RECENT NATIONAL MEDIA COVERAGE:The U.S. Women’s National Team has been prominently featured in national publications over the past week. Sports Illustrated ran a story on U.S. Women’s National Team Head Coach Hugh McCutcheon (Christchurch, New Zealand) in both its online publication and the Feb. 13 print issue (page 32). The print version featured an eye-catching photo of Destinee Hooker (San Antonio, Texas) blasting an attack past Italy in the 2011 FIVB World Cup. To read the online story,click here. Meanwhile, Stacy Sykora (Burleson, Texas) was the feature of two articles by ESPN.com (Feb. 9 – click here) and the print and online editions of the Dallas Morning News (Feb. 11 – web version requires subscription). For more U.S. Women’s National Team media articles, selected online press clippings can be viewed by clicking here.
RECORD TURNOUT AT WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM OPEN TRYOUT: A record 207 athletes participate in the U.S. Women’s National Team Open Tryouts held Feb. 10-12 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. The athletes were trying out for possible spots on the U.S. Women’s National Team, in addition to the U.S. Women’s National A2 Team in which all 48 spots will be determined through the tryout. Among the 207 tryout participants representing 73 different colleges were 55 outside hitters, 49 middle blockers, 44 liberos, 37 setters and 22 opposites. The 2012 tryouts are open to current college-age athletes and older. Athletes in college and with collegiate eligibility remaining for the 2012 collegiate season not selected to join the U.S. Women’s National Team may be invited to participate with the U.S. Women’s Senior A2 program. This program is scheduled to take place in Columbus, Ohio, from June 26 through July 5. A projected 48 athletes will be invited to participate in the program, which will include training and four-team competition held in conjunction with the USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior National Championships from July 1-4. For the roster, click here. For photo galleries of the tryout, visit click here.
198 WOMEN’S INTERNATIONAL TRANSFERS PROCESSED: USA Volleyball has released an updated list of 312 processed international transfers allowing United States citizens to play volleyball in other countries. The 312 transfers include 198 transfers for female volleyball players and 114 male volleyball players. On the women’s side, 27 of the most recent transfers processed were to compete in the Puerto Rican Super League, which started in late January. The list of athletes transferring to Puerto Rico include 2008 Olympian Kim Willoughby (Napoleonville, La.), along with U.S. Women’s National Team members Angie Forsett (Lake Mary, Fla.), Jessica Jones (Naperville, Ill.), Courtney Thompson (Kent, Wash.) and a handful of others who have trained at the USA National Team Center in Anaheim, Calif. The updated transfer list also includes 2008 Olympic Games beach player Nicole Branagh (Orinda, Calif.) signing to play for Azerrail Baku in the Azerbaijan Super League. Azerrail is currently in the CEV Champions League 4th Final Round (quarterfinals). On the women’s side, U.S. athletes have transferred to 26 different countries to compete in pro leagues led by Puerto Rico’s 31 transfers and Switzerland’s 26 transfers. A total of 18 American females have transferred to Germany, 15 to Italy, 14 to France, 13 to Austria and 11 to both Azerbaijan and Sweden. For the complete press release, visitusavolleyball.org/news/article/46622.
TOM WITH FENERBAHCE UNIVERSAL IN TURKEY: U.S. Women’s National Team outside hitter Logan Tom (Salt Lake City, Utah) is competing for Fenerbahce Universal of the Turkish League in 2011-2012. Fenerbahce dominated Ilbank Spor Kulubu on Feb. 12 as Tom contributed eight kills with only one error on 15 attacks to go with an impressive eight aces on 20 serves. Tom added a 60 positive reception percent on five attempts. In the first set, Tom had a service run starting at 15-9 and served out the set’s final 10 points with six aces and a back-row kill for the set winner. For a video clip of Tom’s first set service run, click here. Fenerbahce, 17-0 on the regular season with 51 points, plays Nilufer VitrA on Feb. 25 in its next Turkish League match. In CEV Champions League action, Fenerbahce completed the home-and-home series sweep of VK Modranska Prostejov in the 8th Final Round by winning 27-25, 25-19, 25-14 on Feb. 9. Tom collected nine kills on 20 attacks with just one error to go with three blocks and an ace for 13 points. In the process, Tom produced a 67 positive reception percent on 18 chances. For a photo gallery of the match, click here. Fenerbahce advances to the 4th Final Round, or quarterfinals, to play 2011 CEV Champions League runnerup and 2011 FIVB Club World Championship gold medalist Rabita Baku in a home-and-home series between Feb. 21 and March 1. In the Turkish Cup, Fenerbahce Universal will face Ted Ankara Koleji on Feb. 14.
