Volleyball: U.S. Women’s National Team Update for Jan. 22 The current U.S. Women's National Team Weekly update released on Jan. 22 includes briefs on U.S. players competing overseas and other team news.
finished atop Pool C with 14 points and a 5-1 record, despite falling to Czech Republic’s VK Modranska Prostejov 25-18, 25-20, 22-25, 25-19 on Jan. 17 to close out the first round. Larson did not play in the match as the team had already secured the top spot in the pool. Kazan moves into the 8th Final Round for a home-and-home series against Dresdner SC. The series dates have not been announced. To read Larson’s blog, click here.
AKINRADEWO WITH DINAMO KRASNODAR IN RUSSIA: U.S. Women’s National Team middle blocker Foluke Akinradewo (Plantation, Fla.) is competing for Dinamo Krasnodar of the Russia Super League in 2011-2012. Krasnador improved to 9-3 in the Super League following a 26-24, 26-28, 25-10, 25-16 victory over Avtodor-METAR on Jan. 22. Krasnador, the Super League leader with 29 points, returns to Super League action on Jan. 26 against Severstal, followed by a Jan. 29 match against second-place Dinamo Kazan. Despite dropping a five-set match to Rote Raben Vilsbiburg on Jan. 19 in the CEV Cup 8th Final Round, Krasnodar came back to take a 16-14 victory in the Golden Set to advance to the CEV Cup 4th Final Round. Krasnodar will face Austria’s SVS Post Schwechat in a home-and-home series with dates to be determined.
BARBOZA, HARMOTTO WITH MODENA IN ITALY: U.S. Women’s National Team outside hitter Cynthia Barboza (Long Beach, Calif.) and middle blocker Christa Harmotto (Hopewell, Pa.) are competing for LIU-JO Modena of the Italian Serie A1 in 2011-2012. Modena edged Rebecchi Nordmeccanica Piacenza 26-24, 21-25, 25-16, 25-22 on Jan. 22 to improve to 5-9 on the season with 17 points for eighth place. Harmotto totaled 10 kills on 20 errorless attacks to go with a match-high seven blocks for a total of 17 points. Barboza tacked on 11 kills on 24 swings in the victory, along with a 74 percent positive service reception on a team-high 34 chances. Modena challenges league-leader Yamamay Busto Arsizio (13-0, 38 points) on Feb. 5 in its next Serie A1 match after a break in the schedule for the Italian Serie A1 Cup quarterfinal round. In the Italian Serie A1 Cup, Modena has already advanced to the semifinal round with a quarterfinal round bye. They will face the winner of Yamamay Busto Arsizio and Asystel Volley Novara’s quarterfinal round challenge.
LLOYD WITH BUSTO ARSIZIO IN ITALY: U.S. Women’s National Team setter Carli Lloyd (Bonsall, Calif.) is playing for Yamamay Busto Arsizio of the Italian Serie A1 for the 2011-2012 season. Yamamay Busto Arsizio remains undefeated in the Italian Serie A1 division after rallying to defeat Chieri Torino Volley Club 20-25, 25-16, 25-21, 25-23 on Jan. 22. Lloyd came off the bench in the first and third sets while starting the fourth set against the division’s 10th-place team. She was credited with four blocks and two kills on three swings in her limited action on the court. Busto Arsizio (13-0, 38 points) returns to Serie A1 regular season action on Feb. 5 against ninth-place LIU-JO Volley Modena (5-9,
