MIAMI, Fla. (June 29, 2009) – The United States Women’s Volleyball National Team remained unbeaten at the Pan American Cup, defeating Peru 25-22, 25-21, 26-24 Monday evening at the University of Miami's BankUnited Center.
Team USA (4-0) will face Puerto Rico (4-0), as the two remaining unbeaten teams in Pool A. The winner of Tuesday’s match will receive a bye and will be off the semifinals on July 3.
Jordan Larson paced the United States’ efforts with a match-high 14 points, including 12 kills and two service aces. It is the second time in three matches that Larson has led Team USA in points. Nancy Metcalf added 13 points, as five U.S. players totaled at least 10 points in its fourth consecutive sweep.
Patricia Soto paced Peru with 11 points, while Yulissa Zamudio added nine points. Leyla Chihuan tacked on eight points in the loss, while teammate Jessenia Uceda put down seven points.
U.S. absorbed every rally from Peru to take the hard-fought three-set match. The Americans held a slim 23-22 lead in the opening set before Richards and Larson put down back-to-back kills for the set victory. Team USA led 23-13 in the second set and held off the Peru come back for a 25-21 victory. Peru led the third set with scores of 5-2, 11-5 and 20-14 only to have the U.S. come back. Larson served during a stretch of seven unanswered points to give the U.S. a 21-20 lead. After Peru held off two match points when down 24-22, the Americans finished off the rally at 26-24.
U.S. out-paced Peru on offense with a 50-31 kill advantage and kept the visitors off-balance with a 4-0 ace margin. However, Peru's block came alive in the match as part of a 14-8 block advantage.
"We expected a tough match from Peru and that is what we got," U.S. Head Coach Hugh McCutcheon said. "Some of our problems tonight are my fault as we are putting in a lot of changes to this team, both in technique and system. I was happy that we found a way to win and battle through the challenge."
The United States concludes Pool A action on Tuesday at 7 p.m. (cental), the fifth consecutive pool play match before the classification round starts on July 2.
