Stanford grad Foluke Akinradewo scored 13 points on nine kills and four blocks and the U.S. women’s national volleyball team defeated Brazil, 25-23, 26-28, 25-21, 25-18, in the FIVB Volleyball Nations League in Jiangmen, China on Wednesday to clinch one of the six spots in the Finals Round, which gets underway on June 27 in Nanjing, China.
Lauren Gibbemeyer and Jordan Larson each contributed 16 points for the Americans (10-1, 31 points), who play reigning Olympic champion China on Thursday morning.
“We are excited about playing China,” Larson said. “I think it will be an amazing crowd, and we are just excited to be here in China. It has been a tough week so far, but we are excited for tomorrow.”
The second-ranked U.S. had its record 25-set winning streak come to an end in the second set as the No.4 Brazil earned a 28-26 victory. It’s nine-match winning streak remains intact heading into Thursday’s match.
The U.S. has won nine consecutive world-level major tournament matches for the first time since a run of nine straight wins in the 2016 FIVB World Grand Prix. Brazil entered the match riding a nine-match win streak after losing its VNL opener to Germany.
After losing the second set, the Americans made some adjustments on defense and in the service game.
“We just had to refocus and make some changes on defense,” Larson said in regards to coming back after the second-set loss. “I thought we were in system a little bit more, and our serving pressure definitely picked up a lot more. That helped us rebound and come back stronger in the third set.”
In the first set, Brazil took a four-point advantage at 11-6 with five unanswered points before the U.S. rallied to within 15-14.
Team USA tied the set at 15-all with an Akinradewo kill to cap a 3-0 American run. Larson hammered a cross-court winner and put up a block on consecutive plays to put the U.S. in front 17-16 at a Brazil timeout.
Brazil tied the set at 23-all before Akinradewo served an ace to give the Americans a set point and Brazil hit long to give Team USA a 25-23 win.
In the second set, Brazil was the first to reach set point at 24-23 in reversing the lead. Akinradewo downed a kill and put up a block to save a second set point and place the Americans in front 26-25. Brazil saved the set point and went in front 27-26 on back-to-back points and then won, 28-26.
Brazil took a 12-8 edge in the third set and it was tied at 21 before the U.S. recorded the final four points.
The Americans, who had lost 10 of their previous 12 world-level tournament matches to Brazil, led by as much as 16-9 in the third set and held on to win, 25-18.
“We really respect the Brazilian Federation and their team,” Larson said. “Obviously a win is a win. It is always fun to compete. I don’t think there is an edge, but I am just excited for another opportunity to play them. They are a great team, a fun competitor to play against.”
By Palo Alto Online Sports/USA Volleyball
By Palo Alto Online Sports/USA Volleyball
By Palo Alto Online Sports/USA Volleyball