The U.S. Women’s National Team has reached the FIVB World Grand Prix Finals and will aim for its seventh title in the event that takes place 2-6 Aug in Nanjing, China. Team USA, which finished second in the preliminary round will face preliminary round leader Serbia on 2 Aug and Italy on 3 Aug.
USA concluded the World Grand Prix preliminary round with a 6-3 record and 19 points. Brazil, the reigning World Grand Prix champions and holder of a record 11 event titles, finished third ahead of fourth-place Netherlands, while Italy was fifth in the preliminary round. Brazil was in a must-win situation over the United States on the final day of the preliminary round to even qualify among the Final Six. While Japan finished sixth ahead of China, the host Chinese advance as host of the Final Round. All five teams from second place to sixth place in the final preliminary standings ended with 6-3 records, while Serbia with a 7-2 record rank top in the preliminary round.
Team USA has faced four of the other competitors in the World Grand Prix Final Six during the preliminary phase, only missing the opportunity to play Serbia. The Americans held a 3-3 record against the Final Six teams during the preliminary round. They split a pair of matches with both Italy and China, defeated Netherlands and lost to Brazil.
Head Coach Karch Kiraly has elected to make one change to the team’s 14-player roster, he has called in Annie Drews to replace Liz McMahon. Amanda Benson in the opposite spiker position. While other players remained the same throughout the three weekends of the preliminary round.
Team roster of USA for FIVB World Grand Prix Finals
1 – Micha Hancock
3 – Carli Lloyd
4 – Justine Wong-Orantes
5 – Sarah Wilhite
6 – Tori Dixon
8 – Lauren Gibbemeyer
9 – Madi Kingdon
11 – Annie Drews
12 – Kelly Murphy
14 – Michelle Bartsch-Hackley
17 – Megan Courtney
19 – Hannah Tapp
20 – Amanda Benson
21 – Paige Tapp
