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.
Volero Zurich (third place in Pool C) in a home-and-home series. Dates for the two contests have not been decided.
METCALF, THOMAS WITH LOKOMOTIV BAKU IN AZERBAIJAN: U.S. Women’s National Team opposite Nancy Metcalf (Hull, Iowa) and middle blocker Elisha Thomas (Grass Valley, Calif.) are playing for Lokomotiv Baku of the Azerbaijan Super League in 2011-2012. Lokomotiv Baku swept its CEV Challenge Cup 16th Final Round home-and-home series with Zok Split 1700 by winning the Jan. 18 match 25-15, 25-10, 25-18 in 64 minutes. Lokomotiv moves into the CEV Challenge Cup 8th Final Round to play Vizura Beograd with match dates to be determined. After a break in the Azerbaijan Super League, Lokomotiv came back to defeat Igtisadchi 26-24, 25-21, 25-20 on Jan. 22.
HANEEF-PARK WITH IGTISADCHI BAKU IN AZERBAIJAN: U.S. Women’s National Team opposite Tayyiba Haneef-Park (Laguna Hills, Calif.) is playing in the Azerbaijan Super League with Igtisadchi Baku in 2011-2012. Igtisadchi Baku lost to Yamamay Busto Arsizio 25-21, 20-25, 25-19, 18-25, 15-13 in the second match of a home-and-home series in the CEV Cup 8th Final Round. Igtisadchi lost its Azerbaijan Super League match with Lokomotiv 26-24, 25-21, 25-20 on Jan. 22.
HODGE, ALISHA GLASS WITH POLAND’S ATOM TREFL SOPOT: U.S. Women’s National Team outside hitter Megan Hodge (Durham, N.C.) and setter Alisha Glass (Leland, Mich.), both Penn State University products, are playing for Poland’s Atom Trefl Sopot in 2011-2012. Sopot (12-3) triumphed over Organika Budowlani 24-26, 25-20, 25-14, 25-18 on Jan. 21. Hodge scored 13 points with 11 kills on 27 swings and two blocks. She added a 53 positive service reception on 38 attempts. Glass set the squad to a 41 kill percent and a .256 hitting efficiency. Sopot faces KS Palac Bydgoszcz on Feb. 4 in its next PlusLiga match. In CEV Champions League action, Sopot ended the CEV Champions League first round Pool C with a 4-2 record and 10 points for second place after taking down Switzerland’s Volero Zurich 25-16, 23-25, 25-22, 22-25, 15-10 in the group finale. Hodge powered home a team-high 26 points with 21 kills on 34 swings, three aces and two blocks. Glass set the squad to a 42 kill percent and a .331 hitting efficiency. Sopot advances to the CEV Champions League 8th Final Round to face Azerbaijan’s Rabita Baku in a home-and-home series with dates to be announced. To read Glass’ blog, click here.
CRIMES, MIYASHIRO, LICHTMAN WITH POLAND’S BKS ALUPROF BIELSKO-BIALA: U.S. Women’s National Team middle blocker Alexis Crimes (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.), spiker Cassidy Lichtman (Poway, Calif.) and libero Tamari Miyashiro (Kaneohe, Hawaii) are competing for BKS Aluprof Bielsko Biala in the Poland Plus Liga. Bielsko-Biala (11-5) edged Impel Gwardia Wroclaw 16-25, 25-18, 25-21, 17-25, 15-11 on Jan. 21. Miyashiro handled 24 service receptions with a 63 positive percent. Lichtman came off the bench in the first and fourth sets. Bielsko Biala returns to PlusLiga action on Feb. 5 against Budowlani Lodz. In the CEV Cup 8th Final Round opener, Bielsko-Biala defeated Uralochka-NTMK Ekaterinburg 27-25, 26-24,