HOOKER WITH SOLLYS/NESTLE IN BRAZIL: Destinee Hooker (San Antonio, Texas) is competing for Sollys/Nestle in the Brazil Superliga during the 2011-2012 club season. Sollys/Nestle handled Rio Do Sul 25-21, 25-19, 25-13 on Feb. 7 as Hooker provided a match-high 12 points, including nine kills on 20 attacks. Sollys/Nestle dispatched Sao Bernardo 25-17, 25-15, 25-10 on Feb. 10. Hooker contributed nine points with eight kills on 18 swings. With its two victories and Volei Futuro’s upset loss to Banana Boat, Sollys/Nestle moved into second place with a 12-3 record and 37 points. Sollys/Nestle will challenge Banana Boat in the fifth round on Feb. 14, followed by a Feb. 16 match against Macae Sports To follow Hooker in social media platforms, click here for her blog and click here for her Facebook athlete page.
SYKORA WITH VOLEI FUTURO IN BRAZIL: Stacy Sykora (Burleson, Texas) has returned to Brazil to compete with her club team Volei Futuro in the Brazil Superliga. Sykora returned to the court for her first official appearance on Jan. 20 after suffering serious injuries in an April 2011 bus accident as Volei Futuro was traveling to a post-season match in the Brazil Superliga. Volei Futuro blanked Sao Bernardo 32-30, 25-17, 25-19 on Feb. 7. Sykora was the starting libero in the match. However, Volei Futuro dropped a heartbreaking five-setter 19-25, 25-18, 15-25, 25-15, 16-14 to Banana Boat on Feb. 10 in a match Sykora did not compete in. Volei Futuro dropped down to third place in the standings with a 12-3 record and 36 points. Volei Futuro returns to action on Feb. 13 against Macae Sports and Usiminas on Feb. 16.
SCOTT-ARRUDA WITH SAO BERNARDO IN BRAZIL: Danielle Scott-Arruda (Baton Rouge, La.), a four-time Olympian for the U.S. Women’s National Team and attempting to become just the third women’s volleyball to compete in five Olympics, signed midway through the 2011-2012 season to play for Sao Bernardo in the Brazil Superliga. Sao Bernardo lost to Volei Futuro 32-30, 25-17, 25-19 on Feb. 7. Scott-Arruda scored 10 points with eight kills on 24 attacks, one block and one ace. Sollys/Nestle defeated Sao Bernardo 25-17, 25-15, 25-10 on Feb. 10. Scott-Arruda was limited to just two points. Sao Bernardo, now 4-11 on the season with 13 points for ninth place, will face Unilever on Feb. 13 and Sao Caetano on Feb. 16.
LARSON WITH DINAMO KAZAN IN RUSSIA: U.S. Women’s National Team outside hitter Jordan Larson (Hooper, Neb.) is competing for Dinamo Kazan of the Russia Super League. Kazan defeated Odintsovo 25-23, 25-23, 25-19 on Feb. 12 to remain in first place in the Russia Super League with a 14-2 record and 40 points. Larson collected 10 points with eight kills on 20 swings, one block and one ace. Kazan (14-2, 40 points) faces Omichka on Feb. 16, followed by a Feb. 18 match against 11th-place Khabarovsk (2-14, 8 points). In CEV Champions League action, Kazan dominated Dresdner SC for the second match in the 8th Final Round home-and-home series. Kazan scored a 25-22, 25-16, 25-16 victory on Feb. 9 to advance to the 4th Final Round against Azerbaijan’s Azerrail Baku in a home-and-home series played Feb. 21 to March 1. Larson notched eight points in the second match with six kills on 17 attacks, one ace and a block. She added an 85 positive percent and 60 excellent percent on a team-high 20 service receptions. For a photo gallery of the match, click here. To read Larson’s blog, click here.
