Press release

Team USA easily cruise to semifinals by routing Dominican Republic in straight sets

The players of Team USA confirmed on Tuesday their credentials for Olympic glory in London as they easily shut out their neighbors from the Dominican Republic in the third 1/4 final match

London, Great Britain, August 7, 2012 – The United States extended their winning streak also to the 1/4 finals of the women’s volleyball tournament downing the Dominican Republic in straight sets (25-14, 25-21, and 25-22) to qualify for the semis scheduled for Thursday and play there the winning side of the last game on schedule for Tuesday, Italy or Korea.
Via this classy performance the players coached by Hugh McCutcheon re-asserted their role as top contenders for the gold medal that will be at stake later this week.
Destinee Hooker paced Team USA with 19 points with Foluke Akinradewo and Jordan Larson also finishing in double digits with 12 and 11 respectively while Prisilla Rivera and Bethania de la Cruz were once more the major force in offense for the Caribbean side with 15 and 12.

The world’s No.1 ranked side USA had topped their qualification pool without losing any match, while the Dominican Republic came through their pool in fourth place, having won just two matches.

Captain and setter Lindsey Berg was rested by USA coach McCutcheon after picking up an injury in the last group match of their pool, but Courtney Thompson deputised well. USA stretched into a significant early lead, with Foluke Akinradewo, Jordan Larson and Destinee Hooker scoring heavily. Candida Estefany Arias and Prisilla Altagracia Rivera fought well, but USA won the set easily, 25-14.
Dominican Republic started the second set better, with Bethania de la Cruz attacking aggressively as they took the lead. USA came back though, with Logan Tom playing steadily and Akinradewo, Larson and Hooker keeping the scoring going. USA won the set 25-21.
The Dominican Republic battled again in set three, with their inspirational libero Brenda Castillo defending well, and Rivera hitting fierce spikes. But USA’s attacking options and physical power were too much for them. Larson, Hooker and Tom helped shut out the set 25-22, and win the match.

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