Brazil snaps skid against USA with four-set Volleyball Nations League win
Olympics
VBM Staff
May 18, 2024
Avery Skinner hits against the Brazil block of Rosamaria Montibeller, left, and Julia Kudiess/Volleyball World photo
The USA women fell to 1-2 in Volleyball Nations League after losing to Brazil in four sets Friday in Rio de Janeiro.
The 25-22, 25-16, 18-25, 25-19 victory left Brazil 3-0.
Brazil plays Serbia on Saturday, while the Americans get a day off after playing three matches in three days. The USA finishes the first round of the tournament Sunday against the Dominican Republic.
Brazil’s Gabriela “Gabi” Guimarães had 21 kills, two aces and a block to go with eight digs before a raucous crowd of 9,119 in the Maracanãzinho arena. It marked the first time Brazil beat the USA since 2019.
Ana Cristina Souza added 12 kills and an ace and Rosamaria Montibeller had 10 kills and a block. Brazil had four aces and five serving errors and hit .270.
Veteran Jordan Larson led the USA with 15 kills, a block, an ace and 10 digs. Avery Skinner, who played the last two sets, and Ali Frantti, who played the first two, had eight kills and a block each. Brionne Butler had two kills, five blocks and an ace and Chiaka Ogbogu had six kills and two blocks. Libero Justine Wong-Orantes had 12 digs.
The USA had five aces and 13 errors and hit .210.
In the three matches Friday in Antalya, Türkiye, all were sweeps as Japan beat Germany, Poland beat France and Italy beat Bulgaria.
Canada’s Alexa Gray attacks against China/Volleyball World photo
In the other matches in Rio, Serbia swept Thailand and Canada beat China in four. Canada’s Kiera Van Ryk went off for 25 kills and two aces and former BYU standout Alexa Gray had 19 kills and two aces.
Saturday in Türkiye, Poland plays Netherlands, France plays Bulgaria and Italy faces the home team.
In Rio, Serbia plays China, Korea plays the Dominican Republic and Thailand plays Canada.
