Stanford grad Foluke Akinradewo did a bit of everything on the court for the U.S. women’s national volleyball team Saturday night.
The four-time collegiate All-American had four kills, two blocks and an ace for seven points in the Americans’ 25-17, 25-17, 25-17 victory over Puerto Rico on the second day of the Pan American Cup in Juarez, Mexico.
The U.S. (2-0) plays Trinidad & Tobago (0-2) in Pool B play on Sunday.
Nicole Fawcett led the Americans with 13 points o eight kills, four blocks and an ace.Nicole Davis added 10 digs. Team USA had a 12-4 advantage in blocks, 4-0 edge in aces and recorded a hitting percentage of .302.
Men’s volleyball
The U.S.men’s national team beat Puerto Rico, 25-13, 25-22, 25-19, in the final match of the FIVB World League on Saturday night in Long Beach.
The Americans (8-4) qualified for the league’s Final Round,which will be held in Gdandsk, Poland beginning Wednesday. Brazil (10-2) won Pool A, although both losses were to the U.S.
Russia, Argentina, Italy, Cuba, Bulgaria and Poland join the Americans and Brazil at the Final Round.
U.S. outside hitter Reid Priddy led all scorers with 15 points while Clay Stanley added 12 points.
“We’re happy to be moving on,” U.S. coach Alan Knipe said. “Our goal at the beginning of World League was to get better every match and qualify for the Final Round and we’ve done that.”
Beach volleyball
Stanford grad Matthew Fuerbringer and teammate Nick Lucena dropped a hotly-contested match to Switzerland’s Patrick Heuscher and Jefferson Bellaguarda, 21-18, 15-17, 16-14, in the first round of elimination play at the FIVB Swatch ConocoPhillips Grand Slam Stavanger in Norway on Saturday.
Americans April Ross and Jen Kessy won the women’s title.
The tour continues Monday with the Energy Grand Slam in Gstaad, Switzerland.
By Palo Alto Online Sports
By Palo Alto Online Sports
By Palo Alto Online Sports