AKINRADEWO WITH DINAMO KRASNODAR IN RUSSIA: U.S. Women’s National Team middle blocker Foluke Akinradewo (Plantation, Fla.) is competing for Dinamo Krasnodar of the Russia Super League in 2011-2012. Krasnodar (10-6, 32 points) lost for the third straight time in the Russia Super League after falling to Tyumen Tyumen 25-19, 21-25, 25-16, 25-13 on Feb. 12. Akinradewo scored four points all on kills from 10 swings. Krasnodar , now in fourth place, looks to break the losing streak against Uralochka-NTMK on Feb. 16, followed by a Feb. 19 match against Odintsovo. In CEV Cup action, Krasnodar defeated SVS Post Schwechat 25-22, 25-21, 25-23 on Feb. 7 to sweep its 4th Final Round home-and-home series to advance to the next round. Akinradewo charted seven kills on 15 attacks and five blocks for 12 points in the victory. Schwechat competed with Americans Jenna Hagglund (two kills), Brittnee Cooper (two kills, one block) and Kayla Banwarth (87 positive reception percent on 15 attempts). Krasnador will now play 2004 Tomis Constanta Feb. 21-March 1 in the Challenge Round.
KIM GLASS, SPICER WITH RABITA BAKU IN AZERBAIJAN: U.S. Women’s National Team outside hitter Kim Glass (Lancaster, Pa.) and setter Nellie Spicer (Barrington, Ill.) are competing for Rabita Baku of the Azerbaijan Super League. In CEV Champions League action, Rabita Baku had its back against the wall needing a win in the second match against Atom Trefl Sopot in the 8th Final Round, then capture the golden set immediately afterwards to advance to the next round. Rabita did just that by rallying in the full match to win 21-25, 25-14, 25-20, 25-20 on Feb. 9. After serving as the backup setter much of the season, Spicer earned the start and paced Rabita to a 41 kill percent and added a kill and block for two points. Glass did not play in the match. Rabita then pocketed the golden set 15-6 after jumping to leads of 5-2 and 10-3. For a photo gallery of the match, click here. Rabita, the 2011 CEV Champions League runner-up, will now face Turkey’s Fenerbahce Universal Istanbul in the CEV 4th Final Round, or the equivalent to the quarterfinals. Rabita Baku was idle in the last round of the Azerbaijan Super League held on Feb. 12. Rabita is in third place in the league by points with 10, but is the only undefeated team with a 5-0 record (Baki is 5-2 with 12 points, Azerrail is 5-1 with 11 points).
BOWN, TAMAS, BRANAGH WITH AZERRAIL BAKU IN AZERBAIJAN: U.S. Women’s National Team middle blockers Heather Bown (Yorba Linda, Calif.) and Jennifer Tamas (Milpitas, Calif.) are playing for Azerrail Baku in the Azerbaijan Super League in 2011-2012. Meanwhile, beach volleyball star Nicole Branagh (Orinda, Calif.) recently signed to play for Azerrail. Azerrail (5-1) defeated Lokomotiv Bileceri 25-15, 25-14, 25-19 on Feb. 12 Azerrail defeated Volero Zurich 25-17, 25-18, 25-14 on Feb. 9 to sweep its CEV Champions League 8th Final Round home-and-home series with Volero Zurich. Bown tallied 10 kills on 13 errorless swings to go with a block for 11 points. Tamas was a sub in both the first and second sets. For a photo gallery of the match, click here. Azerrail Baku now advances to the 4th Final Round to play Russia’s Dinamo Kazan in a home-and-home series played Feb. 21 to March 1.
