Molly Sauer and USCNT Take First Match in Shanghai
May 24, 2018 | Women's Volleyball
UofL Libero on international tour with USA Volleyball
The U.S. Collegiate National Team - China kicked off its five-match, 10-day trip with a victory over Shanghai Bright Ubest, a professional team from the China Volleyball League in Shanghai Tuesday.
The informal scrimmage was played at the end of a training session, but that didn't make any difference to Team USA, who took the first set 25-22 before dropping sets two and three both 25-17. The squad regrouped to even the match at two sets each, winning the fourth 25-20 and then the fifth 15-8.Â
Opposite Stephanie Samedy from the University of Minnesota, led all scorers with 18 points on 36 swings. Outside hitter Carlyle Nusbaum of Lipscomb had 13 and Thayer Hall of Florida had an efficient 11 points, scoring nine kills on 16 attempts.
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For head coach Chris Tamas, this first match of the trip was mostly learning about the U.S. team. Like many international trips for college or age group team, the United States does not have experience playing together and almost always are playing against established lineups.
"I told them in the middle of the match it's no easy task what we're doing," Tamas said. "Trying to get 12 players who've never played together before, come together and play as a team. You have setters who've never set the hitters, passers who've never passed next to each other, and [you] still try to figure out how to win. We were able to do that today, and I was very proud that they were able to figure it out as the match went on."
Moving forward, Tamas said that he was expecting more of the same.
"It's a short trip, and the goal of USA Volleyball is to put out a winning product, but also one that learns and strives for great teamwork. We're going to try and instill that the best we can. I've got a great coaching staff with me and a great group of players. We'll just continue on that path and hopefully we'll get some good results along the way."
Courtesy of USA VolleyballÂ
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The informal scrimmage was played at the end of a training session, but that didn't make any difference to Team USA, who took the first set 25-22 before dropping sets two and three both 25-17. The squad regrouped to even the match at two sets each, winning the fourth 25-20 and then the fifth 15-8.Â
Opposite Stephanie Samedy from the University of Minnesota, led all scorers with 18 points on 36 swings. Outside hitter Carlyle Nusbaum of Lipscomb had 13 and Thayer Hall of Florida had an efficient 11 points, scoring nine kills on 16 attempts.
Â
For head coach Chris Tamas, this first match of the trip was mostly learning about the U.S. team. Like many international trips for college or age group team, the United States does not have experience playing together and almost always are playing against established lineups.
"I told them in the middle of the match it's no easy task what we're doing," Tamas said. "Trying to get 12 players who've never played together before, come together and play as a team. You have setters who've never set the hitters, passers who've never passed next to each other, and [you] still try to figure out how to win. We were able to do that today, and I was very proud that they were able to figure it out as the match went on."
Moving forward, Tamas said that he was expecting more of the same.
"It's a short trip, and the goal of USA Volleyball is to put out a winning product, but also one that learns and strives for great teamwork. We're going to try and instill that the best we can. I've got a great coaching staff with me and a great group of players. We'll just continue on that path and hopefully we'll get some good results along the way."
Courtesy of USA VolleyballÂ
Â
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