US sweeps Argentina in Pool J of FIVB Women World Grand Prix – Volleyball news
The top ranked US team in FIVB World Grand Prix – Women competed with the 15th ranked Argentinean squad on June 23, 2012 in a Pool J match. The contest between the two sides was held in Bangkok, Thailand while the venue of the match was the Keelawes
1 Gymnasium.
As expected, the US was able to make a clean sweep over their opponents but Argentina made it difficult for their rivals to make an easy win in the opening set of the match. The score board showed the following final set scores: 25-23, 25-17 and 25-12.
The coach of the US squad, Hugh McCutcheon, expressed himself in the following words, “Now, we have to focus on the remaining match against hosts Thailand…I don’t think we will have any pressure playing them although we have to play against them and a big
crowd in a packed stadium.”
On the other hand, the Argentinean coach, Horacio Bastit, had the following views to express at the end of the match, “It’s hard to play the USA. They are not only strong, but also one of the world’s best teams. We played well in the first set, but the USA’s
blocks and defence were much better than us…Finally, I congratulate the USA for their win over us.”
The highest number of points in the match was put up by the US player Megan Hodge as she tallied a score of 19. As compared to this, there was a significant difference in the points scored by the Argentinean top scorer Leticia Boscacci, who could manage
only eight.
The US let the opening set get of their hands as Argentina was able to jump ahead with a lead of 12-9. After a time out call by the US coach, the Argentinean momentum broke down and the US managed to reach a tie at 13-13. Argentina did not give up just yet
and held on to the lead till 19-18 but the US levelled the score one more at 20-20. After that point, there was no stopping the US as they raced to a first set win at 25-23.
The US got the lead early on in the second set at 5-2 and was able to extend it further till 11-7. The Argentinean side could not do much as the score still went up for the US at 14-7. As a result, the Argentineans were left trailing behind as the US sped
ahead to secure the second frame at 25-17.
The two set wins secured by the US side enabled them to start the third set with confidence that gave them an early lead at 5-1 which stretched further to 18-6. The Argentineans could not stop the US as they charged ahead to bag the third frame with ease
at 25-12.
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