METCALF, THOMAS WITH LOKOMOTIV BAKU IN AZERBAIJAN: U.S. Women’s National Team opposite Nancy Metcalf (Hull, Iowa) and middle blocker Elisha Thomas (Grass Valley, Calif.) are playing for Lokomotiv Baku of the Azerbaijan Super League in 2011-2012. Lokomotiv Baku lost to Baki 20-25, 25-20, 27-25, 25-14 on Feb. 12 to fall to 3-3 in the league and in fourth place. In CEV Cup action, Lokomotiv dominated Vizura Beograd 25-18, 25-7, 25-19 on Feb. 8 in its second match of the 8th Final Round home-and-home series. Lokomotiv trailed for only three points in the entire match – yielding the first point of each set to Vizura before grabbing the lead back quickly. Lokomotiv now advances to the 4th Final Round to face Kralovo Pole Brno in a home-and-home series Feb. 21-March 1.
HANEEF-PARK WITH IGTISADCHI BAKU IN AZERBAIJAN: U.S. Women’s National Team opposite Tayyiba Haneef-Park (Laguna Hills, Calif.) is playing in the Azerbaijan Super League with Igtisadchi Baku in 2011-2012. Igtisadchi stopped Azeryolservis 25-13, 25-20, 25-27, 25-17 on Feb. 12 in the Azerbaijan Super League. Haneef-Park scored 15 points with 14 kills on 37 attacks and an ace. American teammate Jen Doris started the third and fourth sets registering five points with two kills, two aces and a block. With the victory, Igtisadchi improved to 3-3 in the Super League and is in fifth place.
BERG, WILSON WITH VILLA CORTESE IN ITALY: U.S. Women’s National Team setter Lindsey Berg (Honolulu) and past U.S. National Team player Makare Wilson (Gardena, Calif.) are playing for MC-Carnaghi Villa Cortese in the Italian Serie A1 in 2011-2012. Villa Cortese completed the CEV Champions League 8th Final Round home-and-home series with a 25-15, 25-22, 25-23 on Feb. 9 victory over Dinamo Moscow to advance to the 4th Final Round. After missing some matches, Berg returned to the lineup to set Villa Cortese to a 53 kill percent with only nine team attack errors on 96 attempts. She added a kill and block in the victory, while Wilson chipped in 10 points with five kills, four blocks and an ace. For a photo gallery of the match, click here. “That match was extremely important to us,” Berg said. “We had worked hard to prepare it carefully and we are evidently happy with the result.” Villa Cortese will now play Italian rival Volley Bergamo in the quarterfinal round in a home-and-home series played between Feb. 21 and March 1. Villa Cortese lost to Norda Foppapedretti Bergamo 25-17, 25-23, 25-20 on Feb. 12. Berg set her team to a 37 kill percent and Wilson scored seven points with four kills and three blocks. Villa Cortese, which remains in second place with a 13-3 record and 38 points, returns to Serie A1 action on Feb. 19 against eighth-place Scavolini Pesaro (6-8, 18 points).
LLOYD WITH BUSTO ARSIZIO IN ITALY: U.S. Women’s National Team setter Carli Lloyd (Bonsall, Calif.) is playing for Yamamay Busto Arsizio of the Italian Serie A1 for the 2011-2012 season. . In CEV Cup action, Busto Arsizio bounced back from a 4th Final Round home-and-home series loss to Aluprof Bielsko-Biala with a 23-25, 25-17, 25-14, 25-19 victory on Feb. 9 to force a deciding golden set in Busto Arsizio. Lloyd helped propel Busto Arsizio to a 15-13 victory in the golden set to advance to the next round. For a photo gallery of the match, visit click here. Busto Arsizio will face ASPTT Mulhouse in the Challenge Round Feb. 21-March 1. Yamamay Busto Arsizio remains undefeated in the Italian Serie A1 division with a 15-0 record and 44 points after sweeping Riso Scotti Pavia 25-11, 25-17, 25-19 on Feb. 11. Lloyd did not play in the match against winless Pavia. Busto Arsizio will seek win No. 16 on Feb. 19 against Nordmeccanica Piacenza.
