PARIS, France (July 29, 2024) – The U.S. women’s national team staged a gritty comeback before losing its opening match of the Paris Olympics to China, 3-2 (25-20, 25-19, 17-25, 20-25, 15-13) on Monday. China received two pool points for its victory, while the U.S. earned one point for scoring five points.
The United States entered the Olympics ranked fifth in the world, while China ranked sixth. The United States will face ninth-ranked Serbia at 8 a.m. PT on Wednesday (July 31).
MATCH STATISTICS
The United States finished the match with a 74-68 advantage in kills and 6-1 in aces, while recording just one fewer block (12-11). China benefited from 21 American errors, while committing only 11. Each team scored 102 points.
“The stats show how thin the margin is,” U.S. coach Karch Kiraly said. “We have to take care of some of those little plays.
“We have to make achievable moves. We did a lot of them. I want to congratulate our team for their ability to come back. It’s not easy to come back after a 0-2 against a very good Chinese team.”
Kiraly highlighted the play of libero Justine Wong-Orantes, who recorded a double-double with a game-high 17 digs and added 12 successful receptions.
He also praised setter Jordyn Poulter, who started all five sets after returning this season from a serious knee injury. Lauren Carlini also helped with the double substitution duties.
Opposite, Annie Drews led all players with 26 kills and 29 points, adding three blocks, hitting for a .353 save percentage.
“I think I can bring a presence that inspires those around me if I don’t get in my own way,” Drews said. “I’m focused on this tournament to be the best emotional version of myself and let the mistakes fly in the wind.”
The U.S. players called their replacements “Game Changers” and relied on Avery Skinner and Kathryn Plummer to turn the tide of the match against China. The pair helped the U.S. win the third and fourth sets to force a tiebreak.
Skinner scored 17 points on 15 kills and two aces, batting .400, and led all players with 17 catches. Plummer added 10 points on nine kills and one ace.
“They came out strong because they had nothing to lose,” middle blocker Haleigh Washington said. “I love that attitude. I love that energy. I think it speaks to the depth of our team.”
Washington and teammate Chiaka Ogbogu both reached double figures in points scored. Ogbogu had 13 points with nine kills and shared the game-high with four blocks. Washington finished with a match-high 11 points on five kills, three blocks and three aces.
On the outside, Kelsey Robinson Cook recorded 15 successful receptions and three kills.
China narrowly led 15-14 in the first set before a series of runs. Three straight points from China extended the lead to four, but the United States responded with a 3-0 run of their own to cut the deficit to one point. However, China took control of the set by scoring the next four points. Drews led the United States with five points on four kills and a block, and Larson and Cook each recorded three kills.
The second set was tied at 10 as China went on a 7-1 run starting with two consecutive blocks. The U.S. never got closer than a five-point deficit the rest of the set. Drews had seven kills in the set. Ogbogu scored four points on three kills and a block, and Washington added three points on two kills and a block.
With Skinner and Plummer starting the third set, the United States took an 8-5 lead. Still holding a three-point lead at 14-11, a superb recovery by Wong-Orantes led to a Skinner kill, then a Drews deflection made it 16-11 and forced a timeout. China came out of the timeout with the next three points, but a Drews kill and two straight points on passes over powerful Washington serves pushed the lead back to four, 18-14.
With a 20-16 lead, the USA reeled off four straight points with Drews, Plummer and Ogbogu all getting kills and Skinner serving an ace. Plummer finished the set with her third kill. Skinner led all players with eight points on seven kills and the ace, Drews scored six more points on five kills and a block, and Ogbogu contributed four points on three kills and a block.
The United States continued its momentum by scoring four of the first five points of the fourth set, forcing China into an early timeout. China then went on an 8-3 run to take an 11-9 lead and forced the United States into its first timeout. Still trailing by three points, 13-10, the United States went on a 7-1 run to take a 17-14 lead. China responded by scoring four of the next five points to tie the set at 18.
Poulter scored on a difficult ball to give the United States the lead again. A kill by Plummer and a hitting error by China made it 21-18. China came back to within one at 21-20, but a kill by Skinner, a called double on the Chinese setter and an ace by Washington made it 24-20. Drews then sent the match to the fifth set with her fifth kill of the set.
A kill from Drews gave the United States a 6-3 lead in the deciding set, but China also followed up with a 4-0 run. A kill from Skinner and an ace from Washington made it 8-7 for the United States as the teams switched ends. China scored the first four points after the change to take an 11-8 lead. The United States fended off two match points on a kill from Drews and another from Washington on an overpass before China ended the match with a kill. Drews again led the team, scoring six points on five kills and a block. Washington chipped in with a kill, a block and an ace.
US women’s team roster for Paris 2024 Olympics
No. Name (Pos., Ht., Hometown, College, USAV Region)
2 Jordyn Poulter (S, 6-2, Aurora, Colo., University of Illinois, Rocky Mountain)
3 Avery Skinner (OH, 6-1, Katy, Texas, University of Kentucky, Lone Star)
4 Justine Wong-Orantes (L, 5-6, Cypress, California, Univ. of Nebraska, Southern California)
7 Lauren Carlini (S, 6-2, Aurora, Illinois, University of Wisconsin, Great Lakes)
ten Jordan Larson (OH, 6-2, Hooper, Neb., University of Nebraska, Great Plains)
11 Annie Drews (Up, 6-4, Elkhart, Ind., Purdue Univ., Hoosier)
12 Jordan Thompson (Opp, 6-4, Edina, Minn., University of Cincinnati, North Country)
15 Haleigh Washington (MB, 6-3, Colorado Springs, CO, Penn State University, Rocky Mountain)
16 Dana Rettka (MB, 6-8, Riverside, Illinois, University of Wisconsin, Great Lakes)
22 Catherine Plummer (OH, 6-6, Aliso Viejo, Calif., Stanford University, Southern California)
23 Kelsey Robinson Cook (OH, 6-2, Bartlett, Illinois, University of Nebraska, Great Lakes)
24 Chiaka Obogu (MB, 6-2, Coppell, Texas, University of Texas, North Texas)
Replacements
1 Micah Hancock (S, 5-11, Edmond, Okla., Penn State University, Oklahoma)
6 Morgan Hentz (L, 5-9, Lakeside Park, Ky., Stanford University, Pioneer)
13 Sarah Wilhite Parsons (OH, 6-2, Eden Prairie, Minn., University of Minnesota, North Country)
14 Anna Stevenson Hall (MB, 6-2, Laurens, SC, University of Louisville, Palmetto)
29 Khalia Lanier (OH/Opp, 6-2, Scottsdale, Ariz., University of Southern California, Ariz.)
The head coach: King Karch
Assistant coaches: Tama Miyashiro, Virtue Erin, Alfee Reft
Coach consultant: Marv Dunphy
Physiotherapist/Sports Trainer: Kara Kessans
Strength and Conditioning Coach: Brandon Siakel
Performance Analyst: Rianne Verhoek
Leader: Coley Pawlikowski
Mental performance coach: Katy Stanfill
Cultural consultant: Sue Enquist
Dietitian: Shawn Hueglin
Massage therapist: Ricardo Brambila
Team doctor: Dr. Lori Boyajian-O’Neill
US Women’s Team Schedule for Paris 2024
(All times are Pacific Time)
July 29: China beats the United States 3-2 (25-20, 25-19, 17-25, 20-25, 15-13)
July 31 at 8:00 am USA vs Serbia
August 4 at 4am USA vs France
August 6 Quarter-finals
Semi-finals on August 8
August 10: Bronze Medal
August 12 Gold Medal