USA atop VNL Standings
TOYOTA, Japan, May 24, 2018 - Michelle Bartsch-Hackley provided
a real masterclass in power and precision as the United States
overwhelmed Belgium 3-0 (25-11, 25-18, 25-17) with an
awe-inspiring team performance in the inaugural women's FIVB
Volleyball Nations League on Thursday.
With Kimberly Hill sitting out the match, Bartsch-Hackley moved
to the top of the American team's point-scoring list for the
tournament, adding a game-high 14 points against the Belgians to
lift her series total to 71.
Andrea Drews was also in great form, racking up 10 kills in her
12 points, while the American captain Jordan Larson, who top
scored in Wednesday's 3-0 romp over the Netherlands, chipped in
with 11 as the US completed their third straight sweep in
Toyota.
With an average age of just 21, the Belgians lacked the
experience of their older American counterparts, but lost no
supporters with their brave showing as they continue to build.
Celine Van Gestel was the standout player, making 10 kills from
25 attempts, while Kaja Grobelna, Nathalie Lemmens and rising
teenage star Britt Herbots each had four points.
Belgium finished Pool 5 with three losses against the
Netherlands, Japan and USA to drop to 2-4 overall after the
first two weeks of the new competition, while the USA remained
at the top of the standings with their fifth win from six games.
The USA team heads to Bangkok next week to join Thailand,
Dominican Republic and Germany in Pool 11 while the Belgians
will travel to Europe to play against Pool 10 hosts Serbia as
well as Russia and Turkey. |