BARBOZA, HARMOTTO WITH MODENA IN ITALY: U.S. Women’s National Team outside hitter Cynthia Barboza (Long Beach, Calif.) and middle blocker Christa Harmotto (Hopewell, Pa.) are competing for LIU-JO Modena of the Italian Serie A1 in 2011-2012. Modena was idle this past week in the 11-team Serie A1 division. Modena (5-10, 17 points) will return to the court on Feb. 19 against 10th-place Chieri Torino (2-12, 6 points).
DAVIS, RICHARDS WITH PIACENZA IN ITALY: U.S. Women’s National Team libero Nicole Davis (Stockton, Calif.) and outside hitter Kristin Richards (Orem, Utah) are part of the Italian Serie A1 Rebecchi Nordmeccanica Piacenza squad in 2011-2012. Piacenza dropped a 16-25, 25-23, 25-21, 25-23 match to seventh-place Cariparma SiGrade Parma on Feb. 11. Davis provided her team with a 71 positive reception percent on 31 attempts. Richards was absent from the team attending to family matters in the United States. Piacenza (8-8, 22 points), now in sixth place, looks to rebound from the loss against top-ranked Yamamay Busto Arsizio (15-0, 44 points) on Feb. 19 in a match that can be viewed on Diretta Sportube.tv.
KLINEMAN WITH PESARO IN ITALY: U.S. Women’s National Team outside hitter Alix Klineman (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) is competing for Scavolini Pesaro of the Italian Serie A1 in the 2011-2012 club season. In CEV Champions League action, Pesaro lost for the second time against Volley Bergamo in the 8th Final Round, this time a 25-14, 24-26, 25-17, 27-25 loss on Feb. 9. Klineman contributed 12 kills on a team-high 46 attacks to go with a kill and block for 14 points. She also handled 26 service receptions with a 54 positive percent. For a photo gallery of the match, click here. With the loss, Pesaro drops out of the hunt for the CEV Champions League title. Pesaro’s regularly scheduled fifth round match versus third-place Chateau d’Ax Urbino Volley (10-3, 30 points) was pushed to Feb. 15, while its sixth round match versus Asystel Volley Novara was moved to Feb. 22.
PAOLINI WITH ICOS CREMA IN ITALY: U.S. Women’s National Team middle blocker Lauren Paolini (Ann Arbor, Mich.) is playing for Icos Crema Volley in the Italian Serie A2 Division for 2011-2012. Icos Crema swept Time Volley Matera 25-21, 25-16, 25-10 on Feb. 12 as Paolini performed nearly perfectly. She tallied 11 kills on 12 errorless attacks for a .917 hitting efficiency to go with two blocks for 13 points. Icos Crema (15-4, 45 points), which is third in the standings, challenges ninth-place IHF Volley Frosinone (8-10, 23 points) on Feb. 19 in its next Serie A2 match.
GIBBEMEYER WITH TOYOTA AUTO BODY IN JAPAN: U.S. Women’s National Team middle blocker Lauren Gibbemeyer is playing for Toyota Auto Body of the Japan V-League during the 2011-2012 club season. Toyota lost to Toray 25-23, 25-19, 18-25, 25-20 on Feb. 11. Gibbemeyer notched 19 kills on 31 attacks with just one error for a .581 hitting efficiency to go with two blocks for 21 overall points. On the following day, Hisamitsu Springs defeated Toyota 25-21, 25-17, 25-17 as Gibbemeyer pocketed 10 points with nine kills and an ace. Sixth-place Toyota (4-11) travels to Yamagata on Feb. 18 and Feb. 19 for matches against seventh-place Pioneer (4-11) and second-place Toray (12-3).
