time for a crew assembly and a apply.”
Kiraly stated the Serbians will probably be in Anaheim and they’re going to scrimmage the People on Friday after which they’ll head to Arlington on Sunday.
The 12-player, one-alternate USA males’s Olympics roster is staying again in Anaheim for the primary spherical, Speraw stated (Click on right here for our story concerning the USA roster).
“We are able to get some expertise for some gamers who haven’t many alternatives to compete in VNL, however the roster has some expertise in Jake Hanes, Josh Tuaniga and Kyle Dagostino.
“This is a vital week for us when it comes to restoration and preparation for the fellows on the Olympic crew,” Speraw stated. “And in addition for these younger gamers to go get wins in VNL to make sure that we qualify for the VNL finals.
“This summer time’s VNL goes to require an entire and whole crew effort from all the 30-man VNL roster.”
Speraw stated that Andy Reed goes to function the top coach in Türkiye whereas Speraw stays with the Olympians.
