Metcalf, Larson tear it up in USA win vs. Cuba

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 9, 2011) - Nancy Metcalf (Hull, Iowa) scored a match-high 18 points in leading the U.S. Women’s National Team to a 25-21, 25-16, 25-13 victory over Cuba Saturday evening in the bronze-medal match of the X Women’s Pan American Cup at Juarez, Mexico.

 

Top-ranked Brazil will face Dominican Republic, which defeated the Americans Friday night in the semifinals, later tonight in the gold-medal match.

 

In last year’s Pan American Cup semifinal, Dominican Republic defeated the U.S. in four sets as well and went on to win the gold medal. The Americans finished the 2010 Pan American Cup with the bronze medal after sweeping Cuba in the third-place match.

 

The U.S. reached one of its primary objectives of the tournament – berth into the 2012 FIVB World Grand Prix. By reaching the semifinals, the U.S. assured itself of qualification into the 2012 FIVB World Grand Prix. The top four NORCECA teams, Brazil and the top South American team other than Brazil in the final Pan American Cup standings earn berths into next year’s World Grand Prix.

 

The U.S. used a 3-0 run to break an early 4-all tie in the opening set, but its second 3-0 run of the set after Cuba crawled back to within one led to a 20-16 advantage en route to a 25-21 victory. Team USA rallied from an 8-6 deficit in the second set with a 10-2 scoring run to take a 16-10 advantage, the pressed forward to a 25-16 victory. The Americans, with only six errors through the first two sets, served four aces in the second set alone to create pressure on the Cuba service reception. The U.S. picked up a 4-1 lead in the third set and gained a commanding advantage at 10-4 in pushing through to a 25-13 victory.

 

"I am pretty glad of Nancy Metcalf's performance," U.S. Women’s National Team Head Coach Hugh McCutcheon (Christchurch, New Zealand) said. "She had some offensive momentums during the match. We have learned valuable lessons in this tournament and our main goal was our qualification to next year’s World Grand Prix."

 

Earlier in 2011, Cuba defeated Team USA in four sets during the Montreux Volley Masters semifinal round held in June.

 

Metcalf, who had started just one other match during the Pan American Cup that started July 1, tallied 15 kills on 22 swings, two aces and a block for her 18 points. The American middle blockers combined for 24 points in the victory. Foluke Akinradewo (Plantation, Fla.) totaled 11 kills on 14 errorless attacks and two blocks for 13 points, while captain Jennifer Tamas (Milpitas, Calif.) contributed seven kills on 10 attacks and a match-high four blocks for 11 points. Megan Hodge (Durham, N.C.) added nine points all on kills in the victory, while Jordan Larson (Hooper, Neb.) provided five kills, two blocks and an ace for eight points. Kim Glass (Lancaster, Pa.) rounded out the scoring with an ace.