HODGE, ALISHA GLASS WITH POLAND’S ATOM TREFL SOPOT: U.S. Women’s National Team outside hitter Megan Hodge (Durham, N.C.) and setter Alisha Glass (Leland, Mich.), both Penn State University products, are playing for Poland’s Atom Trefl Sopot in 2011-2012. Sopot (14-3) topped KPSK Stal Mielec 25-15, 21-25, 25-12, 25-19 on Feb. 12 in PlusLiga regular season action. Hodge tallied 11 points on 10 kills and a block while contributing a 59 positive reception percent on a team-high 27 chances. Glass did not compete in the match. Sopot will start the PlusLiga playoffs on Feb. 14 against Budowlani Lodz, while the second match will be played Feb. 17. If necessary, the tiebreaking match will be played on Feb. 18. In CEV Champions League action, Sopot lost to Rabita Baku 21-25, 25-14, 25-20, 25-20 on Feb. 9 evening the 8th Final Round home-and-home series forcing a golden set to decide which team advanced to the 4th Final Round. Rabita continued its dominance moments later in the golden set, winning 15-6 to shut Sopot out of the Champions League race. For a photo gallery of the match, click here. “Baku is just a great place for playing Volleyball and the fans confirmed this again today. Rabita is a very strong team and I have to congratulate our opponents on their win,” Glass said. To read Glass’ blog, click here.
MIYASHIRO, LICHTMAN, CRIMES WITH POLAND’S BKS ALUPROF BIELSKO-BIALA:U.S. Women’s National Team middle blocker Alexis Crimes (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.), spiker Cassidy Lichtman (Poway, Calif.) and libero Tamari Miyashiro (Kaneohe, Hawaii) are competing for BKS Aluprof Bielsko Biala in the Poland Plus Liga. Bielsko-Biala rallied past KS Palac Bydgoszcz 21-25, 25-21, 28-26, 25-18 on Feb. 12. Miyashiro handled 15 service receptions with a 53 positive percent and 40 excellent percent. Lichtman was a sub in the third set as Crimes did not suit for the match. Bielsko Biala starts the PlusLiga playoffs on Feb. 14 against with a quick rematch against KS Palac Bydgoszcz. The second match in the series will be played Feb. 17, while the tie-breaking match will be played Feb. 18 if necessary. In the CEV Cup 4th Final Round, Bielsko-Biala played Italian Serie A1 leader Yamamay Busto Arsizio in the second match of a home-and-home series on Feb. 9 with needing just a victory to advance. However, Busto Arsizio stopped Bielsko-Biala 23-25, 25-17, 25-14, 25-19 in the match to force a deciding golden set to decide which team advanced to the Challenge Round. Busto Arsizio edged Bielsko-Biala 15-13 in the golden set to end Bielsko-Biala’s CEV Cup run. For a photo gallery of the match, click here.
THOMPSON, JONES, FORSETT WITH CATANO IN PUERTO RICO: U.S. Women’s National Team setter Courtney Thompson (Kent, Wash.), outside hitter Angie Forsett (Lake Mary, Fla.) and middle blocker Jessica Jones (Naperville, Ill.) are playing for Catano in the Puerto Rico Super League. Catano played three matches last week, splitting a pair of five-set matches before losing the final contest in the three sets. On Feb. 6, Catano defeated Ponce 25-19, 13-25, 23-25, 25-20, 15-13 as Forsett scored 20 points to go with 15 digs and 12 receptions. Jones added 13 points, while Thompson provided 15 assists, 19 digs, three blocks and an ace in the victory. However, Catano was not as fortunate on Feb. 8 as Guaynabo battled back for a five-set win (26-24, 17-25, 22-25, 25-18, 15-13) over Catano. Forsett tallied 17 kills as part of a 20-point, 13-dig effort, while Jones contributed 12 kills, five blocks and an ace for 18 points. Thompson tallied 15 assists and 22 digs in the loss. Corozal got the best of Catano in a 25-23, 25-19, 25-23 match on Feb. 10. Forsett scored 13 points and Jones added 10 points, while Thompson provided six assists and 13 digs. Catano is now 6-4 in the league.
OTHER AMERICAN HIGHLIGHTS IN PUERTO RICO: Airial Salvo scored 21 points for Ponce in its five-set loss to Catano on Feb. 6, while American teammates Kelsey Black and Meagan Ganzer each tallied 19 points in the loss…Stephanie Neimer contributed a match-high 26 points in leading Mayaguez to a four-set win over Carolina on Feb. 6. Blair Brown added 10 points in the victory and Sydney Anderson provided 35 assists, 12 digs and two kills. In the loss, Morgan Beck scored 22 points for Carolina, followed by Diane Copenhagen’s 11 points and Kristen Dozier’s seven kills…Shonda Cole hammered home 21 points in leading Corozal to a five-set win over Guaynabo on Feb. 6. American teammates Julie Bennett and Ashley Benson each scored 16 points in the win. Corozal was led by Kelly Murphy’s 16 points, followed by Kristy Jaeckel’s 14 points…Juncos’ Kim Willoughby collected 30 points in leading her team to a four-set win over Toa Baja on Feb. 7. Mekana Barnes added six points. Michelle Bartsch was credited with 21 points in the loss, while Jessica Swarbrick tallied 18 points…Erin Moore charted 23 points in helping Bayamon to a four-set win over Carolina on Feb. 7. Kelly Wing chipped in 13 points in the victory, while Brianne Barker added 17 assists, 16 digs and three kills. Morgan Beck pocketed 20 points to lead Carolina, who had 17 points from Kristen Dozier and 13 by Diane Copenhagen…Kelly Murphy reached a true triple-double in Guaynabo’s five-set win over Catano as she totaled 10 kills, 15 assists, 12 digs, three blocks and two aces. Kristy Jaeckel added 15 points in the win…Ponce’s Meaghan Ganzer pounded out 19 points and Kelsey Black added 15 in a four-set win over Caguas on Feb. 8. Airial Salvo chipped in 13 kills in the victory. Brooke Delano totaled three points in the loss…Michelle Bartsch and Jessica Swarbrick each scored eight points in Toa Baja’s three-set win over Carolina on Feb. 9. Morgan Beck tallied 15 points and 10 digs in the loss, while Diane Copenhagen notched 13 points and 15 digs…Shonda Cole collected 15 points and Julie Bennett added 13 in Corozal’s three-set win over Catano on Feb. 10. Ashley Benson added seven points in the victory…Kim Willoughby totaled 23 kills in a 24-point, 16-dig night in leading Juncos to a four-set win over Bayamon on Feb. 10. Mekana Barnes added 16 points in the victory. Erin Moore led Bayamon with 25 kills, while Kelly Wing added 15 points and Brianne Barker 20 assists in the loss…Brooke Delano scored eight points in helping Caguas to a four-set win over Guaynabo on Feb. 11. For the second match in a row, Kelly Murphy reached a triple-double recording 14 kills, 10 digs, 10 assists and three blocks in Guaynabo’s loss. Kristy Jaeckel also scored six points in the match…Blair Brown provided Mayaguez with 17 points in a three-set victory over Ponce on Feb. 11. Stephanie Neimer added nine points in the victory and Sydney Anderson contributed 13 assists, 17 digs and two kills. Airial Salvo and Meagan Ganzer totaled 10 points for Ponce in the loss, while Kelsey Black added nine points…Michelle Bartsch scored 15 points in leading Toa Baja to a three-set win over Carolina on Feb. 12. Teammate Kelly Fidero added 14 points and Jessica Swarbrick chipped in four points. Morgan Beck led Carolina with 15 points, while Kristen Dozier added seven points…Erin Moore powered home a match-high 30 points in leading Bayamon to a four-set win over Juncos on Feb. 12. Kelly Wing added 17 points while Brianne Barker set 21 assists to go with 22 digs and three kills. Mekana Barnes paced Juncos with 12 points, while Kim Willoughby tacked on 11 points in the loss…Julie Bennett scored 16 points in leading Corozal to a three-set victory over Caguas on Feb. 12. Ashley Benson added 10 points and Shonda Cole tacked on nine points. Brooke Delano supplied Caguas with five points in the loss.
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