The USA ladies completed a three-match sequence with the Netherlands with back-to-back sweeps, coming away with a 28-26, 25-18, 25-17 victory Sunday at Lengthy Seashore State’s Pyramid in a pre-Olympics volleyball tuneup for each groups.
Annie Drews led with 15 kills and 4 blocks. Kathryn Plummer had 13 kills and three blocks. Setter Jordyn Poulter had the crew’s solely two aces and a kill.
After opening with a 3-2 victory final Thursday, the Individuals then received 25-21, 25-20, 25-13 on Friday. Plummer led in that match with 20 kills whereas hitting .594 to go together with 4 blocks. Haleigh Washington added eight kills, hitting .533, and had six blocks and two aces.
“We’re ecstatic that our group is attending to a extremely good state of well being,” USA coach Karch Kiraly informed USA Volleyball. “For the primary time all season, we have been capable of begin the identical seven individuals for 2 consecutive matches (Friday and Sunday).”
The crew leaves for the Paris Olympics on July 20 and opens play July 29 in opposition to China. The competitors has three four-team swimming pools and the highest two in every pool plus two others get by to the spherical of 16. The USA’s second match is July 31 in opposition to Serbia and it finishes in opposition to France, a weak opponent that obtained an automated bid because the host nation. Barring a monumental upset by France in opposition to one of many different two groups, the Individuals have little margin for error.
“We did some good issues right here and likewise we see that we nonetheless have work to do,” Kiraly added. “We’re going to take these 15 days and enhance as a lot as we will after which throw every thing we’ve obtained at China and Serbia.”
Jim Wolf was available for the matches and his greatest pictures from Friday and Sunday observe. Click on on any picture to view full measurement: